Skip to main content

External Funding and Personal Development Opportunities

External funding opportunities for school leavers and graduate students provide valuable financial support to pursue higher education. While some of these opportunities are tailored specifically for medical students, many school-leaver funding options are open to a broader range of disciplines, making them more competitive.

These funding sources can help ease the financial burden associated with tuition fees, accommodation, and other educational expenses. Prospective applicants should explore and carefully read through these options to identify funding that they are eligible for.

Please see below some of the external funding and personal development opportunities available.

This information was correct as of 05.09.2024 date, and can be used for guidance. If you have any questions, please contact the charities directly.

School leavers

The Leathersellers Company Charitable Fund

We support undergraduate students at UK Universities whose circumstances may otherwise prevent them from achieving their goals. Our current focus is care experienced students and former pupils of our associated schools. (UK Students)

More information can be found here

The Leverhulme Trust

If your parent or spouse is a grocer, pharmacist or commercial traveller, or you are employed yourself in this capacity, you could qualify for a bursary of up to £3,000 a year towards the cost of an undergraduate degree. (UK Students)

More information can be found here

Royal Air Force (RAF)

Royal Air Force (RAF): bursaries or sponsorships for university students looking for a full-time medical role in the RAF. (UK Students)

Royal Medical Benevolent Fund

The grant to assist students in their penultimate or final year facing exceptional hardship. (UK and international students)

More information can be found here

Student Health Association Assistance Fund

Funds of up to £500 to help students with disabilities to keep up with their studies.(UK Students)

More information can be found here

The Victoria Foundation

Grants for students facing financial hardship to help purchase books, equipment, medical instruments and fund transport costs to hospital or elective placements. (UK students from a WP background)

More information can be found here

Black Heart Foundation

These are for students who are under-resourced from deprived areas (UK students from a WP background)

More information can be found here

Sidney Perry Foundation

This only helps with second degrees where first degree was at least a 2:1. No help in first year. Grants up to £1,000; students must be under 35 years old at the start of the course. (UK and Home students)

More information can be found here

Personal support and mentoring

Amos Bursary

A programme to support British students of African and Caribbean descent, who have excelled at school and have not allowed their environments, personal circumstances, or the pressures of living in London, to cloud their vision or to hamper their dreams. Student in Yr 12 can apply and will receive support and mentoring throughout their university studies.

More information can be found here

In2Science

In2scienceUK exists to unlock the potential of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds and boost diversity and inclusion in the sector to ensure the UK remains at the forefront of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) based industries.

More information can be found here

Social Mobility Foundation

The Aspiring Professionals Programme supports students from Year 12, lower sixth or S5 through to their first graduate job. It's completely free of charge.

More information can be found here

 

Graduates

BMA Charities:

The BMA Charities Trust Fund offers grants to doctors and medical students who are in financial difficulty. (UK students)

More information can be found here

Sir Richard Stapley Educational Trust

These are small grants between £500 and £1200 for both UK and non UK national graduates pursuing a second degree in medicine, dentistry and veterinary studies and students studying for certain postgraduate qualifications.

More information can be found here

The Foulkes Foundation

Grants for post-doctoral scientists taking medicine, PhD or equivalent, with intention to contribute to medical research. (UK and international students with a PhD)

More information can be found here

The Victoria Foundation

These grants for students facing financial hardship to help purchase books, equipment, medical instruments and fund transport costs to hospital or elective placements. (UK students from a WP background)

More information can be found here