For over a decade, the Hospital Saturday Fund (HSF) has been a key champion of the next generation of healthcare professionals, offering vital financial support for medical elective opportunities. At Fair Trade Electives, we’re proud to work alongside HSF to ensure that these experiences are ethical, impactful, and mutually beneficial.
Since our inception, we have shared a common goal with HSF: to make elective placements accessible while embedding principles of fairness, reciprocity, and global justice. Electives, when done well, offer life-changing opportunities for students to expand their clinical knowledge, gain cross-cultural experience, and reflect deeply on health equity and systems of care.
In November 2024, HSF awarded its third £10,000 grant to the University of Dundee, enabling 13 medical students to take part in international placements aligned with Fair Trade Electives’ values. These students will be supported to engage ethically with communities overseas, prioritising learning that respects and uplifts host partners.
“We’re thrilled to support Fair Trade Electives and to see more students access electives that truly benefit all parties involved,” said a representative from HSF. “We are now actively inviting applications from other UK and Irish medical schools.”
At Fair Trade Electives, we believe in a future where all students can take part in meaningful electives—regardless of financial background—and where host communities are equal partners in shaping the experience.
If your medical school is interested in applying for funding to support ethical electives, visit the Hospital Saturday Fund’s grant application page:
Apply for a Grant