Electives are short-term placements where medical students can learn by assisting in real healthcare situations. Students have the option to complete an elective in the UK or abroad. These can be organised by the students themselves and usually take place as part of an ‘elective period’, often during the penultimate or final year of the degree. The length of a medical elective can vary between four and twelve weeks. There are often bursaries and scholarships available for medical students undertaking them.
You can find a list of some of the organisations that offer bursaries for medical student electives here. Please do read the application criteria carefully and see 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
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
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
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
British Neuropathological Society
The Society is offering prizes to promote activities in Neuropathology.
Funding: Maximum £600
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
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
Institute of Medical Ethics
Bursaries available to support Medical Student Electives on issues in medical ethics.
Funding: Bursaries of up to £800 each
Kidderminster Medical Society Undergraduate Elective Bursary
Applications are invited for bursaries to help support an elective placement during your time studying for your MBChB degree at a UK medical school.
Funding: Bursary of £1000
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
Medical Women’s Federation
Grants are awarded to female medical students to assist them with elective costs.
Funding: Grants of £100-£500
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
Royal College of Radiologists
Bursaries are available to support medical students wishing to undertake an elective period of study in clinical radiology in the UK or abroad.
Funding: Bursaries of up to £300
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
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
Royal Society of Medicine
Various prizes and awards available.
Funding: various
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
The Simmonds Bursary
BlackStone Tutors are pleased to be able to offer The Simmonds Bursary for medical school students undertaking an elective within the next twelve months. The bursary is available for medical students undertaking an elective in the UK or abroad, with a research component.
Funding: £250
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
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
British Hip Society's Culture and Diversity Group
The British Hip Society is providing two medical student elective bursaries this year each for £750 for medical students carrying out an elective in trauma and orthopedics. Applications for 2024/25 will be open between 1 June - 31 September 2024 and interviews will be held in October 2024.
Funding: £750