Elective bursaries

A medical elective is a short-term placement where medical students gain hands-on experience in real healthcare settings. Electives can be take place in the UK or abroad and are usually arranged by students during a dedicated elective period, often in the final or penultimate year of medical school.

We’ve compiled a list of organisations that offer bursaries for medical student electives. Make sure to read the application criteria carefully and visit individual websites for more detailed information. If you provide funding for medical electives and wish to be listed on this page, please contact us

  • The Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland

    Applications are invited from medical students studying in Great Britain and Ireland to apply to the AAGBI Foundation for funding towards a medical student elective. 

    Funding: Maximum of £750

    Apply

  • The British Association of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons

    Bursaries available to support medical students who wish to undertake research, travel or an elective in a subject related to plastic surgery.

    Funding: Ten awards of £500 each, available annually.

    Apply

  • The British Geriatrics Society

    A limited number of grants are available to enable medical students to make use of their elective period for a project concerned with health or health care in old age either in the UK or abroad. 

    Funding: Limited number of grants of up to £500.

    Apply

  • The British Medical and Dental Student’s Trust

    The BMDST-RSM Advisory Board are awarding elective funding to successful applicants who want to undertake a specific project on their medical elective.​

    Funding: Bursaries between £500-1000 available.

    Apply

  • British Neuropathological Society

    The Society is offering prizes to promote activities in Neuropathology.

    Funding: Maximum £600

    Apply

  • The British Society for Haematology

    Student Elective Scholarships for students undertaking electives in the field of haematology.

    Funding: Twenty grants of up to £1000 available.

    Apply

  • CoScan Travel Awards

    The travel awards scheme was initiated in 1985, the ‘International year of Youth’, and its aim is to help young British people to visit a Scandinavian country. It is open to anyone between the ages of 15 and 25, planning to undertake a worthwhile project of a broadly educational nature.

    Funding: Awards are generally in the region of £100 – £200.

    Apply

  • Institute of Medical Ethics

    Bursaries available to support Medical Student Electives on issues in medical ethics.

    Funding: Bursaries of up to £800 each.

    Apply

  • Lady Allen of Hurtwood Memorial Trust

    Applications are invited from candidates with a scheduled project in mind who can offer full details of how the award will help them to gain specific knowledge and experience which will enhance the quality and nature of their work with young children and their families.

    Funding: The awards, granted annually, normally in the region of £1,000.

    Apply

  • Pathological Society

    Funding to support research projects in pathology or gain experience in diagnostic departments during elective.

    Funding: £150 per week for a maximum of eight weeks.

    Apply

  • Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh

    Several schemes available including Bursaries for Affiliate Medical Student Elective Placements in Africa, Bursaries for Undergraduate Elective or Vacation Studies, Wong Choon Hee Medical Student Elective Travel Bursaries, The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh Medical Student Elective Travel Awards.

    Funding: various

    Apply

  • Royal College of Pathologists

    The scheme is jointly funded by RCPath and partner societies from the different disciplines and will offer small grants of up to £1,000 to help support undergraduate medical and veterinary students who wish to undertake electives in pathology disciplines.

    Funding: Bursaries of up to £1000.

    Apply

  • Royal Society of Medicine

    Various prizes and awards available.

    Funding: various

    Apply

  • Scar Free Foundation

    The Scar Free Foundation offers awards for students to undertake their electives for research in the area of wound healing and scarring conditions.

    Funding: Up to £1200

    Apply

  • Worshipful Society of Apothecaries

    The Faculty of Conflict & Catastrophe Medicine offers three annual student elective prizes for medical student electives in the fields of Conflict and Catastrophe Medicine.

    Funding: Three annual student elective prizes worth £750 each.

    Apply

  • South Asian Health Foundation

    The South Asian Health Foundation, a UK charity whose aims are to improve the health and well-being of South Asians, is delighted to invite applications for two medical student elective bursaries of £250.

    Funding: £250

    Apply

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