We are awaiting confirmation from the Department of Health about the funding arrangements for NHS students in 2017/18. As soon as we have the detail, they will be published here.

The funding for students who study courses leading to a first registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council or the Health Professions Council is different to most university courses.

This applies if you study nursing, midwifery, podiatry, physiotherapy, occupational therapy or operating department practice at the University of Huddersfield. You must also meet the eligibility criteria and residency rules set down by the Department of Health. These are not always the same as those that apply to other courses.

If you are a home student and study one of these courses, your fees will be paid by the Department of Health and you may be entitled to a non-repayable grant and bursary from the Department as well. This is because students on these courses are on placement 37 hours a week for part of the year and usually have more hours study per week than students who are funded by the Office for Students (OFS), which reduces your ability to work.

How do I find out if I am eligible?

The exact rules change regularly sometimes at very short notice; so we can only give general guidance here. More up to date information may be available on the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBA) website but minor changes to specific regulations may not be published.

The University will make an initial assessment of your eligibility but cannot advise you on the value of your bursary award. You can get an estimate of how much you will receive by going to the bursary calculator on the NHSBA website listed below. The ultimate decisions on both your eligibility and the value of your award can only be made by the bursary unit after they receive your application.

If you live or have lived or worked outside the UK in the last three years, live in the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man, are an EU citizen, or are a national of a country outside the EU and do not have Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK, please apply early for your course and your funding because the University and the bursary unit will have to ask you for paperwork to decide whether you are eligible for Department of Health funding.

NHS grant and bursary

This may be awarded to students undertaking an undergraduate degree or diploma course at the University of Huddersfield. It is also paid if you study the Foundation Year for the Health Professions.

There is a non-means-tested £1000 grant for all eligible students.

The means-tested bursary is an allowance to cover day to day living costs and depends upon your individual circumstances (eg your parent’s income or that of a spouse/partner is taken into account when assessing the award). You may also apply for a reduced student loan from Student Finance England before the course starts. The student loan has to be repaid when you start working.

Visit the gov.uk website for more information

Additional allowances

You may also get additional allowances that are means-tested. You may receive a Dependant’s Allowance, a Parent’s Learning Allowance if you have children, and if you have childcare costs could get a Childcare Allowance towards costs.

When you go out on placement you will also be able to claim back travel expenses, for costs over your usual travel to the University.

If you study nursing, midwifery or operating department practice, you may be paid the 45 weeks allowance which is higher.

How to apply

All students commencing in 2016/17 will be able to apply via the Bursary Online Support System (BOSS).

Changes of circumstances

If your circumstances change at any time after you make your application to the bursary unit, you are obliged to inform them promptly. Your bursary may increase or decrease.

...

Student Finance Office

For further information, advice or guidance you can contact us here