Grads with Children starting 5 year Medicine Course

Are there any grads starting 5 year medicine degrees in 2012, with children? Have you managed to secure any funding / loans for childcare?

I have 2 young children and have been turned down for the Childcare Grant from SFE, because my partner is supposedly earning too much. We really struggle to make ends meet now as it is. We certainly can't afford to pay for full time childcare when I start my course next month.

I have contacted the HMRC and don't get help from them, either, as my partner and I both have to work 16 hrs / wk to qualify.

I'm exempt from everything except the maintenance loan, which will have to be used for my travel costs and tuition fees. I have even been turned down for the Parents Learning Allowance, although I have appealed.

I need to find a way to raise the money for childcare. Any help would be gratefully received.

Thanks guys.

Well, we don’t have any friends or family who can help unfortunately. We also can’t make use of uni childcare as my uni’s 1.5 hours from home. It wouldn’t work for us to move nearer to uni as my partner’s job and eldest’s school are near home. We need local childcare.

I just can’t believe there’s so little help for graduate med students with kids on the 5 year course. My Year 1 costs alone are around £24k. So scary!

But, Sweetchilli, that’s very encouraging to hear about the hardship fund – thanks for that info. I hope my uni's able to be as generous. And you’re right, I guess things will improve when my youngest turns 3. How are you finding juggling med school as a parent?

Thanks guys.

Well, we don’t have any friends or family who can help unfortunately. We also can’t make use of uni childcare as my uni’s 1.5 hours from home. It wouldn’t work for us to move nearer to uni as my partner’s job and eldest’s school are near home. We need local childcare.

I just can’t believe there’s so little help for graduate med students with kids on the 5 year course. My Year 1 costs alone are around £24k. So scary!

But, Sweetchilli, that’s very encouraging to hear about the hardship fund – thanks for that info. I hope my uni's able to be as generous. And you’re right, I guess things will improve when my youngest turns 3. How are you finding juggling med school as a parent?

Thanks guys.

Well, we don’t have any friends or family who can help unfortunately. We also can’t make use of uni childcare as my uni’s 1.5 hours from home. It wouldn’t work for us to move nearer to uni as my partner’s job and eldest’s school are near home. We need local childcare.

I just can’t believe there’s so little help for graduate med students with kids on the 5 year course. My Year 1 costs alone are around £24k. So scary!

But, Sweetchilli, that’s very encouraging to hear about the hardship fund – thanks for that info. I hope my uni's able to be as generous. And you’re right, I guess things will improve when my youngest turns 3. How are you finding juggling med school as a parent?

Hi Matt,
I did call my uni finance bods & they said I should seriously re-consider whether or not to go there if I can't afford it - lol! But I am hoping they'll be more encouraging when I actually start. I did apply to both the 4 and 5 yr, but didn't make it onto the 4. To be honest though I'm on my dream course at my dream uni - I really wanted the 5 as my kids will see little enough of me as it is without losing me in the hols as well. Plus the shortened hols of 4 yr would've massively pushed up my childcare costs on the 4 year anyway. It did come as a shock that I would get so little funding though.

Sweetchilli, it's great to hear stories of other parents who are managing to juggle everything. Thanks, prob will ending up pm-ing you at some point.

Yes, I'm hunting about for trusts & bursaries. I haven't had any luck yet, but I'm remaining hopeful :-)