Operating Department Practitioners (ODP)
Funding information for Dip HE Operating Department Practioners
When undertaking any full-time programme of study it is helpful to consider the implications this will have on your financial situation so that you can fully prepare in advance thus avoiding potential difficulties once the course starts.
The following information is intended as a broad guide to financial issues as applicable to full-time students; not all information is relevant to all students as it will depend on individual circumstances. The headings should help to guide you to appropriate information and contact details are provided for obtaining more in-depth advice.
From 1 September 2012 all eligible new students will have access to the same package of financial support irrespective of their course (e.g. Degree or DipHE).
The new NHS Bursary scheme package of support will provide new students with a small non-means tested grant, a means tested bursary and a reduced rate non-means-tested loan. The loan will be provided by Student Finance England.
A healthcare student on an eligible course of 45 weeks in duration and studying outside London could receive a non-means tested grant of £1,000, a means tested bursary of up to £4,395 and a
non-means tested loan of up to £2,324.
Further information is detailed on the NHS website
Fees
NHS Funding
Most students will be entitled to have their fees to be paid by the NHS, providing they qualify as a home (UK) student and normally live in England. See the NHS bursary website for full eligibility information.
Seconded students
If you are seconded onto the course your employer will most likely pay your fees.
EU/International students
If you are from another country in the UK or from overseas please contact the School for information about course and funding eligibility.
International students are rarely entitled to receive any financial support for studies in the UK, although there are some rare exceptions therefore it is always advisable to confirm your situation and eligibility with the NHS.
Living Costs
Most students meet their living costs from a variety of sources. The following lists many of these sources, and who may be entitled to receive the funding.
NHS funding
Most home (UK) students who normally live in England will qualify for a non-means tested bursary towards living costs if they started before 1st September 2012, or a combination of non-means tested bursary, means-tested bursary and student loan if starting after 1 September 2012 (see above). If you have dependants you can also apply for other assistance, regardless of when your course starts, for example towards child care costs. These additional allowances are fully means tested based on household income.
If you are from another country in the UK or from overseas please contact the School for information about course and funding eligibility.
In certain cases, depending on length of residency and/or family situation EU Students may qualify for funding on the same basis as a UK student. You should contact the NHS to establish your entitlement as soon as possible. The Student Finance Advisers at the University may also be able to advise on your fee status and funding eligibility.
Full up-to-date information, including eligibility, rates and how to apply, can be found on the NHS website. This also contains a bursary calculator to help you see what support you may qualify for.
Seconded student are not be entitled to NHS Bursary support but will instead be entitled to apply for a student loan from Student Finance England, subject to personal eligibility criteria. For advice on how to apply, contact Student Finance England on 0845 300 5090 or a University Student Finance Adviser
Benefits
Most full-time university students are not entitled to claim any benefits although there are exceptions. Broadly speaking, if you are a single student with no dependent, no long term health difficulties and you are not disabled then you will not be entitled to apply for any benefits.
If you have any dependents (particularly if you are a lone parent), and/or you have a long-term health difficulty or disability, you may retain an underlying entitlement to claim certain benefits. If you have children and a partner, your partner may be able to claim benefits if the household income is low.
The following table lists some of the benefits that may be available, and how to claim. It is not an exhaustive list nor does it contain all information you will need to help make a claim although there is more information on our benefits pages. If you feel you may qualify based on the information here you are encouraged to contact the relevant agency. The University’s Student Finance Advisers can also offer some advice.
