Turning Financial Barriers into Opportunities with Student Experience Grants
When Robyn Little graduated from Edinburgh Medical School last summer and began work as a junior doctor, it marked the culmination of a demanding six-year journey shaped by determination, experience, and donor support.
Growing up in Falkirk, Robyn entered medical school as a widening participation (WP) student, aware that WP students often face greater financial pressures than their peers. “I don’t think I would have made it through university without the financial support I received,” she says. Living costs, travel, rent, and bills add strain alongside the academic intensity of medicine—especially in a city like Edinburgh.
Placements require smart clothing, long journeys, and specialist equipment. An essential but expensive piece of equipment is a stethoscope, costing around £100. For students on tight budgets, this added expense can create stress at a critical point in their learning.
The Student Experience Grants are one-off contributions of up to £5,000 to support projects and initiatives that will enhance students’ social, academic, entrepreneurial, sporting or cultural development.
Through a Student Experience Grant, Robyn and other eligible second-year students received reimbursement for the cost of a stethoscope.
“It meant we didn’t have to worry about finding that money. They could put it towards food, rent, or bills—and just focus on learning,” she explains. Although a one-off award, the grant provided immediate, tangible support, helping students feel valued and fully engage in their clinical training.
“These grants simply wouldn’t exist without donations,” she reflects. “It genuinely made a big difference.”
Now a junior doctor in Edinburgh, Robyn is exploring general practice and roles that support communities and improve healthcare access. Her experiences as a student continue to shape how she sees medicine, not just as a profession, but as a responsibility to widen opportunity and representation within it.
“Every donation makes a real impact. Student experience grants turn financial obstacles into opportunities, letting students focus on developing the skills that will shape our future healthcare.”
