Funding for Grad Entry Medicine (GEM) as an Irish Citizen

I am applying for GEM in England and wondering what funding is available to Irish citizens.

I have never lived in England/UK and would move over before the start of the course to get a part time job. I am 28 and would be self funding.

I read that Irish citizens can only get fee tuition loans, but that they can get maintence loans if they apply as a migrant worker. Im wondering what these loan amounts would be for each year, given that NHS bursaries fund Englsih students for years 2-4 and those amounts vary by year/means/location.

So looking for clarity on the following:
1) Can Irish citizens get full tuition fees covered by loans for all 4 years?
2) What funding would an Irish citizen get in maintenance loans every year of the course (if it varies), assuming the max award (based on means test), if applying as a migrant worker?

Thanks

Reply 1

Claire SFE

Official Rep

Original post

by kJosephw

I am applying for GEM in England and wondering what funding is available to Irish citizens.
I have never lived in England/UK and would move over before the start of the course to get a part time job. I am 28 and would be self funding.
I read that Irish citizens can only get fee tuition loans, but that they can get maintence loans if they apply as a migrant worker. Im wondering what these loan amounts would be for each year, given that NHS bursaries fund Englsih students for years 2-4 and those amounts vary by year/means/location.
So looking for clarity on the following:
1) Can Irish citizens get full tuition fees covered by loans for all 4 years?
2) What funding would an Irish citizen get in maintenance loans every year of the course (if it varies), assuming the max award (based on means test), if applying as a migrant worker?
Thanks

Hi there,

We don't get the rates of loans for years ahead and only find out the current year, normally few weeks before the applications open.
Irish citizens not lived in the UK for 3 years can apply for Tuition Fees only. If you hold pre settled status and work during your studies then you may be eligible to apply as Migrant Worker. You would need to continue to work during your studies and provide evidence of this also to be eligible.

Thanks,
Claire

Reply 2

kJosephw

Original post

by Claire SFE

Hi there,
We don't get the rates of loans for years ahead and only find out the current year, normally few weeks before the applications open.
Irish citizens not lived in the UK for 3 years can apply for Tuition Fees only. If you hold pre settled status and work during your studies then you may be eligible to apply as Migrant Worker. You would need to continue to work during your studies and provide evidence of this also to be eligible.
Thanks,
Claire

Hello,

Thank you for your response.

Could I ask for some clarifications:

1) How long do I need to be working in the UK before starting GEM to be eligible for maintance loans as a migrant worker? I intend to work throughout my studies.

2) I appreciate that loan amounts change from calendar year to calendar year. But I am wondering if you could clarify (perhaps based on the most recent amounts) what the maximum grant a migrant worker could get would be for there first year, second year, third year and final years?

3) I am wondering if in the case that financial circumstances remain the same throughout the four yours of study, would the loan amount each year remain the same i.e. is I have heard that 2nd, 3rd and 4th years get less in maintenance loans than first years. Is this true and how drastic is the difference in loan amount?

Thanks

Reply 3

Graeme SFE

Official Rep

Original post

by kJosephw

Hello,
Thank you for your response.
Could I ask for some clarifications:
1) How long do I need to be working in the UK before starting GEM to be eligible for maintance loans as a migrant worker? I intend to work throughout my studies.
2) I appreciate that loan amounts change from calendar year to calendar year. But I am wondering if you could clarify (perhaps based on the most recent amounts) what the maximum grant a migrant worker could get would be for there first year, second year, third year and final years?
3) I am wondering if in the case that financial circumstances remain the same throughout the four yours of study, would the loan amount each year remain the same i.e. is I have heard that 2nd, 3rd and 4th years get less in maintenance loans than first years. Is this true and how drastic is the difference in loan amount?
Thanks

1) So long as you start working before the start of the academic year (and continue to work) you should be entitled to the maximum available.

If, for example, your course begins in September and you start working after September, then you may not be entitled to the full loan.

2) and 3) Yes, the amounts are different. So, in year 1 you'll be entitled to the full Maintenance Loan, then a reduced rate Maintenance Loan in the other years.

We can give you an idea of what these amounts are. Just to check, will you be studying in London?

Thanks, Graeme

Reply 4

kJosephw

Hello,

Yes I would appreciate if you could give me an idea of the amounts. I have applied for London & for Liverpool.

Appreciate your help!

Reply 5

Claire SFE

Official Rep

Original post

by kJosephw

Hello,
Yes I would appreciate if you could give me an idea of the amounts. I have applied for London & for Liverpool.
Appreciate your help!

Hi,

Can you confirm if you're under 25? Where will you be living during term time i.e. parental or elsewhere?

Thanks,
Claire

Reply 6

kJosephw

Hello,

I am over 25 and would be living independently in rented accomodation as a migrant worker (no family in UK)

Thanks

Reply 7

SFE Clare

Official Rep

Hi kJosephw,

Thank you for confirming. You could apply for up to £10,830 however, this will be dependent on the assessment. I have also provided a link to the Student Finance Calculator where you can check the approximate entitlement you may be eligible for.

https://www.gov.uk/student-finance-calculator

Thanks, Clare

Reply 8

kJosephw

Hi Clare,

Thanks for this. Could you clarify if that figure is for London or elsewhere in England (and clarify funding available to the other). I have applied to multiple locations.

Could you also please provide some idea of how this funding eligibility could change for years 2, 3 and 4 of GEM? My understanding is that there is a reduced rate after first year.

As a migrant worker, I am pretty sure I wouldnt get NHS bursaries and would be relying on whatever student finance is available. I am trying to gauge the affordability of the 4 years.

Thanks

Reply 9

SFE Jason

Official Rep

Original post

by kJosephw

Hi Clare,
Thanks for this. Could you clarify if that figure is for London or elsewhere in England (and clarify funding available to the other). I have applied to multiple locations.
Could you also please provide some idea of how this funding eligibility could change for years 2, 3 and 4 of GEM? My understanding is that there is a reduced rate after first year.
As a migrant worker, I am pretty sure I wouldnt get NHS bursaries and would be relying on whatever student finance is available. I am trying to gauge the affordability of the 4 years.
Thanks

Hi there,

That would be the amount for living outside of London.

What is the name of the course you're looking to do and just to check, when does it start? We'll then be able to clarify the funding.

Thanks, Jason

Reply 10

kJosephw

Hello, Graduate entry medicine is the course it is 4 years long in every university in the UK.

I have applied to london (st georges) and liverpool GEM. I am an irish citizen who would be looking for funding as a migrant worker (all circustances/details are already in the above thread). I am looking to understand what maintanence loan funding I could get each year. The figure provided is for 1st year only and I understand that this is reduced after year 1.

If you could please clarify funding difference for london vs outside london also please and how it differs for years 1,2,3,4.

Reply 11

Leah SLC

Official Rep

Hi there. For year 1 you can apply for the full Maintenance Loan (ML). In year 2-4 a Reduced rate ML is available.

For 26/27, studying in London the maximum you can get is £14,135. For studying elsewhere in the UK it’s up to £10,830.

The reduced rate ML for London is £3,970, for the elsewhere in the UK it is £2,828.

Thanks, Leah.