Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union (TCDSU) passed a motion to “request the promised support from TCDSU regarding unpaid placement and increased fees”. The motion was raised by TCDSU President Shane De Rís, arising from a discussion item on pharmacy fees.
Pharmacy Convenor Lara Moehle spoke to Council to call on TCDSU to support pharmacy students regarding unpaid work placements and increases in Masters’ fees, a year which is integrated with the undergraduate degree and mandatory to practice as a pharmacist.
Speaking to Trinity News, Moehle outlined that pharmacy students cannot accept payment for work placement and that students who do so may be sanctioned. “Each of us is facing a net deficit of €25,000, due to the increase of masters fees from €3,000 to €8,500,” said Moehle.
International Students Officer, Molly McCrory, noted that “as high as it is for Irish students, for international students it is €17,785…this is also a serious problem for international students who are paying more”.
Various students also raised their concerns with the system. It was noted by one student that this financial strain “mightn’t [sic] be relatable to everyone but it is an enormous amount of pressure on us at the moment”. A fourth year class rep expressed support for Moehle’s item, noting that pharmacy students face a “horrendous situation”.
Additional reporting by Debra Daly, Finn Purdy, and Lauren Boland.
