Medical electives scheme
RCPath / specialist society medical elective small grant scheme
The RCPath / specialist society medical elective small grant scheme was a new scheme launched to mark the College’s Diamond Jubilee in 2022.
The scheme is joint funded by RCPath and partner societies from the different disciplines and will offer small grants of value up to £1,000, to help support undergraduate medical and veterinary students who wish to undertake electives in pathology disciplines.
Electives may be clinical or research-based and may be undertaken in any part of the world.
A minimum of £500 must be used for student travel and subsistence with the remaining amount being spent flexibly for project-related costs such as consumables, or for student costs, as appropriate for the project.
6 awards will be made annually:
- RCPath / Association for Laboratory Medicine elective award: to support an elective relevant to clinical biochemistry
- RCPath / British Society for Haematology elective award: to support an elective relevant to haematology
- RCPath / British Society for Immunology elective award: to support an elective relevant to immunology
- RCPath / British Society for Veterinary Pathology elective award: to support an elective for a veterinary student, in any pathology discipline
- RCPath / Microbiology Society elective award: to support an elective relevant to infection, microbiology or virology
- RCPath / Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland* elective award: to support an elective relevant to cellular pathology
*In these schemes, the partner society can assist you in finding a short research project and project supervisor, if you so wish. If you would like to take this up, please email PathSoc@rcpath.org to discuss further, at least 2 months before the application deadline.
Terms and conditions
Applications must be submitted in advance of the proposed elective. Awards will not be made for electives already undertaken.
Electives must begin within 1 year of the award announcement.
Applications must be accompanied by letters of support, both from the head of the host department/clinical director of department and from the applicant’s own personal tutor in their medical or veterinary school.
A minimum of £500 must be used for student travel and subsistence with the remaining amount being spent flexibly for project-related costs such as consumables, or for student costs, as appropriate for the project.
Award holders must provide a report to RCPath and to the partner society within 30 days of the end of their elective. The format and length of the report will be consistent with any other existing elective reporting arrangements stipulated by the relevant partner society. If there are no existing elective report arrangements, a 700–1,000-word report must be submitted to both organisations, accompanied by a suitable photograph.
Award holders may be invited to present their elective experience at meetings held by RCPath or partner societies. In that eventuality, expenses incurred would be reimbursed as per standard policies.
Applicants for the following award may, if they wish, request assistance to identify a suitable research project and supervisor in the UK and Ireland:
- RCPath / Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland award
In order to take up this opportunity applicants should ensure they contact the relevant society 2 months before the deadline, so they can prepare their application.
Antonia-Olivia Roberts' medical elective small grant scheme experience
How did you feel about winning the RCPath and the Microbiology Society Medical Elective small grant scheme?
I was really excited to hear that I had won a grant for my elective, as it enabled me to make the most of the opportunities to travel so far away and experience medical placements in Vietnam and Cambodia for a prolonged period of time. I am so grateful to have had this opportunity, as it helped me to explore the multifactorial determinants of infection and access to healthcare in a much more holistic way than I would ever have understood from staying in the UK.
What made you decide to do an elective relevant to infection, microbiology, or virology?
I have always found infectious diseases to be a fascinating area, and I believe it is one of fields of medicine in which we see the greatest variation around the world, because the pathologies present are entirely dependent on the local population and the environment that surrounds them. During medical school I had previously completed a research project on the epidemiology of antimicrobial resistance in Cambodia. However, until my elective, many infectious diseases had seemed like largely abstract concepts, only read about in journals. Therefore, I was very keen to seize the opportunity provided by my elective to learn about infectious diseases first hand.
I am so grateful to have had this opportunity, as it helped me to explore the multifactorial determinants of infection and access to healthcare in a much more holistic way than I would ever have understood from staying in the UK.
What do you hope to do in the future?
I hope to have a career in global health, with a focus on communicable diseases. I would definitely love to work or volunteer overseas again, as my elective really encouraged my interest in travel, although this may be difficult in the short term as I am starting foundation training this year! I hope to continue academic work in the fields of global health and infectious diseases alongside my clinical career, and I have recently been carrying out research into vaccination in Islamic countries.
Read Antonia-Olivia's full report below.
Lucas Heeringa's medical elective small grant scheme experience
How did you feel about winning the RCPath and the British Society for Immunology Medical Elective small grant scheme?
It was an honour to be awarded the joint elective award of the Royal College of Pathologists and the British Society for Immunology. The grant enabled me to take full advantage of the opportunity to study in the Dominican Republic and complete an elective tailored to my specific goals and interests.
What made you decide to do an elective relevant to immunology?
I have always had an interest in immunology and inflammation and having completed a lab-based project in my integrated year, I was seeking more exposure to the clinical side of the speciality. Rotating in the allergy and immunology department at the largest children’s hospital in the country was a fantastic opportunity. It made me even more certain that this is a career I want to pursue. I learnt so much from the amazing doctors there and got to practice my medical Spanish.
What do you hope to do in the future?
I am about to start my foundation years and will continue to pursue exposure to immunology and paediatrics throughout the 2 years. I am excited to continue my involvement with the Royal College of Pathologists and the British Society for Immunology to support my professional development.
Read Lucas's full report below.
Adam Moore's medical elective small grant scheme experience
How did you feel about winning the RCPath and the Microbiology Society Medical Elective small grant scheme?
Being awarded the RCPath & the Microbiology Society Medical Elective Small Grant Scheme was an incredible honour. The financial support provided enabled me to take advantage of the educational opportunities on offer and allowed me to further explore infectious disease as a potential future career.
What made you decide to do an elective relevant to infection, microbiology or virology?
I decided to do my elective in infectious disease to explore the global variations within this dynamic specialty, prompting me to choose Tobago for my elective. Trinidad and Tobago provided a combination of unique infections seen only in tropical regions, but also an insight into how the presentation of infections commonly seen in UK may differ depending on region.
What do you hope to do in the future?
The experiences I gained on my elective will no doubt have a lasting impact on my future clinical practice as I head toward the foundation programme this year. Ultimately, the exposure I’ve gained into infectious disease as a specialty has only solidified my desire to explore it further as a potential future career.
Read Adam's full report below.
Matthew Shott's medical elective small grant scheme experience
How did you feel about winning the Pathological Society of Great Britain & Ireland Medical Elective Small Grant Scheme?
I am honoured to be awarded the Pathological Society of Great Britain & Ireland Medical Elective Small Grant. The bursary provided the financial support necessary for me to take advantage of the excellent opportunities I was fortunate to access. It is a privilege to be recognised by the College and I hope that future applicants feel encouraged to apply!
My elective has solidified my plans to embark on a career as an academic physician.
What made you decide to do an elective in cellular pathology?
I've long held an interest in cell imaging and its applications for research as well as future clinical practice and wanted to explore this further. I was also keen to make use of the lab skills I'd acquired during my intercalated MSc in a more clinical environment. Finally, I was interesting in experiencing a blend of clinical practice and laboratory which academic job plans allow for. This project has allowed me to achieve these goals alongside involvement with cutting edge microscopic techniques, which I hope will provide a positive impact on future clinical practice.
What do you hope to do in the future?
My elective has solidified my plans to embark on a career as an academic physician. I aim to complete a PhD during specialty training in order to build my knowledge base in both academia and clinical practice. In the nearer future, I hope to present and publish my elective project to aid others in selecting an optimal clearing method for their tissue samples.
Read Matthew's full report below.