The review of the NHS bursary scheme, which provides financial support to students undertaking eligible healthcare courses has concluded that, in the future, eligible students will all have access to the same package of financial support from September 2012 irrespective of their course.
The new package of support will provide new students with a small non-means tested grant, a means tested bursary and a reduced rate non-means-tested loan. The loan will be provided by Student Finance England. As with the current scheme, different rates of means tested bursary and loan will apply according to where a student lives and studies, whether in London, outside of London, or with their parents.
This means that a healthcare student on an eligible course of 45 weeks in duration and studying outside London could receive a non-means tested grant of £1,000, a means tested bursary of up to £4,395 and a non-means tested loan of up to £2,324.
It is planned that these changes will take effect from September 2012. Any changes which are made will apply only to new students who begin their training on or after the date on which the changes come into effect. Existing students will remain on the current scheme.
The Department has undertaken a review of NHS student support, to consider changes to the NHS Bursary Scheme that could remove existing anomalies, provide better value for money and improve the system of support available to all eligible students.
Whilst the Department of Health ultimately led the review, it was undertaken in partnership with key stakeholders, including representatives of the NHS, Higher Education, Trades Unions, other Government departments and students.
The Department of Health ran a public consultation on a number of options to seek the views of others with an interest, including people who were currently considering entering healthcare training. The outcome of the consultation is reported in Supporting our future workforce: Consultation report.
From September 2012, all new eligible students will be eligible for a £1,000 grant. They will also be eligible for a means tested bursary and a maintenance loan.
The following tables shows typical support available to students on a 30 week course or a 45 week course.
| If you will be studying and living: | Non-means tested grant | Means tested bursary (maximum) | Non-means tested maintenance loan | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| in London and living in student/rented accommodation/your own home | During TERM TIME |
£1,000 | £3,128 | £3,263 |
| elsewhere in England (UK for medical and dental students) and living in student/rented accommodation/your own home | During TERM TIME |
£1,000 | £2,591 | £2,324 |
|
anywhere in England (UK for medical and dental students) and living with your parents |
During TERM TIME |
£1,000 | £2,163 | £1,744 |
| If you will be studying and living: | Non-means tested grant | Means tested bursary (maximum) | Non-means tested maintenance loan | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| in London and living in student/rented accommodation/your own home | During TERM TIME |
£1,000 | £5,460 | £3,263 |
| elsewhere in England (UK for medical and dental students) and living in student/rented accommodation/your own home | During TERM TIME |
£1,000 | £4,395 | £2,324 |
| anywhere in England (UK for medical and dental students) and living with your parents | During TERM TIME |
£1,000 | £3,351 | £1,744 |
The maintenance loan is reduced in the final year of study to £2,498 in London, £1,811 outside London and £1,324 for students who live with their parents whilst studying.
In addition to the basic bursary, students can apply for a number of additional allowances if they meet specific criteria. These allowances provide support to disabled students and additional support for students with dependent adults and children. These allowances will remain unchanged from the current arrangements.
Students can also claim help with travel costs to their placements, if they incur additional costs to those incurred when travelling to their university.
The tuition costs for non-medical courses are paid directly by the NHS so eligible students are not required to pay tuition fees. The arrangements for medical and dental students differ. We have recently agreed interim arrangements for students beginning medical and dental courses in 2012 and further information can be found in Andrew Lansley’s letter of 28 June
You can find a copy of Supporting our future NHS workforce: a consultation on the NHS Bursary Scheme, and the research commissioned to support the review, at the links below.
You can find the report of the consultation, an impact assessment and an equalities impact assessment at the link below.
You can find a copy of the current NHS Bursary Scheme and further information on how to apply for a bursary at the links below.
You can find out more about the interim arrangements for supporting medical and dental students with their tuition fees at the link below.
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