Money - Nursing & Midwifery Students
As a student on the Nursing / Midwifery Diploma course, you may be entitled to student funding, but this will be different to the sources of funding for undergraduate degree students. If you are a student nurse studying on a degree course, your sources of funding will be different and will not be covered in this information.
Please note this information is only for UK students. If you are an international student, your status in the UK may be affected if you claim any public funds. European students may be able to claim some public funds, but this depends on their circumstances.
Most diploma students should have already applied for the NHS Bursary. However, there may be more sources of funding which you may be entitled to apply for or receive. This information should cover all funding options that are available to UK students on the Diploma course.
The first thing to do if you are worried about money is to speak to someone about your concerns. Initially, this could be the Student Advice & Representation Centre or Student Services.
Maximising Your Income
NHS Bursary for Diploma Students
The NHS bursary is made up of a non-means-tested personal allowance. Additional amounts depending upon the student's circumstances are available (e.g. because they have dependants, or are a mature student, lone parent, care leaver etc.). Disabled Students' Allowances are also available as part of the NHS Bursary Scheme.
The bursary is paid directly into the student's bank account on a monthly basis. If your circumstances change you should tell the NHS Grants Unit as soon as possible. You can find out more information about NHS funding, by contacting the Student Advice & Representation Centre or the NHS Student Grants Unit on (01253) 774490.
Futher detailed information and guidance on the NHS Bursary Scheme is available from the NHS Bursary website.
Help with Childcare Costs
Students on the Diploma course can apply to the NHS Grants Unit for the Child Care Allowance to help with child care costs. This allowance is available to students with dependent children under 15 (or under 17 for children with special educational needs) on the first day of the academic year. The childcare must be provided by a registered or approved child care provider.
If you need further assistance with chilcare costs (i.e. there is a shortfall between the Child Care Allowance you receive and your actual child care costs) you could apply to the University Child Care Support Scheme. The Scheme can offer eligible students some financial support towards meeting the costs of childcare. All students at the University, whether on full or part-time courses, who incur childcare costs (e.g. at day nurseries or through using childminders etc.) can apply. As funds are limited, the University adopts a selective approach to the allocation of payments, so that those students who are most in need will benefit from the scheme. Further details and application forms are available from the Student Advice & Representation Centre, the University Day Nursery (Tel: 0115 951 5222), and Student Services who administer the scheme. If eligible to apply for the Child Care Allowance and the Access to Learning Fund, you should apply for these first.
Access to Learning Fund
Diploma students are eligible to apply to the Access to Learning Fund. Payments of between £100 and £3,500 can be made to those in financial difficulty. Application forms and more information are available from the Student Advice & Representation Centre or Student Services. Diploma students are not eligible for student loans.
Tax Credits
Students are not excluded from claiming Tax Credits if they meet the necessary requirements.
Child Tax Credit
If you are responsible for children you may be entitled to receive Child Tax Credit - you do not have to working to be eligible to claim. If you or your family have a gross income of less than £50,000 per year, Child Tax Credit will be payable. Furthermore, when calculating entitlement to Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit the NHS Bursary is not treated as income - therefore, it is likely that most nursing/midwifery students who are responsible for children will be entitled to some Child Tax Credit.
Working Tax Credit
Students may be entitled to claim Working Tax Credit, which may include an amount to help with childcare costs. If you or your partner are responsible for children, in order to be eligible to receive Working Tax Credit the claimant must be in paid employment for at least 16 hours per week. In order to be eligible for help with childcare costs when you are a member of a couple, both would be required to be in paid employment for a minimum of 16 hours per week. Unfortunately, the work carried out by nurses on placement does not constitute paid work and, therefore, most student nurses will not qualify for help with childcare costs.
If you or your partner are not responsible for children, you may still be eligible to receive some Working Tax Credit, but the claimant will have to be at least 25 years old and working for a minimum of 30 hours per week.
