NHS Learning Support Fund

New healthcare* students starting courses in England in September/October 2023 can apply for the NHS Learning Support Fund from 1 March 2023 (applications must be submitted within six months of the start of the academic year).

If eligible, you can get a training grant of £5,000 per academic year. Currently, students studying one of the following subjects can receive an additional £1,000 per year: mental health nursing; learning disability nursing; radiography (diagnostic and therapeutic); orthotics and prosthetics; orthoptics and podiatry.

You can also claim money back for excess travel and accommodation costs while doing placements, and parental support if you have child dependents. There is also an Exceptional Support Fund for students experiencing financial hardship.

To apply you must be:


There is more information on how to apply on the following website:

https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/nhs-learning-support-fund-lsf

* Dental therapy/hygiene; dietetics; midwifery; nursing (adult, child, mental health, learning disability, joint nursing, and social work); occupational therapy; operating department practitioner; orthoptics; orthotics and prosthetics; paramedics; physiotherapy; podiatry/chiropody; radiography (diagnostic and therapeutic); speech and language therapy


NB If you are going to study at a uni in Wales, NHS Wales offers financial support through the NHS Wales Bursary Scheme. Official website here:

https://nwssp.nhs.wales/ourservices/student-awards-services/information-for-students/log-in-completing-an-application/new-students/

As a quick summary, if you study in Wales the bursary funds annual tuition fees, a £1,000 non means-tested bursary, a means-tested bursary, and travel and accommodation costs when on placement. In return, students on a three-year course are expected to commit to working in Wales for two years following graduation.

Official FAQ pdf attached.

Hello, I am applying for Orthoptics and have made an application to student finance. The training grant needs to be applied for once you have evidence of your student finance award but also says it needs to be applied for within 6 months before your training starts. Can I clarify this means we have a 6 month window to apply and get our student finance evidence not that we have to apply 6 months before training starts (which is this month)? Thank you!

Thanks for this post!

Do you know if electronically sent letters are suitable for evidence or do they have to be scanned physical letters? I have confirmation of my student loan but it's only a digital notifcation
tyty

I’m an english student who wants to study in wales. I have already applied to student finance england and they’ve confirmed everything. was i supposed to apply to student finance wales?

Same with the nhs bursary… do apply for the wales one or the england one?

As you live in England and want to study a healthcare course, you have a choice of applying to the NHS Wales Bursary Scheme for fee and living cost support, or to apply to Student Finance England (if you choose the latter, you won't be able to apply the the NHS Learning Support Fund in England).

In return for committing to work in Wales for two years after graduation, the NHS Wales Bursary Scheme pays your tuition fees and offers a mix of means-tested and non-means-tested grants/bursary to cover living costs.

You will need to decide which form of funding will be better for you. Seek advice from your uni if you are unsure. The Cardiff Uni website has some useful information explaining this in more detail:

https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/funding/funding-your-healthcare-course

Thank you so much for this response. it’s really useful

Thing is i have already applied to student finance england. So just to make sure, i can still apply to NHS Wales bursary scheme right?

Hi,
Could someone clarify about the parent element. I’ve read it’s for children under 15. My son will be 15 by September, so are we not eligible? I have applied for the main part of the fund but have left the parent bit as I just assumed we wouldn’t be eligible as he will be 15.
Many thanks!

Hello, just found this on the NHS site where it says "under 15 at the start of the academic year" so I'd presume not unfortunately! However, if they have additional needs it is pushed to under the age of 17.

https://faq.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/knowledgebase/article/KA-24126/en-us