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A need for change

Medical student finance - a report from the Medical Students Committee
May 2008

For some time now, the BMA’s Medical Students Committee (MSC) has been meeting with the Government in England and Northern Ireland, to discuss medical students’ funding. We are increasingly concerned about the huge levels of debt medical students find themselves in and believe that this will only get worse.

The MSC has concluded that the current funding system supporting medical students through their years of study in England and Northern Ireland is not fit for its purpose and urgently needs a fundamental review.

Next year, the Government will commission an independent review of the funding arrangements for all students in England, with any changes as a result of that review implemented for 2010. We know that medical students are worried that the review could result in the lifting of the cap on tuition fees and an increase in the rate of interest charged on student loans.

The need for change in the area of medical student funding is clearly demonstrated. We do not wish this report to deter anyone from entering medicine which we believe remains an excellent and rewarding career choice. However, if we want a diverse workforce for a diverse population, then we need a medical education system that attracts students based on their ability to become good doctors, not just their ability to pay or their willingness to take on significant debt.

Download the full report in pdf format or listen to Tom Foley (from the MSC’s Finance sub-committee) discussing the issue in a podcast by using the links on the right.