Second student loan for Pharmacy?

[Sadiebird]

I’m looking for a total change of career, and have some experience of pharmacy counter work from my younger days. I’m investigating the idea of studying to become a pharmacist, but have already had a student loan (I graduated in 2009). There seems to be some information online to suggest that for some STEM subjects you are able to apply for a second undergraduate loan, but I can’t get through to the SLC this morning and after thorough Googling I can’t seem to find anything conclusive either way. Anyone know?

I'm sorry I can't answer your question but depending on which type of pharmacy you'd like to practise I'd definitely do significant research and work experience.

Community pharmacy isn't in a great place at the moment (government cuts, large multiples caring about nothing but the bottom line are big parts of the problem). I'm on the register but haven't practised in 4 years. Many colleagues feel the same and have also left the profession.
Unless your first degree and experience fast tracks you, the course will be a four years masters then an extra training year, so five years before you register. Starting salaries vary. My first salary was £32K about 12 years ago on a contract with good benefits and working one in 2 weekends (with a large multiple). Starting salaries are now based on working 3 in 4 weekends, bank holidays and Sundays where necessary (at normal pay rate) and the salary is around the same as it was 12 years ago (34k for a 40hr week v's 37.5 hr week when I qualified).
If I had my time again, I'd either go into hospital pharmacy or train as a hospital pharmacy technician.

Sorry- I know it wasn't what you asked but just a perspective to consider.

Don’t be sorry Saturday it’s great to have that information!

My background is very different from pharmacy - I’ve been trying to get a heritage/museum based role for years and had no luck, despite lots of valuable voluntary work, an undergraduate degree and a MA. All I can pick up at the moment are part-time administrative roles, which aren’t really worth doing financially. My youngest DC is almost one, and we don’t plan on having more, so I’ve been researching my options for a new start career wise.

Hi Sadiebird, I'd say if you were 18, go for it but taking out a second (or third) loan and spending 5 years out of the workforce, I'd say no. The course is a difficult one and you would not be able to take on part-time work as you would have labs, lectures and practicals all day 9 - 5. You would also have to think about paying for childcare during this time.

You can look up NHS Agenda for Change pay scales. Most hospital pharmacists start off on Band 6 and work up towards Band 8A or 8B (after several years).

The profession is changing and there will be less of the technical stuff, more talking to patients and carrying out consultations and medication reviews. There will be opportunities to work in general practice, urgent care or nursing homes. Sourcing and supplying medicines will be a thing of the past.

I strongly recommend that you seek work experience in a community pharmacy. As Saturday suggests, you could train as a pharmacy technician and train on the job (you need a Level 3 NVQ). As pharmacists take on a more clinical role, the running of the pharmacy including dispensing will likely be undertaken by technicians so there is lots of scope there (course is 2 years distance learning while being paid).

You can def get second degree funding for some STEM courses - I've just started with OU. Have you looked on your desired university website to see if they have any info?

Thank you all! I’ve spoken to SLC and they said the MPharm wasn’t eligible for their second degree funding anyway - I’m awaiting for some information from my local university too, but I wouldn’t be able to afford it without that funding.

But I’ve got some great ideas on here, so thanks again! I’ll definitely look into the pharmacy technician role.

If you studied part time you'd be eligible for a second loan.

What about studying to be a paramedic? There are lots of options with this degree - not just being on an ambulance. Pay similar to pharmacy as well with shift pay

titchy - that’s something else that was confusing me, I saw an online transcript of a speech from 2016 by Jo Johnson (universities minister?) that said some STEM part-time courses would eligible from 2017. But the SLC said pharmacy wasn’t on their eligible list anyway. I really hadn’t expected it to be to hard to get information, plus the UCAS website implied pharmacy was eligible (but also didn’t mention anything about part-time study)!

I hadn’t really thought of that teenage - something else to look at!

If you'd have mentioned part time stem specifically to the SLC they'd have confirmed. 99%!ofnpeope who phone them want full time - so they often don't think about other modes of study.

I am a hospital pharmacist, but worked in community for a number of years before qualifying. I'd definitely look into a pharmacy technician role OP, even better if you can get a hospital based role as there is better progression (we have senior technicians who are at band 6). Most hospital pharmacy departments would allow you to come and observe for a day to learn more about the role, I know mine does!

I may be wrong but I don't think you can study for an MPharm part time.