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.
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!