Financial support from the NHS
The NHS Learning Support Fund offers students access to non-repayable financial support of between £5,000-£8,000.
The fund is open to students on certain pre-registration courses, and can supplement your existing funding, and you won't have to pay the support back.
Find out more about the fund below – from who qualifies for the new funding, to how you'll receive your money if your application is successful.
The NHS Learning Support Fund is different from the NHS Bursary
Applying to the fund won't affect any other funding you're entitled to, such as maintenance loans, disabled student allowances and University bursaries.
The fund isn't means-tested, you won't need to pay back any money you receive, and it's open to both full-time and part-time students, who'll receive pro rata payments. All students will receive their funding in 3 instalments, phased over the academic year.
The extended package of financial support includes:
- Parental support - £2,000 per academic year (p/a)
- Training grant - £5,000 p/a
- Specialist subject payment - £1,000 p/a
- Travel expenses and dual accommodation allowance – reimburse expenses
- Exceptional support fund – up to £3,000 p/a
Who is eligible for funding from the NHS Learning Support Fund?
To qualify for the extra support you'll need to be:
- On an eligible course at a university in England
- Eligible for tuition fee and maintenance support from your national funding body (either Student Finance England (SFE), Student Finance Wales (SFW), Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS), or Student Finance Northern Ireland (SFNI).
Eligible courses at the University of Portsmouth
Students on the following courses could be eligible for funding from the NHS Learning Support Fund:
- BSc (Hons) Dental Hygiene
- BSc (Hons) Dental Hygiene and Dental Therapy
- BSc (Hons) Diagnostic Radiography and Medical Imaging
- BN (Hons) Nursing (Adult)
- BN (Hons) Nursing (Mental Health)
- BSc (Hons) Operating Department Practice
- BSc (Hons) Paramedic Science
- MSc Physiotherapy (Pre-Registration)
- MN Adult Nursing
- MN Mental Health Nursing
How to apply
Students should apply through the NHS Business Services Authority, not their national funding body.
If you're applying for support, you'll need to have an account. Don't apply on any other system, as your application will be rejected.
For full details of the NHS Learning Support Fund – including full eligibility criteria – please visit the NHS BSA website.