Support for Nursing and Midwifery Students in Scotland 2012/13

Expenses for clinical placement

Clinical placement is the part of the course that consists of supervised practice in clinical areas. You can claim expenses for some extra travel and reasonable accommodation costs. Educational or observational visits that are part of the general academic costs of the course should be paid for by your institution. You must meet the cost of daily travel to and from your institution and your normal day-to-day living expenses from the personal allowance of bursary.

Travel

The amount of your normal daily travelling costs to your institution (but no more than £5 a day) will be deducted from the costs of placement travel, and the approved difference may be paid.

Travel costs are paid on the basis of the cheapest route and class available for the cheapest journeys concerned. You should take advantage of season tickets, zonecards, and student railcards wherever possible. If you claim more than the cheapest fare available, your claim will be restricted to the cheapest fare. If public transport is available but you choose to use your own car, expenses will be restricted to the actual cost of the journey by public transport.

If public transport is unavailable or unsuitable (eg for placements in rural areas or where the placement takes place late in the evening), your institution can agree the use of private transport at the current motor mileage rate.

Airfares can be paid where your institution is satisfied they are justified. You should always seek your institution's agreement in advance if you want to use your own car or to have airfares paid.

You will not be reimbursed for taxi fares, tips, sleeper berths, carriage of luggage or bicycles, parking costs and any travel not directly related to the practice placement.

Accommodation

You can claim for reasonable extra accommodation costs during clinical placements if you have to keep on your base accommodation at your own expense. You may only claim costs in excess of the normal full rent. The cost of all meals, food, etc. during placement that are not included in accommodation costs (i.e. bed & breakfast) must be met from your personal allowance.

If you live in the family home (instead of lodgings or normal term time accommodation) during clinical placement, you may, at the institution's discretion, claim up to a maximum of £25 per night. You will be asked to provide receipts or written confirmation that you are being charged for the accommodation.

Applying for clinical placement expenses

You should apply for placement expenses quarterly in arrears except:

• where you will have a large outlay for travelling expenses, e.g. flights or ferries, a claim can be paid in advance;
• where the costs of travel and accomodation for the clinical placement will cause you undue financial hardship, your institution may allow you to apply in advance, or part way through the placement.

Give your completed application form to your institution. They will assess each claim on its merits, deciding the most appropriate method and costs of travel, before passing the approved claim to SAAS who will arrange for payment to your bank account within three weeks of receiving the approved claim.