NHS Bursary - Independent Status

**elz** · 03-02-2007, 09:41 PM

so the LEA still pay ur tuition fees when you turn 25 (if ur income is zero), but u just wont get ur nhs bursary (dont know how much that is). ?

this is just typical.

**Meg01** · 03-02-2007, 09:48 PM

No, the LEA will not your pay your tuition fees unless you are a first time student or studied abroad and eligible. The only factor on turning 25 is that you will get assessed independly, and if you have no income (or indeed a moderate income for a student) you will get the full loan.

The implications for the NHS bursary seem somewhat different, although you will definately be eligible, regardless of your age - it's just the amount that is in question.

**sefkhet** · 03-02-2007, 10:16 PM

I've never understood this, but what exactly is the rationale behind automatically writing off any years spent in FT education, even if the student in question was fully independent during those years? Being a student doesn't preclude financial independence, it just involves debt, and that pesky little requirement to declare your parents' income on a form every April before the government will let you get *into* debt.

I'm going to be 27 and asking my parents for money so that I can buy a pint of milk at this rate...

**elz** · 03-02-2007, 10:29 PM

i am a first time student and my independant income will be zero so why wouldnt they pay it ;(

**Meg01** · 03-02-2007, 10:31 PM

As I said above, they will - well according to the guidelines they should. I was also referring to students who had an existing degree, like many of the earlier posters on the thread. As your first time in Higher ed, you're entitled to the tuition fee loan - (and maybe they 'pay' your fees as a mature student, I dunno).

**Dick Cheney** · 04-02-2007, 12:18 AM

From NHS pamphlet, "Financial Help for Health Care Student, 7th edition (C) 2004":

"Means a student who has attained the age of 25 years on or before the first day of the academic year* for which a parental contribution is applicable; or has supported him/herself out of his/her earnings for periods before the first academic year of the course, aggregating at least 3 years, or is married at the beginning of the academic year for which a parental contribution is applicable, whether or not the marriage is still subsisting, or has no parent living, or is irreconcilably estranged from his/her parents (irrespective of his/her age or income)

*Academic years are regarded as the period of 12 months starting on 1 September, 1 January, 1 April or 1 July depending on when your course starts."

Of course, the over-25 catchall will be taken out now.

**amy2705598** · 04-02-2007, 04:28 AM

What are the new rules?
You will be classified as being independent of your parents if any one of the following apply:
�� You have care of a child or children on the first day of the academic year in which you are applying for a bursary
�� You have been married or have entered into a civil partnership before the start of the academic year for which you are applying for a bursary
�� You have no living parents
�� You have supported yourself for at least 3 years before the start of the first academic year of your course
�� Your parents cannot be traced or it is not practical or possible to contact them
�� Your parents live abroad and an assessment would put them in danger (this may apply if you are a refugee)
�� You are permanently estranged from your parents
�� You are in the care of a local authority or voluntary organisation, or are under a custodianship order on your 18th birthday or immediately before your course if you are not 18 when it begins

Taken from NHS Bursary Scheme 02/2007 (http://www.nhspa.gov.uk/sgu/News/200...2007)%20v2.pdf)

**shar** · 04-02-2007, 05:17 PM

Theres alot of talk about bursary and grants and what people are entitled too etc...just for clarity, is it correct to say that no one will be entitled to NHS bursary until the fifth year of medical study. Only on the graduate entry course do students get help from year two, seems unfair but is that the case? could someone just let me know thanks. I went to the link by amy270...and i think nothing has changed for people like me and many others i'm sure. I'm 25 and have an offer on a five year course and i'm a graduate. I will be drowning in debt by the time i graduate, i think i have to go abroad once i specialise as an sho to clear my debts off...all thanks to the british government.

**amy2705598** · 04-02-2007, 08:44 PM

Yes, I think it only mainly affects people on the GEP courses because they are eligable from year 2 (as opposed to year 5 on normal courses). Because you are entitled to the means tested NHS bursary you are only entitled to a 50% non-means tested student loan. That means if your parents earn too much, all you will be entitled to is a 50% student loan (about £2000). How are you supposed to live on that. I know they assume your parents will make up the difference, but I feel terrible about asking my parents for more money, especially as they supported me through my first degree.

**sefkhet** · 04-02-2007, 08:53 PM

Originally Posted by shar

I'm 25 and have an offer on a five year course and i'm a graduate.

The main thing that's changed for you is that before they abolished the "everyone-25-and-over-is-independent" rule, you would have automatically been considered independent and your parents' income not taken into account, and would more than likely have got the full bursary in fifth year. Now, they'll assess your parents' income in spite of the fact that you'll be 29 by the time the assessment is done, and how much of the bursary you get will depend entirely on how much they earn, unless you fulfill any of the other criteria on that list.

For those of us under 25, you're right, not a lot's changed, but for people over 25, that one's a biggie.