NI Medical Student 'Debt Set To Soar

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The British Medical Association (BMA) has warned how medical students in Northern Ireland will be left almost £70,000 in debt under Government plans to allow universities to charge up to £9,000 in tuition fees.



Proposals to increase the cap on tuition fees for university education are currently under review in the Province following the recent review by Lord Browne and announcement by DEL Minister Danny Kennedy that the Stuart Report is to be updated. 



Larne medical student Neil Cunningham, Chairman of the BMA's Medical Students Committee in Northern Ireland said:

 "Medical students in Northern Ireland are already leaving university with average debt levels of £16,500.

"Indeed according to a recent BMA survey, around a fifth of students reported a level of total debt in excess of £25,000, but in some cases local medical students have found themselves up to £56,000 in debt.

"The BMA estimates that if universities charge the £9,000 rate allowed under these plans, students will see their debts increase to around £70,000. This figure only includes debts incurred from student loans and does not take into account overdrafts, credit cards and professional loans which many students depend on for additional support. Total debt will therefore be much higher.



"We are concerned that the proposal to potentially treble tuition fees will have a devastating financial impact on thousands of talented young people from all backgrounds who want to become the doctors of tomorrow.



"Minister Kennedy has already acknowledged that Northern Ireland leads the rest of the UK in the proportion of those from lower socio-economic backgrounds who enter university; however we are concerned that widening access to medicine in particular will fail if the debt implications of studying to become a doctor are not addressed."

Mr David Adams, Chairman of the BMA's Medical Academic and Staff Committee in Northern Ireland said: 

"It is important that the higher education system remains open to all so that it can continue to be at the forefront of teaching and training the next generation of doctors

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"The debt implications from these proposals are worrying for all students particularly those thinking about medicine especially as it is a longer course.



"BMA(NI) would like to see the establishment of a system where there is a transparent relationship between the fees paid and the investment in medical education, so that students can clearly see the benefits from undertaking their degree.”
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(BMcN/GK)