Financing graduate medicine as a single parent...

**orinoco** · 23-04-2010, 02:49 PM

Hi everyone, I'm a single parent and currently set to graduate in 2012 from the Open Uni with a dream to study graduate medicine. I'm at such a crossroads right now and trying to figure out the best route into medical school. I know graduate courses are NHS funded for years 2-4 but I understand you don't get that much other help financially (even though my first degree is from the OU so no maintenance loans taken - correct me if I'm wrong!). I'd love to hear from any other single parents on graduate courses as to how you cope money-wise so I can figure out if I should carry on with my first degree or just try to get into a 5-year course as a non-graduate. I don't own my home and live in probably the most expensive place in the UK for rent, childcare and everything else so I'm sure money will be tight but would love to know if it's even possible...thanks

**Penfelyn** · 24-07-2010, 07:24 PM

Hi. I'm not a single parent, but I'm a Med student on a graduate entry course, due my first baby in November. I just completed the first year of study (and passed - yey!)
As far as finances go, in years 2-4 the NHS pay tuition fees for everyone, plus you should receive an income assessed bursary which is paid monthly (this is non-repayable). Alongside the bursary payment (which depends on your household income - having a child will increase the amount you receive) you can apply for a maintenance loan (this would have to be paid back once qualified and working).
I think there is help for childcare costs too - also through the bursary scheme. I hope so anyway, otherwise we're scuppered!

Hope this helps and good luck! Don't let anyone tell you that you can't study medicine because you have a child. My university has been really supportive and suggested I had a whole academic year off to be with my baby. My place is held open to go back next September.

Also, I'd definitely apply for a 4-year graduate course. The 5 year course gets no bursary funding (apart from year 5) so it'd be all maintenance loans etc. The 4 year course is harder work (but it can be done!) but on average, I'd say I'm saving around £12,000 - as I won't have tuition fees to pay for the next 3 academic years plus may not need a maintenance loan if the bursary payment is good enough.

**aspirant doc** · 24-07-2010, 09:25 PM

Okay, I'm a single parent but on a 5 year course. I turned down the GEP place I was offered. Financially it is tough, but with student loan (same as GEP NHS bursary?) and part time jobs, and the odd application to university welfare funds, hard cash from research projects, it is possible to earn what I need for my home and for my children's mum's home. It comes at a cost, and I mean academically, not financially.

There is someone here, a single parent at medical school, who earns over £10K a year by being very proactive and casts his/her job net very wide to do this, and that does not include loans.

Don't give up - it is possible, but not straightforward!

**Frank's mum** · 24-07-2010, 10:56 PM

Hi
You're actually better off with regards to financing on the undergrad course, the bursary is very mean with childcare, the max that they pay would not get you a nursery place in London. They also pay less per child than the maintenance grants etc that you can get from the LEA/SLC. I got about £4000 less under the bursary than when I got the grants/SLC money.
If you have the qualifications for a 5 year I'd say go for it, the holidays are long up to year 4 so you will have time to be with your children, and the workload is less intense at the beginning which is when you need time to get the family life organised around your studying.
I do have a husband so things were easier up to a point (but it meant his income was taken into consideration), but I managed to work enough hours to earn about £6000 per year without knocking myself out and also being able to take care of my son.
Hope this helps

**Penfelyn** · 27-07-2010, 02:36 PM

Students on the grad courses are also entitled to claim maintenance loans from the LEA/SLC. This year I received a maintenance loan plus a £3,000 grant. I'm budgeting that along with my bursary payments, I'll still get a maintenance loan. This 'income' will pay for childcare and such and my husband's wage pays the mortgage, bills and everything else. Think there are pros and cons to both courses. Also, in my med school its just the first 18months that are accelerated. The workload in the clinical phase is the same as the 5 year course as we join the cohort above. So I'm anticipating I'll have more flexible working hours and more time to spend with my daughter. All the best