Pharmacist Support

Pharmacist Support: grant for pharmacy students

You can claim up to £1,500 per academic year (about 1,725 EUR) to cover essential living costs if you face an unexpected financial difficulty whilst studying. This support is known as the ‘Essential Living Expenses Grant’. It is a grant, not a loan, so you will never have to repay the amount. A UK charity that supports the pharmacy profession funds this grant entirely through donations. You can use the funds for food, rent, utility bills, travel costs following a sudden loss of income, one-off essential expenses, broken household appliances or aids for people with disabilities. Tuition fees, visa or legal costs, and the summer holidays are excluded.

Who can apply

• Course: You are studying a GPhC-recognised pharmacy degree programme in the UK, which leads to registration as a pharmacist. This means either an MPharm degree or the OSPAP conversion programme for foreign pharmacists.
• Enrolment: You are studying full-time and attend university regularly. You cannot apply if you only have a letter of admission or are completing a foundation year.
• Financial need: You are experiencing financial difficulties due to an unexpected event that occurred after you joined the scheme, such as a death in the family, illness, family problems or a sudden loss of income.
• Other funding first: You have already taken out the full amount of your student maintenance loan, or you are not eligible for funding from Student Finance England or a similar organisation. You have also submitted an application to your university’s hardship fund.
• Savings limit: Over the last 90 days, your savings have been at or below £6,000 (around 6,900 euros), taking into account cash, investments and any second homes.
• University backing: A student counsellor, a welfare officer or a personal tutor can confirm your situation.
• Location: You live in the UK. Applicants of any nationality may apply, provided they are enrolled on an eligible degree programme there.

How to apply

You can apply at any time via the Foundation’s online funding portal. There is no application deadline, and applications are processed throughout the year. You will need to upload documents such as bank statements for the last three months and a certificate from your university. The Foundation aims to process applications within approximately three weeks.

How realistic are your chances?

This is a hardship grant, not a competitive award, so you are not competing against other applicants. If you meet the eligibility criteria and can demonstrate a genuine, unexpected financial hardship, you are likely to receive support. The main hurdles are of a practical nature: you must first have exhausted your student loans and the university’s hardship fund, and you must not exceed the savings limit. The charity itself recommends submitting your application at an early stage, before the situation deteriorates further.