The Student Room Group

Financing Medical School

Basically, I'm in my AS year at the moment, and would really like to apply for medicine, but am concerned about finances. I wouldn't be entitled to anything more than the most basic maintenance loan of £3300, but as I am one of 6 children (blended family), my family can't afford to give me any money whilst I am at university.

Given that most of the universities (all outside London) that I'm looking at advise a minimum conservative yearly budget of £6500-7000, I have a shortfall of about £3-4000, and even worse during the 5th/6th year when the NHS bursary kicks in.

What I'm concerned about is how possible it will be to work enough to meet this. It does mean I'll have to give up on the idea of applying to Oxford, as I know they don't allow undergraduates to work, which I am really gutted about.
However, I'm worried about other universities too -
a.) whether I'll be able to achieve well enough academically if I'm working ~12 hours a week in a part time job, and during holidays.
b.) whether I'll be able to earn enough
c.) whether this is even possible at all during clinical years
I'm not work shy, and I'm happy to support myself, but I also want to be realistic about what I'm looking at.

The other option is a Professional Training Loan, but those cannot be applied for until second year, effective third year. They're currently only offered by one bank, and difficult to get hold of; I'm not entirely sure I'd want to risk being able to continue with my degree on obtaining one post-commencing.

Just really wanted to know what other people's thoughts are on how much it's possible to work during the degree, and their own plans for financing living costs?
I know people who work on the course here. It does make it harder but it is possible. Don't know about in later years though...
Reply 2
crazylemon
I know people who work on the course here. It does make it harder but it is possible. Don't know about in later years though...



If you don't mind me bombarding you with questions, are they working a significant number of hours (i.e - saturdays + evening shifts? How big an impact does it seem to have on academics? Does it seem to be possible to maintain job, academics AND have a social life??


Sorry :p:
chloemo14
If you don't mind me bombarding you with questions, are they working a significant number of hours (i.e - saturdays + evening shifts? How big an impact does it seem to have on academics? Does it seem to be possible to maintain job, academics AND have a social life??


Sorry :p:


I don't know many but they just do weekends (I think). Their social life seems ok and they don't appear to be failing...

The other thing to do is work over the summer full time if you can for those 3/4months. Then hopefully build up saving to tide you over the later years.
/in before escorting
Reply 5
If you can get a job as a bank HCA the night shifts are a godsend. It's easy money if you do a few over the holidays and good experience also.
Are you sure you're only entitled to the basic? Unless your parents earn a ridiculous amount of dosh, you can get a partial grant/extra loan on top of the basic.

I work ~10 hours a week during termtime - Wednesday afternoons and any half-days I have off, etc, and about 25hrs a week in the holidays (HCA). You can easily earn 3K in the summer holidays if you work fulltime, and most HCA jobs will let you opt out of EWTD too. I'm certainly not failing exams, definitely not missing out on a social life, and am just pretty tired a lot of the time...
unknownking321
/in before escorting

:p:
does this look like 4chan?
JordanCarroll
:p:
does this look like 4chan?


Um escorting, its a good idea, I mean later on if the OP blogs about it, he/she could turn it into a book and make a nice little bit of cash. Since prostitution is not illegal I guess the GMC could not **** people over?
Single Malt
Um escorting, its a good idea, I mean later on if the OP blogs about it, he/she could turn it into a book and make a nice little bit of cash. Since prostitution is not illegal I guess the GMC could not **** people over?

saying tha, I think a GP recently revealed that she was the face behind some escort blogger lol :p:
I don't think alot of people receive financial help from their folks, I know most of mine didn't when I did biology. Some had help but it was usually very minor amount per month.

Most worked a fair bit but you'd have to tighten your belt and manage your money very well.

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