Matures FAQ Document

[exms]

Update 29/12/05:
- Uni place numbers updated from Medschoolsonline;
- Notts will not accept grad applicants for their 5 year course
- HYMS accept OU quals
- reinstated some info that was damaged in the prettification
- updated Warwick entrance requirements
- new Irish graduate entry courses info from Teacher
- private med schools section updated to indicate current GMC status
- info on Oxford GEP entry exam
- updated current funding status snafu for grads.

Please note that due to limited time I'm no longer likely to be able to go hunting for information to keep the FAQ up to date, so if people don't tell me about changes, chances are they won't happen. Feel free to email me comments on alexismanning@hotpop.com

Also, minor point, the HTML site has an hourly data transfer limit, so downloading the Word version will usually be preferable.

-- A.

[DH2005]

Exms,

I've not stopped by for months... BUT... all the best, dude.

[jamesc]

great guide thanks! just what i needed to steer me in the right direction! If only i'd found it earlier lol!

[Draven]

Hello,

I have just registered and found the information i was looking for straight away, i.e: the guide, what i needed also to guide me through the correct path.

Anyway time to continue browsing through the forums.

Regards.

[exms]

This is an interim update - so please feel free to contact me with any suggestions or contributions. I'm particularly interested in hearing from anyone who's done the UKCAT and wants to write a section on it.

Update 13/07/06:
OU no longer offers ST240, suggest S205 instead;
GAMSAT cutoffs, ACER url and fees updated;
Info on Scottish funding courtesy of Megan;
Bank loan section updated – URLs fixed, amounts updated;
Brief coverage of UKCAT added;
uni requirements updated from Medschoolsonline;
George’s no longer accept grad applicants for the 5 year course;
Oxford GEP entry exam info removed since they will use UKCAT;
Practical advice for those applying after temporarily working abroad courtesy of MedicMark;
Updated funding section for ‘new system’ of fee loans/grants.

HTH

-- A.

[amy2705598]

I apologise if this is in the FAQ, I have read it through but am still unsure.

How / when are you assessed as an independent student? Is it at the start of the course, or the start of each academic year?

Example, I am 23 when starting a GEM course and will turn 25 at the end of the second year. Am I a dependent student for years 1 & 2 and independent for 3 & 4, or am I dependent for all 4?

I can't even clarify this from the DoH and Student Loans website.

Thanks

[exms]

Your dependent/independent status should be reassessed each year, but you may have to nag your LEA to get them to do anything.

HTH

-- A.

[exms]

21/08/06: More UKCAT info added; DoH bursary amounts updated.

-- A.

[amy2705598]

Hi Exms,

The basis for being classed as an independent student for the NHS student bursaries has changed, so that it is no longer age dependent (students over 25 are not automatically classed as independent). Quite a few other things seem to have changed regarding the NHS bursaries as well. http://www.nhspa.gov.uk/sgu/News/200...2007)%20v2.pdf

When you have chance could you update the FAQ as I am having difficulty getting my head around it. I've got a feeling I'm going to be significantly worse off as my parents earn over the limit (but are still not in a position to be able to really help me financially). If you are not entitled to a NHS bursary, are you entitled to the full student loan instead of only a 50% loan or not?

[exms]

I'm afraid the FAQ is rapidly becoming stale (as these kind of documents do without constant maintenance) and I am finding it very difficult to find the time to do the research to keep it updated - real life and med school work keep getting in the way.

If anyone wants to do the research and submit rewrites for any particular section, that'd be very helpful... else I'm afraid it'll have to wait until the Time Fairy doles me out another portion, which I'll try to make happen in the near future.

If you are not entitled to a NHS bursary, are you entitled to the full student loan instead of only a 50% loan or not?

Some people in my year who weren't eligible for a bursary (e.g. Scots) ended up getting only 50% of the student loan AND no bursary. This is obviously ridiculously unfair and I don't know whether the situation has been addressed or not.

-- A.