3. Student finances

Survey of students and recent graduates 2009

3.1 Types of finance

Respondents were asked to select all the types of finance they relied on to fund their studies. Less than three-quarters of students selected an NHS bursary, presumably because the remainder of the students were not eligible for one. 78% of respondents had used some form of credit to fund their studies: 67% had a student loan; and 46% had used an overdraft facility.

39% of respondents said they relied on income from paid employment to help fund their studies. We considered that this may have an effect on the quality of study and rate of attrition. However there was no significant difference between the degree classifications obtained by those who worked during term-time and those who did not. There was insufficient data to analyse whether having to work made a student less likely to complete the course.

Click graph to enlarge.

3.2 Access to information about financial support

Survey respondents were asked to describe in their own words how they thought access to information about financial support could be improved. Some thought there was already sufficient information available (23 respondents). However, the following main themes emerged from the remainder of the responses.

Information about financial support should be:	Number of respondents	Example comments
clear and simpler to understand;	40	"Step by step instructions and CLEAR information."
described in one place with details or links to all potential sources;	21	"I believe that someone needs to explain that even though the course is paid for and that bursaries are available not everyone can get this bursary. Also that because of this the student loan available for you to get is considerably less than most other students"
available both as a printed leaflet and online;	31 30	*"A booklet and/or website highlighting all possible sources of funding available would be helpful"*
given to potential students before they start the course;	46	"NHS bursaries could not give any advice until the application form was sent in but by that stage you had to commit to the course. I really needed a one to one with someone at the time of the open day to help me determine whether we could afford it or not."
emailed;	10	"Email rather than post as you often move about as a student."
provided by or through the university; and	14	"Information could be passed to the Universities and then passed directly to the students"
supported by sufficient telephone helpline staff.	11	"It is very difficult to contact the NHS to discuss NHS Bursaries. Phones were constantly engaged and staff not always very helpful."

3.3 Student debt

Student debt continues to be a concern. The average respondent was in debt by between £5,000 and £10,000 on the date of their graduation, or was expecting to be. Even more worryingly, around 30% said they were over £10,000 in debt on graduation, or expected to be.

Click graphs to enlarge.

After graduation, 30% of recent graduates responding had monthly debt / loan payments of more than £150 per month (not including mortgage payments).

3.4 Ideas for future financing of radiography students

Given four options for alternative funding of radiography students, around half of the respondents preferred the option of employing healthcare students in the NHS for the length of their course.

Survey respondents were asked to comment on their answer if they wished. The following main themes emerged from their responses.

Funding of radiography students should:	Number of respondents	Example comments
not be means tested against parental income;	31	"I lived in my own home with my own mortgage and was supported by my partner, yet because I was under 25 the bursary was means tested on my parents, therefore I received £0 and ended up in a lot of debt that I am now struggling to repay!"
reward students for the work they do on placements;	18	"Certainly during the third year, we were treated as staff more than students, and used to cover breaks and staff shortages - all unpaid of course."
pay at an assistant rate for the time they spend on placements;	10	*"Given that half the course was spent working on clinical placement in NHS Trusts, as a 37 year old, I would have liked to have been paid for the work I had done (at whatever rate)."*
be equitable with the funding given to nurses;	10	"I think student radiographers should get the same as student nurses."
recognise the nature of the course allows little time for a part-time job.	10	"Other students may well be able to get part time jobs, indeed many do, but when we work 8 hour days, and then have to come home and study until bedtime, there is just not the capacity for it."

Back to Publication Home