If you're planning to become a nurse, there's a financial benefit many people don't know about until it's too late to plan for it. The NHS Learning Support Fund (LSF) is a non-repayable training grant available to eligible nursing students once they reach university.
This isn't a loan. You don't pay it back. And it's worth up to £5,000 every year of your nursing degree.
Important: The NHS Learning Support Fund applies at university level — it's available when you're studying your nursing degree, not during a preparatory course like an Access to HE Diploma. Understanding this timeline helps you plan your finances from day one.
What is the NHS Learning Support Fund?
The NHS LSF is a government-funded programme managed by the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA). It provides additional financial support to healthcare students studying pre-registration courses at university in England.
It was introduced to help recruit and retain healthcare professionals — particularly in nursing, midwifery, and allied health professions — by easing the financial pressure of degree-level study.
How much can you receive?
| Allowance | Amount | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Training Grant | £5,000/year | Non-income assessed, available to all eligible students |
| Specialist Subject Payment | £1,000/year | For courses in subjects with recruitment challenges |
| Parental Support | £2,000/year | If you have a dependent child under 15 (or 17 with SEN) |
| Travel & Accommodation | Based on costs | Reimbursement for clinical placement expenses |
| Exceptional Support Fund | Up to £3,000/year | For unforeseen financial hardship |
That means a nursing student who is also a parent could receive up to £8,000 per year in non-repayable grants — on top of their student maintenance loan.
Who qualifies?
To be eligible for the NHS LSF, you must be:
- Studying a pre-registration healthcare course (nursing, midwifery, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and other allied health courses)
- Enrolled at a university in England
- In active study (academic or practice learning)
- Eligible for tuition fee and maintenance loan support from the Student Loans Company
The key point: this is a university-level benefit. You need to be on a degree programme that leads to professional registration (e.g., NMC registration for nurses).
Where does Access to HE fit in?
Most nursing degrees at UK universities require the equivalent of 2-3 A-levels (typically 96-144 UCAS points). If you don't have A-levels — whether you left school early, didn't get the grades you needed, or are changing career later in life — the Access to Higher Education Diploma is a nationally recognised alternative.
An Access to HE Diploma is a Level 3 qualification equivalent to three A-levels, earning up to 144 UCAS points. It's specifically designed for adults aged 19+ who want to progress to university.
Here's how the timeline works:
- Step 1 — Access to HE (where you are now): Study your Access to HE Diploma in Nursing. This is a preparatory qualification — you self-fund through affordable monthly payments.
- Step 2 — University (where the NHS LSF kicks in): Apply to nursing degree programmes. Once enrolled, you apply for the NHS LSF and receive up to £5,000/year in non-repayable grants.
- Step 3 — Career: Graduate, register with the NMC, and begin your nursing career (Band 5 starting salary: £29,970).
Bonus: If you fund your Access to HE course through an Advanced Learner Loan, the UK government writes off that loan entirely once you complete a higher education course. So the Access to HE qualification can effectively become free.
How to apply for the NHS LSF
Applications are made directly through the NHSBSA website once you're enrolled at university. The process is straightforward:
- Register for an NHS LSF account with NHSBSA within one month of starting your course
- Apply for the grants you're eligible for within six months of the academic year start
- Your university confirms your attendance
- Payments are made in three termly instalments
For the 2025-26 academic year, typical payment dates for September starters are November 2025, March 2026, and July 2026.
Planning ahead: making the numbers work
Understanding the full financial picture helps you commit to this path with confidence:
During your Access to HE course
- Qualvera's Access to HE Diploma (Nursing) costs £69.99/month — all materials, tutor support, and assessment fees included
- No upfront fees, no credit checks, no lock-in contracts
- Pause for up to 3 months if life gets in the way
- Total investment: approximately £720 over 12 months
At university (where NHS LSF applies)
- Tuition fees covered by a student loan (currently £9,250/year)
- Maintenance loan available for living costs
- NHS LSF Training Grant: £5,000/year non-repayable
- Additional grants available for parents, travel, and hardship
The pattern is clear: a modest, manageable monthly investment now opens the door to significant government-backed funding at the next stage.
Frequently asked questions
No. The NHS LSF is available at university level only — for pre-registration healthcare degree courses. Your Access to HE Diploma is the stepping stone that gets you there.
No. The £5,000 Training Grant is a non-repayable grant — it is not a loan. It's additional support on top of any student loans you may receive.
Pre-registration courses including nursing (adult, child, mental health, learning disability), midwifery, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, paramedic science, dietetics, radiography, speech and language therapy, and several others. The full list is available on the NHSBSA website.
Yes. The NHS LSF is supplementary to mainstream student finance. You can receive both your student loan (tuition fees and maintenance) and the NHS LSF Training Grant simultaneously.
Ready to take the first step?
The Access to HE Diploma (Nursing) qualifies you for university — where the NHS Learning Support Fund becomes available.
Information in this article is based on the NHS Learning Support Fund 9th Edition (2025-2026) published by the Department of Health and Social Care. NHS LSF rules are subject to change — always check the NHSBSA website for the latest information.