title: Debt crisis ahead for Irish medical students.
abstract: Internationally medical student debt is a cause of concern. A survey of medical students in UCC (response rate of 191 representing 35% of the EU student cohort) reveals that 34 (26%) of direct entry medicine (DEM) students and 36 (61%) graduate entrants (GEM) have a loan with an anticipated average debt of Euro17,300 and Euro80,000 on graduation respectively. Fifty-three (90%) graduate entrants and 75 (57%) direct entrants revealed that they often worry about their current financial situation. Fifty-three (28%) of students have a part-time job and many were concerned about the degree to which this conflicted with their academic workload. 118 (89%) of school leavers and 48 (81%) graduates received financial assistance from their families to fund their college expenses. Student responses recommended the introduction of a government supported low interest rate loan and other incentives to help service high levels of debt associated with medical education.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Haugh
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Doyle
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: O'Flynn
mesh_terms: D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000191:economics*; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000191:economics*; D004651:Employment; D005190:Family; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland; D014146:Training Support / Q000191:economics*