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09/02/2011
Medical Students 'Disappointed Over Fees '
Medical students have expressed their disappointment and concern at the proposed increase in university tuition fees.
Final year student Neil Cunningham, Chairman of the British Medical Association's (BMA) Medical Student Committee said: "The proposed rise in tuition fees comes as a bitter blow to the next generation of doctors.
"Attending university should not be based on an individual's ability to pay. BMA has real concerns that future doctors will be put off from studying medicine due to the high levels of debt that they will acquire over the five year course."
The Larne student continued: "BMA has looked into the issue of student debt in great detail and our figures show that an increase in tuition fees to £9,000 will lead to a student debt starting at £70,000. The proposed rise to almost £6,000 will therefore see debt rise to £46,000.
"More worrying, this debt 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. "
Dr Paul Darragh, Chairman of the BMA's Council in Northern Ireland added: "The starting salary of a junior doctor is just over £22,500, bringing young doctors starting out their careers above the proposed repayment threshold.
"Having to put a significant proportion of this income toward massive loan repayments will only exacerbate the worry that debt brings.
"There has to be a better way of meeting the shortfall in higher education funding than penalising our future workforce."
(BMcN/KMcA)
Final year student Neil Cunningham, Chairman of the British Medical Association's (BMA) Medical Student Committee said: "The proposed rise in tuition fees comes as a bitter blow to the next generation of doctors.
"Attending university should not be based on an individual's ability to pay. BMA has real concerns that future doctors will be put off from studying medicine due to the high levels of debt that they will acquire over the five year course."
The Larne student continued: "BMA has looked into the issue of student debt in great detail and our figures show that an increase in tuition fees to £9,000 will lead to a student debt starting at £70,000. The proposed rise to almost £6,000 will therefore see debt rise to £46,000.
"More worrying, this debt 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. "
Dr Paul Darragh, Chairman of the BMA's Council in Northern Ireland added: "The starting salary of a junior doctor is just over £22,500, bringing young doctors starting out their careers above the proposed repayment threshold.
"Having to put a significant proportion of this income toward massive loan repayments will only exacerbate the worry that debt brings.
"There has to be a better way of meeting the shortfall in higher education funding than penalising our future workforce."
(BMcN/KMcA)
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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.
16 August 2001
Northern Ireland pupils are in a class of their own
Northern Ireland students have outperformed their peers in England and Wales in both A-level and the new AS level exams. Figures released by the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) on Thursday August 16 show a record 48,000 grades have been issued to Northern Ireland students across all exam boards.
Northern Ireland pupils are in a class of their own
Northern Ireland students have outperformed their peers in England and Wales in both A-level and the new AS level exams. Figures released by the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) on Thursday August 16 show a record 48,000 grades have been issued to Northern Ireland students across all exam boards.
27 November 2024
Graduate Entry Medical Students To Benefit From Tuition Fee Loans
Economy Minister Conor Murphy has announced that from the 2025/26 academic year, students enrolled in the Graduate Entry Medical School at Ulster University's Derry-Londonderry campus will be eligible for tuition fee loans. Previously, graduate entry medical students were unable to access government loans to cover tuition fees.
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Economy Minister Conor Murphy has announced that from the 2025/26 academic year, students enrolled in the Graduate Entry Medical School at Ulster University's Derry-Londonderry campus will be eligible for tuition fee loans. Previously, graduate entry medical students were unable to access government loans to cover tuition fees.
20 February 2002
Students bring debt and poverty protest to Stormont's gates
Students from across Northern Ireland braved the elements at Stormont's parliamentary hillcrest in order to display their protest against increasing student debt and poverty.
Students bring debt and poverty protest to Stormont's gates
Students from across Northern Ireland braved the elements at Stormont's parliamentary hillcrest in order to display their protest against increasing student debt and poverty.
20 August 2015
Rise In Number Of GCSE Students Achieving A*- C Grades
There has been a significant increase in the number of GCSE students achieving the A*- C grades. The proportion of entries awarded A* - C grades has risen by 0.7% this year to 78.7% Education Minister, John O'Dowd, congratulated the students and said they should be proud of all their hard work.
Rise In Number Of GCSE Students Achieving A*- C Grades
There has been a significant increase in the number of GCSE students achieving the A*- C grades. The proportion of entries awarded A* - C grades has risen by 0.7% this year to 78.7% Education Minister, John O'Dowd, congratulated the students and said they should be proud of all their hard work.
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