Financing the Second Degree:
Author - James Yeoman
One of the biggest barriers to embarking on a second-degree can be the challenges of funding your studies and supporting yourself throughout. The below resource outlines some general advice on potential sources of funding, and ways that you can manage your money during your second-degree studies.
This is, of course, not an exhaustive list, and others may fund their second-degree studies via other means – please do get in touch with any other funding sources that you used during your studies so that this list can be updated accordingly!
Student Finance and NHS Bursary (correct as of 2025/26):
Student finance eligibility will vary depending upon course type (undergraduate versus postgraduate course codes) and home Nation. As a general rule, the entry into a medical course with an undergraduate course code will not be eligible for any tuition fee loan, whereas entry into a medical course with a postgraduate course code will.
Those on undergraduate course codes will generally not be eligible for NHS Bursary until their final year, at which point the NHS funds the full balance of tuition fees (at present (£9250 at the time of writing) for the year and provides a nominal £1000 non-means-tested bursary.
Those on a postgraduate course code will need to fund the full balance of their tuition fees during the first year of their studies, and from their second year onwards, will become eligible for NHS Bursary covering the first £3715 (at the time of writing) of tuition fees.
The Royal Medical Benevolent Fund (FMBF) has some really useful summaries detailing the SLC and NHS Bursary funding available for each of the Home Nations for both undergraduate and postgraduate course codes:
Whilst the pages above are specific to second-degree medical studies, the principles are also applicable to those studying medicine as a second degree.
Other Bursaries:
The BAOMS Second-degree Student Bursary, recently updated to now include two categories of Bursary:
Up to 15 x £1000 research/project-based bursaries, awarded upon acceptance for publication within one year receipt of the bursary. Email acceptance attracts an additional £500 award to the candidate.
Up to 20 x £1000 bursaries to support QOMS data input into the National REDCap or QOMS databases.
Further information is available at: (link to updated student bursary guidance)
Many other medical and surgical societies will offer student essay prizes, for which second degree students would be eligible. Whilst the financial incentives are often moderate, these serve the dual-purpose of enhancing your portfolio for Specialty Training applications!
Paid Work:
The majority of second-degree students will undertake some degree of paid work in order to fund their studies; this may be within OMF surgery (the JTG of BAOMS Facebook Group often features advertisements for units requiring cover and a database of contacts for local OMFS Units is available here), but many chose to work in dental practice or locum in other medical specialties, depending upon their primary medical qualification.
For those with OMFS experience already, picking up shifts within the specialty is often a good way to maintain your knowledge and skills, whilst also maintaining links with a local Maxillofacial unit.
Society Support during 2nd Degree Studies:
Many organisations will reduce or waive subscription and membership fees during your second-degree studies, enabling you to benefit from memberships without having to part with any money. A non-exhaustive list is provided below:
BAOMS:
Membership fee waived during second (and first!) degree studies; email the BAOMS office with evidence of student status so the discount can be applied (updating your student status also makes you eligible for 2nd degree bursary application!)
BMA/GMC
Both the GMC and BMA offer reduced membership rates for those less than set annual thresholds for each year.
RCSEd/RCSEng
The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh will waive membership fees during second degree studies, whilst the Royal College of Surgeons of England will offer membership fees at a reduced rate. You are able to transfer between Colleges, should you wish to do so.
Saving Money:
Indemnity – you may be able to reduce your indemnity fees during your second degree, either by advising your indemnity provider that you are now working reduced hours, or by switching to an alternative provider. It is certainly worth obtaining quotes from multiple indemnity providers to source the best deal possible!
Medics Money is a useful resource which helps you to maximise your money. They’ve got tons of information on tax rebates and allowable expenses which may enable you to save some money off your tax bill whilst working to support your studies!
BAOMS Student Bursary – second degree students – Guidelines in full for 2025
Note that these are the guidelines as published for the 2025 round of bursary applications. Once the 2026 applications are announced, up-to-date information will be published on the website. - JTG Team
BAOMS Second Degree Student Bursaries
BAOMS has recently revised the student bursary scheme in order to support student delivered OMF projects with greater impact. Applications are open to any registered *Second-Degree Student member of BAOMS. Two categories of student bursary are available each year (please choose one option). Applications must be made via the BAOMS membership login on the member profile tab. [Click here to go to application page – maybe not needed?)
1) A publication (in BJOMS or ADOMS) of an academic paper (research/service development or audit projects with wider specialty impact)
Up to 15 x £1000 research / project-based bursaries. Applications must be prospective by submission of a 200-word project proposal which will be scored by the representatives from the Endowments Subcommittee and editor of BJOMS. Retrospective applications for fully or partly completed projects will not be accepted. Applications require a statement of endorsement and support from a UK OMFS consultant as their project supervisor who must also be a Fellow of BAOMS. Project proposal titles to be logged with the office and editor of BJOMS to avoid duplication of effort.
For successful applicants, the bursary award will be delivered upon providing proof of acceptance for publication within 1 year of receiving of the bursary. BJOMS or ADOMS (as the Association’s journals) must be given first refusal for publication, after which acceptance by any Medline-registered journal will suffice. A copy of the email (sent to BAOMS office) from the publication will be proof of submission. E-mail acceptance for publication will attract an additional £500 award to the applicant.
2) Participation with QOMS data-input for national-level outcomes audit.
Up to 20 x £1000 bursaries to support QOMS data input into the REDCap / QOMS’ database Applicants must submit a 200-word personal statement which will be scored by representatives of the Endowments Subcommittee. Applications should demonstrate any relevant experience with handling audit and outcomes data, their aptitude for this role and a clear plan for how they will deliver it. Applicants should take into account the local QOMS set up (The type and volume of OMFS cases locally, ease of access to the hospital data system) when submitting their application Applications require a statement of endorsement and support from at least one UK OMFS consultant who must also be a Fellow of BAOMS.
The successful applicants will liaise closely with the QOMS team, in particular the QOMS Clinical Lead as to the exact nature of the work for the year. Completion of the mutually agreed target will trigger payment. The target will be achievable in the context of the local service. Examples of work may be, but are not limited to:
• Data input, with number of cases and % completeness as the marker in units where data collection is up and running.
• Assisting in the set up of data entry in units who do not yet contribute.
The assessment period (against the initially agreed objectives) will be within 1 year of receiving of the bursary. There will be five additional awards of £500 available for those who are deemed to have made an outstanding contribution as assessed by the QOMS team.
Deadline for submission: 12 noon on Monday 9 June 2025
Successful applicants will usually be notified before the end of September 2025. As mentioned above, projects MUST be completed by 30th September 2026 to be eligible for the full award to be claimed/paid. If you complete your project/data entry after this date, it may not be possible to process/pay out the bursary payment.
*NB: Eligibility: All applicants for BAOMS Second Degree Student Bursaries MUST be in the membership category of BAOMS Second Degree Student before the application deadline (and preferably well before). Late submissions cannot be accepted. Please ensure that your membership category is correct and up to date. Many thanks.
