Issue 2
We reported in the last issue of Exchange about government plans to scrap Maintenance Grants from academic year 2016/17 onwards for new students. Since then it’s been announced that NHS bursaries are also set to be replaced with a loans system too.
In the government spending review announcement in November, Chancellor George Osborne said the government will: “replace direct funding with loans for new students”. It’s expected to free up around £800 million a year in Government spending.
The change will be introduced for new students on nursing, midwifery and allied health professional courses for student starting their course on or after 1 August 2017, subject to consultation.
The Department of Health intends to make an exception for students studying nursing, midwifery and the allied health professions as a second degree so that these students can access student loans.
As part of the consultation, the Department of Health will work with stakeholders to consider how best they can support students from disadvantaged backgrounds to continue to access healthcare courses in their specialism.
The government also announced that it will be abolishing the cap on the number of student places for nursing, midwifery and allied health subjects, enabling the provision of up to 10,000 additional nursing and health professional training places this Parliament. This will reduce the current reliance on expensive agency staff. The move to loans will also mean access to 25% more financial support for health students during their studies.
Currently student nurses and midwives receive an annual bursary from the NHS while they study, which they do not have to pay back. They also do not have to pay tuition fees.
Since the review, numerous protests by health professionals have taken place, the main concern being that scrapping the bursary will deter prospective students from training in these professions. A petition against these changes already has 150,000 signatures and prompted a debate in parliament.
Exchange will keep you updated with any further developments in our next issue.
NHS Business Services Authority – Student Money Week
As part of Student Money Week (8-14 February) NHS Business Services Authority will be hosting some live web chats on student finance where students can ask them anything they’re unsure about. The web chats will be taking place from 11am-12pm on Tuesday, 9 February and from 3-4pm on Thursday, 11 February. Please check our student finance zone on The Student Room for further details.
New NHS student finance resources
NHS Business Services Authority has also created a range of new resources for students and practitioners for academic year 2016/17. They’re available to read on our dedicated practitioner website.
The change will be introduced for new students on nursing, midwifery and allied health professional courses for student starting their course on or after 1 August 2017, subject to consultation.
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