NHS Learning Support Fund: £5,000 grant for eligible nursing students

Who is eligible for the nursing grant?

The courses eligible for the nursing grant include:

• Dietetics

• Dental hygiene or dental therapy (level 5 and level 6 courses)

• Occupational therapy

• Operating department practitioner

• Orthoptics

• Orthotics and prosthetics

• Physiotherapy

• Podiatry or chiropody

• Radiography (diagnostic and therapeutic)

• Speech and language therapy

• Paramedics (FD and DipHE are not eligible)

• Midwifery

• Nursing (adult, child, mental health, learning disability, joint nursing/social work)

Eligible new and continuing students can apply for the Training Grant if they are studying an eligible course and meet the NHS Learning Support Fund criteria.

Do you have to pay back the nursing grant?

The nursing grant is completely free. It will not need to be repaid at any stage.

What other funding has been announced for nursing students?

Additional support may be available to cover costs such as childcare, travel and dual accommodation. Students studying mental health nursing, learning disability nursing, radiography (diagnostic and therapeutic), prosthetics and orthotics, orthoptics or podiatry may be eligible for an extra grant of £1,000 per year. There's also an Exceptional Support Fund of up to £3,000 per academic year for students facing exceptional financial hardship.

Will nursing students still have access to other financial support?

Yes. Eligible nursing, midwifery and allied health students can still apply for student finance, including tuition fee and maintenance loans, alongside NHS Learning Support Fund support. Tuition fees vary by provider and academic year.

If you are undecided about becoming a nursing student, this extra financial help might make the difference.

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