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NHS funded courses

The Welsh Cabinet Secretary for Health, Well-being and Sport announced in December 2016 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.

Funding from NHS Wales

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 Fee Costs

Tuition Fee Support for students who opt for NHS Wales funding:

  • 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. 

Tuition Fee support for students who NOT to apply for NHS Wales funding:

  • Bangor University will charge UK and EU a tuition fee of £9,000 a year for a full time undergraduate degree course.
  • Payment of tuition fees can be deferred until after you finish your studies, if you opt to take out a Tuition Fee Loan. 
  • The Tuition Fee Loan is available regardless of family income.  However, students who have previously studied at Higher Education level should contact their student funding organisations to check their entitlement.
  • A Tuition Fee Loan has to be repaid once you leave your course and start earning more than £25,000 a year. Deductions are usually made through the PAYE tax system by your employer in the same way as tax and National Insurance contributions. You will make repayments at a rate of 9% of any amount that you earn above £25,000 a year.
  • Alternatively, you can pay your fees whilst you study.  For further information on how you can pay your tuition fees, if you choose to do so, or any other university fees such as accommodation please visit the Finance Office.

Financing your Living Costs

The following financial support is available from NHS Wales:

  • a non-means tested grant of £1,000
  • a means tested basic bursary of: up to £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)
    up to £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)

Students can also apply for a non-means tested Maintenance Loan from their student funding organisation:

  • Maintenance Loans are available to help you pay for living expenses such as accommodation, food, books, clothes and travel. This money comes from the Welsh Government via the Student Loans Company.
  • The Maintenance Loan will be paid directly into your bank or building society account in three instalments - one at the start of each term.
  • A Maintenance Loan has to be repaid once you leave your course and start earning more than £25,000 a year. Deductions are usually made through the PAYE tax system by your employer in the same way as tax and National Insurance contributions. You will make repayments at a rate of 9% of any amount that you earn above £25,000 a year.  For further information, please visit the following website: www.studentlaonrepayment.co.uk.

Maintenance Loans for Welsh domiciled students

 

2017/18 Starters
Sept 2017 & April 2018

2018/19 starter
 Sept 2018 & April 2019

Elsewhere rate:    

£3,392

£4,000

Parental Home rate:

£2,544

£3,325

Apply on-line or download a paper form from: www.studentfinancewales.co.uk

Maintenance Loans for English domiciled student:

 

2017/18 Starters
Sept 2017  & April 2018

2018/19 starter
 Sept 2018 and April 2019

Elsewhere rate:    

£2,324

£2,635

Apply on-line or download a paper form from: www.gov.uk/student-finance

How and when to apply for NHS Wales funding

  • 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

Additional Financial Support

In addition, students can apply for a number of additional allowances if they meet specific criteria. 

  • 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.

Additional 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

Contact details

School of Healthcare Sciences

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).

Student Awards Services
Floor 4
Companies House
Crown Way
Cardiff
CF14 3UB

Tel: 029 2090 5380

Email: abm.sas@wales.nhs.uk

Please include your SAS reference number (if you have one) full name, date of birth and postcode.

The telephone lines are open from 9.00 a.m. until 4.30 p.m.

NHS Wales Awards Unit Website: http://www.nwssp.wales.nhs.uk/student-awards