We have tried to simplify a subject that can be extremely confusing with sources implying that you may receive some funding or no funding at all. However, we have found two websites here that when put together explain funding well for those studying Medicine as a second degree. One is Medic Mind and the other is The Royal Medical Benevolent Fund.
https://rmbf.org/get-help/help-for-m...ee-in-england/
https://www.medicmind.co.uk/medicine...dicine-funded/
The below information regarding general funding is taken from the above two links.
A100 (5-6 years) funding:
Years 1 - 4:
Need to pay tuition fees in full amount yourself, but you may be eligible for the following in terms of living costs - (Maintenance Loan, Adult Dependants’ Grant, Childcare Grant, Parents’ Learning Allowance, Disabled Students’ Allowance, Travel Expenses for medical students) - depending on where you live (this is based on if you live in England - Medic Mind explains differences if you live in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland)
Year 5-6:
Tuitions fees paid in full by NHS BSA funding and you don't need to pay this back (ref. Medic Mind link). NHS BSA will also providing living cost support which should be the same information as 5th yr students studying Medicine as their first degree - see link at the end.
GEM (accelerated 4 years) funding:
Year 1:
You will pay first £3465 of tuition fees and apply for Student Finance tuition fee loan to fund remaining amount. You may be eligible for the following in terms of living costs - (Maintenance Loan, Adult Dependants’ Grant, Childcare Grant, Parents’ Learning Allowance, Disabled Students’ Allowance, Travel Expenses for medical students) - depending on where you live (this is based on if you live in England - Medic Mind explains differences if you live in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland)
Years 2 - 4:
In regards to tuition fees, (NHS BSA could do this on behalf of) Department of Health funds first £3715 then apply for Student Finance tuition fee loan to fund the remaining amount. For living costs, you may be eligible for NHS student bursaries support, additionally NHS BSA will also providing living cost support which should be the same information as 5th yr students studying Medicine as their first degree - see link at the end.
Medic Mind simplifies this as: you pay £3465 tuition fees total directly to the university across the 4 years. The rest of the tuition fee will be covered by a combination of Student Finance or Department of Health.
See below for specific information regarding Maintenance Loans:
A100 (5-6 years) funding:
Years 1-4:
You're eligible for a full Maintenance Loan through SFE.
Year 5+:
NHS Bursary Scheme offers non-means tested grant of £1000 for living costs, as well as additional means-tested funding based on personal circumstances - max. bursary available is £3,191 based on 30-week year and additional £108/week for each week exceeding 30 weeks.
Information taken from:
https://www.medicmind.co.uk/medicine...dicine-funded/
GEM (accelerated 4 years) funding:
Year 1:
You're eligible to apply for a full income assessed student Maintenance Loan (Max £9978) from Student Finance England. £4,651 of this loan is non-means tested; the remainder is means tested on household income. You won't receive any Maintenance Grants or any NHS Bursary funding. You may be eligible for Supplementary Grants (e.g. Parental Learning Allowance (PLA), Adult Dependents Grant (ADG), and Childcare Grant (CCG)) - apply for these through Student Finance England.
Year 2-4:
You're eligible to apply to SFE for reduced rate non-means tested Maintenance Loan of £2,605. NHS Funding includes a means-tested NHS bursary (based on household income - max. bursary for 30 week academic year is £2,643; further £84/week added when exceeding 30 weeks; lower rate bursary offered instead if living with parents) and a NHS grant of £1,000. Apply for any supplementary grants (PLA, ADG or CCG) through the NHS and not SFE (as in the First Year).
Information taken from:
https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/student...mstudents.aspx
https://www.swansea.ac.uk/undergradu...icine-funding/
Regarding both course types, check funding, bursaries and grants offered on the university websites as they vary according to the university you're applying to but they do indeed have the information you need.
Click here for a list (not exhaustive) of charitable trust funding you could be eligible for - please check your eligibility and tips on how to apply before applying.
Earning money alongside studies
It's recommended to work during vacations mostly, especially in earlier years in the course. One thing I personally recommend is joining a healthcare job on a bank contract, so that you're able to work as much or as little as you want depending on your availability.
Information on NHS BSA living cost funding for year 5+ A100 and years 2-4 GEM see this link: https://rmbf.org/get-help/help-for-m...ts-in-england/
Please also research hardship funds and bursaries offered by the universities you're applying to along with any NHS Student Bursaries as you may be end up being eligible.
Really useful advice:
(Original post by _Rusty_)
...if you are entitled to it, applying to Disability Student Allowance can help finance any reasonable adjustments you may need.
(Original post by Sacred Ground)
There are some charitable organisations you can apply to doing medicine as a second undergraduate degree notably the BMA charity fund in the 2nd and 3rd year of your course, and the Kings fund.
You are entitled to a maintenance loan, means tested, for a maximum of up to around 11.3k within London and 10k I believe outside of London.
Regarding hardship funds from the University… I wouldn’t apply on the basis that you’re going to be reliant on these as they can be unreliable.
