National Health Services - Nursing

What you get

If you are studying nursing or another healthcare degree at the University of South Wales, you will receive a NHS bursary of up to about 5,542 EUR (up to 3,651 GBP) for one year through the NHS Pathway. In addition, you will receive a fixed grant of approximately 1,150 EUR (1,000 GBP), which is not means-tested. The NHS Route also covers your tuition fees in full, meaning you won’t have to pay any tuition fees at all. You will also receive a reduced-rate living costs loan to help with your living expenses. Additional means-tested grants are available if you have a disability or dependants. This funding is provided by the NHS in Wales for degree programmes commissioned by Health Education Improvement Wales (HEIW).

The NHS route is subject to one condition: upon completion of your degree, you must commit to working in Wales for two years. If you do not wish to make this commitment, you can apply for standard student finance instead. This means a loan to cover tuition fees of 9,790 GBP per year, as well as a living costs loan of up to approximately 12,590 GBP for Welsh students, with no obligation to work in Wales.

Who can apply

• Course: You are studying a degree programme in the field of healthcare at the University of South Wales, such as a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Nursing (adults, children, mental health or learning disabilities), Midwifery, Operating Theatre Nursing, Occupational Therapy or Physiotherapy.
• Where you study: In the UK, at the University of South Wales.
• Nationality: You are a British student living in Wales or England.
• Study level: Only full-time degree programmes are eligible for the NHS route. Part-time degree programmes in nursing that offer flexible learning options are only eligible for standard funding.
• Previous study: If you have already taken part in an NHS-funded course, this may result in a reduction in your pay.

How to apply

You can apply for the NHS scholarship online at nhsstudents.wales. The application period opens around four months before the start of your course, and you must apply within 10 weeks of the start of your course. You must apply separately for the reduced living costs loan from Student Finance Wales or Student Finance England. For standard funding, submit your application to Student Finance using form PN1.

How realistic are your chances?

This funding is linked to specific healthcare-related degree programmes at a specific university. It is not a merit-based scholarship awarded through a selection process. If you are admitted to an eligible degree programme and meet the requirements regarding residence and prior education, you can apply for this funding. Submit your application within the deadline following the start of your studies. Decide at an early stage whether the two-year commitment to work in Wales as part of the NHS programme is suitable for you.