Vet students pushed to the brink

RE: Vet students pushed to the brink

Jenny Smith — Tue, 19 May 2009 22:55:47 GMT

I have found that living in London has meant that my living costs have been consistently higher than my student loan, meaning that working is a necessary part of my student experience. According to a recent article in the Vet Times, my uni is also the only vet school to not offer financial assistance during EMS placements. My last placement cost me approximately £200 in travel costs, and this was only for three weeks. I am dreading this summer (although looking forward to the EMS!), as I have a 13 week EMS block coupled with decreased income owing to the time I have to take off work to be able to fully complete this. Although I was able to work easily in pre-clinical years, I have found it increasingly difficult. Luckily my employer is a vet practice, so are understanding when it comes to taking extra time off to complete EMS, but I know several friends who have had to leave their jobs because their employers have been unwilling to offer the flexibility which is needed during clinical placements.

An increase in student loan, or an extra loan being made available for "holidays" which are EMS blocks would be a great relief, and would allow me to choose my EMS freely rather than being limited by financial concerns and job commitments

RE: Vet students pushed to the brink

sarah mason — Mon, 18 May 2009 21:47:14 GMT

I do agree with Phil, I worked, I have worked through standard grades, highers and my first degree-I could have lived off my partner but didn't want to make him worse off. I was a 2nd degree student, and managed to decrease my predicted costs of £88000 to only £54000 through working and applications to charitable trusts and grants. They are out there to help people who are struggling and they generally are more willing to give grants to people who are helping themselves through part time work.

Also a debt of £30000 on £30000 a year salary to me seems less than the average student debt of £15000 for a salary of £15000 in terms of disposable income to pay it back

RE: Vet students pushed to the brink

Phil Elkins — Mon, 18 May 2009 16:15:56 GMT

66.8% of University students are wrong. I manasged to find the time to work despite EMS restraints, rugby training 2 nights a week and matches on a Saturday. Not because I financially had to, but because I financially wanted to so I could go on rugby tours and enjoy what free time I had!

RE: Vet students pushed to the brink

annika carraher — Sat, 16 May 2009 19:06:51 GMT

i do think as a second degree student the reason many of us managed to find time to work is because we have to due to ridiculous fees that we are having to pay. the idea of only being £29,000 in debt at the end of vet school would be lovely. most second degree students on this course are looking at £100,000 easily, and we generally get forgotten in these types of discussion, even thou the numbers of graduate/ second degree vet students is climbing!!!!

RE: Vet students pushed to the brink

sarah mason — Thu, 14 May 2009 21:24:00 GMT

I got my EMS weeks covered by extra student loan-maybe this is a scottish thing (I was funded from my home address in scotland and went to Liverpool uni). But I just applied for x extra weeks of term time and could borrow more.

I do think it is hard for young undergraduates to work as well as cope with the course, but for second degree and mature students it is not so bad, quite a lot of the older students on my course managed to work in term and holidays without affecting results.