[manderson]

(Original post by BulbaSa)
Hi All!
I'm a 22 yr old graduate and I've got an offer for Keele starting sept on the 5 year course! Having a bit of a problem with student finance though, I was told that I could get tuition fees funded by SLC then later told I could not and that there was "confusion amongst supervisors which is why students have been told the wrong info". Are all graduates on the 5 year course privately funding it themselves?? Any advice?? I don't want to give up my place because of financial reasons (also I didn't apply to GEM because of the advice I originally recieved from SLC!!).

Would appreciate any comments!!

Thanks

Unfortunately, graduates cannot get any help with their tuition fees through student finance, but can get maintenance loans through them. It has to be privately funded by graduates. Have you talked to your bank about a professional development loan? They may be able to help. I'm not sure. As there are no burseries or scholarships available from Keele to graduates either, which is really frustrating. I would suggest exploring your options by searching funding for second degrees. I hope you can still come to study medicine. Also 5th year is paid for by an NHS bursary, so that will be covered. It's just the four years you would have to seek some advice from your local council. Also on the Keele website there is a list of companies that may help funding for a second degree, which I have used to ask for advice and see if they can help. Good luck.

[BulbaSa]

I've looked into the professional development loans but I think the max is 10 000 unfortunately. I know I've looked through that list too, I'll keep exploring! Thanks for your help advice ...also does anyone know why Keele are stopping GEM after this year?

[Phi11]

(Original post by BulbaSa)
I've looked into the professional development loans but I think the max is 10 000 unfortunately. I know I've looked through that list too, I'll keep exploring! Thanks for your help advice ...also does anyone know why Keele are stopping GEM after this year?

£10k.... That sucks.

My dad has basically agreed to re-mortage the house for me as I cannot find any funding either. I will be using the maintenance loan for my housing costs and I am relying on getting a job during years 1 and 2 to cover living costs. I am already -£1300 though! :/

Is there not a Hardship fund? I know a few people at Manchester who were struggling and they were eligible for a small bursary.

[Shalo1]

This seems like a really random post and slightly off topic. But regarding the conditional offers of AAAb; i think it's really unlikely that I'm going to get those grades, but iv heard in the past keele have compromised on results day giving people their place if they've just missed out. Does anyone think they'll do it this year and to how many people??

[BulbaSa]

(Original post by Phi11)
£10k.... That sucks.

My dad has basically agreed to re-mortage the house for me as I cannot find any funding either. I will be using the maintenance loan for my housing costs and I am relying on getting a job during years 1 and 2 to cover living costs. I am already -£1300 though! :/

Is there not a Hardship fund? I know a few people at Manchester who were struggling and they were eligible for a small bursary.

Haha I have tried hinting in that direction to my parents although I'm not sure they're in a stable position to do that for me. There are bursaries available but I think they're for only a small amount and I really need to know I have the funding for the four years, dropping out part-way through would be terrible!

[ladycharchar]

(Original post by metachic)
Ah! The open day sounds great. So sad I couldn't go as I had work.

Did you get to visit Barnes Hall at all? Is it true that the premier flats aren't available to freshers? It's so close to the medical campus too! Is Lindsay Court relatively close? lol I'm just mega lazy hahaha XD

Can't wait for September! I'll be the 22 year old grad with dark hair

Good luck to all those still waiting to hear!

I don't know if anyone has replied to this, but I haven't read through the rest of the posts yet haha!

I'm in my first year at Keele now!

Yeah the the premier flats aren't available to freshers unfortunately You're allowed to live on campus for second year as well when you're a medic and I got told by the people in accommodation that it'd be unlikely I'd get Barnes premier flats too because they reserve them for third years

I live in Lindsay Court at the moment, it's really nice! I'd say it takes 10-15 minutes to walk to med school, but I'm lazy too and just catch the free bus that comes every ten minutes instead haha

[Missymoo84]

(Original post by BulbaSa)
I've looked into the professional development loans but I think the max is 10 000 unfortunately. I know I've looked through that list too, I'll keep exploring! Thanks for your help advice ...also does anyone know why Keele are stopping GEM after this year?

I know someone on the current GEM course and from the way they describe it, it seems that taking on the 3 or so graduates and trying to integrate them within second year appears to be more hassle than its worth. The students only get a couple of weeks prior to joining the second years to catch up on things like communication skills, so have to cram lots from first year on their own.

It a shame it's stopping though and seems a step backwards for keele.

