Medical Student Elective Funding

tarya_arienne

Hi,

Was wondering if anyone can help me - I have query on behalf of my boyfriend. We both have to do a 2 month elective next year (June/July), and he needs to borrow some money in order to do so. He needs to borrow about £5k (the figure is relatively non-negotiable), and a regular bank loan will cost around £9k to pay back (9.8% apparently). We have to do it, in order to pass the year, and although there is limited funding available (in the form of essay prizes, small grants, etc), it's more in the region of £100! Not quite enough!

I've heard rumours about being able to get a loan for travel, or some form of reimbursement, from the LEA or SLC, or somewhere like that. However, after some considerable internet searching, I can't find any useful info (maybe I'm searching the wrong things/places).

Can anyone direct me towards a good source of info?

Thanks in advance,

T-A

welf_man

Why does he need £5000 for a 7/8 week placement? He already gets living costs through the NHS Bursary/parental contribution and Student Loan - where on earth is he planning to travel to?!!

If the medical school certifies that that particular placement is essential, there may be assistance with travel and additional accommodation costs, but it would have to be an experience with learning outcomes that could not be achieved in the U.K.

Mel.

Cardelia

As far as I'm aware, it is not compulsory to go on an expensive trip abroad for your elective. Some of my fiance's friends can't afford to travel abroad so they're going to do their elective at the hospital they're currently at for their third year.

http://www.money4medstudents.org/content.asp?id=264

That's the first result from google when you type in "medical elective funding" - have you looked at that? Otherwise, bodies like the Wellcome Trust, Royal Society, BMA etc. will all offer grants and awards, although I don't know if these will cover elective years - you'll have to look into that yourself.