NHS funded courses
Information for Universities and Students regarding implications to changes to the NHS Wales Health Education Bursary scheme for 2017/18
England announced in November 2015 that as of September 2017 it would no longer provide funding for tuition fees and an NHS bursary for students studying Nursing and Allied Health Professional education programmes. Students studying in England would have access to the standard student finance package administered through Student Finance England.
On the 9th December 2016 the Welsh Cabinet Secretary for Health, Well-being and Sport announced that support for Health Education programmes would continue in Wales for those who wished to commit to work in Wales for a 2 year period following graduation.
For further information visit here.
NHS Means Tested Bursaries
The NHS Bursary package differs from the support available to non-NHS students. To qualify for NHS financial support:
- You must be accepted for an NHS funded place on a full or part time course.
- You must have been living in the UK for the three years immediately before the start of the academic year in which the course begins and in Wales on the first day of the first academic year of the course
- and commit to work in Wales for a TWO year period following graduation
Who can apply?
To qualify for NHS financial support, students must be accepted for an NHS funded place on a full or part-time course which leads to professional registration as a:-
- Chiropodist (including podiatrist), dietician, occupational therapist, physiotherapist, radiographer, healthcare scientist, paramedic, speech & language therapist
- dental hygienist or dental therapist
- nurse or midwife (for new students who begin their training on or after September 2012)
- doctor or dentist (eligible for bursary in the latter stages of training)
At Bangor University this is relevant for Nursing, Midwifery and Radiography students.
Tuition Fees
The tuition fees for non-medical courses for students who choose to commit to work in Wales for a TWO year period following graduation are paid directly by the NHS so eligible students are not required to pay tuition fees.
Financial Support Available
The following financial support is available:-
(i) a non-means tested grant of £1,000
(ii) a means tested basic bursary of:-
£2,643 (30 weeks) plus £84 for each additional (this is called the ‘Elsewhere Rate’ and is payable to students living away from the parental home during the course)
£2,207 (30 weeks) plus £54 for each additional week (this is called the ‘Parental Home Rate’ and is payable to students living at the parental home during the course)
(iii) a non-means tested maintenance loan of:-
Welsh domiciled students
Elsewhere rate: £3,392
Parental Home rate: £2,544
English domiciled students:
Elsewhere rate: £2,324
You should apply via Student Finance Wales for the reduced rate loan before your course starts.
You can apply on line or download a PN1 application form from:
In addition, students can apply for a number of additional allowances if they meet specific criteria. These allowances are means tested and are:-
- Dependants’ Allowances
- Parent Learning Allowance
- Childcare Allowance
Clinical/Practice Placement Costs:-
Students may also be able to receive assistance with clinical /practice placement costs, which are means tested. Students should contact their university for advice on how to claim clinical/practice placement costs.
Disabled Students’ Allowances:-
Students with a disability and who need extra help or equipment to help complete their course may be able to receive assistance under the Disabled Students’ Allowance. Students should contact their university in the first instance for advice on how to claim Disabled Students’ Allowance.
Contribution rates:-
The following table can be used to give students an idea of how much their means tested bursary will be reduced, based on their parent(s), spouse, partner’s or civil partner’s income. If the amount shown in the ‘bursary reduced by’ column is more than the full bursary entitlement, students will be expected to use the spare amount to pay their travel and accommodation expenses when they go on clinical placements.
Table for Parent(s),Spouse, Partner, Civil Partner |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
Residual income |
Bursary Reduced By |
Residual income |
Bursary Reduced By |
Under £24,279 |
Nil |
£60,000 |
£3,805 |
£24,279 |
£45 |
£62,500 |
£4,068 |
£25,000 |
£120 |
£65,000 |
£4,331 |
£27,500 |
£384 |
£67,500 |
£4,594 |
£30,000 |
£647 |
£70,000 |
£4,857 |
£32,500 |
£910 |
£72,500 |
£5,120 |
£35,000 |
£1,173 |
£75,000 |
£5,384 |
£37,500 |
£1,436 |
£77,500 |
£5,647 |
£40,000 |
£1,699 |
£80,000 |
£5,910 |
£42,500 |
£1,963 |
£82,500 |
£6,173 |
£45,000 |
£2,226 |
£85,000 |
£6,436 |
£47,500 |
£2,489 |
£87,500 |
£6,699 |
£50,000 |
£2,752 |
£90,000 |
£6,963 |
£52,500 |
£3,015 |
£92,500 |
£7,226 |
£55,000 |
£3,278 |
£95,000 |
£7,489 |
£57,500 |
£3,541 |
£99,833+ |
£7,998 (max) |
How do I apply for a NHS Means Tested Bursary?
How do I apply for a NHS Means Tested Bursary?
The NHS Wales Student Awards Unit will send you an initial application form. On the receipt of your completed initial application form, you will be sent a financial assessment form in order that your bursary entitlement can be calculated. Once this has been completed you will be sent a grant notification letter advising you of the level of you award, any parental or spouse contribution and any contribution to travel.
For further information visit the following website: http://www.nwsspstudentfinance.wales.nhs.uk/home
Contact details
Bangor: 01248 383127
NHS Wales Student Awards Unit (The NHS Wales Student Award Unit implements the NHS Wales Bursary Schemes, which provides funding for healthcare students on NHS funded courses in Wales).
3rd Floor
14 Cathedral Road
Cardiff
CF11 9LJ
Tel: 029 2019 6167 (bursary / DSA enquiries)
Tel: 029 2019 6168 (childcare enquiries)
The telephone lines are open from 9.00 a.m. until 4.30 p.m.
Funding details for student who choose NOT to commit to working in Wales for two year after graduation.
Please refer to the following undergraduate funding pages:
Students from Wales : https://www.bangor.ac.uk/studentservices/moneyadvice/wales.php.en
Student from England: https://www.bangor.ac.uk/studentservices/moneyadvice/england.php.en
Students from Northern Ireland: https://www.bangor.ac.uk/studentservices/moneyadvice/northernireland.php.en
Students from Scotland: https://www.bangor.ac.uk/studentservices/moneyadvice/scotland.php.en
For further information visit the School of Healthcare Sciences website.