A midwife is defined as a health professional responsible for providing care for mothers and their newborns before and after the process of childbirth. A bursary is a prestigious pecuniary accolade given by any educational institution or funding authority to an individual or group. A bursary is awarded to encourage students to attend school, university, or college when they would not be able to. Let us know Do Student Midwives Get A Bursary?
Yes, midwives can receive bursaries. However, specific criteria should get kept in mind to attain bursaries, which are discussed below in detail. Read the article to learn more about the application procedure, eligibility, income, benefits, etc.
Procedure Of Applying For The NHS Bursary
One must only apply for the years they are eligible to receive an NHS bursary. To receive the NHS bursary, one needs to fill out the application form available on the NHS Business Services Authority website. After visiting the website, applicants should create an account on the Bursary Online Support System (BOSS) by filling in the necessary details and uploading a photographic ID. Subsequently, apply, and an email will inform the candidate if any other evidence is required.
Eligibility Criteria To Get A Bursary
An NHS bursary is often given to students based on where the claimant resides, the course pursued, the household income of the candidate, and whether they have already applied for any other funding previously. The funding of the bursaries is fundamentally for the UK residents or the nation where the candidate inhabits.
Few European Union students settled in the UK that is also registered with the European Union Settlement Scheme; or Irish students residing in the UK are entitled to receive an NHS bursary, similarly to UK students for courses beginning from 2021- to 22. The Learning Support Fund (LSF) aids the NHS funding.
Residential Criteria
The individual should be living in the UK, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man for at least three years up to the start of the academic year. One shall still get eligible if an individual does not meet the residency requirements. The residents of the UK are primarily eligible for obtaining bursaries.
Some students belonging to the European Union that are settled in the UK because of educational, occupational, or any other purposes and at the same time registered with the European Union Settlement Scheme are also found eligible for getting bursaries. Bursaries are open for Irish students residing in the UK, quite similar to those of UK students for courses beginning from 2021 to 22. The Learning Support Fund (LSF) aids the NHS funding.
Courses For The Midwives
A candidate will not get an NHS bursary if he/she is a first-level nurse or midwife and registering for a second field in nursing or midwifery. The course should lead to registration as a midwife. One can also get extended funding in the form of bursaries if they are unable to complete the final placement of their course in the required time, available for up to 20 weeks. However, it will only be granted if the reason for placement extension is strong enough to convince the granting jury.
Midwives are trained generally through classrooms conjugated with hospital or community training held at some prominent NHS Trusts to make them proficient in working check by jowl with the pregnant ladies.
Household Income Provided By The Bursary
Bursary is a type of financial aid for assisting with the costs associated with attending a college or university, based on their financial needs or academic performance, and is similar to scholarships awarded by American universities. Bursaries are a way for students suffering from financial hardships as well as members of underrepresented and underserved social groups who emerge as excelling students to have access to various educational resources.
The total bursary amount provided should solely depend on the applicant’s household income. It can be either the candidate’s income, their parent’s income, or their partner’s, spouse’s, or civil partner’s income. It is mandatory to state household income as the money received in bursaries mainly relies on household income. The additional allowances that follow the bursaries are also largely dependent on an individual’s household income.
Prior Funding
In some countries, they are employed by some health services or organizations or would be self-employed as practicing midwives in private. The funding for the midwives differs from one country to another. The funding process is subjected to swaying changes now and then.
The applicant is eligible for an NHS bursary even if the candidate has applied for public funding for higher education. If they previously had an NHS bursary and wish to switch their respective profession, they are also eligible for the same. If an individual has access to several bursaries, the usage of only one or two small bursaries is permissible. This ensures the benefit of others. One student cannot be overfunded whilst thousands of other needy students receive little or nothing.
Benefits Of Bursary For The Midwives
If candidates acquire the bursary, they are liable to achieve a training grant of £5,000 per academic year, parental support of £2,000, and refunds for excess travel and temporary accommodation costs while on practice placements. Apart from the bursaries, the nominee also acclaims additional benefits such as reduced student loans, a particular sum of money to repay their student loans, complete payment of the standard tuition fees, and astonishingly there is no necessity of paying back the bursary amount.
In some universities, applicants who graduate in midwifery are granted their student loans as forgiven if they agree to render their midwifery services at publicly-funded facilities in underserved communities or with children where there is a relative shortage of the former. In this way, the individual experiences innumerable benefits in addition to financial freedom.
Conclusion
Students enrolled in midwifery are unequivocally applicable for bursaries if their course and other criteria permit them to go further. So, student midwives fall under the eligibility criteria. Student midwives should undoubtedly take the benefit of the bursary. Nowadays, it is pretty apparent that students do not hesitate to go the extra mile to make both ends meet. Like other students, the students studying midwifery are also curious to know whether they are eligible for bursaries, scholarships, or other relevant grants.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q) If I drop out of the university, what will happen to my bursary?
- Most of the bursaries are often non-repayable, hence dropping out of the university will lead to repaying the funds received when one is not entitled to them.
Q) How do we need to apply for a bursary – either once or every year?
- Applicants should reapply for bursaries every academic year.
Q) Is the bursary paid in a lump sum or monthly?
- Bursaries are usually paid every 7th of every month except if it does not fall on weekends
or holidays.
