Help & Advice
Help & Advice / Money / Graduate Entry Medicine
Graduate Entry Medicine Course
Main Sources Of Income
Students on the four year GEM
course are eligible for NHS bursaries
and help with tuition fees and can
receive 50% of the full loan in years
two to four of the course. In the first
year of the course their support will be
on the same basis as for other higher education
students, except there is no
income-assessed tuition fee support.
Additional amounts depending upon
the student's circumstances are available (e.g. because they have
dependants, or are a mature student,
lone parent, care leaver etc.) as part
of the bursary package.
You can find more information on the GEM website
Maximising Your Income: Additional Sources Of Income
Student Crisis Fund
The Student Crisis Fund has been established by the University in order that discretionary help can be given to students in financial difficulty. To be eligible for assistance, your difficulties must have resulted from a change of circumstances after commencing your course. Help is given by way of small interest-free loans. A grant can be only made in exceptional circumstances. You will need to explain your full financial circumstances (income, expenditure, debts, etc) and the reasons for your application. Contact Student Services for more information.
Access to Learning Fund
Students are eligible to apply to the Access to Learning Fund. Payments of between £100 and £3,500 can be made to those in financial difficulty. Application forms and more information are available from the Student Advice & Representation Centre or Student Services.
Educational Trusts and Charities
Educational trusts and charities are a possible source of help for students in financial difficulty. The trusts are perhaps most likely to offer assistance if you are near to the end of your course or if you have met unforeseen difficulties at an earlier stage. In most cases, only small amounts of money can be obtained.
Although there are thousands of trusts that award funding to students, most have very specific criteria of eligibility. For example, certain trusts will help only students born in a particular town, or whose parents were employed in a particular profession, or who are undertaking a particular course of study. Some trusts will provide assistance to students of a particular nationality, religion or ethnicity, and some will offer assistance only to women.
The Student Advice Team can help you to identify which trusts may be able to offer help. We have access to various sources of information on trusts and charities. We also subscribe to Funderfinder, a software programme that can run a search of trusts and charities who may be able to help you. You could also go through the Educational Grants Advisory Service.
Help with NHS Costs
You may be able to claim means-tested help with NHS costs (e.g. dental treatment and health prescriptions). HC1 forms are available from the Student Advice Team, local medical centres and can be requested online
Employment
Employment is another possible source of income, and Nottingham-based students can look for employment through the Employer Services Team, based in the Centre for Career Development, 1st Floor, Portland Building, University Park (Tel: 0115 951 4744/5).
However, please note this may not be recommended by your School.
Income Tax
Each person has a personal tax allowance, which means that they can earn a certain amount each year and tax is not payable on that income. The amount for April 2005 to April 2006 is £4,895 for a single person. If you work during your course and pay tax you may be entitled to a refund of tax at the end of the financial year. This may be refunded automatically through your wages or you may need to contact your local Inland Revenue office and make a claim.
Other Funding Issues
Having a Baby
The Student Advice & Representation Centre can give you details of the various sources of funding (LEA/ Bursary support; help through the University; benefits and tax credits etc.) you may be entitled to when your baby is born. In some circumstances, you may be entitled to additional help when you are pregnant. If you would like us to go through this with you, please get in touch with us.
University of Nottingham Students' Union
Portland Building, University Park , Nottingham NG7 2RD
Tel: + 44 (0)115 846 8800 Fax: + 44 (0)115 846 8801
© 2005 University of Nottingham Students' Union