RCS England educational bursaries

Thanks to generous contributions from our donors, including Margaret Witt, Alban Barros D’Sa and the Worshipful Company of Needlemakers, we can offer a range of bursaries for RCS England courses every year, delivered mostly through the Bjorn Saven Centre at RCS England headquarters.

Educational bursaries are available to RCS England affiliates and members (including FY2-ST8, SAS surgeons and LEDs) who have completed at least one full year of postgraduate clinical work in a hospital setting and are not
currently in a consultant post.

The application period for educational bursaries will open in January 2027.

What does an RCS England educational bursary cover?

Educational bursaries provide up to £1,000 to cover the cost of attending an RCS England course at our London HQ (Bjorn Saven Centre for Surgical Education).

They can also be used for cadaveric trauma courses managed by RCS England, and the PGCert in Surgery e-learning modules.

Any surplus can be used for UK travel expenses.

Eligibility criteria

Educational bursaries are available to RCS England affiliates and members (including FY2-ST8, SAS surgeons and LEDs) who have completed at least one full year of postgraduate clinical work within a hospital environment and are not currently in a consultant post. Candidates must also exceed the pass mark for the clinical criteria.

People who are on a consultant contract (or equivalent), fellows and surgical team members are not eligible to apply for an educational bursary due to the conditions of the bursary donations.

To ensure the opportunity is shared widely, previous bursary recipients are not eligible to apply again.

Not currently an RCS England member? Become a member or an affiliate member now.

If you have any questions, please contact the education team at educationawards@rcseng.ac.uk.

Educational bursary donors

Alban Barros D'Sa

Alban Barros D’Sa was a consultant general surgeon at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust.

The educational award was set up in memory of Mr Barros D’Sa, reflecting his Upper GI and Colorectal specialty and interest in supporting surgeons in training in these areas.

The Worshipful Company of Needlemakers

The Worshipful Company of Needlemakers is one of 110 Livery Companies in the City of London. It has historic links to the needle-making industry, although few UK manufacturers remain.

The company continues its tradition of supporting the Lord Mayor and the City of London, and its charitable giving supports organisations, including the Royal College of Surgeons England, and individuals associated with the use of needles and education.

Margaret Witt

The Margaret Witt Scholarship Fund for Clinical Excellence was set up with the estate of the late Witt sisters. Margaret Witt was an award-winning surgeon who was keen to develop trainees (and non-training equivalent doctors) by supporting their access to RCS England training opportunities.

The Witt sisters were particularly eager to support women in surgery, insisting that at least some educational bursaries be awarded to women.