Nursing and midwifery students - support: 2019 to 2020

The Bursary

The bursary is for the normal duration of the course that you are undertaking. If you are taking the four-year honours degree course and you are eligible for a bursary, you will receive the full bursary rate for years 1-3 anda 75% bursary for year 4. This reduction also applies tothe associated income-assessed allowances (outlinedon pages 11-13). This is because year 4 does not coverthe full 52 weeks.

The bursary covers the whole year and is anon-income-assessed personal allowance.

For 2019/20, the rate is:

• £8,100 for students at the start of the course.

Students may also be eligible for oneor more of the following allowances:

• £60 Initial Expenses Allowance. This will be includedin the first instalment of the bursary.

An income-assessed Dependent’s Allowance,where appropriate. The maximum amounts you can receive through this allowance are:

• £3,640 for a spouse or cohabitating partner or, if youare single, one adult you have a legal responsibilityfor with little or no income from any sources.
• £3,640 for the first child where there is no dependent husband or wife, or other dependent adult.
• £557 for each other dependent child.

You may claim this allowance for your spouseor cohabiting partner, dependent children andany younger brothers or sisters for whom you havea legal responsibility. If any of these dependents have income of their own, the total amount will be takeninto account, but £1,160 will be allowed against theincome your dependents have.

For example, if you are married with 2 childrenand your spouse has income, 3 x £1,160 = £3,480will be deducted from your spouse’s income when calculating the Allowance you should receive. Whatis left of your spouse’s income following the deductionof £3,480 will reduce the amount payable poundfor pound.

Allowance is paid provisionally and SAAS will reassess your allowance at the end of your year of study when they receive confirmation of the actual income that your dependants received. If SAAS reduce the allowance asa result, you will have to repay the amount you received over your entitlement. The allowance will be paid withyour bursary.

• £2,303 Single Parent Allowance.
• Up to £2,466 for registered childcare costs.

This grant is available to students who have childrenand have expenses for registered childcare. Youcan receive up to £2,466 a year, depending on thecost of childcare. ‘Registered’ childcare includes childminders, after-school clubs, providers of day‑careand those who are registered with the Care Inspectorate.If you are getting your full childcare costs paid fromother sources (for example, your institution) you shouldnot apply for this grant. You should apply to SAAS firstfor help with your childcare costs before you ask forhelp from any other source. When you fill in your application form you should tell SAAS if you thinkyou may be entitled to this support. They will askyou for details about your childcare providerand confirmation of the amounts you will pay.

• Disabled Students Allowance

The Disabled Students Allowance (DSA) is anon-income-assessed allowance to cover extra costs or expenses you might have while studying which arise because of your disability. You can apply to SAAS for this allowance which is made up of three parts:

• Up to £1,725 a year for any small itemsof equipment or consumables.
• Up to £20,520 a year for non-medical personal help.
• Up to £5,160 for major items of specialist equipment (this is a total amount for the course, not for each year of the course).
• Maternity

If a student wishes to withdraw from their course temporarily because of pregnancy and/or childbirth,the student will continue to receive their bursary support during the absence. In order to do so, the student must discuss their circumstances with the course leaderat the university and agree start and end dates for the period of absence. 

The earliest date for maternity leave to begin would normally be 11 weeks before the expected date of confinement. It is for students and universities to agree when the student will return, but this continued support will only be available for a maximum of 45 weeks. 

Universities will advise SAAS of the agreed leave, start and return dates. When a student begins their period of approved absence, they will then continue to receive the support that they would have received if they had continued on the course. However, childcare allowance will normally cease once the authorised absence formally starts, unless the student is contractually committed beyond that date.

Discretionary Fund

The Nursing and Midwifery Discretionary Fund enables nursing and midwifery students who are in financial difficulties to either access or continue in Higher Education. Payments for the fund will be made in addition to any other form of student support.

You should contact the finance or student services department of your university for further information.