Demilade Idowu-Agida is an 18-year-old student based in Essex. She went through the UCAS application process and received two offers to study medicine at university, but then discovered she could not accept them due to her immigration status. Interview by Michaela Makusha.
As a child in Nigeria, I was an unlikely candidate for medical school. I hated going to the doctor because I was scared of needles. But years later, I wanted to be in a position to help people and so I knew I wanted to be a doctor.
I moved to the UK in 2023, with my parents and siblings. My mother is a private care worker and my dad is a healthcare assistant in the NHS. Coming into secondary school, with only a year to learn everything in time for my GCSEs, was tricky. To fulfil my dream of becoming a doctor, I had to work twice as hard – and it paid off. I got good grades, made it into sixth-form and applied for university. Medical school was finally within my grasp.
After I sent my application, I had to complete a tuition fee questionnaire. Then, I received a fateful email: “As your current visa is a limited leave type, you do not appear to meet the eligibility criteria for home fees.”
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