The first job in fundraising your elective is the least glamorous: work out exactly how much you need, and by when. Get this right and the rest is much easier — your target is realistic, your timeline keeps you honest, and every grant application has a clear, sourced number behind it.

Start with the real total, not just the programme fee

Most students focus on the placement fee and forget the rest. Here’s the full picture for a typical elective abroad with Med Trips:

Cost	Typical range	Notes
Med Trips programme fee	See our prices	Placement, accommodation, in-country support and orientation. Medical insurance is included in the fee.
Flights	£500–£1,200	Varies hugely by destination and season; book early.
Professional indemnity	Often free for students	Most UK students get this via MDU / Medical Protection / MDDUS as part of their membership.
Vaccinations	£0–£300	Some are free on the NHS; travel-clinic jabs (yellow fever, rabies, JE) are usually paid.
Visa	£0–£150	Varies by destination; some are visa-on-arrival.
Spending money	£200–£800	Depends on destination and duration.
Weekend travel	£100–£500	Optional but most students factor it in.

Set a target and a deadline

Add up your real total and pick a deadline that gives you time to actually raise it. As a rule of thumb:

9–18 months out: the gold standard. Lets you apply for grants on their annual cycle and run two or three fundraising rounds.
6–9 months out: still very doable, but tighter on grant deadlines.
Under 6 months: focus on quick wins (one event, online profile, sponsors) and put the formal grant applications you’d miss to one side.

Plan your fundraising calendar

A simple month-by-month plan beats a vague intention every time. A workable rhythm:

Month 1: finalise placement (you can’t fundraise without a destination), confirm the total, set the target.
Month 2–3: shortlist grants and bursaries, start applying.
Month 3–4: launch your online fundraising profile and tell your network.
Month 4–6: run a fundraising event or two; approach local sponsors.
Month 5–8: pitch to local press and university media; refresh your online profile with updates.
Month before travel: close out the page with a “thank you” update and book remaining costs.

Keep a simple tracker

A spreadsheet (or even a notebook) with four columns is enough: source, amount applied for, status, amount received. Add a fifth for deadlines and you’ll never miss one.

Next: pick a fundraising route

Once you have a target and a timeline, choose where to start: events, finding a sponsor, your online fundraising profile, or getting your message out. And don’t forget the formal funding routes — see our full guide to elective bursaries, grants and Erasmus+.

Talk to our team if you want help putting your real total together — we can give you accurate fee, dates and what’s included to plug into your plan.

Fundraising for your medical elective: getting started & budgeting

Start with the real total, not just the programme fee

Set a target and a deadline

Plan your fundraising calendar

Keep a simple tracker

Next: pick a fundraising route

Ready to start your medical elective?