Private medical school opens

The first private medical school has opened in the UK, with students paying £36,000 per year for tuition fees. Studying at the University of Buckingham will have a total cost of more than £157,000 just on tuition fees - four times the amount of public medical schools.

Image: Geanow

Medical school is already a huge financial commitment, with students on undergraduate courses having to fund two more years than most courses. Even more so for graduate applicants who get no tuition fee loans if they get accepted on an undergraduate course, as opposed to a graduate course where tuition fee loans and NHS bursaries are available.

In the process of applying for medical school, applicants must take aptitude tests costing £80-250.
An initial advantage is given to those lucky enough to pay for test preparation and interview courses, which may cost up to £400. Are private medical schools just another way to make medicine elitist?

The University of Buckingham will have the same entry standards as public medical schools. However, the University of Central Lancashire, due to open a private medical school in September, will only require two As and a B at A levels. Therefore, it gives the opportunity to those worse academically, but who can afford to pay such fees. The National Union of Students has said it would "rank the course among the most expensive on earth", with only the wealthiest being able afford it. An extra privilege in applying to a private medical school is that students are able to do so in addition to the four through UCAS, giving those who can afford it an extra shot at becoming a doctor.

Image: Daily Record

UCAS figures show that 1780 school leavers with straight As at A levels failed to get into medical school last year. Is it fair patients will be left doctors who are not necessarily of the highest standard, but got into medical school due to their financial status?