Funding details for Scottish nursing students announced

Nursing students studying in Scotland will be eligible for a £6,578 bursary in the coming academic year, the government has announced.

A new information booklet sets out the level of support available for UK students studying nursing and midwifery in Scotland in 2016/2017.

Non means-tested

In addition to the non means-tested bursary, students may also be eligible for:

• An income assessed dependent allowance of up to £2,640 for a dependent spouse or child.
• Childcare costs of up to £1,216 for registered childcare.
• £1,303 single parent allowance.
• Disabled student allowance including up to £1,725 a year for equipment and £20,520 a year for non-medical help.
• A one off payment of £5,160 for specialist equipment for disabled students.
• Travel expenses for clinical placements if over £5.
• Accommodation expenses for clinical placements if away from a term time address.
• £60 initial expenses allowance.

‘Shamefully short-sighted’

Students can also continue to receive financial support if they need to go on maternity leave during their studies.

The announcement comes after it was confirmed bursaries for nursing and midwifery students in England will be scrapped from August 2017, and replaced with tuition fees and loans.

At RCN congress in Glasgow in June, Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon pledged to retain student bursaries in Scotland, calling the Westminster government's plans 'shamefully short sighted'.

Support for nursing and midwifery students in Scotland in 2016/17

Sturgeon pledges to retain nursing student bursaries in Scotland