Access to Medicine part-time

**DOhio** · 04-03-2011, 10:03 PM

Hi guys,

I have decided to follow my dream and become a doctor after spending many years unfulfilled as a journalist.

I was wondering if anybody could offer me any advice regarding doing an Access to Medicine course on a part-time basis. I have seen in a couple of forums that universities will reject an application out of hand if they see the course has been done on a part-time basis, as it suggests a lack of commitment.

I find this stance to be ridiculous as I would need to do the course p/t so i could continue to save money for the actual degree, rather than tlacking committment.

Can anybody shed any light on the situation for me? It's the p/t course at Manchester College and begins in Spetember.

Any help will be greatly appreciated and best of luck to all those following the same dream as me!

**Cutaneoplast™** · 08-03-2011, 02:46 AM

Originally Posted by DOhio

Hi guys,

I have decided to follow my dream and become a doctor after spending many years unfulfilled as a journalist.

I was wondering if anybody could offer me any advice regarding doing an Access to Medicine course on a part-time basis. I have seen in a couple of forums that universities will reject an application out of hand if they see the course has been done on a part-time basis, as it suggests a lack of commitment.

I find this stance to be ridiculous as I would need to do the course p/t so i could continue to save money for the actual degree, rather than tlacking committment.

Can anybody shed any light on the situation for me? It's the p/t course at Manchester College and begins in Spetember.

Any help will be greatly appreciated and best of luck to all those following the same dream as me!

I think there is one in London. It's at Birkbeck College. I think you can do this access course within 2 years part-time or 1 year intensive course - so you have a choice. Not sure if it's taught at daytime or in the evenings. Life Sciences for Subjects Allied to Medicine (Certificate of Higher Education), 2010/2011 entry (part-time study) - Birkbeck, University of London

**Mamba** · 09-03-2011, 10:34 AM

I really would not if I was you. Most and I really mean most Medical schools, do not accept A2M achieved on a part time basis. I also see why now. It does not test your ability under pressure and this is essential in Medical School.

Giving up a year of time, money and life is nothing to the sacrifices you will need just to get through thr 5 years of med school. Think about what that says. I often think that people that want to do it part time are a little nervous about commiting. If you want medicine then go for it, it is the best decision I have ever made. I really, really, really enjoy my life. But it is hard, very hard. If you want in on the life.... then you need to make hard decisions too. Right from Day 1.

As for thinking that "surely a College would not offer it unless it was accepted." Ask for the stats on who got in from the year before. Then when you see that only maybe 1 in 6 get in on the full time course, you realise why the college will happily accept the £3,000 for your part time qualification that has little value.

Go full time or go home my friend

Mamba

**DOhio** · 10-03-2011, 01:12 AM

Hi guys,

Thanks for your replies.

Mamba - I understand what you are saying re: workload, handling the pressure etc. That's not the reason why I wanted to do it part-time, the reason I wanted to do it part-time was to allow me to continue working on a part-time basis and saving money to pay the fees when I eventually start the degreee.

I'll go for the full-time option then and hopefully get some help from my folks.

Thanks

**Mamba** · 10-03-2011, 09:56 AM

Have you done a degree before?

Do you realise that you dont need to save a penny. Everyone gets grants and loans to pay for uni. You only pay it back agter you qualify and earn sufficient amounts to pay it back.

I didnt know this either, but you really dont need to worry. The less cash you have, the more you will be loaned. Works out about10- 12 thou a year. (with fees etc)

Mamba

**AdinaP** · 10-03-2011, 02:18 PM

As Mamba said, a medical school NEED to be done full time
Part time you can do anything else that you want, journalism, geography, history but no medicine.

So, go for full time and follow your dream

**DOhio** · 12-03-2011, 12:12 AM

Hi Adina,

It was not the medical degree I wanted to do part-time but the access course that I need to do before I apply to medical school.

Mamba - yes I have done a degree before, so I'm not eligible for help with fees and so have to pay up front. I understand that you can apply for an NHS bursary to cover years 2 to 4 if you do the accelerated course but I'm not eligible as my dad earns too much

I've decided to put off the access course for another year so I can continue working, get lots of work experience at weekends and save money to pay for the degree