National Health Services - Funding for healthcare degrees

What you get

If you study certain healthcare degree programmes at UWE Bristol, you will receive additional grants from the NHS that you will never have to repay. The most important of these is a NHS training grant of about 5,750 EUR per year (£5,000), to which, for some specialist degree programmes, up to around 1,150 euros (£1,000) is added. In addition, you can apply for around 2,300 EUR (£2,000) if you have a child under 15, or under 17 if the child has special educational needs. You will also be reimbursed for your additional travel and accommodation costs if you undertake a clinical placement (training in a hospital or care facility). Should you find yourself in serious financial difficulty, a special support fund will, upon application, pay up to around 3,450 EUR (£3,000), depending on your income. Some degree programmes at UWE last longer than 30 weeks a year, so you may be eligible for an additional, means-tested living allowance of around 133 EUR (£116) per extra week, or around 89 EUR (£77) if you live with your parents. This support is provided by the NHS and UWE Bristol and is granted in addition to your regular loans from Student Finance.

Who can apply

• Course: You are studying one of the following degree programmes at UWE Bristol: Nursing (adult, paediatric, learning disabilities or mental health), Midwifery, or a degree programme in the healthcare professions (occupational therapy, paramedicine, physiotherapy, diagnostic radiology, or radiotherapy and oncology). These degree programmes lead to professional registration.
• Enrolment: You study full time.
• Student Finance: You are eligible for a maintenance loan and a tuition fee loan from Student Finance England or Student Finance Wales.
• Where you study: You are studying in the UK. International students and students from overseas are not eligible to apply.
• Second degree: Even if you already hold a university degree, you may still be eligible for full funding for degree programmes in nursing, midwifery or healthcare professions. This does not apply to degree programmes in paramedicine, sports rehabilitation, optometry, the foundation year programme or social work.
• Not covered: The degree programmes ‘BSc in Social Work’, ‘BSc in Sports Rehabilitation’ and ‘BSc in Optometry’, as well as the foundation course for healthcare professions, are not recognised.

How to apply

You should apply for the NHS Learning Support Fund directly to the NHS Business Services Authority. Apply for your tuition fee loan and your living costs loan separately to Student Finance England and Student Finance Wales respectively.

How realistic are your chances?

These grants are an entitlement and do not involve a selection process. The NHS Training Grant and Child Allowance are not means-tested; therefore, if you meet the eligibility criteria for the degree programme and student finance, you will receive these benefits. The ‘Exceptional Support Fund’ and the supplement for longer degree programmes depend on your income and personal circumstances. As long as you are studying an eligible healthcare degree programme at UWE and are entitled to student finance, your prospects are good.