Finding funding for students
This webpage contains information about funding for students.
What is the Pharmacist Support Student Bursary Scheme?
The purpose of the bursary scheme is to provide financial support to eligible MPharm students during their final year of study. The student must be struggling financially as a result of unexpected significant challenge(s)/event(s) during the MPharm, such as a considerable change to their health or family situation.
Who is eligible for the bursary?
To be eligible to apply, students need to demonstrate and evidence the below criteria:
- The student must be entering their final year of study in Autumn 2026
- The student has experienced an unexpected significant challenge(s)/event(s) that has impacted them personally and resulted in affecting them financially, since starting the degree
- The student can demonstrate that the bursary would support them to complete their final year of study.
See below examples of unexpected significant challenge(s) /event(s) experienced by previous bursary applicants:
- Diagnosis of serious illness requiring hospital treatment
- Loss of educational financial support as a result of sudden death of a parent/guardian/benefactor
- Unplanned pregnancy
- Unexpected homelessness
- Estrangement from parents causing unexpected significant challenges
- Domestic violence
- Loss of property following house fire
Please note:
- Historical events cannot be used as a reason for applying. The only exception would be if a connection could be seen between the event and an earlier diagnosis for a medical condition/disability having got worse since starting the MPharm.
- Financial issues alone due to the cost of living are not considered an unexpected significant event.
How the bursary has helped.
“At the end of my second year, my sponsor withdrew their support for my studies. As I was an international student, my living costs, bills, rent and fees were much higher than other students so no longer having a sponsor was causing me a lot of stress. In the end, I was sent back to my home country by my sponsor with no idea how I would get back to the UK and continue my studies.Student Bursary recipient
Amy* reached out to Pharmacist Support during her second year at university whilst she was struggling with financial stress due to issues with her sponsor. She has kindly shared her story with us to show how our student grants and bursary can help pharmacy students complete their studies.
I am really appreciative and grateful for being awarded this bursary. I have had very difficult personal circumstances which made me think I wouldn’t have been able to make it through the year, never mind finishing off my pharmacy degree.Student Bursary recipient
Priyanka* is a final-year pharmacy student who, whilst at university, had to leave home unexpectedly and quickly due to ongoing adversity. She has kindly shared her story in the hope that it reaches those who need that extra push to reach out for help.
How can I apply?
The Bursary Scheme opened on 3 February 2026.
To request a bursary application form and guidance notes, please email [email protected] with evidence that you are enrolled on the 3rd year of an MPharm degree course (or 4th year if undertaking a 5 year sandwich/integrated degree).
The closing date for applications is 5pm on Monday 20 April 2026.
Further financial support for pharmacy students
Any student enrolled on an MPharm degree course and experiencing unexpected financial difficulty is eligible to apply for our Essential Living Expenses Grant or One-off Grant of up to £1,500 per academic year.
Please note before you apply, our criteria is that we do expect that you would have approached your university first for financial support before approaching the charity and this must be evidenced.
Information on the essential living expenses grant for students
The Pharmacist Support Student Bursary Scheme is supported by Cencora Alliance Healthcare
This page was last updated February 2026
