The Army, Air Force and Navy offer the HPSP scholarship to students interested in and qualified for medical school and military life. Potential soldiers must meet physical standards for commission as a military officer in order to be accepted into the program. For medical students, the program is available to those enrolled in or accepted into programs resulting in allopathic or osteopathic medical degrees. A stipend of about $1,900 and the full cost of tuition are covered under the scholarship, which also pays for fees and materials, including books. A $20,000 signing bonus may also be available to qualified students. Repayment takes the form of 45 days of active duty served during each program year. The student will also repay each program year with one year of active duty following residency. The minimum service commitment is two years for the Army program and three years for the Air Force and Naval programs.
This scholarship is offered to provide medical professionals to areas where there is a shortage of qualified medical professionals. Medical student applicants must be enrolled in or matriculating into an accredited allopathic or osteopathic medical training program. The NHSC scholarship offers the accepted student an approximately $1,300 monthly stipend and full coverage of tuition and fees for the duration of his medical training. Books and some other related education costs are also covered. NHSC graduates are required to make a service commitment of at least two years with each year of support resulting in a one year commitment following residency.
The MSTP seeks to provide the nation with trained biomedical researchers and leads to a medical degree as well as a doctorate degree in a research specialty relevant to medical research. Most of the program's graduates go into the field of medical research, although they are also qualified to practice clinical medicine. MSTP monies are distributed by the medical schools and universities running MSTP programs. Students apply to the host institutions, which select scholarship recipients and administer disbursement of funds. The program's benefits include some support for supplies and other fees and costs related to education. Tuition is provided for and the student is paid a stipend. Not surprisingly, MSTP students may take seven or eight or more years to finish their degrees. The program, however, only provides a maximum of six years' worth of support, after which the host institution provides other sources of funding for the student. There is no service commitment associated with the MSTP.