Veterinary Degree Tuition Fees

I am a vet student in the third year of the course at the University of Liverpool. Because I'm a post-graduate I have to pay £19,845 in tuition fees every year! I've applied to loads of trusts and charities and have had some success. But I'm still approximately £12,000 short of the £99,225 needed for the cost of the five year degree. If I don't receive any more financial support I may have to withdraw from the course, and that would break my heart. Below is the background of how I came to be on the course, starting at the slightly mature age of 28.

I had always wanted to be a vet, but the way I saw it was that you had to be some kind of super-genius to do it, and at the age when I chose my A-level subjects I really lacked confidence in my own scientific ability. So I ended up studying arts and social science subjects. Then when it came to applying to university, I had no clue what to do. I was encouraged that going to university to do a degree was the important thing, no matter what subject it was in. I had always enjoyed History so I chose to study that, with no further thought as to how this would help me once I graduated.

After university I ended up working for a large corporate firm as a Management Consultant (Deloitte MCS Ltd). And whilst on paper my career looked great, on the inside I was totally miserable. I wasn't happy working in an office or a city, I knew I had a calling to work with animals. So after lots of soul searching and research, I made the brave decision to leave my job and returned to education to fulfill my ambition to become a vet.

As I had not taken any scientific A-levels I had to return to college and complete these before I could even apply for the veterinary degree. I spent two years at Craven College in Skipton, studying both chemistry and biology. And yes, I did have to sit in a classroom full of 16-year olds, and yes, that was probably the toughest thing about the whole two years. But I knew that it was what I had to do, so I worked really hard and managed to achieve A* grades in both subjects.

At the same time I worked part-time at a local boarding kennels and also volunteered at a nearby dairy farm. I also used any other spare time to get work experience at veterinary practices and other animal establishments, such as a horse rescue centre, a zoo, and a sheep milking farm. When I applied to the veterinary schools my hard work paid off as I was lucky enough to be accepted at Liverpool, Bristol and Edinburgh.

Now I am on the course and working really hard to do the best that I can whilst I am here. I feel like I have come so far and I cannot wait to be qualified and working as a vet. It's such a tough degree but I can honestly say that I love it!