[metachic]

(Original post by ladycharchar)
I don't know if anyone has replied to this, but I haven't read through the rest of the posts yet haha!

I'm in my first year at Keele now!

Yeah the the premier flats aren't available to freshers unfortunately You're allowed to live on campus for second year as well when you're a medic and I got told by the people in accommodation that it'd be unlikely I'd get Barnes premier flats too because they reserve them for third years

I live in Lindsay Court at the moment, it's really nice! I'd say it takes 10-15 minutes to walk to med school, but I'm lazy too and just catch the free bus that comes every ten minutes instead haha

thanks for replying

are the premier en-suites available to freshers? i see there's one for 33 weeks.. but that's a lot of packing and unpacking @_@

:O the bus is free! that is definitely music to my ears! it will make life a whole lot easier lol

[metachic]

(Original post by Phi11)
£10k.... That sucks.

My dad has basically agreed to re-mortage the house for me as I cannot find any funding either. I will be using the maintenance loan for my housing costs and I am relying on getting a job during years 1 and 2 to cover living costs. I am already -£1300 though! :/

Is there not a Hardship fund? I know a few people at Manchester who were struggling and they were eligible for a small bursary.

I googled it and there seems to be some sort of help but it seems rather flakey..

http://www.keele.ac.uk/studentfundin...olearningfund/

The chance to accomplish our dreams is amazing. But the financial aspects of it are seriously daunting.. >_<

[BulbaSa]

Yeah looked into this...Think its more of a thing you do if you find yourself really low on money during your course. It's good that there does seem to be some help out there...but it seems like nothing now with the 9000 a year fees!! Thanks for your help

[FJH]

So I finally firmed Keele
I posted ages ago about being unsure, thanks for all those who replied to that sorry I never got back to you guys. I didn't reply cos I needed to take timeout from the whole uni thing and really think about where I wanted to go.
so yeah I'm really very greatful for all those have helped pre-interview and after interview honestly it has been really brilliant-thank you!
I sincerely hope everyone here gets a place to study medicine whether it's this year or another time and that everyone gets the A level or Degree results they need.

And to end off this long post where are any other 'firmers' thinking of for accomodation?

[rumandraisin]

(Original post by FJH)
And to end off this long post where are any other 'firmers' thinking of for accomodation?

Congrats. See you in September But to butt in on your question, if i recall correctly you don't get a choice really when it comes to specific accommodation. You just get to put your preferred option, for example: 1) room with hand basin, 2) flat, 3) room without hand basin, 4) en-suite

At least i am sure this is how it was when i applied, things may well have changed?

[FJH]

(Original post by rumandraisin)
Congrats. See you in September But to butt in on your question, if i recall correctly you don't get a choice really when it comes to specific accommodation. You just get to put your preferred option, for example: 1) room with hand basin, 2) flat, 3) room without hand basin, 4) en-suite

At least i am sure this is how it was when i applied, things may well have changed?

Ooh how exciting! Congratulations Of course I did know that but just forgot, thanks for the reminder! in which case which have you all signed up for? I think I might put down for a flat

[rumandraisin]

(Original post by FJH)
Ooh how exciting! Congratulations Of course I did know that but just forgot, thanks for the reminder! in which case which have you all signed up for? I think I might put down for a flat

I'm already here. I'm a first year. PM'd you

[manderson]

Anyone know if there is a fb page to join or does one need to be set up?

[metachic]

(Original post by manderson)
Anyone know if there is a fb page to join or does one need to be set up?

tried looking for one.. not sure if it's just a private group or nobody has bothered yet.. lol

would you like to do the honours? :P

[manderson]

(Original post by metachic)
tried looking for one.. not sure if it's just a private group or nobody has bothered yet.. lol

would you like to do the honours? :P

Yeah that was my problem as well, tried to look for one but no luck! I wouldn't have a clue how to do it! Does anyone want to do the honours? Please

[nikkiekemp77]

(Original post by ViceVersa)
OFFERRRRRR!

Me to!!!!!! Yay!!!Firmed it as soon as it come through via ucas!
congrats!!

[nikkiekemp77]

(Original post by Phi11)
8 Weeks of waiting list hell and.... OFFER!!!! I'm also an oldie at 22

i'm 35 and I got an offer Yay!!!!!!!

[ViceVersa]

(Original post by nikkiekemp77)
Me to!!!!!! Yay!!!Firmed it as soon as it come through via ucas!
congrats!!

Well done!