UK government increases financial support for healthcare students
The UK government has today introduced measures to increase the support offered to healthcare students, to make their studies more affordable. The changes are applied with immediate effect, in time for the start of the academic year. The changes will support eligible students on nursing, midwifery, allied health professions, medical and dental courses.
The measures include:
- A 50 per cent increase to travel and accommodation costs. This increases travel reimbursement for students who cycle from 20p to 30p per mile and for those who use their own motor vehicle from 28p to 42p per mile. Commercial accommodation, such as a hotel, will increase from £55 to up to £82.50 per night and for those staying with friends or relatives, who are not their parents, from £25 to up to £37.50 per night.
- The means-testing threshold for the NHS Bursary Scheme is now set at £26,076, up from £24,279. This is the amount a partner or parent can earn before their income becomes deductible from the means-tested bursary.
Responding to new financial support package, Caroline Waterfield, director of development and employment at NHS Employers, said:
"We have been hearing about the difficulties our healthcare students have been experiencing due to the cost of living crisis, leading some to leave courses, so this additional monies is welcomed.
"This increase in support will help to retain the current students within education and also go to further attract individuals into these crucial professions."
The introduction of these changes follows the publication of the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan, which sets out how the NHS will address existing and future workforce challenges by recruiting and retaining thousands more staff over a 15-year period, and working in new ways to improve staff experience and patient care.
Further information on the new financial support for students can be found on the Gov.UK website.
