Medicine

A guide to university for students

Should I go to uni?

Why study Medicine?

  1. To make a difference and improve people’s lives.
  2. To have a job that will always be in demand.
  3. For great personal development opportunities and challenges.
  4. If you love to problem solve.

What could I do with Medicine?

There are 60 different specialities within medicine: From Cardiology to General Practice to Genenomics to Orthopaedic Surgery.

With a degree in Medicine you could:

Become a consultant in your chosen field.
Become a clinical manager.
Become involved in research.
Use your skills in the armed forces.
Be a lecturer.

A Marketing Executive who develops marketingcampaigns to promote aproduct, service or idea.

Possible degree: Graphic Communications BA atthe University of Reading.

Textile Designer who designs beautiful materialsfor the fashion industry.

Possible degree: Fashion Design BA atBucks New University.

What about alternative routes?

It’s hard to decide what you want to do when you are older but there are many alternative ways to being involved in healthcare.

If you are not sure about going to university, degree level apprenticeships for roles such as physiotherapist and occupational therapist are available. These websites might also help:

Other important criteria

No matter what route you take to healthcare, it is important that you are able to demonstrate certain values and behaviours that are vital for a career in healthcare. These values and behaviours are all about how you as an individual make decisions about your actions. There are two sets of values:

Work experience

Anyone considering a career in healthcare must have relevant work experience. Any length of work experience whether in a hospital or not, volunteering or parttime work can be useful. Always think about how you can relate your work experience to the values and behaviours mentioned here.

For more information on NHS values and work experience visit the healthcareers.nhs.uk and england.nhs.uk websites.

Choosing a course

There is a lot of information out there so while you are choosing a subject keep these things in mind:

Entry requirements

These will vary from course to course.

Course content

Always check the modules on the course to make sure you get to study topics that interest you.

Teaching method

What suits you the most: independent study, lectures, seminars?

Assessment types

Do you do best in coursework, practical work or exams? Also does the course provide certifications you need?

Work experience opportunities and careers help

Does the uni you are considering have connections with employers, help with getting a job or a placement, study abroad opportunities, sandwich year, interview process training, etc?

Choosing a university

To make choosing from hundreds of UK universities easier, consider the following things:

Size

Some unis only have 1000 students while some might have over 30,000!

Location

How far do you want to be from home? In a big city or smaller town? Up north or down south?

Campus or city university?

Campus universities have all their buildings on one big campus. City universities are spread around a bustling city.

Cost of living and accommodation

The north is usually cheaper than the south. Cities are more expensive than rural areas. Quality and price of accommodation will vary too.

Bursaries, grants and support for you

Financial awards are different at each university. Check which university will support you most suitably.

Sports clubs and societies you might want to join

Do you want to carry on a sport or maybe try a new hobby? Check if the uni you are looking at has the clubs you are interested in.

Reputation

What is the university known for? Academics, sport, atmosphere, and so on.

The Higher Education system in the UK is set up so that anyone who wants to go to university, can! So don’t let the finances deter you.

Finance

When you apply for student finance you claim two different loans1;

A tuition loan of up to £9,250/annum1 for the cost of your studies – paid in full to the university. None of the tuition fee has to be paid up front by you.

A maintenance loan up to £11,672/ annum1 for living costs – paid in termly instalments to you. This loan is income and circumstance assessed.

Note: These numbers change year on year so please check slc.co.uk or gov.uk for up to date information.

Repayments1

As of July 20192, repayments for student loans:

  • Start the April after you graduate and only once you earn over £25,725.
  • Stop if your income drops below £25,725, which means if you are not earning enough your parents don’t have to cover you.
  • Are taken straight out of your pay check so you never have to go to the bank to pay it.
  • Are 9% of your earnings over £25,725 (see table).
  • Do not affect your credit rating or your ability to get a mortgage.
  • All outstanding debt is written off after 30 years.

University can be expensive, but over a lifetime with a degree you are likely to earn many times more than you will repay. If you have an ambition, a dream, or an interest in a subject, it is worth it to invest in your own future!

For more information go to thestudentroom.co.uk or slc.co.uk

1 | Studentloanrepayment.co.uk 2 | parliament.uk 3 | graduate-jobs.com

Jargon Buster

Higher Education (HE) The level of education that leads to a degree.

Gap year A year away from education to gain work experience, save up funds or go travelling.

Undergraduate Students studying for their first degree.

Graduate Someone who has completed an undergraduate course.

Higher National Diploma (HND) A two year work-related qualification; considered to be an equivalent of two years of HE study.

Foundation degree A one year course taken in preparation for an undergraduate degree.

Bachelor’s degree Usually a three year degree course. Bachelors of Arts (BA) are for arts and humanities courses while Bachelors of Science (BSc) are for science courses.

Master’s degree A more advanced degree, either taken after a Bachelor’s degree or as an integrated Master’s.

Joint honours degree A degree comprised of two different subjects.

Postgraduate degree Courses taken after your first degree such as a master’s degree.

Sandwich year A work-placement year taken during a degree.

Admission Team The people who receive and consider your application.

Halls of Residence Student accommodation at the University.

Campus University grounds.

UCAS The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service through which you apply to university.

Open Days Days during which you can visit universities free of charge and be shown round.

Prospectus A printed booklet advertising a school or university to potential students.

Student Loans Company (SLC) A non-profit, Government-owned organisation who provide loans and grants to students in universities and colleges in the UK.

Student Loan A loan students can take up from SLC to cover living costs and tuition fees.

USEFUL WEBSITES

ucas.com All things university related and the portal through which you apply to university.

prospects.ac.uk Careers website with details on a huge variety of career options.

opendays.com A list of all the university open days in the UK.

unitasterdays.com A list of taster days available at UK universities.

unistats.ac.uk Compares entry requirements, course details and prospects of UK degrees.

thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk and timeshighereducation.com University and subject league tables, helpful advice and guides on many university related topics.

thestudentroom.co.uk University guides, articles and question forums.

careerpilot.org.uk A summary of options at ages 13/14, at 16+ and 18+.

slc.co.uk Student Loans Company website for financial questions.

notgoingtouni.co.uk A list of opportunities if you do not want to pursue university.

Study Higher partner universities’ websites

reading.ac.uk
University of Reading

brookes.ac.uk
Oxford Brookes University

ox.ac.uk
University of Oxford

bucks.ac.uk
Bucks New University