Graduates affording to study medicine as a2nd degree?!

**469er** · 15-03-2008, 03:17 PM

Originally Posted by Kangy

Just wanted to add, after trying to sort out my funding yesterday, if you have already done an undergrad degree you are not automatically entitled to any money including student loans, even at the lower level. Apparently you have to apply as per usual and it is at the discretion of your LEA if they will allow you to receive anything.
I spoke to Student Finance Direct yesterday and they told me this.

May I suggest that this is worth checking again? What you have been told is contrary to everything that individual education officers, and also university student welfare officers, say. I have gone into this in some detail (my situation is particularly idiosyncratic) and it is the first time I have heard this said. Graduates reading this should not despair!

**Kangy** · 15-03-2008, 03:18 PM

Originally Posted by chris5656

So we might not be entitled to any maintenance loan? - without that I cant afford to go. Im going to contact them today.

Kangy, was your conditional offer letter good enough as proof of a place at university next year?

Do you mean for Student Finance? In that case, yes, - the place is confirmed once all the conditions have been met, before you get any finance, but you can apply now for funding in September.

**chris5656** · 15-03-2008, 09:55 PM

Originally Posted by 469er

May I suggest that this is worth checking again? What you have been told is contrary to everything that individual education officers, and also university student welfare officers, say. Graduates reading this should not despair!

Well I am worried, and I will be worrying until monday when I can chat to the student finance people and sort this out. All the research I have done has led me to believe that graduates are entitled to a full (means tested) maintenance loan. Without this I will be 'struggling' [understatement].

Originally Posted by Kangy

Do you mean for Student Finance? In that case, yes, - the place is confirmed once all the conditions have been met, before you get any finance, but you can apply now for funding in September.

Yeh that is what I meant. Are you sure they were not talking about the tuition fee loan? - I know we dont get that.

**Kangy** · 15-03-2008, 11:16 PM

469er - I'm only repeating what I was told by Student Finance Direct, I really don't want to cause any worry - I checked with this guy three times, and he also went and asked someone else (though I have to say he wasn't very long so possibly fobbing me off??) and he insisted after a first degree it's all up to the discretion of the LEA. I spoke to my LEA and they have said that I will get the maintenance loan.

Chris - maybe that's what he meant, the tuition fees loan - I stressed maintenance 2 or 3 times, but maybe he was having a bad day and really just didn' get what I meant?

**chris5656** · 15-03-2008, 11:36 PM

Ah, thats ok. So you are going to get your maintenance loan. I think maybe the guy you spoke to was a bit confused.

**aspirant doc** · 04-06-2008, 07:49 PM

Originally Posted by addy1

Not sure if you are at Med School already, or if you are in preclincal years, but I can assure you you won't be able to earn 3 grand a year during clincal years!

Sorry, but I disagree. I know quite a few grads/matures/parents who earn up to £6K while in clinical years. I will earn well over £3K next year - my first clinical year. It comes at a cost in terms of time/social life/swanning around, but it is possible.

I'm not trying to be arsey, I'm just trying to get a positive view of this -enthusiasm and commitment can go a long way.

All the best, Nick

**superdoc1** · 04-06-2008, 07:58 PM

Originally Posted by aspirant doc

Sorry, but I disagree. I know quite a few grads/matures/parents who earn up to £6K while in clinical years.

Doing what?

**addy1** · 04-06-2008, 08:10 PM

Originally Posted by aspirant doc

Sorry, but I disagree. I know quite a few grads/matures/parents who earn up to £6K while in clinical years. I will earn well over £3K next year - my first clinical year. It comes at a cost in terms of time/social life/swanning around, but it is possible.

I'm not trying to be arsey, I'm just trying to get a positive view of this -enthusiasm and commitment can go a long way.

All the best, Nick

Right, firstly, I have plenty of enthusiasm and commitment, hence why I have just got all As in my finals, not easy to do without such traits, and secured one of the most competitive jobs in my area.

The only people I know who can earn such salaries are those who are qualified as something else eg physios or pharmacists.

Good luck with your earnings next year, however I am unsure as to how aware you are of the "commitments" of clinical years as you haven't actually started them yet. 3rd year it may be possible but 4th and 5th year are very time consuming, especially as some of my placements were over 30 miles each way with no accomodation available, therefore leaving at 6.30am and getting home at 7.30pm doesn't leave too much time for studying as it is.

Unless your med school has lower hours or you are a part time investment banker I think you would find it difficult.

And no I didn't do any "swanning around" at med school, I worked night shifts as a nursing auxillary, (have done for past 8 years), got paid to go on weekends away with the army cadets etc, but (as a lowly undergrad) my earnings were no where near the figures you quote.

As for people doing this as parents, I am amazed that anyone can find the time to be a parent and a med student and I applaud them, but to be able to earn £6k a year on top of that...?!

I certainly wasn't choosing social life over earnings either, I am afraid for much of the year my social life went entirely out of the window, exams were far too important. Now days with quartiles etc you need to do more than just pass in order to get you the extra points on your UKFPO form.

We had modular finals as well in final year, meaning that we had 3 lots of exams with about 15 weeks in between each. For a couple of weeks before each set I literally was inside my house revising. So I am not sure of many jobs where every 15 weeks you can just have 2-3 weeks off.

If you can do it then well done you, but I for one (as someone who has completed all 3 clinical years) think that med school alone is a big enough commitment. Having to repeat a year due to lack of studying would be financially more crippling in my opinion.

**aspirant doc** · 04-06-2008, 08:39 PM

Hi Addy

Congratulations on your results and your job. Great news. Calm down - I wasn't doubting your enthusiasm or commitment! But I do know people who manage medical degree/parenting/earning, so I'm trying to point out to the OP that it is totally possible.

I'm totally aware of the time involved in my year 3 from asking staff and students about this! No, I'm sure my medical school has many hours as any other, and no, I'm not a merchant banker or physio or pharmacist. As for the parent issue - I am a parent and earnt well over £3k last year.

There's always a way; I think it's unfair on the OP if everyone just says there's no way -there blatantly is for people out there.

All the best, Nick

**Frank's mum** · 04-06-2008, 09:51 PM

I'm a med student and a parent in clinical years who has earned just over 6k in the year.
It wasn't easy and probably meant that I achieved a lower grade than I was capable of but it meant I had enough money.
It's not a nursing/physio etc type job nor something that I did before I went to uni.
I think I am unusual, but I've worked since I was 14 and like to have my own money so I'm prob more driven to do it by some kind of pride that makes me not want to have to ask for 'pocket money' from my husband!