Retrain as a Doctor - Advice Sought on How to live while i do

debeast

Dear All,

I have a mortgage, a pregnant wife and a 3 year old and have no job in 40 days. :eek:

If i'm really lucky i'll get another job before the 40 days are up but the searching and interviewing has led me to the conclusion that i really need to get out of my sector as :
1) There are very few jobs that i'm suitable for
2) They are pretty poorly paid
3) There are a lot of people going for them

So i want to retrain as a medic

Now i've looked into how long it takes and all the fees that are applicable but i'm after advice really on if anyone knows of any subsidies/loans/grants or anything that will help me pay the mortgage while i study.

Here are the things i think i can get does anyone know if i can get anything else??

• NHS Busary
• Student loan (maintenence only as i already have a degree)
• Child tax credits
• Free council tax

Any insights very welcome. Thank you !!!!

dizzyrascal

In short, apart from applying to charities (a long shot) you seem to have covered all the possibilities. Also, do remember that once you begin your clinical years that it is impossible to do any part time work as you are expected to work on wards etc. Thats why you get a bursary.
Are you applying for the Graduate entry programme? This is a much better option from a financial point of view as you only need to fund year 1. The other 3 years attract a bursary. (although it is not a lot of money, it is designed to keep you off the streets.
Rich relatives? Often the most common choice which sadly rules out a lot of people
Only other thing is to ask if the university you are applying to has any scholarships that you can apply for. They often do. Ask the medical school how previous applicants have survived. They may know of other, less public sources (a local benefactor)

InsideInsurance

Ultimately it is why a lot of people dont decide to go back to uni to do a completely different career after having dependents unless they are fortunate enough to have a large bank account or a high earning spouse etc.

Speak to the uni/ med school in question in the first instance, they'll know more about options available than anyone else.

When I did medicine I cannot recall any students over 25 in my year and in the year above there were only 2, one of which had the backing of a wealthy family, the other (I assume) had no dependents as they lived in student halls and were a career student having already two under graduate degrees, a PhD and I believe a few other post grad qualifications.

Why do you want to go into medicine? If it is an altruistic desire to help people perhaps going for being a paramedic or another role with less arduous training may be more manageable?

MrChandlerBing

Have you looked into the other side of this? Like how realistic is it that you will be able to get on to a course?

dizzyrascal

InsideInsurance wrote: »

When I did medicine I cannot recall any students over 25 in my year and in the year above there were only 2, one of which had the backing of a wealthy family, the other (I assume) had no dependents as they lived in student halls and were a career student having already two under graduate degrees, a PhD and I believe a few other post grad qualifications.

I fear that this is often the case. I know of a few people who have done medicine after completing PhD's and I can only think that it is a way to stay as a student or continue learning. There is an element that find it easier to stay on rather than enter the world of work.
I have also known radiographers and physio's or other medically qualified people to qualify as doctors but they come from a background in the health sector so have a better idea about the job. They are also able to earn while they learn, or partially support themselves while training in the first few years.

I think that unless medical students can get some external financial support (even in the clinical years) it will be impossible to do medicine without generous parents or relatives. I believe that it is normal for many medical students now.
Lots of charities will help medical students rather than say lawyers but it is not a guaranteed income and may only be one of payments.