Social Work Bursary - Undergraduate

Financial support for undergraduate Social Work students.

Overview

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

What you could receive

Successful applicants will receive a non-repayable bursary and Placement Travel Allowance in the second and third year of their course.

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.

You can also apply for a tuition fee loan and maintenance loan from Student Finance England.

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

Apply towards the end of your first year to receive the bursary in your second year. The deadline is normally the end of October at the start of your second year.

You will need to re-apply towards the end of your second year to receive the bursary in your third 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 Student Success Scholarship (SSS) assessment from your first year to decide whether to nominate you for a capped place. Therefore, we strongly recommend applying for the SSS in your first year, if you are eligible.

If you did not apply for, or were not eligible to apply for, the SSS in your first year, we may still be able to consider you for a capped place. In this case we will review information, such as:

• Your household income (if you have been means-tested by Student Finance England)
• Whether you are registered with the Disabled Student Support team
• Your ethnicity

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.

If you receive the Social Work Bursary in your second or third year, you will not be eligible to receive the SSS as well during those years.

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

Timeline

First Year

• September-October: Apply for the Student Success Scholarship, if you are eligible.
• April-June: Set up a MyFunding account and apply for the Social Work Bursary to receive it in your second year.
• August (between first and second year): We will contact you to confirm whether you have been nominated for a capped place.

Second Year

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

Third Year

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

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.