NHS Funding

If you are studying medicine, dentistry and other health care courses such as speech and language therapy you may be eligible to apply for funding from the NHS instead of the standard student finance package. The main NHS funding package usually consists of:

  • full fee payment by the NHS
  • an income assessed NHS bursary - this is non-repayable and intended to help you cover your living costs
  • a reduced rate, non-income assessed student loan from the Student Loans Company

Medicine and Surgery MB BS (Hons)

If you are undertaking the 5 year medicine course as a first degree you may be eligible to apply for NHS funding from the 5th year of your course onwards.

If you are undertaking the accelerated 4 year medicine course you may be eligible to apply for NHS funding in year 2, 3 and 4 of your course.

Dental Surgery BDS (Hons)

If you are undertaking the 5 year dentistry course as a first degree you may be eligible to apply for NHS funding from the 5th year of your course onwards.

*The NHS Bursary Scheme will only provide bursaries for medical and dental students who are ordinarily resident in England on the first day of the course and who have been ordinarily resident in the UK throughout the three years prior to the start of the course. Medical and dental students from Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland should apply to their own assessment authority for a bursary.

Speech and Language Sciences BSc (Hons)

If you are undertaking Speech and Language Sciences you may be eligible to apply for NHS funding for all years of your course.

Dental Hygiene and Therapy Diploma

If you are undertaking the Dental Hygiene and Therapy Diploma you may be eligible to apply for NHS funding for all years of your course.

Apply

If you are eligible to receive NHS funding your school should contact the NHS Student Grants Unit. Once the NHS Unit is informed of who is eligible to receive NHS funding you can submit an application. This usually takes place in June, prior to a September start.

If you want to apply for a reduced rate non-income assessed student loan available from the Student Loans Company you will need to make a separate application to the relevant assessment authority in the usual manner.

Payment

NHS Bursaries are paid directly to students on a monthly basis. NHS fee funding is paid directly to the University.

Additional Support

If your course attracts NHS funding you may also be able apply to the NHS for additional allowances, depending on your circumstances. The following additional allowances are available to those students who qualify for a full bursary:

  • Extra Weeks Allowance - for students whose academic year runs for a period of more than 30 weeks and 3 days (excluding holidays)
  • Disabled Students' Allowance - for disabled students who incur additional costs to participate in the course
  • Dependants Allowance, Parent Learning Allowance Childcare Allowance - if you have any children or adults who depend on your financially
  • Hardship funding - for medical and dental students who are in genuine hardship

Change of circumstance

If you experience a change in your circumstances it is important to notify the NHS Student Grants Unit as soon as possible as this may affect your eligibility for an NHS Bursary.

For more information see NHS Student Bursaries or see: