NHS Learning Support Fund (LSF) — Physiotherapy

What you get

You get a Training Grant of about 5,700 EUR per year (£5,000) for the whole length of your physiotherapy degree. It does not depend on your income, you never repay it, and it is paid in three instalments each academic year (roughly November, March and July). It comes on top of the normal UK student loan. The money comes from the NHS Learning Support Fund, a state programme run by the NHS Business Services Authority for the Department of Health and Social Care in England.

Part-time students get a proportional amount. If you have at least one dependent child under 15 (or under 17 with special educational needs), you can also claim Parental Support of about 2,300 EUR per year (£2,000). You can claim back extra travel and temporary accommodation costs during placements. If you hit unexpected hardship, you can apply for up to about 3,400 EUR (£3,000) from the Exceptional Support Fund. The extra £1,000 Specialist Subject Payment does not apply to physiotherapy.

Who can apply

• Course: You study physiotherapy on a pre-registration undergraduate or postgraduate course. Foundation years do not count.
• Where you study: Your university is in England.
• Active study: You are actively studying, either in class or on a practice placement.
• Residence and finance: You normally live in the UK and qualify for tuition-fee and maintenance support from the Student Loans Company (through Student Finance England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland). You do not have to take the loan, but you must meet those criteria.
• Not double-funded: You cannot get this if you receive an NHS Bursary, or if an employer or NHS Trust keeps paying you a salary during your studies.

How to apply

Create an account on the NHS LSF online portal and apply for the Training Grant there. There is no interview or jury. It is a needs-checked state grant based on eligibility. Register within one month of starting your studies each year and apply within six months. You must reapply every academic year.

How realistic are your chances?

This is not a competition. Everyone who meets the criteria gets the grant. If you study physiotherapy at an English university and qualify for UK student finance, the money is essentially guaranteed. The only real risk is missing the registration and application windows tied to your course start, so apply as soon as your studies begin.