Medicine as a 2nd degree: £41650 fees up front. Any advice?!

carla_lj

Dear all,

First time posting on this forum and I would hugely appreciate ANY advice out there.

I am a Physiotherapist, and after nearly 5 years working in the NHS I realise I want to be a Doctor. My options are the 4 year or 5 year course; which some may know are funded completely differently (4 year = NHS support for years 2-4; the 5 year course = NHS support only for 5th year).

My family and partner are based around Bristol, where my only option would be the 5 year course. Because I want to have the option of having kids in the next 5-6 years, I need to be based near my family if I stand a chance of doing so much at one time.

However, being a graduate I am not entitled to a tuition fee loan, any bursaries, grants, scholarships, or fee waivers. I have to pay the £9K fees up front, and at my maximum entitlement will get £5500 per year as a maintenance loan. The NHS support is 5th year only- around £3350 towards tuition costs plus a possible living costs bursary. That is my lot.

I will be working most weekends and during term times to help fund the study, and have savings to give me some buffer. However, I just don't know if this will be enough.

Does anyone know of any other schemes that DO support graduates? I find it crazy how harshly I am being punished for going into this later in life, when my healthcare and life experience will make me such a better doctor. I am scared I won't be able to afford having children or getting a mortgage.

The university funding office didn't know much about it, but have given me another contact to try to get advice from. But if anyone else out there has been in a similar situation or has any ideas...

It would be hugely appreciated. Kind regards,

Carla x

dizzyrascal

You are not being punished, you are making a choice. You have already studied to degree level and the aim of the rules about studying for a second degree was to give everyone the opportunity to study to degree level if they are able.

You should really only aim for the 4 year graduate programme unless you have some private way of funding the course as it is far cheaper in the long term and your personal circumstances and training will make doing the 5 year course a waste of your time.

Have you actually applied for study yet?
If not, when do you envisage starting your course. If it is next year, you need to be applying soon.

For the 4 year programme - this is the current situation

students will have to self-fund the first £3,375 towards their tuition fees in year one but can then apply for a tuition fee loan via Student Finance England (student loans company) to cover the balance. For years two to four, the NHS will pay £3,375 each year towards tuition fees.

Any fee charge above the £3,375 level must be met by the student, although they can apply for a tuition fee loan from the Student Finance England to cover this.

Students may also be able to apply for a loan to help meet living costs through Student Finance England for all 4 years but they can also apply for an NHS bursary to help with living costs in years two to four.

Graduates don’t start paying back Student Finance England loans until they are earning over £21,000 a year. No government maintenance grants are available for the duration of the course.

nimbo

carla_lj wrote: »

Dear all,

Does anyone know of any other schemes that DO support graduates? I find it crazy how harshly I am being punished for going into this later in life, when my healthcare and life experience will make me such a better doctor. I am scared I won't be able to afford having children or getting a mortgage.

Carla x

You aren't being punished for doing it later in life you are having your funding limited to one degree... (I am studying for my second and yes it is hard work and no it's not medicine but the 'pot' cannot be held responsible for people who choose to study for more than one degree or people would perpetually remain students and just never pay the cash back)...

To get your first degree did you do it in three years or were there any false starts as you would be entitled to 3+1 years funding (you may still have the +1 funding)...

also for the 4 or 5 years degree you would be entitled to either 4 or 5 +1 years funding - 3 (If you did it in three) so would only have to self find the first three years funding...

Have you looked into the idea of a career development loan?

There are places to look for private grants etc... (Linky on the student page on the main site).

Bearing in mind you may at points be working 70+ hours a week as part of your training will you have the energy to be pregnant and or have a baby while training? I think that may be taking on just a little much especially if you are planning to work weekends to fund the degree - you may need to factor in just a little time to eat sleep, and maybe occasionally scratch your own bottom...

Person_one

I do actually think schools and careers advisors need to make it more clear to 18 year olds that (mostly) you only get one shot at a degree, and if it turns out a few years down the line that you took the wrong path, tough. How many 18 year olds do degrees they aren't passionate about because its the done thing and later regret it I wonder?

OP, I wouldn't plan to start a family during medical school or in your first few years of qualifying. Unless you have a partner who is willing to be a stay at home parent and you're happy to hardly see your child it will be incredibly difficult.

dizzyrascal

You should also contact the individual medical schools that you are interested in and ask them about bursaries. Doctors can be very generous with their former medical schools so there are often pots of money that need to be used up.
Also, check with your professional organisation. They may have a charitable fund for physiotherapists going on to study medicine.

You can't fund a second degree in medicine with a Career Development Loan.

nimbo

dizzyrascal wrote: »

You should also contact the individual medical schools that you are interested in and ask them about bursaries. Doctors can be very generous with their former medical schools so there are often pots of money that need to be used up.
Also, check with your professional organisation. They may have a charitable fund for physiotherapists going on to study medicine.

You can't fund a second degree in medicine with a Career Development Loan.

Sorry didn't know that about a career development loan.

dizzyrascal

Person one and nimbo make good points about working and studying.
You might manage some part time work in years one and two (just) but it becomes impossible when you do your clinical years. Don't forget that there are no long holidays after year one. In practice you will spend most of your spare time getting as much clinical experience as possible.
Then, when you graduate you have to work hard, with odd shift times in your foundation years so having a family might have to wait a while as you get established in your career.

carla_lj

Thanks all for your comments.

I wasn't aware of the "+1" type option- so thank you Nimbo! I spoke to student finance and think I can use this to support my 4th year of study; 5th year will then have some NHS support. This might make all the difference for me in just getting a bit of a safety net. The university funding office think I might be eligible for the access to learning fund, which would also be a major help.

I am well aware of the funding available for the 4 year course, and if this were an option for me then it would be absolutely fine and I'd be able to self fund the tuition costs that this entails. Unfortunately, it is not an option, much as I would like it to be!

I am also well aware how difficult it will be to have children during my study and indeed how difficult the course will be. However I cannot change my circumstances. I may end up not having children for a while but I'm still going to aspire to achieve and give myself as many options as possible; and if it turns out to be too difficult, then so be it. I do know people that have had children both during study and foundation years- it isn't ideal, but it is possible.

I think by the time I start in 2013 I will have nearly £15K saved to give me a buffer for when the clinical years get really tough. I have spoken with the course tutors so I know when I can and can't do part time work.

I think it is all possible but it will be close to the edge and anything extra will just give me a bit more faith! There definitely aren't any bursaries available to me via the uni but I am also looking into private sponsorship/grants so I will check out that link as well (thanks again Nimbo).

Thanks again, any extra pearls of wisdom welcomed . X

dizzyrascal

Just checking that you do have a confirmed place or that you have already applied. If not you are cutting it a bit fine as the final date for applicatiions is usually about the 15th Oct (not sure what it is this year)

Also, I would check the option about the 1 year of funding that you think is available. My understanding is that it is for first degrees only and gives you a bit of breathing space if you change course or take some time out etc.
I did not think it was available to part-fund of a second undergraduate degree. I would check this with the university or your LEA rather than SFE as they seem to be brilliant at giving out totally wrong information, especially at the moment. I do see a lot of students who do medicine as a second degree and this has never been an option for them as far as I am aware and many of their questions do relate to funding.

Taiko

LEA's no longer exist for higher education.

The +1 doesn't apply due to already holding an honours degree.