Foundation for medicine financial support.

**charlie1985** · 27-08-2009, 01:16 PM

Hello

I'm due to start the Foundation For Medicine this September and already have my loan in place. I just wondered if anyone knows if we are entitled to any other financial support like grants / bursaries? As a mature student with existing financial commitments I'm going to find this year quite a stretch on my resources!

Thanks in advance.

**Felixthecat** · 28-08-2009, 02:05 PM

Hi Charlie,
Congratulations on your place! I did the course 3 years ago and unless things has changed you should also get Maintenance Grant from the Student Finance. However if you have a wife/husband with an income they means tested you against that. Check it out with your Student Finance. We basically got the same on the foundation course as we do know on the MBBS but it might have changed. If you get Maintenance Grant you are also entitled to the Bursary at George's.
Enjoy the course!

**charlie1985** · 28-08-2009, 06:42 PM

Hi Felix,

Thanks for your reply

Yes I already have my Maintenance Grant plus Loan. No husband though so no worries there! How do I go about getting the George's Bursary? Am I right in thinking I'm not entitled to the NHS bursary until much later in the course?

How did you find the year? What was your background? It's good to know someone who has been there!

**Felixthecat** · 28-08-2009, 09:40 PM

You automatically get the sgul bursary - dont need to do anything. I think it is about £1200 per year, less if you are not getting maximum maintenance grant. And you are rigth, the NHS bursary is not until later on, 4th and 5th year for us who do Foundation Year, I think.
I really enjoyed the course and it is a great prep for George's. A lot of work or so it seemed at the time :-) Not sure how the structure is now because there has been some changes since I was there.
When do you start?
My background was music and as far from science as you possibly can get!

**charlie1985** · 28-08-2009, 10:09 PM

Oh ok... does it come in from the student loans company or from SGUL? I don't see any evidence of it yet... i think im getting the maxium maintencance grant. I have sent a few emails to SGUL but no word back, i expect they're quite busy at this time!

I start on the 28th, can't wait! I'm ready for a lot of hard work. Looking forward to getting my welcome pack. I'll be commuting in from Reading, do you think i'll manage or do most people live close by? Is it a kinda 9-5 mon-fri week?

**Felixthecat** · 29-08-2009, 01:24 AM

You will get a separate letter from George's later in the year. The money comes in 2 instalments, Feb and May I think. When you filled in the form for student finance there was a box to tick saying something about giving your permission for Student Finance to share your details with George's. So, SF passes on how much money you get to George's and they give you the bursary accordingly. Sure that's how it works.You could email Zoe Garratt at George's. She is the one in charge of finances. zgarratt@sgul.ac.uk
In terms of commuting, our lot were spread around London and some travelled very long distances which does tend to be wasted time unless you are good at studying on the train. If your time table is the same as ours, you will only be at Kingston 3 days a week and some weeks 1 day at George's. So it is not too bad the first year. However you might want to rethink when you get to George's which is 5 days a week and a lot more work. Some mature students in my year have been commuting and it has been a nightmare so some of them have now moved closer to Tooting

**charlie1985** · 31-08-2009, 01:46 PM

Hey felix,
thanks for all the info, very helpful

good to know the bursary should b on its way at some point.

I only intend to commute for this year, providing i pass i'll move closer next year... i agree it will b a lot of wasted time, and stress no doubt!

I don't suppose you know whether i have to go in on the saturday enrollment day at Kingston? I completed stage 1 of enrollment online and it said stage 2 is face to face on the enrollment day. However then i saw that it said;

"All new Science students (unless you are studying the foundation at Kingston College) enrol on Saturday 19 September."

so now i'm a bit confused... does that mean me?!

thanks in advance

**Felixthecat** · 31-08-2009, 07:33 PM

Yes that is a bit confusing. The foundation course at Kingston College is a foundation to Life Science and nothing to do with foundation to medicine. So roll up on the Saturday! And get you ID ect. Be prepared to stand in a queue for ages!
Lots of good luck with the course and see you next year at George's!
PS: If they still use the Bettleheim chemistry book, I have one for sale very cheaply in the school book shop at George's.

**UKAmerican** · 01-05-2011, 10:55 AM

Originally Posted by charlie1985

Hey felix,
thanks for all the info, very helpful

good to know the bursary should b on its way at some point.

I only intend to commute for this year, providing i pass i'll move closer next year... i agree it will b a lot of wasted time, and stress no doubt!

I don't suppose you know whether i have to go in on the saturday enrollment day at Kingston? I completed stage 1 of enrollment online and it said stage 2 is face to face on the enrollment day. However then i saw that it said;

"All new Science students (unless you are studying the foundation at Kingston College) enrol on Saturday 19 September."

so now i'm a bit confused... does that mean me?!

thanks in advance

Hi Charlie,

I'm starting the Foundation to Medicine course this September. How did you find the course? what was it like? Should I be doing any prep before it starts?

Thanks!