title: An update on finances and financial support for medical students in Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine.
abstract: Increasing financial challenges have resulted in great debt among medical graduates worldwide. In Singapore, more scholarships and bursaries have been disbursed in recent years to support students who are financially challenged. We aimed to study the financial status of medical students in National University of Singapore (NUS) Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine (i.e. NUS Medicine), Singapore, and the financial support available to them.
  
  
  
  A cross-sectional quantitative study was performed. Surveys were distributed and completed by medical students of NUS Medicine. Information regarding household income, financial assistance, monthly allowance and expense, and concurrent occupations was collected. We compared our findings with the results of a similar study performed in 2007 and national income data.
  
  
  
  A total of 956 (66.2%) out of 1,445 medical students completed the survey. 19.5% and 58.5% of respondents came from households with monthly incomes < SGD 3,000 and > SGD 7,000, respectively. 20.6% of students had loans, 18.9% had scholarships and bursaries, and 14.4% worked to support themselves.
  
  
  
  Medical school fees have risen by more than 50% over the past ten years. Our study found that there were increases in the proportion of students from both the lower- and higher-income segments, with proportionally fewer students from the middle-income segment. A large number of students were working and/or had some form of financial support. More should be done to meet the needs of financially challenged medical students to ensure equal access to quality medical education.
authors: Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
authors: Andrew Arjun
authors: AA
authors: Sayampanathan
authors: Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
authors: Yeong Tze Wilnard
authors: YT
authors: Tan
authors: Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
authors: Jie Ming Nigel
authors: JM
authors: Fong
authors: Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
authors: Yun Qing
authors: YQ
authors: Koh
authors: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, National University Health System, Singapore.
authors: Chew Lip
authors: CL
authors: Ng
authors: Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
authors: Niraj
authors: N
authors: Mohan
authors: Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
authors: Jin Hao Justin
authors: JH
authors: Jang
authors: Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.|Division of Infectious Diseases, National University Health System, Singapore.
authors: Paul Anantharajah
authors: PA
authors: Tambyah
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004501:Education, Medical / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005378:Financial Support; D005382:Financing, Personal / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D012577:Schools, Medical / Q000191:economics*; D012846:Singapore; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: education cost; financial assistance; medical education; medical student; tuition fees