Additional funding

English providers

• UK students who choose to study in England should apply to their home country for fee and living cost support. They receive support for fee loans and living costs through the standard student support system.

• In addition, the government has announced that new and existing students studying nursing, midwifery, and allied health courses will receive a minimum £5,000 funding per year. £3,000 will be available in additional funding, including:  

  • £1,000 a year for specialist disciplines including mental health, learning disability, podiatry, diagnostic and therapeutic radiography, orthoptics, orthotics, and prosthetics.  

  • An additional £1,000 childcare allowance to help students balance their studies with family life, on top of the £1,000 already on offer.  

  • £1,000 for areas of the country which have seen a decrease in people accepted onto some nursing, midwifery, and allied health courses over the past year. 

• Students from England may also be eligible to apply for support through the NHS Bursary Learning Support Fund, including a Child Dependents Allowance, help with travel and temporary accommodation, and a hardship fund. Read more about the NHS Bursary Learning Support Fund.

Healthcare education funding

Postgraduate students

Postgraduate pre-registration nursing, midwifery, and allied health professional students receive support for fee loans and living costs through the standard student support system, rather than course fees and NHS bursaries towards living costs. They will have access to the Learning Support Fund, administered by the NHS Business Services Authority.

Dental hygiene and dental therapy students

Most pre-registration dental hygiene and dental therapy students will receive support for fee loans and living costs through the standard student support system, rather than course fees and NHS bursaries towards living costs. They will also have access to the Learning Support Fund, administered by the NHS Business Services Authority.

Part-time courses

Previously commissioned NHS part-time programmes receive maintenance support, as well tuition fee funding and any Disabled Students Allowances through the standard student support system. The maintenance bursary will no longer be available from NHS Bursaries. They will have access to the Learning Support Fund, administered by the NHS Business Services Authority.

Scottish providers

• UK students who choose to study in Scotland, and who are not ordinarily domiciled in Scotland, should apply to their home country for fee and living cost support. 
• These students receive support for fee loans and living costs through their home country’s standard student support system, rather than through the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS). 
• Students who are ordinarily domiciled in Scotland, who choose to study in another part of the UK, should apply to the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) for the standard undergraduate support package. 

Welsh providers

• UK and EU students who choose to study in Wales receive a bursary package, subject to them meeting eligibility requirements.
• Students must sign an agreement to work in Wales for two years post-study to be eligible for the healthcare bursary. This applies to all UK and EU students.
• Students who choose not to agree to the two-year tie in are not be eligible for the healthcare bursary. These students should apply to their home country for fee and living cost support.

NI providers

Only Northern Irish and EU students can apply for courses at NI providers. There are bursary arrangements in place for these students. 

Depending on where you live, you may be able to apply for financial support.

From GOV.UK website in England, Student Finance Wales, or Student Finance Northern Ireland:

• a Childcare Grant could cover up to 85% of course childcare costs, depending on household income
• the Parents’ Learning Allowance can help with course related costs if you have dependent children
• an Adult Dependant’s Grant could help if you have an adult over 18 in your household depending on you financially

From the Student Awards Agency for Scotland:

• a Dependant’s Grant could cover your husband, wife, civil partner or partner (but not another student)
• a Lone Parent’s Grant could help if you’re bring up children on your own and you are single, widowed, divorced, separated or your civil partnership has dissolved

You can contact your course provider to find out how much funding might be available through regional funds for students in financial hardship.

• University and college hardship funds in England
• Support funds in Northern Ireland
• The discretionary fund in Scotland
• University and college hardship funds in Wales

You might be eligible for a scholarship, grant or bursary.

Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) cover some of the extra study-related costs you incur due to an impairment, mental health condition, or learning difference. This is a non-repayable allowance which is in addition to other student finance. The amount you’ll receive depends on your individual needs not on your income, nor that of your parents or partner. However, there are some restrictions on what you may use DSA for, so check the details carefully.

More about support for disabled students

Scholarships, grants, and bursaries for disabled students

If you’ve been in Local Authority (LA) care you can apply for financial support from your course provider or your LA. Contact your personal adviser, social worker or LA case worker for advice.

More about support for care leavers

Scholarships, grants, and bursaries

Os ydych yn byw yng Nghymru fel rheol, efallai y bydd gennych hawl i gael rhagor o gymorth gan Lywodraeth Cynulliad Cymru.

Are you applying for student finance through Student Finance England or Wales? If you are an independent student and you're estranged from your parents, you can find out more about support, financing your studies, and accommodation options.