NHS Funding

All medicine and dentistry (BDS) students in their fifth and further years of study can apply for NHS funding.

The NHS Business Services Authority's student website explains how to apply.

Medicine or dentistry as your first undergraduate degree

Tuition fees

First four years of study

You can apply for a tuition fee loan from Student Finance in your first four years of study.

Fifth and further years of study

You can apply for the NHS to pay your tuition fees in your fifth and further years of study.

Living costs

First four years of study

You can apply to Student Finance for a maintenance loan during your first four years of study.

You'll have a longer academic year due to practice placements in:

• years three and four of medicine
• years of two, three and four of dentistry.

If you receive the means-tested part of the maintenance loan, you'll be entitled to additional loan to cover these extra weeks.

Fifth and further years of study

You can apply for NHS Bursary funding in your fifth and further years of study.

You can apply for:

• a non means-tested grant of £1,000
• a means-tested bursary, based on your household income.

You can also apply to Student Finance for a reduced-rate, non means-tested maintenance loan for living costs.

Medicine or dentistry as your second undergraduate degree

Tuition fees

First four years of study

You are not entitled to a tuition fee loan from the government if you are studying medicine or dentistry as your second undergraduate degree. You will be liable for the first four years of tuition fees for yourself.

Fifth and further years of study

You can apply for your tuition fees to be paid by the NHS Business Services Authority in your fifth and further years of study.

Living costs

First four years of study

You can apply to Student Finance for a maintenance loan during your first four years of study.

You'll have a longer academic year due to practice placements in:

• years three and four of medicine
• years two, three and four of dentistry.

If you receive the means-tested part of the maintenance loan, you'll be entitled to additional loan to cover these extra weeks.

Your initial Student Finance assessment may suggest there is no available funding. Don't worry. When an assessor picks up your application, the £0.00 funding will change and you'll be assessed for financial support based on your household income.

Fifth and further years of study

You can apply for NHS Bursary funding in your fifth and further years of study.

You can apply for a:

• non means-tested grant of £1,000
• means-tested bursary, based on your household income.

You can also apply to Student Finance for a reduced-rate, non means-tested maintenance loan for living costs.

Students living in Wales

If you are studying medicine or dentistry as a second undergraduate degree and live in Wales, you are not eligible for maintenance grants for living costs from Student Finance Wales. However, you can apply for a maintenance loan in your first four years of study.

Where to apply for student funding

Where you apply for financial support depends on where you normally live when you're not at university. 

• Students from England: apply to Student Finance England.
• Students from Wales: apply to Student Finance Wales/cyllid myfyrwyr cymru.
• Students from Northern Ireland: apply to Student Finance NI.
• Students from Scotland: apply to Student Awards Agency for Scotland.

University of Bristol Bursary

UK undergraduate students are automatically considered for the University of Bristol Bursary. The bursary is not paid in the NHS-funded years of your course.

Second-degree students are not eligible for this bursary.

Other funding sources

• If you receive the NHS means-tested bursary, you can claim for practice placement expenses (PPE) such as travel and accommodation. Download the NHS guide to completing the PPE form (PDF).
• Current students who are experiencing financial difficulty can apply to the University's financial assistance fund.
• The Royal Medical Benevolent Fund provides information about financial support for medical students.
• The NHS Bursary hardship grant is for medical students who have tried all other sources of financial help and still require additional support.
• The BDA Benevolent Fund provides information and financial support for dental students.

Funding enquiries or money worries

If you have further questions about funding or are experiencing money worries, contact the Money Advice team at money-advice@bristol.ac.uk or join a money advice drop-in session.