The Cost of Being a Medical Student

Abstract

In the face of what many are calling the most
challenging economic climate in decades, the
repercussions of soaring inflation rates are
reverberating throughout the nation. Many
public sector workers have taken to the
streets in protest, with the well-documented
junior doctor strikes serving as a poignant
example. However, amidst the headlines, the
financial struggles of a vital group have gone
relatively unnoticed: medical students.
A recent financial survey conducted by the
British Medical Association (BMA) has shed
light on the alarming impact on medical
students nationwide. The majority of over a
thousand respondents reported having to
make sacrifices in basic necessities such as
food and heating, while over 40% disclosed
running out of funds before the end of the
term. Furthermore, more than half of the
respondents revealed having to juggle part
time work to finance their studies, but a
significant majority felt this compromise
adversely affected their academic
performance.
These findings are not in isolation. A recent
poll commissioned by The Office for
Students (OfS) found similar rates of
financial hardship amongst students in
higher education. In addition to this, almost
20% of students had considered dropping
out of their course due to financial
difficulties. In 2022, an article published in
The British Medical Journal (thebmj)
assessed the current plight of final year
students balancing jobs on top of clinical
placements as well as the staggering amount
of debt students encounter upon graduating.
In a time when the NHS is facing
unprecedented challenges with recruitment
and retention, it seems the lack of financial
support for medical students may further
compound these issues.
This year, the SURGO team are committed to
understanding the true extent of the cost
of-living crisis medical students face during
the 2023/24 academic term. We are reaching
out to the medical student community in
Glasgow with a short, anonymous survey
designed to capture your experiences. The
data gathered will be carefully analysed and
compiled into a comprehensive report,
which will be featured in our next edition.
Our goal with this survey is to unravel the
financial challenges entwined with pursuing
a medical degree in 2023/24 and advocate for
enhanced support from the medical school
to alleviate these burdens during your
university journey. Join us to spotlight the
realities faced by medical students. Scan the
QR code or check the link on our Instagram
page to share your insights