Financial support for postgraduate Social Work students.

The information on this page is correct for students starting in March 2026.

Overview

If you are studying MSW Social Work, you may be eligible for a bursary from the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA).

What you could receive

Successful applicants may receive:

• a contribution towards tuition fees,
• a non-income assessed bursary,
• an income assessed bursary, and
• Placement Travel Allowance (PTA).

Depending on your circumstances, you may also receive:

• Adult Dependants Allowance (ADA)
• Childcare Allowance (CCA)
• Parents’ Learning Allowance (PLA)
• Disabled Students Allowance (DSA)

Part-time students will receive a proportional award.

Award amounts are set by the NHSBSA, visit the NHSBSA Social Work Bursary page for the most up-to-date information.

If you receive a Social Work Bursary, you will not be eligible to receive a Master’s Loan from Student Finance England (SFE) as well.

If you receive benefits and/or any other financial support, it is your responsibility to check whether receiving an award will affect your entitlement(s)/payments.

Who can apply

Eligibility criteria is set by the NHSBSA, visit the NHSBSA Social Work Bursary page to check whether you can apply.

When to apply

You can apply before your course starts. For courses staring in March 2026, you must apply by 22 March 2026.

You will also need to re-apply towards the end of your first year to receive the bursary in your second year.

How to apply

Visit the NHSBSA Social Work Bursary page to set up a MyFunding account.

Capping process

The Department of Health and Social Care allocates a limited number of bursaries for social work students each year. This means we must nominate students for a limited (‘capped’) number of bursary places.

If the number of bursaries allocated is smaller than the number of students on the course, not everyone will receive a bursary - even if they meet the NHSBSA eligibility criteria.

We will use your admissions interview score to decide whether to nominate you for a capped place.

If you are nominated for a capped place, you will normally retain this place until you complete your course, unless you defer, have a break in study, repeat part of your course or change university.

If you are not nominated for a capped place, you may still be eligible to receive the Placement Travel Allowance (PLA).

You do not need to contact us to request a capped place.

Timeline

Based on the MSW Social Work course starting in March 2026.

Pre-entry

• Attend an admissions interview, this could be any time up until the end of January.
• December-February: Set up a MyFunding account and apply for the Social Work Bursary to receive it in your first year.
• February: We will contact you to confirm whether you have been nominated for a capped place.

First Year

• March-April: Once you are fully enrolled, we will confirm your attendance to the NHSBSA and let you know when this has been done.
• December-February: Re-apply for the Social Work Bursary to receive it in your second year.

Second Year

• March-April: Once you are fully enrolled, we will confirm your attendance to the NHSBSA and let you know when this has been done.

Comparing funding options

If you do not apply for, are not eligible for, or are not allocated a capped place for the Social Work Bursary, you may be eligible to receive a Master’s Loan from Student Finance England (SFE).

You cannot receive both the Social Work Bursary and a Master’s Loan. If you have applied for a Master’s Loan, you must tell SFE if you have been awarded a Social Work Bursary.

The table below compares the funding available through the Social Work Bursary and the Master’s Loan.

Based on studying a full-time, two-year MSW Social Work course starting in March 2026, using current information available for the 2025/26 academic year from the NHSBSA and SFE.

	Social Work Bursary	Master's Loan
Master's Loan	-	£12,858 (£6,429 per year)
Placement Travel Allowance	£1,725 (£862.50 per year)	£1,725 (£862.50 per year)
Tuition fee contribution	£8,104 (£4,052 per year)	-
Non-income assessed bursary	£5,000 (£2,500 per year)	-
Income assessed bursary	Up to £5,442 (£2,721 per year)*	-
Total (over two years)	£20,271*	£14,583
Tuition fees (over two years)	£21,240	£21,240
Maximum funding available minus tuition fees	-£969**	-£6,657**

*Based on receiving the maximum income assessed bursary. Depending on your household income, you may receive less and/or may not be eligible for this.
**You will need a plan to fund the difference. There is no funding available from the university to cover this.

Additional funding

Additional funding may be available depending on your circumstances, the table below compares what is available through the Social Work Bursary and the Master’s Loan.

Based on studying a full-time, two-year MSW Social Work course starting in March 2026, using current information available for the 2025/26 academic year from the NHSBSA and SFE.

	Social Work Bursary	Master's Loan
Adult dependants	Up to £2,757 per year may be available through the Adult Dependants Allowance (ADA), if you have an adult who is wholly or mainly financially dependent on you. Use your MyFunding account to apply.	You are not eligible to receive the Adult Dependants' Grant (ADG) from SFE.
Child dependants	Up to £1,573 per year may be available through the Parents’ Learning Allowance (PLA), if you have a dependent child. Use your MyFunding account to apply.	You are not eligible to receive the Parents' Learning Allowance (PLA) from SFE.
Childcare	A contribution towards childcare costs may be available through the Childcare Allowance (CCA). Complete a CCA application form and upload it to your MyFunding to apply.	You are not eligible to receive the Childcare Grant (CCG) from SFE.
Students with a disability	You can apply for Disabled Students Allowance (DSA). Use your MyFunding account to apply.	You can apply for Disabled Students Allowance (DSA). Use your SFE account to apply.

Need help

If you have questions about your eligibility for the Social Work Bursary, your application, or your bursary payments, please contact the NHSBSA.

If you have general questions about the Social Work Bursary, please contact Hallam Help.