Government and NHS Funding

What will I get?

Q: Will I receive funding from the NHS for my degree?

A: Yes. If you are a home student and are studying medicine as a first degree you will receive funding from teh NHS from year five onwards. The NHS will pay your fees and offer you a means tested bursary for your liveing costs. They also pay supplementary grants to certain groups of students, such as those with dependents.

When receiving funding from the NHS, the only funding that you will receive from the LEA is a reduced rate student loan.

If you are an EU student you may be able to get your fees paid for by the NHS from your fifth year of study onwards.

If you are an international student you will not be able to receive any financial help from the NHS.

See www.money4medstudents.org/content.asp?id=162 for more details including who administers the bursaries.

Q: I am entering my fifth year of study. The LEA has assessed me as only being eligible for a reduced rate student loan as they claim I am entitled to an NHS bursary. However, when I applied for a bursary the NHS told me I am not eligible as my household income is too high. Is this correct?

A: Unfortunately yes. Some students are means tested out of receiving a bursary as their household income is too high. Unfortunately these students are still only able to receive around 50% of their student loans.

Q: I already hold a degree but am now going to study medicine as a second degree. What funding will I be entitled to?

A: You will still receive funding from the LEA and NHS but this will be different to first degree students. What you will get will depend on which part of the UK you are from and whether you are doing a four year or five year course.

See www.money4medstudents.org/content.asp?id=514 for details of what funding you may be entitled to.

Q: I have a previous degree but did not receive funding for it. Will it still affect my funding entitlement for my medical degree?

A: Yes. All students who already possess an Honours degree from a UK institution can only get a reduced funding package. See above.

Q: I want to intercalate next year - what funding will I receive?

A: If you do an undergraduate degree in your intercalated year then you will receive funding in the same way as anyone else in the same year of study. For example, if you intercalate in your fourth year you will be funded by the LEA in the same way as all fourth year medics. If you intercalate in your fifth year you will be funded by the NHS in the same way as all fifth year medics (regardless of the fact that you will not be studying medicine).

If you do a postgraduate course in your intercalated year, and this is more expensive than an undergraduate degree, then you will have to pay the extra fees yourself.

If you decide to intercalate overseas you will not receive any funding from the NHS or LEA.

See www.money4medstudents.org/content.asp?id=154 for more details.

Q: I have to travel a long way to my placement every day. Can I get help with my travel costs?

A: Yes. The NHS will reimburse you for travel costs if they are more than your normal travel costs to and from University. You must keep your receipts in order to claim the money back. Practice Placement Expenses forms are available from your University. Check your institution's procedures for claiming these back with your school office.

Q: If I receive an Army busary can I also get an NHS bursary?

A: No. If you are being funded by the army you cannot receive any NHS funding.

Q: I have a child and want to study medicine. What help can I get?

A: If you are a UK student with a dependent child then you will receive extra support above the normal student funding package.

Government/NHS funding
- Parents learning allowance - currently up to £1,470 a year
- Childcare grant - to pay for up to 85% registered childcare

These are means tested, meaning the amount you receive is dependent on your household income. If you have a dependent child you will be assessed as independent by the LEA and NHS, so only the income of your partner, if you have one, will be assessed. If you are a single parent you should receive the maximum student funding.

Benefits/tax credits
- Housing benefit (if a single parent or student couple)
- Income support (if a single parent or student couple)
- Child benefit
- Child tax credits
- Working tax credits (if you or your partner are working more than 16 hours a week)

Income Support and Housing Benefit are assessed according to the income from your student loan, and at times, other elements of your student support package. Receiving the full time student support package will sometimes mean that during term time your income is too high to receive these benefits. However, you may be able to get them during the summer holidays, and some students qualify for Housing Benefit during term time.

Tax Credits are also means tested, although most student income, including the student loan, is disregarded in the assessment. Child Benefit is not dependent on income.

See the following for more information:

www.money4medstudents.org/content.asp?id=78
www.money4medstudents.org/content.asp?id=139

University
- University Hardship Fund

All home students can apply to this but those with dependent children are a priority.

www.money4medstudents.org/content.asp?id=159