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How does NHS Funding Work?

Please note the following information refers only to the English NHS funding system. Medical and dental students who normally live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland should apply to their national authority. The information applies to students who are commencing their medical or dental training in September 2012 only.

International students are not eligible for NHS funding. EU students are eligible to make an application to NHS England for their tuition fee liability only.

Funding Arrangements

For medical and dental students who live in England and who entered training on or after 1 September 1998, the Department of Health (DH) shares responsibility for their financial support with the Department for Education and Skills (DfES).

Courses that are Funded

5-year and 6-year undergraduate medical and dental courses

In years 1 to 4 of training, financial support is the sole responsibility of Student Finance England (SFE). From year 5 of training there's a dual responsibility for financial support. All undergraduate students from year 5 qualify for a non-repayable means-tested NHS bursary/grant to help cover day-to-day living expenses. In addition, the NHS pays for their Personal Tuition Fee. Students can also apply to Student Finance England for a reduced-rate student loan.

4-year graduate-entry medical and dental courses

In year 1 of your training, financial support is the responsibility of Student Finance England (SFE) and the student. Graduate students will be expected to self fund the tuition fee charged up to the level existing fee scheme students have to pay (£3,465 in 2012). You can then apply for a tuition fee loan from SFE to pay for any remaining fee charged by the Institution. From year 2 of your training there's a dual responsibility for financial support. All graduate students from year 2 qualify for a non-repayable means-tested NHS bursary/grant to help cover day-to-day living expenses. In addition, the NHS will make a contribution which matches the current fee Scheme towards their Personal Tuition Fee. Students can also apply to Student Finance England for a tuition fee loan for any remainder and for a reduced-rate maintenance loan.

Please note that this new funding arrangement for 2012 entrants applies for this year of entry only. It is anticipated that any funding provided by the NHS, SFE, & DfES for 2013 entry will be announced in 2012.

Eligibility - Years of Study

Foundation Years

The foundation years of medical and dental courses are an integral part of the medical or dental programme (guaranteeing a place on a medical or dental course itself), and count towards the qualifying period for NHS bursary/grant support. Unrelated foundation courses do not count in the same way.

Intercalation

Intercalation with another relevant degree during the course, such as a BSc, counts towards the qualifying period for NHS bursary/grant support. If you take an intercalated degree in the first 4 years of the undergraduate programme, you'll transfer to NHS support in the 5th year of study (which works out as the 4th year of your medical or dental course). Students intercalating in year 5 of the course are supported by the Department of Health (DH).

Repeat Years

Financial support if you're repeating a year during the period supported by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) remains the responsibility of the DfES. You don't qualify for bursary/grant support until the 5th year of the medical programme, which works out as the 6th year of study, if you repeat a year.

Second-degree Students

Second-degree students include graduates with a free-standing medical science degree.

If you join the undergraduate programme following a first degree then you qualify for bursary/grant support from the 5th year of your medical course, regardless of the point at which you join the course. Students joining the graduate-entry programme (UCAS code A101/A201) qualify for bursary support for years 2-4. Students on other accelerated graduate- entry programmes, such as those coded other than A101/A201, qualify for bursary support from the 5th year of the medical programme.