National Health Services - NHS Grant

What the NHS Learning Support Fund gives you

You will receive Training Grant of about 5,750 EUR per academic year (£5,000) if you are studying an eligible healthcare degree at a university in England. This grant does not need to be repaid and is not means-tested. For some degree programmes, there is also a subject-specific allowance of up to around 1,150 EUR (£1,000). You can also apply for additional support, if applicable: a parental allowance of around 2,300 EUR (£2,000) per year if you have a child under 15 (or under 17 with special educational needs); reimbursement of additional travel and temporary accommodation costs during clinical placements; and a special assistance fund of up to approximately 3,450 EUR (£3,000) should you find yourself in a sudden financial emergency. This last fund is means-tested. The fund is administered by the NHS Business Services Authority on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.

Who can apply

• Course: You are undertaking a healthcare course prior to registration, for example in the fields of nursing, midwifery, occupational therapy, paramedic training, physiotherapy, radiology, nutritional counselling, speech and language therapy, or another qualifying profession.
• Where you study: Your university is in England.
• Study phase: You are currently undertaking active training, either in a classroom setting or on a work placement. Foundation years are not taken into account.
• Student finance: You are entitled to support towards tuition fees and living costs from Student Finance (England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland). This applies even if you have not taken out a loan, provided you meet the relevant criteria.
• Nationality: You are a domestic student who meets the eligibility criteria for student finance. International students and students from overseas are not eligible to apply.
• Not eligible: You are not eligible for this grant if you are receiving the NHS Scholarship or are studying social work, sports rehabilitation, optometry or the Health Professions Foundation programme.

How to apply

You apply for the grant online via your personal NHS LSF account. Submit your application within six months of the start of your academic year and resubmit it every year for as long as you continue your studies. There is no interview.

How realistic are your chances?

This is not a selection process with a limited number of places. If you are studying a recognised healthcare degree programme in England and meet the eligibility criteria for student finance, you are entitled to the training grant – it is not a grant that you have to apply for. The key thing is that you meet the entry criteria and submit your application within the six-month window.