What are the funding options for medical and dental students?

The NHS Tuition Fee Grant covers up to £9,790 of tuition fees. As with SFE in years one to four (for first degree medical and dental students), this money is paid directly to King’s.​​​​

The NHS Bursary is income assessed. Find out what you can get and when to apply on the NHS Bursary website.

You may also be eligible for a non-means tested grant as part of the same scheme.

In addition to the NHS funding, you can also apply for a reduced SFE maintenance loan. This is non-income assessed.

For more detail on Targeted Support from the NHS read Additional allowances | NHSBSA.

For every week that you course goes over the standard length of 30 weeks and 3 days (excluding holidays), you can receive extra funding. This is means tested and the amount varies depending on whether or not you live at home or not. Find out how much you could receive on What are the basic award and Extra Weeks Allowance rates?

If your term dates are 45 weeks or more, you can get Extra Weeks Allowance (EWA) to cover all 52 weeks of the year. This works out as an extra 22 weeks of EWA.

EWA is automatically calculated and awarded with your NHS Bursary application, it’s not something you need to apply for separately. This is based on the information that the university has shared with NHS about your course.

If you have anyone who is wholly, or mainly financially dependent on you whilst you are studying, you can apply for Dependants Allowance. This is means tested.

If your partner is a full-time student, or also receiving the NHS Bursary, check Additional allowances | NHSBSA.
 

If you have a dependent child/ren you may be eligible for Parent Learning Allowance. This is means tested.

If you have dependent child/ren under 15, or under 17 if they have special educational needs, and they’re attending registered childcare you could receive up to 85% of childcare costs through Child Care Allowance.

If you have a disability, long term medical condition or specific learning difference (e.g. dyslexia) that impacts on your ability to access your studies you can apply for Disabled Student Allowance (DSA). Find out more about how to apply and what you could be eligible for by reading our article What funding support is available for disabled students?

If travelling to your placement costs more than your normal journey to and from university you could claim TDAE. You may also be able to make a claim if you have to stay in temporary accommodation in order to attend your placement. Read more about this at Travel and Dual Accommodation Expenses (TDAE) | NHSBSA.

The Access to Professions Bursary is available for eligible students on the extended programmes for years one to three.​​​​​

The King's Living Bursary will only be able to support eligible students for years one to four.

The Medical and Dental Hardship Fund is means tested. The Funding team are looking to see that there is a shortfall in your finances. Priority is given to students in their NHS funded years as their overall student income is likely to be lower.

You will need to have applied to the King’s Medical and Dental Hardship Fund to be able to apply for the NHS Hardship Grant, regardless of the outcome of the King's Medical and Dental Hardship Fund application. To read all of the eligibility criteria, find out how much you could get and apply visit NHS Bursary Hardship Grant | NHSBSA.

You can also look for further sources of funding through trusts and charities. These will differ depending on your personal circumstances so focus on the funds that most fit your situation. There's no guarentee of financial support but many students rely on funds like this to supplement their income.

For general guidance read How can I find scholarships, bursaries and grants?

Some specific medical and dental funding that you might want to check:

• Financial help for medical students - RMBF

• Applications | Stapley Trust

In years one to four you can apply to SFE for a maintenance loan (as well as any relevant targeted support). Important to know: You can’t get a tuition fee loan from SFE during these years of study.
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In year five, and onwards, you are funded by the NHS. You can receive:

• NHS Tuition Fee Grant

• NHS Bursary

• Reduced SFE maintenance loan 

• Targeted support from the NHS

• King’s specific support

• NHS Bursary Hardship Grant

• Scholarships, bursaries and grants

You have to fund a third of your tuition fees yourself. You can apply to SFE for a tuition fee loan to cover the remaining two thirds.

You can also apply for a maintenance loan from SFE (as well as any relevant targeted support).

You can receive: 

• NHS Bursary 

• SFE Tuition fee loan: £5,535

• Reduced SFE maintenance loan

• Targeted support from the NHS