University of Exeter offers students £10,000 and free accommodation to defer medical degree
The University of Exeter has offered medical students £10,000 and free first-year accommodation if they agree to defer a year, following an increase in applications to study medicine by 20 per cent in the last year.
After a record number of applications, the university has asked students who accepted offers to study in September 2021 to defer until 2022 and in return, will compensate them with free accommodation during their first year and a cash bursary of £10,000.
The cost of Exeter accommodation ranges from £3961 to £8583 per year.
This request for deferral comes as the University finds itself over subscribed as a higher proportion of students have chosen Exeter as their first choice but the requirement for NHS clinical placement years, and the £180,000 cost per medical degree means the government caps the available places per annum. This is done to “accommodate everyone in a way that provides a high-quality education and stimulating student experience, as well as safe and secure NHS placements.”
‘We’re committed to supporting the Government to train more doctors and our number one priority is ensuring the students that study with us enjoy high quality, safe and fulfilling education’
Professor Mark Goodwin
According to Professor Mark Goodwin, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Global Engagement) at the University of Exeter, the University aims to “maximise the choices available” to students through “offering a range of options, including financial incentives, deferral or studying a post-graduate programme, prior to students commencing their medical studies next year.”
He went on to say, “We’re committed to supporting the Government to train more doctors and our number one priority is ensuring the students that study with us enjoy high quality, safe and fulfilling education, which has seen Exeter ranked in the top 10 in the Complete University Guide and no doubt contributes to our popularity as first choice for so many.”
The effect of this deferral could be fewer spaces available to study medicine in 2022, unless the government allocate additional funding next year.
