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Charity Pharmacist Support received 88 applications for bursaries from students across 24 universities in Great Britain in 2025, which means that they had applications from students from all but four pharmacy schools.
In a statement that announced its 2026 student bursary scheme, published on 3 February 2026, the charity said the figures were “a clear reflection of both the need for, and trust in, the scheme”.
“Since the scheme began in 2014, and up to 2025, 103 bursaries have been awarded, totalling £332,000, helping students stay on their courses, complete their degrees and move forward into the profession,” it said.
Pharmacist Support added that the 2026 scheme will offer awards of £3,000 or £5,000 to students entering their final year in September 2026, who have experienced an unexpected challenge that has had both personal and financial impacts since starting their degree.
The scheme has been launched with support from wholesaler Cencora Alliance Healthcare for the third year in a row, the charity said.
Danielle Hunt, chief executive of Pharmacist Support, commented: “Students are the future of the profession, and some face unexpected hardship that puts their studies, wellbeing and confidence at risk.
“The bursary scheme is about more than financial support — it’s about belief, reassurance and helping students stay the course. We are incredibly grateful to Cencora Alliance Healthcare for standing alongside us for a third year and helping us make this life-changing support possible.”
Marie Evans, senior vice president and managing director of Cencora Alliance Healthcare, said: “Pharmacy students are facing increasing pressures, and we believe it’s vital to help remove barriers that could prevent talented individuals from completing their training and entering the profession.”
In January 2026, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society called for pharmacy students to be eligible for the NHS Wales bursary scheme.
In June 2025, pharmacy students in England were included, for the first time, in the NHS Learning Support Fund.
