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NHS Bursary students

Funding is available if you're studying to become a doctor or dentist and you're:

  • studying a 5 or 6-year undergraduate course (you can apply from year 5)
  • studying a 3 or 4-year graduate-entry course (you can apply from year 2)
  • a returning NHS Bursary student and started your course before 1 August 2017

An intercalation year taken in the first 4 years of an undergraduate medical degree may count towards your qualifying year of study for NHS Bursary funding, if you undertook one at either bachelor's or master's level.

Intercalation years taken at PhD level will not be included.

What you will get

If you're an eligible full-time student, you can apply for a:

  • non-means tested grant of £1,000 per academic year
  • tuition fee contribution
  • means-tested bursary based on your household income

The rates for full-time students are up to:

  • £2,207 if you're living with your parents
  • £3,191 if you're studying in London
  • £2,643 if you're studying outside of London

Find out more in our NHS Bursary Funding for Medical and Dental Students 2023-24 (PDF: 1.98MB)

Guidance for 2024 to 2025 is coming soon.

How to apply

New students

You need to register for an NHS Bursary account before you start your application.

The application window for 2024 to 2025 has not opened yet. The opening date will be confirmed in due course

After you've registered, you can log in to your account and apply for an NHS Bursary.

We have produced a Step-by-step guide to the NHS Bursary Application System (PDF: 285KB), if you need help with registering or completing your online application.

Register for an NHS Bursary account

Existing students

If you're an existing student you'll receive an email from us inviting you to apply for the 2024 to 2025 academic year. The application window for 2024 to 2025 has not opened yet. The opening date will be confirmed in due course.

Invites will be sent out in groups to make sure we process all of your applications for the start of the academic year.

Contact us if you're having difficulty applying online.

When you will receive your payments for 2024 to 2025

How often will I receive my bursary?

Bursaries are paid in three termly instalments each academic year once we have received confirmation from your university that you are attending your course. You should log on to your Student Bursary account for details of any Term 1 payments that are scheduled to be made to you.

Term 2 and 3 payments are scheduled to be paid as follows, depending on your academic year start month:

June Cohort

  • Term 2 - October 2024
  • Term 3 - January 2025

July Cohort

  • Term 2 - November 2024
  • Term 3 - February 2025

August Cohort

  • Term 2 - December 2024
  • Term 3 - March 2025

Sept Cohort

  • Term 2 - January 2025
  • Term3 - April 2025

Oct Cohort

  • Term 2 - February 2025
  • Term 3 - May 2025

Extra allowances

Extra weeks allowance

You get this if your course runs for more than 30 weeks and 3 days in the academic year, excluding vacation periods. We add this to your account based on your term dates.

Dependants' allowance

If you're eligible, we pay up to:

  • £2,448 per year for your spouse, civil partner, partner, and first child
  • £549 for each child after that if you have people who are dependent on you during your training

You can watch a short YouTube video about dependant's allowance

Parent Learning Allowance (PLA)

We pay up to £1,204 per academic year if you have dependent children.

Other support

Depending on your circumstances you could also get: