NHS Learning Support Fund: £5,000 healthcare student grant
The NHS Learning Support Fund offers eligible healthcare students a £5,000 Training Grant plus targeted extra support in England.
Key points before you apply
- NHS LSF provides extra funding for eligible healthcare students on specified pre-registration undergraduate or postgraduate courses in England.
- The Training Grant is £5,000 per academic year for eligible students and is not means-tested.
- Some courses can receive an extra £1,000 Specialist Subject Payment, and students with children may qualify for Parental Support.
- Applications are made through an NHS LSF account and must be submitted within 6 months of the academic year start.
Rules, amounts and deadlines can change. Always confirm your case on the official pages before submitting documents.
What the NHS Learning Support Fund is
The NHS Learning Support Fund, or NHS LSF, provides additional funding for eligible healthcare students. It is managed by the NHS Business Services Authority and is linked to specified pre-registration healthcare courses. The support is separate from ordinary student loans and is aimed at students preparing for professions needed in the health service.
The fund can include several elements. The central award is the Training Grant, but the same system also covers Specialist Subject Payment, Parental Support, Travel and Dual Accommodation Expenses and the Exceptional Support Fund for unexpected hardship. The elements available depend on the course and the student’s circumstances.
Eligible courses
The NHSBSA page lists eligible courses including nursing, midwifery, dietetics, occupational therapy, operating department practice, orthoptics, orthotics and prosthetics, paramedicine, physiotherapy, podiatry, radiography, and speech and language therapy, along with dental therapy or dental hygiene at specified levels. Foundation years are not eligible.
From September 2025, pharmacy and pre-registration healthcare science students can claim reimbursement towards practice placement expenses through Travel and Dual Accommodation Expenses, but they are not eligible for the other NHS LSF allowances. This distinction is important for students comparing courses with similar healthcare settings.
Training Grant amount
The Training Grant is a non-means-tested grant of £5,000 per academic year for eligible students. Part-time students receive a pro rata amount according to attendance pattern. Because it is not means-tested, household income is not the main variable for this element, but the student still needs to meet the NHS LSF eligibility criteria.
The grant must be applied for each academic year. Continuing students should not assume that approval in one year automatically renews payment for the next. NHSBSA says students need to apply through their NHS LSF account at the start of each academic year.
Extra payments and placement costs
Some students can receive an additional £1,000 Specialist Subject Payment if they study mental health nursing, learning disability nursing, diagnostic or therapeutic radiography, prosthetics and orthotics, orthoptics or podiatry. Combined courses may qualify if they include an eligible subject and lead to dual registration.
Students with at least one dependant child under 15, or under 17 if registered with special educational needs, may also receive Parental Support. Students who pay excess travel or temporary accommodation costs on placement may be able to claim through Travel and Dual Accommodation Expenses. Each element has its own evidence and timing rules.
General eligibility
To apply, a student must be actively studying on an eligible course at a university in England and must be eligible for tuition fee and maintenance support from Student Finance England, Student Finance Wales, Student Awards Agency Scotland or Student Finance Northern Ireland. Students who have not applied for a student loan may still need to show they meet the relevant eligibility criteria.
Students receiving an NHS Bursary are not eligible for NHS LSF. This is one of the most important checks for medical, dental and some healthcare students. Before applying, students should identify which funding system applies to their course and year of study.
Application deadline and account route
Applications are made through an NHS LSF account. NHSBSA states that students need to apply within 6 months of the start of the academic year. The Training Grant FAQ also says the same 6-month rule applies after returning to study following withdrawal. Applications on other systems can be rejected.
If a student has applied for a student loan, they will need to upload the student finance award letter when applying for the Training Grant. If they have not applied for a loan, NHSBSA may require identification such as a passport or driving licence and may ask for further evidence depending on circumstances.
Changes, interruption and withdrawal
Universities update NHS LSF accounts when a student interrupts or withdraws from a course. NHSBSA then calculates entitlement for the period of attendance. Returning within the same academic year may not require a fresh application if the university registers the return on the portal, but the student should check the account and messages.
Students should report changes promptly. Course changes, attendance changes, part-time study, placement amendments or changes in dependants can affect elements of funding. Keeping evidence organised reduces the risk of delayed payments or overpayments.
Before you apply
Confirm that your course is on the eligible list, that your university is in England, that you meet student finance eligibility and that you are not receiving an NHS Bursary. Then create or access your NHS LSF account and prepare the student finance award letter or identification evidence.
Grantalia does not award NHS LSF funding and cannot determine whether a specific course or placement claim will be accepted. NHSBSA and your university are the official sources for application status, evidence and payment timing.
The information was checked against official programme pages. Use those links to confirm updates before you apply or submit documents.
View NHS Learning Support Fund overviewRead Training Grant details
Check NHSBSA Training Grant FAQ