Funding for Specific Subjects

There is specific funding for these subjects:

• Dance and drama
• Nursing, midwifery, dental health and allied health profession courses
• Teaching

Dance and drama

You may be able to get a Dance and Drama Award to cover your costs. To be eligible, dance students have to be 16 or over and drama students have to be 18 or over.

The awards are available from some of England's leading private dance and drama schools and can help you pay for a place on a prestigious and well-respected course. The awards are means-tested and intended to help students from low-income families be trained in performing arts. There are more places than awards, so you may not automatically qualify for an award.

The award will pay for the majority of your tuition fees, but you'll also be expected to make a contribution. You could also get extra money to help with your living costs.

You can find out more about Dance and Drama Awards on the Directgov website.

NHS Bursaries

A bursary is a lump sum from the NHS that you don't have to pay back. It's for tuition fees, living costs and some additional expenses. This might include help towards travel and housing costs; and help for students with dependants, older students, single parents, and students with disabilities. The NHS also pays the tuition fees.

There are two types of NHS bursary: means-tested and non means-tested. How much you get on a means-tested bursary depends on your circumstances (your income, partner's income or parents' income).

Non means-tested bursaries are set at a flat rate, and don't depend on your circumstances. Which one you will qualify for depends on which type of health course you're doing.

Means-tested NHS bursaries are for:

• Allied health profession courses (occupational therapy, chiropody, dietetics, orthoptics, physiotherapy, prosthetics and orthotics, speech and language therapy, radiography, and recognised audiology/hearing therapy courses)
• Dental auxiliary courses (dental hygiene and dental therapy)
• Nursing and Midwifery degree courses (not the diploma courses, which are covered by non means-tested bursaries).

Non means-tested bursaries are for:

• Diploma courses that lead to registration as a nurse or midwife
• Operating department practitioner (ODP) courses.

You may also be eligible for other allowances, such as the Access to Learning Fund and Disabled Students’ Allowance.

There is a different system in place in Northern Ireland – for more information visit the website of the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (Northern Ireland).

You can view more info on NHS bursaries on the NHS Student Bursaries website.

More information is available from:

• NHS Careers ( England)
• NHS Wales Careers
• NHS Careers Scotland
• Northern Ireland Health Service Organisations  

Back to the top

Teacher training

If you study an undergraduate degree (usually a BEd) leading to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), you don’t get any special help; you can apply for the same funding support as other students on undergraduate courses. This means you have to apply for a loan to pay for your fees and pay it back after the course. For money to live on you can apply for all the usual support, including maintenance grant, student loan, Access to Learning Funds, Childcare Grant and Disabled Students’ Allowance.

Read more about higher education funding

If you study a Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) after a standard first degree, extra incentives are available, such as an enhanced training bursary for shortage subjects and a golden hello for some subjects when you complete your first year.

Read more about PGCE funding

Where can I get more information?

We can advise on courses, jobs, finding childcare as well as funding. All calls are in confidence and because we're impartial you'll get the best possible advice on your options.

You can call us on 0800 100 900 between 8am and 10pm seven days a week or you can email an adviser.