Postgraduate NHS Funding

EU students starting courses on or after 1 August 2021 must have settled or pre-settled status in the UK under the EU Settlement Scheme to get funding under the NHS Bursary Scheme.

Any student studying an NHS course has the choice as to whether they receive funding from the NHS Wales Bursary Scheme or via Student Loans and Grants. In normal circumstances, students cannot change their funding route. Exceptional cases will be considered through an appeals mechanism.

To receive funding from the NHS Wales Bursary Scheme, students will have to commit to working in Wales for 2 years following the completion of their course (different timescales apply for courses longer or shorter than 3 years).

It is advised that all students read the NHS Wales Bursary Scheme FAQs and Terms and Conditions.

If you have further additional circumstances such as being a carer or care leaver, there may be additional support and funding available. For more information please visit our Student Plus webpage.

Making the commitment to work in Wales upon completion of course

If you are happy to make the commitment to working within Wales for 2 years following graduation, you will be eligible to receive the NHS Wales Bursary Scheme.

You should apply for your NHS bursary as soon you have firmly accepted an offer from your chosen university. The latest date for applying for funding is six weeks after commencing the course.

What Funding is available via the NHS Wales Bursary Scheme?

Tuition Fees

Tuition Fees are covered in full by the NHS so no tuition fee payment is required.

NHS Maintenance Funding

NHS Funding is also available in the form of a non-means tested NHS grant of £1,000 and a means-tested NHS bursary up to £4651. The actual amount of bursary you will receive will be dependent on the length of your course and your household income.

In addition, students can apply for a number of additional supplementary grants if they meet specific criteria. These grants are means tested and are:

Dependants’ Allowances
Parent Learning Allowance
Childcare Allowance

IMPORTANT - Please be aware that the first instalment of NHS funding is not usually paid until the end of the 2nd month of your course.

Student Awards Services implements the NHS Wales Bursary Schemes, which provides funding for healthcare students on NHS funded courses in Wales. If you are considering a professional career in health care and would like to know more about the financial support you will get during your training, then please contact:

Bursary Enquiries - Tel: 02920 905380

Email: abm.sas@wales.nhs.uk

Website: Student Awards Services - NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership

Student Loans

Welsh-domiciled students who access the NHS Wales Bursary Scheme will be unable to access any loans from Student Finance to help with living costs for the MSc Nursing.

English-domiciled students who access the NHS Wales Bursary Scheme are able to access a reduced rate non-means tested Maintenance Loan of £2534. Applications will need to be made to Student Finance England. Students who have previous study or already hold a degree qualification WILL still be able to receive this loan.

Other Funding

Swansea University provides further support for students with additional considerations, such as carers and care leavers via our StudentPlus bursaries

Not making the commitment to work in Wales upon completion of course

Even if you cannot commit to working in Wales, you need to record your intent to study and register your decision on the NWSSP Student Awards Services Welsh Health Education Registration System. If you fail to register via the System you will not be eligible to access the full student finance entitlement.

Welsh-domiciled students - You can apply for a Postgraduate Loan, which provides funding up to a maximum of £18,025 (split over 2 years) which will need to cover both tuition and maintenance costs. For more information please visit our Postgraduate Loans page.

English-domiciled students - Certain Postgraduate healthcare courses attract undergraduate support. This means that you can apply for the full package of Student Finance England funding.

Even though you are not receiving the NHS Wales Bursary Scheme, you can still access the NHS support system for travel and accommodation costs associated with placements.

IMPORTANT - Previous study rules are different depending on the funding you decide to access. If you have previous study within Higher Education and wish to access student loans and grants, it is advised that you contact Money@CampusLife to discuss your circumstances before applying for your funding.

Failure to fulfil commitment to working in Wales upon completion of course

Studies - If you receive the NHS Wales Bursary and withdraw from study due to academic failure, placement failure, fitness to practice (ill health), you will not be liable to make any repayment. But if you decide to leave the course because it is not the right course for you, you will be liable to repay an element of the funding you have received through the NHS Wales Bursary scheme. This will be on a sliding scale to reflect the costs incurred to date.

Employment - If you receive funding from the NHS Wales Bursary Scheme and leave your employment in Wales before 2 years, the repayment you make will be calculated on the sliding scale to reflect the amount of time you will have worked in Wales.

Repayment

If you become liable to repay all or part of the funding you received from the NHS Wales Bursary Scheme, the debt becomes repayable in full within 3 months of being notified. It is the individual’s responsibility to fund such a repayment. Travel, additional accommodation, childcare costs, disabled students allowance, dependents allowance, and parental learning allowance will be excluded from repayments.

For more information regarding the minimum repayment amounts, please see Appendix 2 of the NHS Wales Bursary Scheme FAQ's.

Funding information for Physician Associate Studies, MSc

The Physician Associate (PA) programme is currently supported through Welsh Government bursary only - there are no self-funding places available. The Welsh Government offers fully funded places on the PA programme for students who are willing to commit to an 18 month period of post qualification employment in Wales. Students can only access NHS funding for this course if they are granted a place. Additional funding such as the reduced rate maintenance loan from Student Finance is NOT available to those on this course.

Full information can be found on the Physician Associate course page.