The NHS Learning Support Fund

Applying to university can feel overwhelming. Applications, decisions about accommodation, and your exams can all come your way at once. On top of this, you need to think about budgeting for university and applying for student finance.

Luckily, if you’re studying a healthcare course in England, there’s extra financial support to help you through your studies called the NHS Learning Support Fund (LSF). The LSF was set up to support students on healthcare courses to ensure a diverse and large NHS workforce in the future. If you’re eligible, you’ll receive at least £5,000 for every academic year that you study.

The LSF is made up of five different allowances, from general training support to funding for parents. These allowances are grants, rather than loans. This means you won't have to pay them back, as long as you complete your training.

To be eligible for the LSF, you must be eligible for a tuition fee loan and maintenance support from the Student Loans Company, and studying for a pre-registration healthcare course in England. A list of the eligible courses is below:

• Dental Therapy or Dental Hygiene: level 5 and 6 courses
• Dietetics
• Midwifery
• Nursing: Adult, Child, Mental Health, Learning Disability
• Occupational Therapy
• Operating Department Practitioner
• Orthoptics
• Orthotics and Prosthetics
• Paramedics
• Physiotherapy
• Podiatry or Chiropody
• Radiography: Diagnostic and Therapeutic
• Speech and Language Therapy.

If you’re studying a healthcare course in Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland, there’s separate support available, but this is different from the LSF. For more information, this article by the Complete University Guide offers a full breakdown of NHS funded courses in the UK.

The LSF is split into five different allowances:

• Training Grant - a £5,000 grant per academic year. This isn't means-tested, so everyone gets this regardless of household income. It isn't a loan, so you don’t have to pay it back.
• Parental Support - an additional £2,000 a year if you have a child under 15, or under 17 if they have a special educational need.
• Travel and Dual Accommodation Expenses (TDAE) - funding to cover any extra costs due to travel to and from placement, and support if you need temporary accommodation during your placement. You must apply for the TDAE through your university, so remember to keep track of your receipts!
• Exceptional Support Fund (ESF) - up to £3,000 a year for unexpected financial hardship.
• Specialist Subject Payment (SSP) - an additional £1,000 if you’re studying specific subjects. Currently, the SSP is offered to anyone studying Mental Health or Learning Disability Nursing, Radiography (Diagnostic and Therapeutic), Prosthetics and Orthotics, Orthoptics, and Podiatry.

To apply for the LSF, you need to visit the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) website.

Applications normally open in the Spring before the academic year begins. You have until 6 months after your course starts to apply. However, we recommend you apply as soon as your offers are confirmed. Remember, just like student finance, you need to reapply every year.

A final note: this information was correct at the time of writing, but the LSF can be updated at any time. You can check the NHS Learning Support Fund website for the latest information.

We wish you the best of luck with your application and your future studies!