Welfare Benefits
If you are in full-time education you will generally be ineligible to receive welfare benefits such as Income Support, Jobseeker's Allowance and Housing Benefit. You may, however, be eligible if you are:
- a single parent or lone foster parent
- a student with a qualifying disability or incapable of work
- a student with a non-student partner
- part of a student couple with a child
- a student over pensionable age
- a part-time student
- absent from your course due to illness (in limited circumstances)
Advice on eligibility for all means-tested and non-means-tested benefits is available from the Student Advice & Representation Centre.
Help with NHS Costs
You may be able to claim means-tested help with NHS costs (e.g. dental treatment and health prescriptions). HC1 forms are available from the Student Advice & Representation Centre and local medical centres.
Student Crisis Fund
The Student Crisis Fund has been established by the University in order that discretionary help can be given to students in financial difficulty. To be eligible for assistance, your difficulties must have resulted from a change of circumstances after commencing your course. Help is given by way of small interest-free loans. A grant can be only made in exceptional circumstances. You will need to explain your full financial circumstances (income, expenditure, debts, etc) and the reasons for your application. Contact Student Services for more information.
Emergency Loans Scheme (Students' Union)
The Student Advice Centre, on behalf of the University, administers a short-term loan scheme, which enables students to borrow up to £50 for up to a month if an emergency arises. If you wish to borrow, bring your cheque book (and cheque guarantee card if you have one) and your NHS identity card to the Student Advice & Representation Centre. If you are a Diploma student located away from Nottingham you can contact your Centre Administrator to apply for a loan.
Educational Trusts and Charities
Education trusts and charities are a possible source of help for students in financial difficulty. The trusts are perhaps most likely to offer assistance if you are near to the end of your course or if you have met unforeseen difficulties at an earlier stage. In most cases, only small amounts of money can be obtained.
Although there are thousands of trusts that award funding to students, most have very specific criteria of eligibility. For example, certain trusts will help only students born in a particular town, or whose parents were employed in a particular profession, or who are undertaking a particular course of study. Some trusts will provide assistance to students of a particular nationality, religion or ethnicity, and some will offer assistance only to women.
The Student Advice Centre can help you to identify which trusts may be able to offer help. We have access to various sources of information on trusts and charities. We also subscribe to Funderfinder, a software programme that can run a search of trusts and charities who may be able to help you. You could also go through the Educational Grants Advisory Service.
Employment
Employment is another possible source of income, and students can look for employment through the Student Employment and Work Experience service based in the Centre for Career Development, 1st Floor, Portland Building, University Park (Tel: 0115 951 4744/5). However, please note the School of Nursing recommends that nursing/midwifery students work no more than 5 hours a week, due to course commitments.
Income Tax
Each person has a personal tax allowance, which means that they can earn a certain amount each year and tax is not payable on that income. The amount for April 2005 to April 2006 is £4,895 for a single person. If you work during your course and pay tax you may be entitled to a refund of tax at the end of the financial year. This may be refunded automatically through your wages or you may need to contact your local Inland Revenue office and make a claim.
Trust and Charities
Education trusts and charities are a possible source of help for students in financial difficulty. The trusts are perhaps most likely to offer assistance if you are near to the end of your course or if you have met unforeseen difficulties at an earlier stage. In most cases, only small amounts of money can be obtained.
Although there are thousands of trusts that award funding to students, most have very specific criteria of eligibility. For example, certain trusts will help only students born in a particular town, or whose parents were employed in a particular profession, or who are undertaking a particular course of study. Some trusts will provide assistance to students of a particular nationality, religion or ethnicity, and some will offer assistance only to women.
The Student Advice & Representation Centre can help you to identify which trusts may be able to offer help. We have access to various sources of information on trusts and charities. We also subscribe to Funderfinder, a software programme that can run a search of trusts and charities who may be able to help you. You can also try going through the Educational Grants Advisory Service .
Having a Baby?
The Student Advice & Representation Centre can give you details of the various sources of funding (LEA support; help through the University; benefits and tax credits etc.) you may be entitled to when your baby is born. In some circumstances, you may be entitled to additional help when you are pregnant. If you would like us to go through this with you, please get in touch with us.
Budgeting
When you are living on a low income, budgeting is a necessary tool to enable you to manage your money. Click here for basic information on budgeting and helping your money last. More information on budgeting is available from the Student Advice & Representation Centre.
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