I Am also in this situation! I read all these things about finance, convinced myself I could never do it. Here is what I have learned so far, and why I decided I was going to just go for it!
My situation: I am currently doing a degree in Software Engineering. I am about to complete my third year in industry (a paid industrial placement), then go into my final year (Sept. 2018). I decided I was going to save all of my placement money over the year, which is really going to help. I aim to save around 10000 pounds, though it's tough 😂 I have a low income family, so have no to minimal help from them. I am currently undertaking an a level in chemistry via evening courses while I work (AS and A2 in the one year) but my already achieved A levels are A*A*A and AA in my AS levels. Only science here is Biology, A*grade.
Student finance (northern Ireland SF, may be different for other student finance) will provide 4840 pound maximum maintenance loan per year if you study in the UK. If outside, I believe you do not get it.
Solution - Some unis have a lot more financial help available than others. One Of The best is Cambridge (Wolfson College) as that college has a 10-20,000 pound scholarship called the Alborada scholarship. With this scholarship and student finance, you are basically sorted. However, The obvious catch is that it's Cambridge. They will consider lower grades than the required A*A*A, if you have a first class honours degree, but this will required a chemistry A-level. If you take a level chemistry, it's still difficult as their natural science admission test is on maths, and a choice of 2from Chemistry/Biology/Physics. Pass that test, and you get to interview which is said to be quite science based and difficult. So while amazing scholarships and teaching, so hard to get into. I am going to try for it anyway (applying for 2019/20 entry), but my hopes are probably foolish.
The best best UK I have seen is Nottingham. Nottingham has a 6 year vet bed course, which you only need one of Bio and Chen a levels for. The 1st year is preliminary to teach you necessary Chem and bio if you have one missing, and the other 5 is as normal. Though stops need for a level chemistry, it's an extra year if fees and accommodation. They provide some scholarships, The core bursary (2000 a year) is eligible to graduate entry (not on website but i emailed and checked, currently we are eligible). There is also a graduate entry vet specific bursary fund you can apply to, but unlike core bursary it's not a garunteed bursary. Core bursary is also household income based, so may get less than 2000. Also has hardship fund, so can fundraise online etc. and if really struggling apply for hardship as a last resort.
The other UK unis don't have many scholarships other than the odd 1 grand scholarship or performance based grants, but none are garunteed like Nottingham's core bursary.
The other option is to go outside Of The UK, to a EAVAE accredited uni (so can practice in the UK). These tend to be 6 years, except Poland which is 5.5 years). These mostly have chemistry and biology entrance exams, however I've heard these are not particularly difficult (and the cheapest, Cluj Napoca, doesn't even have an entrance exam). Some say they require chemistry and biology high school level, but others just state 'high school level education certificate' so if learn enough to pass entrance exam you can still get into some of these. The are SO much cheaper than the UK, but you don't get maint loan.
Cluj Napoca is cheapest, accommodation for foreign students is 100 Euro per month, cheap living, and fees are 5000 Euro per month. You can get each year for 6000+ depending on your life style. The course is fully in English.
I can't remember all the fees for the English taught courses outside UK, but the cheapest were: Cluj (Romani), Kaunas (Lithuania), Kosice (Slovakia), Warsaw (Poland). Brno and Hungary also had English courses, but they were more expensive than those listed so I disregarded those as not worth givung up maint loan for.
So in conclusion, it's possible to do it without tuition fee loan. If you work for a year and do A level chemistry like I have, your options widen and it becomes much more financially viable. The UK unis will be harder to fund, but do have benefits like more hardship support, easier to find term time work, not having to completely relocate to a completely foreign country etc. Though entry into non-UK is A LOT easier. Poland allows you to secure your place very early by opting to pay your fees early.
I intend to try get an A or A* in my chemistry this year. I will be applying to: Cambridge, Nottingham, Bristol, Surrey.
Abroad, I will be applying to Cluj Napoca, Romania, and Kocise, Slovakia.
I will not be applying for Edinburgh or Glasgow, as these are basically impossible to find as a second degree unless you are rich. The living costs are nuts and barely any scholarships or bursaries.
Here is a website on How To fundraise (by a vet who fundraised and got all the fund she required to attend and complete a full vet med degree in Kocise Slovakia, now qualified).
http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~fisher/Here is also a link to the digglers charitable trust, which helps graduate entry vets to fundraise, also used by the person above to fundraise.
http://www.thedigglers.co.uk/bursary_index.php