Students' Union 2005

Master of Nursing Science

Maximising Your Income: Main Sources Of Income

Student Loan and Bursary Funding

Students on this course can apply for a student loan from their Local Education Authority (LEA). Students can contact the Student Advice Team for more information on this. In addition to applying for a student loan, students resident in the UK who are accepted on to nursing degree courses are eligible to apply for an NHS means tested bursary to help cover day to day living costs while studying. The Department of Health will also fund all students’ contribution to university tuition fees. More information on the funding available can be found in the Department of Healths publication Financial Help for Health Care Students and on the NHS Student Grant Unit website.

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). Students are also able to apply for a reduced student loan.

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.

Maximising Your Income: Additional Sources Of Income

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.

Access to Learning Fund


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.

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 from the scheme, bring your cheque book (and cheque guarantee card if you have one) and your university smart card to the Student Advice & Representation Centre.


Educational Trusts and Charities


Educational 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 Team 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.

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 Team, local medical centres and can be requested online


Employment


Employment is another possible source of income, and Nottingham based 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

Everyone 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.

 

Other Funding Issues

Having a Baby

The Student Advice & Representation Centre can give you details of the various sources of funding (LEA/ Bursary 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.

 

On A Different Course?

If you are a nursing or midwifery student not on a diploma course or the Master of Nursing Science course and need some help or advice on a funding issue, please contact the Student Advice Team

 

 

University of Nottingham Students' Union
Portland Building, University Park , Nottingham NG7 2RD
Tel: + 44 (0)115 846 8800 Fax: + 44 (0)115 846 8801

© 2005 University of Nottingham Students' Union