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An aspiring vet has spoken of the crippling financial hurdles facing students from disadvantaged backgrounds who require further study to pursue their dream career.
Amber Cordice, from Gravesend , recently graduated with a first class degree in zoology from the Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge.
The 21-year-old had applied three years prior to study veterinary medicine but narrowly missed out on a place.
However, Amber reapplied towards the end of her degree and was rewarded with one of just 72 places at the prestigious Harper and Keele Veterinary School.
But just as the Livingstone Road resident had taken one giant stride towards her goal she was hit with the reality of how she was going to fund her studies.
Amber said: "Unfortunately because it is a second degree, Student Finance England do not allow second degree vet students to apply for a student fee loan, therefore I have to fund £37,000 in order to fund my degree.
"Therefore funding is out of the question and has become a barrier in making my dream a reality as I am not eligible for a tuition fee loan and have to self-fund my tuition fees of £9,250 each year."
"Coming from a working class background I don't have that money," she added.
Student Finance England provides maintenance loans for living costs for second degree students but does not offer the same support for tuition costs.
Amber says she has been saving up birthday and Christmas money since the age of 15.
In addition to this, she worked night and early morning shifts at Sainsbury's alongside her studies to raise the extra cash for her first year's tuition but now needs thousands more to cover the other four, or face having to surrender her place.
She explained she was not the only one, adding many others apply to veterinary school each year but don't get in first time round as it is oversubscribed and have to pursue other options before reapplying via the graduate entry route.
To strengthen her CV the former Thamesview School pupil has also been busy volunteering her time at the BlueCross, Meopham veterinary hospital, and at Harvel House Farm where she helped to deliver lambs and calves.
But the aspiring vet, who suffers with asthma, was forced to resign from her job and suspend all physical placements to self-isolate during the pandemic.
"It has made things more difficult because I'm still shielding with my nan," she said, explaining that her grandmother who she lives with suffers from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which affects the lungs and places her at high risk with Covid-19.
"I don't know if it is even worth me looking at more work experience so I have been looking at remote jobs," Amber said.
"I don't want to ask but at the same time I can't jeopardise my health."
Meanwhile Amber has been applying for online teaching posts to create an income while applying for scholarships and funding schemes with the help of tutors from Gravesend Grammar School where she attended sixth form.
The zoology graduate previously secured placements at Cambridge University's veterinary laboratories but says access routes for other science careers in medicine and STEM subjects are less clearly defined and supported.
"I've got a lot of rejections but I'm just carrying on," she added.
Another reason Amber is determined not to give up her dream job as a vet is her status as a working class woman of colour.
Less than 5% of veterinary surgeons worldwide hail from a Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME), and fewer still in the UK where representation stands at around 3%, according to the British Veterinary Association.
This comes despite around 14% of the working age UK population identifying as BAME and the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development predicts this will likely rise to 20% by 2030.
She said: "On becoming a vet I do want to become an advocate and an affiliate for students who I know will be in the same predicament as me.
"I want to help other students in achieving their dreams and show them with a little bit of perseverance in the face of adversity you can achieve anything."
Amber has deferred her entry while she seeks to secure funding for her studies. She has also started a GoFundMe page if people wish to donate or share here .
