Help! postgraduate wanting to study medicine

gorgeous_3

Hi
My son is in his 2nd year of a biomedical science degree. He is going to apply to study medicine starting September 2007.He is applying for both the 4 year fast track and the 5 year course. He will be a postgraduate and will have had 3 years of student loans and a little bit of help from our local LEA with fees. Can anyone tell me if he will be entitled to apply for a loan to pay for fees and living costs? Many thanks in advance for any replies.

Crispy_Ambulance

Your son had better be sure that this is what he wants to do, as it is not good news about the fees. Students who have already done a degree will not usually be eligible for help under the new funding system. A few subjects - medicine is one - can apply for a maintenance loan. Most others cannot. However, he will not be eligible to apply for a fee loan. This means that he will have to pay £3000 fees up front each year.

The NHS usually funds the final year of a medicine degree, but they have not yet announced their regulations for 2006 onwards, so that could change as well.

Basically, he can get a loan but no help with fees. Time to think very carefully if this is the right choice.

melancholly

in some universities (that have a medical school) it can be possible to transfer to medicine after starting another subject.... it might be an avenue to explore - the worst they can do is say no

jitsuguy

It might be worth contacting your LEA or the students loan company. I've heard of people being funded by the student loans company for doing to undergraduate degrees.

If he takes the fast track option I believe it will count as a postgraduate degree and he will not get another loan with the student loans company.

Jitsuguy

Crispy_Ambulance

The rules have all changed for 2006 onwards. It may be possible for him to transfer to Medicine to avoid top-up fees, but that will depend on the university. It is up to them what fees they will charge. He will also get no LEA support for part of his course because of previous study.

DrFluffy

Hi! I'm a graduate medical student.

We're not entitled to fees help or any grants, but we have full entitlement to the student loan. If you're under 25 and have only ever lived away from home for educational purposes though, your entitlement is means tested against your parents.

In years 2-4 on GEP programmes and year 5 of a standard course, you get your fees paid by the DH and a small, again potential means tested bursary.

HtH

Fluffy
xxx

DrFluffy

jitsuguy wrote:

If he takes the fast track option I believe it will count as a postgraduate degree and he will not get another loan with the student loans company.

Not true. GEP medicine is still an undergraduate degree...

crazyscientist

Look into whether the med school will allow him to transfer in september into their 2nd year (instead of doing his 3rd year BMS)

Inverin

Hi,
I'm final year GEP and it's true that from year 2 of the 4 year course the NHS pays the annual tuition fees on a non means-tested basis.
From year 2 onwards you are entitled to apply for means tested NHS bursury so again no repayments necessary. Amounts awarded depend on
- dependant(under 25 at start of course and so parents income assessed) or independent
- little more given to London based courses
You are also entitled to claim back travel expenses to the numerous placements so keep every receipt but cheapest route only is reimbursed so don't use it as a way to run a car if you're well off enough to afford one.
Less help available for the 5 year courses though am unclear about their status.
Collegues of mine still get a student loan despite having one from the previous degree. A lot of debt but banks tend to consider medics low risk.

It's nigh on impossible to transfer from a science degree to med as it's hugely competitive, the unis don't really do this option and the country's top students are your competitors.

So, a huge financial commitment, be very sure this is for you.
Get a 1:1 and get into a GEP to minimise expenses.
Good Luck!