How was it like being a nursing student?

How does student finance work if you're doing nursing?

• I've been accepted onto an adult nursing course to start in september 2012. I know I should be expecting a letter from the NHS Bursary people but I have no idea what loans, grants, bursaries I'm meant to apply for. Do I still need to apply to student finance for a maintenance loan or does the nhs give me this? And do nhs bursaries have to be repaid when you qualify (like a tuition loan)? I'm confused lol

• Answer:

  My daughter did OT under the scheme. You are lucky really as they pay the university fees as well as bursary at the moment. But apparently it is all going to alter soon and they will just pay the fees. You will receive a lot more information yet and there will be forms to sign and send back. But what they do not tell you is that the bursary is not quite all it seems and as a student they relate it to parental income. My daughter received just enough to pay the rent. She still had a student loan, but upshot was her debt was just under 7,000 but not bad when all her friends finished with 23,000. The bursary did not have to be paid back either, but many people with kids on NHS courses are surprised to find that the full advertised amount is not always available. Wait until the paperwork comes in, and then also apply for the student loan as even if you get a good amount of bursary you are still entitled to a basic loan amount and unless you are living at home you will need every penny you can get.