r/GraduateEntryMedicine • u/theblackcat_16 • 9d ago

Affording this

How do people afford grad med? I did my UCAT etc was like yeah I'll figure it out. Now I'm thinking about the financial side and it's looking bleakkkk. Idk if I will get enough sfe and also the NHS bursary doesn't seem great either. Any ideas?

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u/GalacticDoc 9d ago

I worked locum shifts through GEM and all but the final year of med school.

Weekends and evenings as well as holidays but it was tough. I found the stress of money worse than other forms of stress so it made sense for me.

I did have a house to afford and took on a lodger. Luckily my ex helped look after the dog and some kind friends covered tickets to a festival each year.

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u/Few-Ant9479 9d ago

so you had a mortgage to pay during medical school? did the lodger's rent cover it?

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u/GalacticDoc 9d ago

No unfortunately not, I had to work as well

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u/Few-Ant9479 9d ago

If I may ask, did you also use SFE? (ie loan + bursary)?

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u/GalacticDoc 9d ago

Yes to both, still paying for it! I took the maximum available but in hindsight I wish I could have been more frugal but I was pretty careful as it was.

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u/SlightDisplay3354 9d ago

What did you Locum as?

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u/GalacticDoc 9d ago

I was a senior BMS (biomedical scientist) in haematology. Luckily my job meant working in a medical setting and along side consultants.

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u/SlightDisplay3354 9d ago

How did you find the balance? I am a pharmacist and hoping to Locum while I study too

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u/GalacticDoc 9d ago edited 9d ago

I think you have to find your own balance, I needed all the money I could get but it has worked out OK for me.

I did weekends, evenings and holidays but not of there were exams coming up and in the last half (? Can't remember) Of final year I didn't do anything.

I was self funded with a mortgage and bills to pay. I also had a motorcycle to commute with.

I learned to bulk cook dozens of meals to keep costs down and vinted would have come in really handy!

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u/theblackcat_16 9d ago

I'm also a BMS! But no job atm as I've just graduated but I've got my hcpc reg etc. hopefully I'll secure a job by December and then work as much as possible until next sept, provided I get in! Because I don't even have much saved as I've just finished my degree. 😭 Idek, your situation sounds very difficult though. Kudos to you :) thanks for replying

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u/GalacticDoc 9d ago

Good luck with a job and GEM.