NHS-funded Courses
This page offers a guide to the student funding that may be available to you if you have a baby during your studies whilst in an NHS-funded year of your course (see Undergraduate Student Funding for support for MBChB students during years not funded via the NHS).
MBChB and DipHE ODP Students
Student Funding
You will become assessed by the NHS as an independent student from the first day of the academic year after your child is born (or you take on the care of a dependent child). This will normally be 1st September.
Maternity pay from the NHS
This can be paid at the full bursary rate for up to 45 weeks – it is effectively an extension of the bursary that will be paid during the period of absence. You will need to provide the University (the School of Medicine) with confirmation of pregnancy before commencing maternity leave. Form MAT B1 is the medical evidence required from your doctor and can be issued from the start of the 20th week before your expected date of childbirth.
The School will complete the relevant paperwork with you and send to the NHS to request the maternity payment.
See the NHS Grants website for further information.
As soon as possible after the birth of your baby contact the NHS so that you can be assessed for additional funding:
Parents’ Learning Allowance, Childcare Grant, Dependents' Allowance
All these allowances are fully means-tested, based on partner’s income if applicable. The NHS website has a bursary calculator which will help you to see the likely level of funding available to you.
MA Dip Social Work Students
Students studying this course are always assessed as independent by the NHS, i.e. only their unearned income, plus the taxable income of their partner/spouse is taken into account to determine the means-tested element of their bursary, never their parents.
As soon as you have a baby you become eligible to be assessed, on a pro rata basis, for additional support:
Parents’ Learning Allowance, Childcare Grant, Dependents' Allowance
All these allowances are fully means-tested, based on partner’s income if applicable. Contact the NHS to notify the change in your circumstances and to apply for a reassessment if you interupt your studies part-way through the year.
Maternity Pay
The NHS does not pay maternity pay for the PG Dip Social Work.
See State Benefits and Tax Credits and Discretionery Funding for information about other sources of funding for parents.
