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Other financial support

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Other financial support available

Childcare grant

This is for full time students who have dependent children in registered and approved childcare:

  • if the student or their spouse or partner receives the childcare element of the Working Tax Credit from HM Revenue and Customs then they are not eligible for this grant
  • childcare grant for term time and holidays
  • Jobcentreplus and Housing Benefit departments will ignore this grant when they work out students entitlement to benefit
  • Childcare grant for one child:
    • up to £148.75 a week (£148.75 is the maximum that can be paid which is 85% of actual childcare costs of up to £175 a week)
  • Childcare grant for two or more children:
    • Up to £255 a week (£255 is the maximum that can be paid which is 85% of actual childcare costs of up to £300 a week)
  • it is paid in three instalments at the start of each term directly into the student’s bank account
  • it does not have to be repaid.

Parents’ learning allowance

  • This is to help full time students who have dependent children with course related costs
  • Jobcentreplus and Housing Benefit departments will ignore this grant when they work out students entitlement to benefit
  • the Parents’ learning allowance is £1470 per year
  • the amount a student gets depends on the level of the students income and their dependants (including husband, wife or partner) income between 1 September 2008 and 31 August 2009
  • it is paid in three instalments at the start of each term directly into the student’s bank account
  • it does not have to be repaid.

Adult dependants’ grant

  • It is for full students who have an adult dependant. Students maybe eligible if they have a partner (including a partner of the same sex if the student began their course in 2005 or after) or another adult, usually a family member who depends on the student financially
  • the maximum Adult dependants’ grant is £2575 per year
  • the amount a student gets depends on the level of the students income and the adult dependants income between 1 September 2008 and 31 August 2009
  • it is paid in three instalments at the start of each term directly into the student’s bank account
  • it does not have to be repaid

Please indicate on the application form that you wish to be considered for Childcare Grant, Parent's Learning Allowance or Adult Dependant's Grant.

Disabled students’ allowance (DSA)

  • The Disabled students’ allowance is to help students who as a direct result of a disability or specific learning difficulty have extra costs as a result of undertaking their course
  • this is for full-time students
    • specialist equipment allowance  for whole course – maximum of £5030
    • non-medical personal helper’s allowance per year – maximum of £20000
    • general disabled students’ allowance per year – maximum £1680
    • travel costs you have to pay as a result of your disability to attend university or college
  • this is for part time students, including distance-learning students. Part time students must complete their course in no more than twice the time taken to complete an equivalent full-time course
    • specialist equipment allowance  for whole course – maximum of £5030
    • non-medical personal helper’s allowance per year – maximum of £15000
    • general disabled students’ allowance per year – maximum £1260
    • travel costs you have to pay as a result of your disability to attend university or college
  • this is for postgraduate students, including distance-learning students.
    • For full and part time postgraduate students the entry requirement for the course must be at least a first degree
    • the course must last for a minimum of one year
    • part time students must complete their course in no more than twice the time taken to complete an equivalent full-time course
    • students who have an award from a Research Council or a bursary from the NHS or General Social Care Council are not eligible for a postgraduate DSA
    • students who get an award from universities or colleges which include support for disabilities are not eligible for postgraduate DSAs
    • the Postgraduate DSA is £10000 per year
  • it is paid direct to the student or the supplier
  • you will not have to repay this.

Please indicate on the application form that you wish to be considered for the Disabled Student' Allowance.

Travel grant

  • This is to help with reasonable travel costs to and from:
    • the place in the UK where your clinical training takes place for medical and dental students. (You must apply for income assessed support to be entitled to this)
    • the country you have to go to if you are studying abroad. (You must apply for income assessed support to be entitled to this)
  • if you have to go to a college outside the UK and you have to take out medical insurance, you can get help to cover the cost of the insurance
  • the grant covers reasonable costs less the first £295 of costs
  • it is paid directly into the student’s bank account.

Access to learning fund

  • This is financial help for students, who are on a low income and:
    • need help with course and living costs where they are not getting help from other grants
    • are suffering financial hardship
    • have an unexpected financial crises and need an emergency payment
    • maybe thinking about giving up their course because of financial problems
  • full time and part time, undergraduate and postgraduate students (who are studying at least 50% of an equivalent full time course or those doing ‘taster’ modules of at least 12 credits (10% of a full time course) are usually eligible. The university or college will be able to tell you
  • the students university or college will work out if a student is eligible for support  and how much you will get
  • priority is usually given to the following group of students:
    • students with children, especially loan parents
    • other mature students, especially those with existing financial commitments
    • students from low income households
    • disabled students (if your disability stops you from studying 50% of a full time course then you may be eligible for help as long as you are studying at least 25% of a full time course)
    • students who have been in care
    • students from Foyers or who are homeless
    • students in their final year of study
  • to apply contact the Student Services Department at your university or college
  • if you are given a grant this will not have to be repaid
  • if you are given a short term loan this will have to be repaid
  • the university or college will decide if they will pay you in instalments or in one lump sum.

National Health Service bursaries for health professional courses

  • the National Health Service provide income assessed and non income assessed bursaries for the following subjects:
    • audiology (for courses recognised by the British Association of Audiological Technicians (BAAT), the British Association of Audiological Scientists (BAAS) and the British Society of Hearing Therapists (BSHT))
    • chiropody and podiatry
    • dental hygiene
    • dental therapy
    • dietetics
    • nursing (including conversion courses for second- level nurses (ENs) who have not practised for a year or more)
    • midwifery
    • occupational therapy
    • operating department practice (in England only – students in Wales earn a salary)
    • orthoptics
    • physiotherapy
    • prosthetics and orthotics
    • radiography
    • speech and language therapy
  • if you are getting an income assessed bursary from the NHS then you can also apply to the LA where you are living for a flat rate student loan
  • if you are starting a course in September 2008 you will need to fill in form PN1 and if you are a continuing student you will have been sent form PR1a for continuing students
  • Student loan rates for students getting income assessed bursaries from the NHS:

Student loans for students getting income assessed bursaries from the NHS

Full Year   Final Year  
Student living away from parental home    
and studying in London		 £3180 £2435
Student living away from parental home
and studying outside London		 £2265 £1765
Student living in parental home £1700 £1290


  • For further information about NHS bursaries in England contact:

The Customer Services Team
The NHS Student Grants Unit
Hesketh House200 – 220 Broadway
Fleetwood
FY7 8LG

Telephone number: 0845 358 6655
Fax: 01253 774490
Email: enquiries@nhspa.gov.uk
Website: www.nhsstudentgrants.co.uk

Student support