12 October 2007
Medical students, who study over a longer period than almost any other degree discipline, are facing huge debts from their student loans as they leave university.
In fact, the British Medical Association (BMA) says that this debt can rise to as much as £16,000 among students in Scotland - a "huge deterrent" to potential students.
Research from the association, released yesterday, claims that the size of the loans is as much as 50% more for medics than for the average graduate.
Chairperson of the BMA's Scottish Medical Students Committee Anna Riemen said that the levels of debt faced by students were "extreme".
She added: "A large number of medical students rely on financial support from friends or family but for some this is just not possible.
"A career in medicine should be determined by academic ability, not affordability."
The research also found that 55% of students studying in the UK as a whole had an overdraft averaging over £1,400 - and that 60% had an average credit card debt of over £965.
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