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Reader Response
Added: Thursday, 12 June 2008 16:37 BST
Anonymous, Birmingham, United Kingdom
i am actually studing for a diploma in mental health nursing and think its disgusting that degree students do noy recieve the same amount they go on about equal rights etccc well were are there i ask also getting them to pay your busuary is a mission as well been waitng three months fro mine have dependents no body seems to be bothered or intrestred .
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Added: Saturday, 7 June 2008 18:10 BST
Anonymous, Torpoint, United Kingdom
As a degree student and a single mum with 4 children, I feel the increase in the bursery is needed, but at a higher rate. We are told that we will only receive help with 85% of our child care costs for up to 2 children, so those with 3 or more end up having to fund this ourselves. This has meant that the entire bursery being awarded for the year is being spent soley on child care costs and many end up robbing peter to pay paul! This system is in need of being reviewed so that single parents that wish to return to higher education are fully supported and not left left with serious financial difficulties. No wonder there are always many dropping out of the course and a lack of nurses!
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Added: Monday, 12 May 2008 16:46 BST
Jennifer Hand, Dundee, United Kingdom
As a student in Scotland, I am shocked to hear that my counterparts in England are subjected to a means tested bursary for the degree level. I also believe you have to pay your tuition fees as well. What is the government thinking? I'm finding it hard enough to cope with my bursary and finding enough regular time to fit in a job seems like an impossible hope. Perhaps students in England and Wales should raise awareness of this unfairness to MP's in your consituency, and try your hardest to get England in line with us in Scotland, because it cannot be easy trying to survive financially whilst doing your degree course.
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Added: Saturday, 10 May 2008 10:55 BST
Anonymous, ROYSTON, United Kingdom
The very reason that I have chosen to study for a Diploma rather than a Degree is the Bursary. If I had chosen the Degree option my Bursary would be means tested and consequently lower. I simply could not afford to study for the Degree.
This seems at odds with the need for highly trained nurses. I would rather follow the Degree course, but for financial reasons have to take the Diploma option.
Please remove the means testing for degree students.
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Added: Wednesday, 7 May 2008 18:02 BST
Anonymous, Wallsend, United Kingdom
Bursaries should be awarded fairly to students regardless of whether they are doing a degree or diploma. I am currently studying for my adult nursing degree and i get a bursary of £90 a month. It makes me so angry to think that if i had chosen to do the diploma that i would be getting around £510 a month! Having such a low bursary means that most degree students have to work part time as well as doing a full time degree. There is no difference in pay after qualification so why bother doing a degree? There is alot of bitterness towards the people doing the diploma course at uni because at the end of the day we are doing the same work but at a slightly higher level and getting paid alot less!
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Added: Saturday, 26 April 2008 12:12 BST
Anonymous, Great Yarmouth, United Kingdom
An increase to the bursary is a step in the right direction but I would prefer to see equality in bursary regardless whether you do degree or diploma. I myself will start the nursing degree in september and it infuriates me that I am, in a sense, being penalised for wanting to do this. Why do students who study at a slightly lower level get almost double of what I will be entitled to? We both start on the same pay scale after graduation. When they say a person with a degree earns more than someone without, they obviously werent talking about nurses. Maybe if bursaries were made equal, there wouldnt be so many astudents dropping out due to financial hardship.
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