Exeter University offers students £10,000 and free accommodation for deferring medicine course

22 July 2021, 17:57

Prospective Exeter University students have been offered a cash bursary and free accommodation if they defer a medicine course
Prospective Exeter University students have been offered a cash bursary and free accommodation if they defer a medicine course. Picture: Alamy

By Will Taylor

Exeter University medicine students are being offered a £10,000 cash bursary and free accommodation if they delay starting until 2022.

A record number of people have applied to study the course there in the autumn.

The Government caps the number of places on medicine courses, and now the university has offered financial incentives to anyone who defers starting medicine studies until next year.

They will get a guaranteed place in 2022, along with free accommodation and the five-figure bursary.

Professor Mark Goodwin, deputy vice-chancellor for global engagement at the University of Exeter, said: "We've seen a significant upturn in the number of outstanding applicants prioritising the University of Exeter as their first choice for medicine this year.

Read more: More than one million children missed school last week for Covid-related reasons

Read more: School bubbles to end and pupils will only isolate if positive for Covid under new plans

"All medicine student numbers are set by the Government to ensure that we can accommodate everyone in a way that provides a high-quality education and stimulating student experience, as well as safe and secure NHS placements.

"To maximise the choices available to our students, we are offering a range of options, including financial incentives, deferral or studying a post-graduate programme, prior to students commencing their medical studies next year."

LBC investigates the devastating impact the pandemic has had on students' mental health

The BBC said the number of students applying to Exeter to study medicine was up by a fifth compared to last year.

A record number of students are expected to start university or college in the autumn, according to Ucas, with the number of applications and offers made to students having risen.

Dr Tim Bradshaw, chief executive of the Russell Group, which Exeter is part of, said: "The significant increase in applications this year and the uncertainty generated by the introduction of teacher-assessed grades means it has been much harder for all universities to anticipate the number of students accepting their offers and achieving the required grades.

"This is particularly the case for medicine, where the number of places is capped by the Government.

"While our universities are being as fair and flexible as possible to students, ultimately the Government decides the number of doctors that can be trained.

"Given its long-term ambition to raise the number of NHS staff trained domestically, the Government could capitalise on the extra demand this year by expanding the number of places available and providing extra funding and clinical placements accordingly."

Teachers in England will submit their decisions on pupils' A-level grades next month, after the summer exams were cancelled for the second year.

The cap on medicine places was lifted last year when universities warned they had limited space for students who attained higher results.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Proud Boys claim they will go to voting places as Trump repeats election fraud lies.

Proud Boys making plans to mobilise as Trump repeats election fraud lies

File photo of a real NHS dentist

Desperate Brits fall for scam 'fake NHS dentists' amid years-long waits for appointments

The Kremlin is suspected of plotting the attack

'Parcel bombs' that blew up in warehouse were 'rehearsal' for Russian explosion attack on flight to US

Keir Starmer is not set to ban smoking in pub gardens, contrary to earlier reports

Cigarettes will not be banned in pub gardens under new Labour plan create 'smoke-free generation'

Former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally in Reading, Pennsylvania

Trump threatens Mexico with 100% tariffs unless it cracks down on border crossings

Bridget Phillipson told Tonight with Andrew Marr that the fee hike was necessary to secure the future of universities.

‘Universities must reform’ says education secretary after first hike in tuition fees in 8 years

Two more cases of a new strain of mpox have been detected in the UK, officials say

Two more cases of new mpox strain detected in UK

Anya Taylor-Joy and her musician husband were the victims of a terrifying robbery

Anya Taylor-Joy and musician husband victims of burglary at London mansion

Exclusive
Nigel Farage speaking to LBC's Nick Ferrari about new Tory leader Kemi Badenoch

'The Remainers are back in town': Nigel Farage says Kemi Badenoch will bring 'no change whatsoever' to Tories

Amy Dowden

Strictly Come Dancing star Amy Dowden will not return to show this year following 'medical emergency'

Scott Paterson murdered his landlady Annette Smith

Tenant murdered and dismembered elderly landlady before posing as her by sending Christmas cards to family

Robert Jenrick, Priti Patel and Mel Stride will all serve in Kemi Badenoch's Shadow Cabinet

Kemi Badenoch names former leadership rivals Robert Jenrick and Priti Patel to Tory Shadow Cabinet team

Bridget Phillipson has confirmed the tuition fee rise

University tuition fees to rise for first time in eight years, as Tories accuse Labour of 'declaring war on students'

Sara Sharif had suffered dozens of injuries in the weeks leading up to her death, a court has heard

Video of Sara Sharif smiling and dancing 'days before murder' shown to court

Transport for London (TfL) has warned passengers that no Tube services are expected on Thursday 7 November

November Tube strikes to bring London to a halt this week despite RMT calling off action

Stuart Gogg during the Six Nations rugby match between France and Scotland in Saint-Denis, 26 February 2023

Former Scotland rugby captain pleads guilty to domestic abuse over five-year period against former partner