If you are normally resident in England and are studying for a social work qualification, you may be eligible for a NHS bursary to help towards study related expenses.
Nationally, there is a cap on the number of social work bursaries provided each year by the Department of Health and Social Care, so not all social work students receive a bursary.
Information for 2023–24
Universities in England have not yet been advised of NHS social work bursary allocations for the 2023–24 academic year.
Postgraduate students can apply for a social work bursary from their first year of study and undergraduates from their second year of study. The number of bursary recipients for all eligible courses is capped so there is no guarantee you will receive a social work bursary even if your application is accepted and you start an eligible course. This bursary is administered by NHS Business Services Authority.
In recent years, postgraduate students have been able to apply for a social work bursary from their first year of study and undergraduates from their second year of study. The number of bursary recipients for all eligible courses is capped so there is no guarantee you will receive a social work bursary even if your application is accepted and you start an eligible course. This bursary is administered by NHS Business Services Authority.
We will update this web page with information as we receive it, and will be in touch directly if we have made you an offer.
Social Work BSc(Hons)
In recent years we have received a number of bursaries (such that the majority of eligible students have received bursary support) for the two final years of the degree. Students apply at the end of their first year. If bursaries continue to be available, we will work with students to make sure that all are aware of the criteria that is applied to bursary nominations. For the last two years, the national criteria for priority focused on information provided during the application process (prior educational achievement, performance at interview etc.) plus attendance and academic achievement during the first year of the degree.
Students are able to apply for a student loan according to the same eligibility criteria as students on other undergraduate courses, regardless of their NHS bursary status.
To apply and for further information, visit the website for NHS Social Work Bursaries.
NHS Business Services authority will update their website when details for 2023–24 become available.
Social Work MSc
In previous years, students on this course who met the eligibility criteria (for example, residence) were nominated for and received a bursary. We will advise our offer holders as soon as we receive further information from the Department for Health and Social Care about bursaries for the current and future years.
Should bursaries continue to be available this year, we anticipate using the prioritisation process set out within national guidance. This means that we will prioritise applicants based upon their prior educational achievement and interview performance, taking other factors into account where appropriate and particularly in the event of a tie break situation.
To apply and for further information, visit the website for NHS Social Work Bursaries.