If you are studying a medical degree then you might get more funding. We have the lowdown on the NHS Student Bursary and who is entitled.
Typically, a medical degree is longer than a standard degree from university. There are a lot more placements and learning on the job compared to others as well. However, if it’s your dream to work in the medical industry then it really is a labour of love.
One of the perks of studying to work in the medical sector is that you could be entitled to up to £4000 more funding per year. This is due to the NHS Student Bursary, available in the UK.
What is the NHS Student Bursary?
This bursary is funding open to medical and dental students studying in the UK and is in addition to any student loans that students are entitled to. However, unlike a student loan, the bursary does not have to be paid back.
There are several ways the NHS Student Bursary helps to relieve some of that financial stress that so many students struggle with.
Firstly, students are entitled to £1,000 per annum, regardless of their household income. On top of this, students can receive additional money which is means-tested (based on household income). If you live away from home and study in London, you could receive up to £3,191 per year. If you live away from home outside of London, this then drops to £2,643. Any student still living at home is entitled to up to £2,207 per year.
You may also pay less of your maintenance loan back to Student Finance as well as receive a contribution to your tuition fees.
Based on your personal circumstances, you could possibly be entitled to even more financial support.
Tuition fee contribution
The NHS Business Services Authority will contribute towards your tuition fee if you are eligible for the bursary. There are three tiers of payment. If your course is undergraduate and lasts 5/6 years, then the bursary will pay £9,250. If it is a graduate accelerated course of 3/4 years, then you are entitled to £3,715.
However, you must send your bursary application in on time to have your fees covered from the beginning of the academic year.
All bursary payments must be reapplied for each academic year you are entitled.
Who Is Entitled to the NHS Student Bursary?
For the academic year 2022/23, here are the following that are eligible to receive the NHS Student Bursary.
If you are studying medicine as your first degree and your course is 5+ years, then you are entitled to the bursary and can apply in the fifth year of your course. If you are doing either a 3- or 4-year accelerated course, you are entitled from the second year of the course and can apply then.
This is the same if you are studying medicine as a second degree. One important thing to note is that this applies to the fifth year of your course, not the fifth year that you have been studying. If your first degree meant you could join the medical degree in the second year of the course, you do not need to study medicine for 5 years before you are eligible.
Also, if you took an intercalation year in the first 4 years of studying, then this may count as a qualifying year towards the NHS Student Bursary.
If you are a continuing/undergraduate or graduate student and have already received the bursary in previous academic years then you are still eligible until your course ends.
More information on eligibility can be found here.
Residency criteria
The bursary is only eligible to those who either have lived in the UK for 3 or more years before the course has started. If you are studying in the UK.
You may be eligible if you have been granted refugee status in the UK.
How to apply
You must register for an NHS Student Bursary account before starting your application. If you have applied previously, it is worth checking whether you need to register again. To register, you will need an active email address, a postal address and some personal details.
Once your account is created, it is as simple as completing your application in time. Applying might only take 45 minutes, but make sure you have it in with plenty of time.
There are lots of other NHS bursaries if you believe you are entitled to additional funding. Take a look at NHSBSA to find out more.
