NHS Learning Support Fund (LSF)
What is the NHS Learning Support Fund?
The NHS Learning Support Fund is a supplementary fund of up to £5k provided by the NHS for students on an eligible course and who are also able to get support for fees and maintenance from the Student Finance England.
To apply, you need to be on one of the following pre-registration undergraduate or postgraduate courses:
- Midwifery Studies
- Nursing (Adult, Child, Mental Health, Learning Disability), including Blended Learning routes
- Occupational Therapy
- Operating Department Practice
- Paramedic Science
- Physiotherapy
- Podiatry
- Speech and Language Therapy
Foundation years, apprenticeships and some MSc courses are not eligible for NHS LSF.
Things you need to know
As soon as you can
Register for an NHS Learning Support Fund account. You have up to six months from the start date of your course to apply for the Learning Support Fund, so don’t miss out. Read the guide fully to find out what you could be eligible for and make an application online. You will need your student finance letter to apply. You must apply for each year of study.
International students may be eligible for the Learning Support Fund. You need to meet the same eligibility criteria (be able to claim the fees and maintenance loans from Student Finance England). Please speak to the Student Finance Office for information and help on this.
While you are learning
Changes to your attendance can affect your funding. Ill health, maternity leave and repeating a year are just some of the ways that can change the funding you receive in the year. Keep us informed and notify the NHS LSF team to avoid delays to your funding or having to pay back overpayments of funds.
Make sure that you claim back for travel and accommodation expenses that you may incur while on placement. This won’t cover all the money you spend but will pay for the difference between journeys to university and journeys to placement, among other things. Read the Travel and Dual Accommodation Expenses (TDAE) guide and see our FAQs section before your placement.
Funding types available:
- Training grant up £5k per academic year for new and continuing students
- Specialist subject payment £1k for students taking a specialist subject
- Parental Support up to £2k per academic year
- Travel and Dual Accommodation Expenses for students attending a practice placement
- Exceptional Support Fund up to £3k for students facing unforeseen financial hardship – this is income-assessed.
What is Travel and Dual Accommodation Expenses (TDAE)
The Learning Support Fund Team
We are Emma Trow and Stacey Jenns, working Monday to Thursday.
We can:
- Answer general queries about the LSF and placement expense claims
- Confirm your attendance at University to the NHS Learning Support Fund. This is the action which triggers your LSF payment
- Tell the NHS LSF team about any changes to your attendance so that your funding is accurate.
- Check your travel and accommodation claims, and approve them for payment
Contact us at LSF-Team@hud.ac.uk.
Useful Links
FAQs
Find answers to some frequently asked LSF questions
Contact NHS
Contact the NHS
Student Finance Office
Contact the Student Finance Office
International Office
Contact the International Office