NHS funding
If you’re studying an eligible course, you could receive funding from the NHS.
The information on this page relates to the academic year 2024-25. Information for 2025-2026 will be published when available. Funding for future years may change.
Please check the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) Student Services website for the most up-to-date information.
NHS Bursary
Eligibility
Funding may be available to you if you’re studying to become a doctor or dentist and you’re:
- Studying a 5 or 6-year undergraduate course (you can apply from year 5 of your current programme of study at the University of Sheffield)
- Studying a 3 or 4-year graduate-entry course (you can apply from year 2 of your current programme of study at the University of Sheffield)
- A returning NHS Bursary student and started your course before 1 August 2017
Whether you can get an NHS Bursary also depends on:
- Where you live - NHS Bursaries are generally only available to students who were ordinarily resident in England on the first day of the first academic year in which their medical or dental course began
- Your household income
- Whether you’ve already had funding
What you get
If you’re eligible, you can apply for:
- A non-means tested grant of £1,000 per academic year
- A tuition fee contribution
- A means-tested bursary based on your household income. Rates vary depending on where you are living (ie, in London, away from home outside of London, or with your parents)
You can also apply for a reduced maintenance loan from Student Finance England.
Other support is available, depending on your circumstances.
- Dependants Allowance: you can apply for this allowance if you have people who are wholly or mainly financially dependent on you during your time in training.
- Parents Learning Allowance (PLA)
- Childcare Allowance (CGA)
- Travel and Dual Accommodation Expenses (TDAE)
- Disabled Student Allowance (DSA)
- Extra Weeks Allowance - if your course runs for more than 30 weeks and 3 days in the academic year, excluding vacation periods
- NHS Bursary Hardship Grant
For more information, including full eligibility requirements and how to apply, please visit the NHSBSA Student Services website.
NHS Learning Support Fund (LSF)
Eligibility
You can apply for the NHS LSF if you are on an eligible pre-registration course, eligible for tuition fees and maintenance support from the Student Loans Company, and are actively in study (whether academic or practice). Find out more about our eligible courses below.
2025 entry
- Dental Hygiene and Dental Therapy Higher Education Diploma
- Nursing (Adult) BMedSci
- Orthoptics BMedSci
- Speech and Language Therapy BMedSci
Postgraduate courses
Other arrangements are in place for those who may be eligible for a loan but do not apply for personal reasons.
What you get
If you’re eligible, you can apply for a Training Grant of £5,000 per academic year.
Other support is available, depending on your circumstances.
- Parental Support - £2,000 (if you have at least one dependent child under 15 years, or under 17 if registered with special educational needs)
- Travel and Dual Accommodation Expenses (TDAE)
- Exceptional Support Fund (ESF)
For more information, including full eligibility requirements and how to apply, please visit the NHSBSA Student Services website.
Social Work Bursary
Eligibility
Students studying the MA Social Work with us may be eligible to receive a Social Work Bursary. The number of bursary places is capped and will be determined by the department before you start your course.
This is normally done in the autumn, so you should still submit an application if you wish to as, even if you are not nominated, you may still be eligible for a Placement Travel Allowance if you satisfy the residency and other eligibility criteria.
In general, applicants for the Social Work Bursary must normally be ordinarily resident in England.
Students not in receipt of the Social Work Bursary may be eligible to apply for a postgraduate masters loan from their relevant funding body.
What you get
If you’re eligible, you could receive:
- A non-means tested basic grant (rates vary depending on whether you are studying in London)
- A means-tested maintenance grant (rates vary depending on whether you are studying in London)
Other support is available, depending on your circumstances.
- Adult Dependants Allowance (ADA)
- Childcare Allowance (CGA)
- Parents Learning Allowance (PLA)
- Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA)
For more information, including full eligibility requirements and how to apply, please visit the NHSBSA Student Services website.
Physician Associate Studies Grant
Students studying the MMedSci Physician Associate Studies may be eligible to receive a grant of £5,000 (£2,500 per year) from the NHS.
You do not need to apply for this grant. Once you have registered for the course, the department will confirm your attendance and process your grant.
Students in receipt of the grant may also be eligible to apply for a postgraduate masters loan from their relevant funding body.
For further information about the grant, contact the department at aume-pgt-enquiries@sheffield.ac.uk