Allied Health - Finance & Funding

Finance & Funding for Allied Health

If you’re planning to study an Allied Health course at university, financial support is available.

Eligible students on Allied Health profession courses in England can access funding from the NHS Learning Support Fund (NHS LSF) – and there’s no need to pay it back.

The NHS Learning Support Fund

Students on the following Allied Health programmes are eligible for the NHS Learning Support Fund:

• Podiatry or Chiropody
• Dietetics
• Occupational therapy
• Physiotherapy
• Orthoptics
• Radiography (diagnostic and therapeutic)
• Orthotics & Prosthetics
• Paramedicine
• Speech and language therapy
• Operating department practitioner (level 5 and 6 courses)

In addition to studying one of the above courses, you need to be at university in England. You also need to be eligible for tuition fees and maintenance support from the Student Loans Company, which includes certain residency criteria.

The NHS Learning Support Fund offers eligible students:

• A training grant of £5,000 per year.
• A specialist subject payment of £1,000 per year for students on courses that struggle to recruit. These include podiatry, radiography (diagnostic and therapeutic), prosthetics & orthotics, and orthoptics.
• Support towards any additional travel and accommodation costs that come with clinical placements.
• Parental support of £2,000 per year to help with any childcare costs.
• An exceptional hardship fund of up to £3,000 per year.

Funding is scheduled over the academic year and paid in three instalments.

If you’re starting your studies in the 2022 academic year, you can apply for the NHS LSF from 2nd May 2022.

Student Loans

In addition to the NHS Learning Support Fund, students on Allied Health courses are also able to take out student loans from the Student Loans Company.

Other Funding

Some universities offer scholarships and bursaries – so check with them directly to find out what’s available.