This site has been specially designed to help you through the mine field of applying to read medicine as a mature or graduate student. It aims to cover entry requirements for all course types, the different types of course available and the financial mine-filed that is prolonged studying and/or giving up a well paid job.
How old is too old? Thanks to Europe (!) there is no longer an upper age limit for applying to medical school. There are medical students in their 40’s and even 50’s out there right now! If they can do it, why shouldn’t you? There is little doubt that once your in your late 30’s it’s harder to achieve, but not impossible.
It’s wise to get into a dialogue with the schools you are interested in and find out their requirements then make sure your application fits them! Send them your CV and ask about your suitability for the course. 9 times out of 10 they will tell you exactly what you need to do to make your application as strong as possible.
Qualifications are important, but sometime life experience can count just as much. Again, we cannot stress the importance of getting into a dialogue with the schools you like the look of.
Use the navigation buttons at the top of the page to find the information you are after.
GRADUATE FUNDING CRISIS!
As you probably know, if you've had 'public purse' help for a 1st undergraduate degree, you do not qualify for any fees help for a 2nd.
In the past this has not been too much of an issue, with graduates having to pay the full home fees rate (although having said that, scratching around to find £1,175 each summer isn't easy!). However, with top up fees, the end result is much more harsh.
The way top-up fees will work is that your LEA pay your uni your £3k a year and then you pay them back, via Student Finance Direct, once you've graduated and are earning above £15k.
However, as grads who have already had 'public purse' help do not qualify for fees help, the LEA will not pay your £3k a year to the uni. You have to pay it yourself...
If this annoys you (may be you're a grad on a 5 year course, are applying to read a second undergrad degree, or know someone who missed their grades first time round and is planning to apply as a graduate), then there's a petition at the following address:
http://www.medschoolsonline.co.uk/index.php?pageid=97
It's been set up by pissed off graduate medical students, and is endorsed by the BMA MSC, but if we can get the Government to offer grads the same 'fees loan' as 1st time
undergrads, then this will have a knock on to all 2nd degree-ers, regardless of course.
Education! Education! Education! and all that!
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To add your own experiences and information to the site, email: graduatemedicine@hotmail.com
