Financial support for medical students in Wales

If you live in Wales and remain in Wales to study, you might be eligible for the following financial assistance.

Fees

  • You won’t have to pay any tuition fees yourself before you start your course or while you are studying.
  • Your university can charge you up to £9,000 per year.
  • In your fifth and later years your fees will be paid in full by the NHS Wales Student Awards Unit.

Living costs

For the first four years, depending on your personal circumstances, you may be eligible to apply for:

  • Welsh Government Learning Grant.
  • Special Support Grant
  • Student Loan for maintenance.
  • Adult Dependants’ Grant
  • Parents’ Learning Allowance
  • Childcare Grant
  • Travel Grant
  • Disabled Students’ Allowances

The Welsh Learning Government Grant offsets some of the loan – students from lower income families will receive more grant and less loan. The total is equal to £12,150 for students studying away from home, £15,170 if away from home in London and £10,315 if living with parents.

Previous years continuing students differ, and family income has a greater effect – see https://www.studentfinancewales.co.uk/undergraduate-students.aspx

In the fifth and later years of your course, depending on your personal circumstances, you may be eligible to apply to the NHS Wales Students Awards Unit for living cost support (we are in the process of checking these amounts for 2023-2024):

  • Non Means tested grant of £1000
  • NHS Bursary up to £2,643 or £2,207 if you live with parents
  • Extra weeks allowance up to £84 or £56 if living with parents, for each week over 30 weeks
  • Student Loan for maintenance (up to £4,515 or 5,630 in London or £3665 if living at home)
  • Childcare Allowances
  • Dependents’ Allowance
  • Disabled Students’ Allowance
  • Practice Placement Expenses
  • Parents’ Learning Allowance

Many of these grants are similar to those you may have received during the first four years of your course. If you look at the NHS Wales Students Awards Unit site, you will find full information about the basic living cost support available to you.

Other financial help

  • Welsh Bursary Scheme – similar to the Access Agreement Bursaries in England (check with your university if this is available).
  • Financial Contingency Funds (check with your university if this is available).
  • University Funds – your university may have its own Hardship Funds. Check out the university’s website to see what is available.
  • Welfare benefits and Tax Credits

Studying Outside Wales

You will be entitled to the same living cost support as if you studied in Wales throughout your course but there will be differences in the amount of fees you will pay.

  • You won’t have to pay any tuition fees before you start your course or while you are studying.
  • You can be charged up to £9,250 per year by universities in England, Northern Ireland and Scotland. New students can apply for a loan of up to £9250. For continuing students some of this amount is paid via a grant.
  • In your fifth and later years your fees will be paid in full by the NHS Wales Student Awards Unit.

What other financial help might I get?

  • Access Agreement Bursaries in England/ similar scheme in Northern Ireland (check with your university if this is available)
  • Access to Learning Fund/Financial Contingency Funds/Discretionary Funds (check with your university if this is available)
  • University Funds – your University may have its own Hardship Funds. Check out the university’s website to see what is available.

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