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Survey of medical students' finances 2002/03

BMA medical students committee
February 2004

Introduction
For several years, the BMA Health Policy and Economic Research Unit (HPERU) has conducted a survey each year of medical students' finances on behalf of the Medical Students Committee of the BMA. Up to 1995, the questionnaire was distributed with the annual report of the Committee and from 1996 to 2000 it was sent out with the Student BMJ. In 2001 the questionnaire was mounted on the internet and members were given the internet address at which they could complete it on-line. However response was very poor and it was necessary to “top up” this method with a postal sample to 10% of student members. In 2002 the questionnaire was sent out with the annual report of the Medical Students’ Committee and this year the method of distribution reverted to being sent out with the Student BMJ (15 March issue). As final year students can elect to receive the main BMJ, a separate copy of the questionnaire was mailed to this group.

This report, which has been prepared by HPERU, presents the results of the 2002/03 survey, the seventeenth, comparing these to the results from last year's survey, where such comparison is possible and of interest. The questionnaire used was largely the same as in previous years although some additional questions were added on travel costs. The analysis of these will be reported on separately. A copy of the questionnaire is at Appendix 1. Unless otherwise indicated, the tables in this report contain column percentages which add to 100%.