Carys Earl (Medicine 2021) provides a compelling argument for supporting student doctors.
“If you’ve got the academic ability and the commitment, for finance to stop you is not great for the student or medicine. You always need doctors,” she says.
“Yes, there are lots of other charities, but you can support an undergrad with all these big dreams to then qualify with their medical degree and all these extra-curricular skills, who can go out into the world and make a difference.
“You’re supporting a student to be able to reach their potential, and then they can get on and do incredible things. If you're donating money to, for example, Doctors Without Borders, that's a great thing to do, but they need doctors to work there.”
Carys rowing in The Boat Race (credit: )
Carys is grateful for the support from alumni and friends of Ӱҵ College which has enabled her not just to study, but also to experience everything the University of Cambridge has to offer. She began rowing with Caius Boat Club and her athletic ability has been recognised in the Boat Race and selection for British Rowing talent programmes.
She is keen to share her story to destigmatise being a bursary recipient, and to thank supporters of herself and her peers – and those who will follow her at Caius.
Carys’ father was a doctor and then became a pastor, while her mum worked in forestry before having six children. She is now working as a teaching assistant in schools.
“Everyone has their own unique situation,” Carys says. “My parents love the work that they do and growing up I would never have known that my family had a slightly smaller income. I didn't feel I was ever disadvantaged by that.
“If you can share your own experiences, that can help other people who might be worried about coming to uni. I’ve never once had any issues trying to access something. It’s always been possible. Yes, people are worried about talking about money issues. But they are issues that a lot of students face and there is a lot of support out there. Getting to use that support is a really good thing.
“And if sharing your stories can help a) people donate and b) people willing to go look for the money so they can have the opportunities, then I'm personally very happy to do that.”
is determined by household income and is automatically assessed following applications to the government’s student finance body. However, there is reduced central funding for the final two years which does not match the costs associated with the clinical course, leading to large deficits for students.
There are fears fewer people are applying to medicine because of the length of degree and associated debt.
Clinical Medicine students are the focus of the fundraising campaign for Caius Giving Day, which takes place over 36 hours on February 26 to 27. .
At Cambridge, in clinical school, medicine students can receive an advanced bursary on top of the standard. The advanced bursary is in place because they are in university throughout the calendar year, with fewer holidays, and extra costs like travel and equipment associated with their course. Carys also receives sports bursaries and College bursaries including the co-curricular grant and the Bell-Wade Bursary.
A part-time job is incompatible with the demands of the course.
“Sometimes in an undergraduate degree you can work for eight weeks or more over the summer and get some savings. You can’t really do that in med school,” Carys adds.
“It's basically like working a job. We get a couple of weeks off at Christmas, one week at Easter and three or four weeks over the summer. When you get those holidays you really need to take them otherwise you would burn out.
“If you don't have parents who can support you, or the Cambridge Bursary, it's basically impossible to pay for all the basics, like rent and food. I have friends at med school in other universities where you don't have that advanced bursary, and that can be very, very difficult. People have to drop out. If they have had an intercalated year in third year, sometimes they say ‘I’ve got one degree, I'm just going to have to use that’.”
If I get to the position where I can give back, I’d love to. Anywhere I go from here is only possible because of Caius
Carys’ intercalated degree was in Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, and she has enjoyed placements in Accident and Emergency and Surgery, which could be potential career paths.
She is thankful for the support. She has been corresponding with Chris Fang (Medicine 1991), whose generosity supports her. Carys wrote to Chris to express her gratitude, and he enjoyed watching her in the 2024 Boat Race, where Carys was part of the victorious Cambridge crew.
“It’s nice to actually have that connection,” Carys says. “The fact that someone has that money and is willing to give it to you, especially as they're related to Caius and they've been through the experience and they're able to give back, is incredible.
“Obviously every student has to budget, but it gives you a lot more security. Yes, you come here for a degree. But it's Cambridge and you have all these opportunities and things like this bursary enables me to have that full experience and not have to worry.
“I wouldn't be able to row without the Cambridge Bursary, and that's a massive part of my life at the moment.”
Carys is keen to repay the support in later life, if she can.
She says: “If I get to the position where I can give back, I’d love to. Anywhere I go from here is only possible because of Caius,” she adds.
To find out how you can support Caius students, present and future, visit the College website and contact the Development Office on development@cai.cam.ac.uk
