All undergraduate and postgraduate nursing, midwifery and most allied health profession students can access student loans, and there is an additional government grant for some healthcare students.
In addition, postgraduate pre-registration nursing and allied health profession students are able to access the standard student loans available to undergraduate students. Find out more about this from the Funding Clinic.
From August 2020, all nursing, midwifery and many allied health professional degree students receive at least £5,000 a year with up to £3,000 further funding available for:
- specialist disciplines that struggle to recruit, including mental health nursing
- an additional childcare allowance to help balance studies with family life, on top of the £1,000 already on offer through the Learning Support Fund
- areas of the country which have seen a decrease in people accepted onto some nursing, midwifery and allied health courses over the past year
This means that some students could be eligible for up to £8,000 in total support per year. The funding will not have to be repaid.
The new universal offer is offered to all new and continuing degree-level nursing, midwifery and many allied health students, starting from August 2020.
Applications for the funding will be made through a digital portal run by the NHS Business Services Authority which manages the NHS Learning Support Fund.
Learning Support Fund
The Learning Support Fund also offers students additional support while studying for their degree. This includes:
- dependants allowance of £1,000 per student per year
- additional travel and accommodation costs to clinical placements over their normal daily travel costs
- an exceptional hardship fund of up to £3,000 per student per academic year
Child Dependants Allowance - A grant of £1,000 for eligible students who have parental responsibility for a dependent child.
Travel and Dual Accommodation Expenses - Reimburse some of the additional cost of attending a practice placement as part of your course.
Exceptional Support Fund - Financial support up to £3,000 is available for eligible healthcare students who find themselves in severe financial hardship during their studies.
You can find more information about these changes, including eligibility by visiting the NHS website below:
Other funding opportunities
The College of Radiographers' Valerie Carr Award supports individuals to study and graduate in pre-registration therapeutic radiography in England and Wales. In England, award recipients have their fees paid for up to three years. Find out more details and how to apply here.
The Esmond Bequest is available to members of the Nightingale Fellowship and provides financial assistance for continuing education and professional development in the form of fees for courses or study days or associated costs. More information available here.
The Iolanthe Midwifery Trust Midwives Award is to enable midwives to undergo self-development or training, to undertake research or to make improvements to local services. More information available here.
The Iolanthe Midwifery Trust Elizabeth Duff Award supports midwives to further develop practice or knowledge that focuses on the implementation of relationship-based midwifery care. More information available here.
The RCN Foundation’s Professional Bursary Scheme supports individuals in learning and development activities such as post-graduate university study or professional short courses. More information available here.
RCN Foundation Education Grants - The RCN have a range of grants available to Nurses, Midwives and Health Care Assistants to fund a wide variety of learning, development and research opportunities. More information available here.
Student Finance
If you have any further questions please contact the student finance team on:
- Tel: 0121 331 6064
- Email: studentsupport@bcu.ac.uk
- Finance and money matters