SMA Medical Students' Assistance Fund

A medical education, even a highly subsidised one such as the NUS undergraduate course, remains expensive to many. A recent survey by the NUS Medical Society found that about 21%, or 250 medical students in the NUS undergraduate course, have a monthly household income of less than $3,000. Another 26% come from households that earn between $3,000 to $5,000 a month.

There are a number of bursaries, financial assistance schemes and loans which can help pay for the NUS tuition fees, but what about basic living expenses for the poorer students? We know some of these students have managed by giving tuition – unfortunately, at the expense of their own studies.

The same survey found that a NUS medical student needs at least $4,410 a year to survive day-to-day (transport, food, books and miscellaneous), or $367.50 a month.

To help the poorer students with their basic living expenses, and in partnership with the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine and with the support of the NUS Development Office, SMA has set up the SMA MEDICAL STUDENTS’ ASSISTANCE FUND.

The bursary amount was set at $3,600 a year per student. However, in view of inflation and to ensure that the fund continues to help recipients cope with their basic living expenses, SMA has raised the bursary amount to $4,000 starting from 2009.

This is a long-term commitment by SMA and we will match dollar-to-dollar donations from SMA members and well-wishers, up to a maximum of $20,000 a year. All donations collected will go directly to the students, and will not become part of an endowment fund. Monetary donations in any amount will also qualify for 250% tax exemption* .

*(All contributions received from 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2015 will qualify for 250% tax deduction.)

We urge SMA members to support this worthwhile endeavour – because medical students are already members of the medical profession, and medical students are our future.


HOW YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE

1) MAKE A DONATION
Donations of any amount are welcome. You can make a one-time donation, or even monthly or annual contributions. Payments can be made by cheque, credit card or GIRO. Cheques should be made payable to “National University of Singapore”. Please indicate on the back of the cheque that it is for the “SMA Medical Students’ Assistance Fund”. Please CLICK HERE for the donation form.

2) ADOPT-A-MEDICAL-STUDENT
Pledge at least $1,800 and you would have helped to cover at least half a year of the medical student’s basic living expenses. Payments can be made by cheque, credit card or GIRO. Cheques should be made payable to “National University of Singapore”. Please CLICK HERE for the donation form.

We thank you for your support of the "SMA Medical Students’ Assistance Fund".