| Benefits | Who | What | How |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing Benefit/ Council tax Benefit (See also separate section on Council Tax exemption) |
|
Towards rent (not mortgage) and Council Tax | Contact local Council; Benefit is fully means- tested |
| Income Support |
|
Towards general living cost | See DWP website or contact local Jobcentre Plus office; Benefit is fully means-tested |
| Child Benefit |
|
To help with cost associated with children | Not means tested; Contact HMRC: Child Benefit |
| Child Tax Credit |
|
Towards children's' general cost | Assessed against household income; Student income disregarded; Contact HMRC: Tax Credit |
| Working Tax Credit |
|
'Top-up' income towards general living cost for low income working families | Assessed against household income; Students income disregarded; Condition apply re number of hours worked; Contact HMRC: Tax Credits |
| Working Tax Credit childcare element |
|
Help towards childcare for low income working families | Assessed against household income; Condition apply re number of hours worked; Can not receive alongside NHS Childcare Grant; Contact HMRC: Tax Credit |
| Disability Benefits |
|
Help towards living cost and/or cost associated (e.g. care/mobility) | See DWP website or contact local Jobcentre plus office or your disability adviser if applicable. |
Council Tax exemption
Most full-time students are exempt from paying Council Tax. If you live in University accommodation or an all-student house then the accommodation itself will be exempt. If you share accommodation with any non-students (including partners and adult children) then they will be liable even though you are not, although there are circumstances in which you will remain personally liable.
In general, if at least two non-student adults live with you then a full bill will have to be paid; if only one non-student lives with you then a 25% ‘single occupancy discount’ will be applied. Whoever is considered liable for the bill may be able to apply for Council Tax Benefit if on a low income (see table above).
This oversimplifies the Council Tax exemption rules. Further information about the complexities can be found on website. You are also advised to seek advice specific to your situation from your local Council.
Other costs
As a student, apart from the usual day-to-day living costs you will also need to pay for course-related costs such as books, stationery and travel (which may include car parking charges if travelling by car). You may also need to pay for accommodation if needed during study blocks or placements. Information about these costs is provided on the Department’s website.
Disabled students
If you have extra costs as a student, which are as a direct result of a disability, mental-health condition or specific learning difficulty you can apply for Disabled Students’ Allowances towards these costs. The allowances can help with the cost of having a non-medical helper, items of specialist equipment, travel and other course-related costs. They are not means-tested. Full information can be found on the NHS website Advice and support with applying for the DSA is available from the University’s AccessAbility Centre
Bank overdraft facilities
Most banks offer preferential accounts for full time students on courses which last at least one year. Banks will always consider your credit status before offering these accounts but if you have a good rating you will most likely be offered a student current account. This will have interest free overdraft facilities (normally at least £1000 in the first year) and may also offer additional perks. Always shop around to check that you are getting the account most suited to your needs. Consider the long-term benefits too, for example how long will the overdraft remain interest free after completing your course?
See our banking section.
Hardship funds
The University administers some additional funds to assist students who find themselves in exceptional financial difficulty. Most of the funding is provided by the Government and in recent years has been reducing. As a result it cannot be relied upon to provide additional guaranteed funds if you expect to be in difficulty. You are therefore strongly encouraged to investigate the potential sources of funding to meet all anticipated costs before embarking on your course. You may wish to discuss your individual needs with a Student Finance Adviser before starting if you are concerned about funding availability.
Regardless of the provision you have made in advance, if you find yourself in unexpected financial difficulty part-way through the course you can apply for some assistance from the hardship funds. You may also qualify for assistance if you will have additional costs relating to childcare providing you have applied for all other relevant funding first.
|
The Hardship Funds are discretionary and limited funds. Ongoing assistance cannot be guaranteed to students who have a large shortfall in income over expenditure. If it is clear that you will have insufficient funds to meet all your outgoings for the duration of your course you are encouraged to seek advice from a Student Finance Adviser before commencing your studies. |
Charities/trust funds
In exceptional circumstances if you find yourself in difficulties during your course, and all other options have been exhausted, you may be able to raise additional funds from charitable organisations. You can explore this in advance by researching potential organisations at your local reference library (see also the Student Welfare Service pages).
Further information
Contacts
- Student Finance Advisers in the Student Welfare Service
- South Trent School ODP
- Student Support and Development at the University of Leicester
- AccessAbility Centre (University support for students with disabilities and specific learning difficulties)
- NHS Grants Unit
- Department for Work and Pensions (for information on benefits and how to contact JobCentre Plus)
- Child Benefit
- Tax Credits
- Student Finance England (loans for seconded students)
