MSc Occupational Therapy or Social Work MSc

Hi,

I'm just wondering if anyone can offer me any advice!

I'm due to graduate this summer with a finance degree but I really want to pursue occupational therapy or social work MSc this coming academic year. I don't have any paid or volunteering experience as such but I became a mum not long after my BSc began in 2022 and my little boy has got developmental delays and is suspected neurodiverse. Navigating my studies with working part time and caring for him has really focused my career ambitions hence why I want to study an unrelated MSc.

I'm just wondering what funding I'd be eligible to apply for though with either course. Are both MSc courses exemption courses? Does this mean I can apply for tuition fee and maintenance loan through SFE or does this apply to occupational therapy and not social work?

My other question too sorry, if the courses or one of them is an exception course and I can apply for tuition fee and maintenance loan, does NHS LSF impact this or SWB?

Any advice would be really appreciated!
Thank you,

Hi there, If the occupational therapy course is a pre-registration course then this would be classed as an exception course, however with the social work course, students who already hold an equivalent level qualification will be eligible for maintenance support only (maintenance loan as well as supplementary grants) if they undertake an equivalent level qualification exception course. Students will be eligible if they start a new course leading to a qualification as a:

•

Medical Doctor

•

Dentist

•

Veterinary Surgeon (Veterinary Science courses can only be classed as an exception if the course leads the student to be a fully qualified Veterinary Surgeon)

•

Architect (RIBA 1 and 2 studied as one continuous full time course)

•

Social Worker

•

Teacher

With regards to the LSF, this is provided from the NHS directly, this would have no impact on the application as this is from an external source. Thanks, Stephen.

Reply 2

tsrabby

OP

7

Original post by Stephen SLC

Hi there, If the occupational therapy course is a pre-registration course then this would be classed as an exception course, however with the social work course, students who already hold an equivalent level qualification will be eligible for maintenance support only (maintenance loan as well as supplementary grants) if they undertake an equivalent level qualification exception course. Students will be eligible if they start a new course leading to a qualification as a:

•

Medical Doctor

•

Dentist

•

Veterinary Surgeon (Veterinary Science courses can only be classed as an exception if the course leads the student to be a fully qualified Veterinary Surgeon)

•

Architect (RIBA 1 and 2 studied as one continuous full time course)

•

Social Worker

•

Teacher

With regards to the LSF, this is provided from the NHS directly, this would have no impact on the application as this is from an external source. Thanks, Stephen.

Hi Stephen,
Thank you for this!

So essentially MSc Occupational Therapy is full funding plus any NHS LSF I'd be eligible for but social work is only maintenance plus grants. I don't suppose you can sign post me to any grants that are available so I can assess my eligibility?

With social work, despite it being a MSc would I be able to apply for undergrad maintenance loan for both years of the two year course?

Also sorry, with MSC occupational therapy, I know there is an NHS LSF grant for parents, would this replace the parents learning allowance from SFE or would I be eligible for both due to having a dependent child? Sorry it's all very confusing!

Thank you,

(edited 1 month ago)

Hi there, the grants offered by student finance as part of the application are:
Parental Learning Allowance (PLA)
Adult Dependents Grant (ADG)
Childcare Grant CCG)
and
Disabled Student Allowance (DSA) (if applicable)

Yes, this would be for the all years of your course. And yes, you would be eligible to apply for both. Thanks, Stephen.

Reply 4

tsrabby

OP

7

Original post by Stephen SLC

Hi there, the grants offered by student finance as part of the application are:
Parental Learning Allowance (PLA)
Adult Dependents Grant (ADG)
Childcare Grant CCG)
and
Disabled Student Allowance (DSA) (if applicable)
Yes, this would be for the all years of your course. And yes, you would be eligible to apply for both. Thanks, Stephen.

Hi Stephen,

Sorry so just checking, for MSc social work, I could apply for two years of maintenance loan (that's not post-grad loan) and any applicable grants? If I pursue social work and do that, am I right in thinking I can't be receiving social work bursary as well as undergrad maintenance loan from SFE?

Whereas if I pursue occupational therapy, I believe I can get tuition fee and maintenance loan for the two year course starting September 2025 as well as NHS LSF?

Sorry again I am just trying to be sure!

Original post by tsrabby

Hi Stephen,
Sorry so just checking, for MSc social work, I could apply for two years of maintenance loan (that's not post-grad loan) and any applicable grants? If I pursue social work and do that, am I right in thinking I can't be receiving social work bursary as well as undergrad maintenance loan from SFE?
Whereas if I pursue occupational therapy, I believe I can get tuition fee and maintenance loan for the two year course starting September 2025 as well as NHS LSF?
Sorry again I am just trying to be sure!

Hi there, for any bursaries and grants you're best to check with the learning fund directly but yes, if it's a postgraduate healthcare or an undergraduate healthcare course then it's full funding that is typically awarded. Thanks, Jason

Reply 6

tsrabby

OP

7

Original post by SFE Jason

Hi there, for any bursaries and grants you're best to check with the learning fund directly but yes, if it's a postgraduate healthcare or an undergraduate healthcare course then it's full funding that is typically awarded. Thanks, Jason

Hi Jason,

Thank you for your reply!

That's great thank you, but for social work Ma postgrad level, I'd be able to claim maintenance loan as though I'm an undergraduate, I just wouldn't get tuition fee loans is that right?

Original post by tsrabby

Hi Jason,
Thank you for your reply!
That's great thank you, but for social work Ma postgrad level, I'd be able to claim maintenance loan as though I'm an undergraduate, I just wouldn't get tuition fee loans is that right?

If it's an undergraduate full time it's just maintenance loan and any grants. If it's a Postgraduate Masters it's the Postgraduate loan that is offered to you. Thanks, Jason

MSc Occupational Therapy or Social Work MSc

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