One of the most expensive courses at college is medicine. Fees for study are higher than with other classroom based fields of study, and the courses to qualify as a doctor are longer than other degrees also. Students following a medical degree face the prospect of larger student loans and therefore more debt than other students, but there is financial assistance available for many students in the form of medical school grants and other awards. Due to the length of the courses and level of debt involved, most medical students will apply for some form of grant aid in the hope that it will lessen the burden somewhat.
Undergraduate Grants
For students who are just beginning on their medical studies, the most appropriate source of school grants is the Education Department, who offer grants to financially needy students. Although the grants will not cover the full cost of tuition, they will help. Full details of all the grants are available on the website of the Department of Education along with guidance about what sorts of students will have most chance of being awarded a grant. Many of the individual medical schools also have funds available to award to students, and most will award money on the basis of financial need and academic ability. Competition for these sorts of grants can be fierce, but it is certainly an avenue worth exploring to lessen the burden of college tuition.
There are also several private institutions and charities across the country which help fund students, and it is wise to search on the internet to prepare a list of all the different funds for which you may be eligible. Applying to as many as possible will increase your chances of being successful for one or more grants. Criteria also vary between grant awarding agencies, so take care to target the awards which are closely matched to your specific backgrounds and circumstances.
Other Awarding Bodies
Once a medical student has completed their basic undergraduate education, there is still a long road ahead in terms of both classroom study and research before starting work as a doctor. There are lots of institutions such as The National Institute of Health, The American Student Medical Association or The Howard Hughes Medical Institute which award funds to postgraduate students who are undertaking research in certain fields. Particularly promoted for funding is research in fields such as HIV and AIDS or in disease prevention measures.
It may be that students can propose their own field of research and have this funded by a charity or other fund, or in other instances the grant may only be awarded if the student agrees to concentrate on a specific research area. Most medical schools will provide advice and guidance on which methods of funding are most appropriate, taking into consideration what sort of postgraduate study the student is intending to do. Decisions about who gets the grant money will be based on a variety of factors such as financial situation, academic record within the medical school and how closely the proposed field of study matches the body’s aims.