Government funding is usually available to those wanting to pursue a career in occupational therapy. These may vary according to the student's circumstances. Applicants are advised to contact the agency in the country in which they choose to study, or their chosen university direct for further information. At present, students in Scotland are not eligible for government funding.
England
The NHS Student Grants Unit
NHS Pensions Agency
200-220 Broadway
Fleetwood
Lancashire
FY7 8SS
Tel: 0845 358 6655
Fax: 01253 774491
Email: enquiries@nhspa.gov.uk
Scotland
Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS)
3 Redheughs Rigg
South Gyle
Edinburgh
EH12 9HH
Tel: 0131 476 8212
www.saas.gov.uk
Wales
The NHS Wales Student Awards Unit
2nd Floor Golate House
101 St Mary's Street
Cardiff
CF10 1DX
Tel: 029 202 61495
www.hpw.org.uk
Northern Ireland
Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety N.I.
Castle Buildings
Stormont
Belfast
BT4 3SJ
Tel: 028 9052 0500
www.dhsspsni.gov.uk
Student Loans
Eligibility for student loans:
Student Loans Company Ltd
100 Bothwell Street
Glasgow
G2 7UD
Freephone: 0800 405 010
www.slc.co.uk
(At present students on accelerated routes leading to a Postgraduate Diploma in Occupational Therapy are not eligible for student loans. Those students on the accelerated route leading to a BSc (Hons) are eligible to apply.)
Career Development Loan
This type of loan is for students who receive a means tested NHS Bursary, and who are not eligible for student loans. A Career Development Loan is a deferred repayment bank loan to help you pay for vocational education or training. You can borrow between £300 and £8000 to help you fund up to 2 years of training (or up to 3 years if the course includes work experience). The Department for Education and Skills (DfES) pays the interest on the loan while you are training. You do not have to repay anything until one month after the end of your training period. You then repay the loan to the bank over an agreed period at a fixed rate of interest. Career Development Loans are available through major banks. You do not need to be an existing account holder but may be required to open an account with the bank concerned.
It is important to remember that you cannot use a Career Development Loan to pay for anything that is being funded by another source. For example, you are not entitled to a Career Development Loan if:
- You are in receipt of an NHS non-means tested bursary.
- You have reasonable or adequate access to funds to pay for the course yourself.
- You will be eligible for a local Education Authority mandatory grant and/or a student loan, for a course at a publicly funded higher or further education institute.
- If you have a job and your employer will be receiving a grant for your training.
In most other cases however you can use a Career Development Loan to supplement a grant or bursary which does not meet the full cost of your training. If you are not sure how this rule applies to you ring the Career Development Loan information line, on freephone 0800 585 505, or visit: http://www.lifelonglearning.co.uk/cdl/front.htm.
Interest Free Overdrafts
Many banking organisations offer a variety of interest free overdraft schemes. Always check the repayment criteria before agreeing to use this facility. Different banks offer different deals so it pays to shop around.
Access Bursaries, Hardship Funds, Hardship Loans, NHS Hardship Grant:
Additional Government support is available although eligibility criteria and application routes vary in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Contact details for Awards Units as above.
College of Occupational Therapists Awards:
There are 3 of these annual awards, which students can apply for.
Full details can be found on the Student pages (only available on the
members side of the site).
The Educational Grants Advisory Service (EGAS)
This is an independent advice agency for people wanting to get funding for further or higher education and is concerned with helping students who are not eligible for statutory funding. It can only help those who have received statutory funding if they have explored all alternative sources of funding, such as Access Funds, Student Loans and so on, and are still in extreme financial difficulties. EGAS can also give detailed advice about the funding system to those who are considering entering further or higher education. To apply send an A4 or A5 sized stamped addressed envelope to:
The Educational Grants Advisory Service (EGAS)
The Family Welfare Association
501-505 Kingsland Road
Dalston
London E8 4AU
Tel: 020 7254 6251
Postgraduate study
In general there is no mandatory support for postgraduate study centrally funded by Department for Education and Skills (DfES). Students wishing to do post graduate study are best advised to approach Universities directly to see whether any funding is available.
Information on funding for post graduate study can be found on the Department for Further Education (DfES) website: http://www.dfes.gov.uk
Useful contacts
Educational Grants Directory
Published by the Directory of Social Change. Available from: The Directory of Social Change, 24 Stephenson Way, London, NW1 2DP, Telephone: 020 7209 5151 – Publications Section
Charities Digest
Telephone: 020 7490 0049 Should also be available in Reference Library Sections (ISBN 1-857-83803)
The Council For International Education (UKCISA)
Produce helpful factsheets. Write to them for an order form.
UKCISA, 9-17 St Albans Place, London N1 ONX
Telephone: 020 7288 4330 – Fax: 010 7288 4360
National Union Of Students
Produces a series of information sheets on student finance. Send an A4 stamped addressed envelope, indicating the subject you require to:
The Welfare Unit, NUS, 461 Holloway Road, London N7 6LJ
Tel: 020 7272 8900 or 020 7651 6500
http://www.nusonline.co.uk
Student Life – A Survival Guide
Published by Lifetime Careers. Provides valuable information for students on how to budget and make the most of their time as a student.
Available from Biblios PDS Ltd., Star Road, Partridge Green, West Sussex RH13 8LD
Tel: 01403 710 971 – Fax: 01403 711 143
Summer Jobs In Britain/Summer Jobs Abroad
Published by Vacation Work, and also available from bookshops.
Write to Vacation Work, 9 Park End Street, Oxford, OX1 1HJ
Tel: 01865 241 97
http://www.vacationwork.co.uk
Student Zone
Aims to meet the information needs of students on and off campus
http://www.studentzone.org.uk
British Council
Education website produced by the British Council to help international students interested in studying for a UK course or qualification.
http://www.educationuk.org
International Education Financial Aid (IEFA)
Financial advice for international students wishing to study abroad
http://www.iefa.org
National Association For Managers Of Student Services (NAMSS) Site Pathways
An organisation of Managers and Student Advisers in student services.
http://www.namss.org.uk
Scholarship Search UK
A comprehensive guide to all you need to know when planning and organising student finances.
http://www.scholarship-search.org.uk
Europa – European Commission Education & Training
The Socrates/Erasmus programme offers students the unique possibility to study abroad in any other European country for a period of 3-12 months. You can receive a study grant.
http://europa.eu.int
