Undergraduate
£5,262.50 in London, £4,862.50 elsewhere
The bursary is run by the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) and is not a loan. The rates on its page are still the 2025 to 2026 rates.
Quick facts
- Undergraduate
- £5,262.50 in London, £4,862.50 elsewhere
- Postgraduate
- From £3,362.50, plus up to £4,201 means tested
- Travel element
- £862.50 even without a capped place
- Autumn starts
- Apply 1 April to 31 October 2026
- Paid
- 3 termly instalments
Who can get it — the full rules
You must normally live in England and be an English resident on the first day of your first academic year. You must also have lived in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man for at least three years before your course.
Your course must lead to your first registration as a social worker and be a university based course approved by a social work regulator. Undergraduates can only apply once they have finished year 1 and are starting year 2.
You cannot get it if you are already a registered social worker or on an employment based course. You also cannot get it on a joint nursing and social work course, or if an employer pays you to attend or pays your fees.
How much it pays
The undergraduate bursary is £5,262.50 if you study in London and £4,862.50 elsewhere. It is not assessed on household income. Both include a £862.50 Placement Travel Allowance for full time students.
Postgraduates get a non-means tested bursary of £3,762.50 in London or £3,362.50 elsewhere. On top, there is a means tested bursary of up to £4,201 in London or £2,721 elsewhere. Postgraduates may also get help with tuition fees.
Places are capped. If your university does not give you a place but you meet the rules, you still get the £862.50 travel allowance.
How to apply
Read the SWB guidance booklet first
NHSBSA asks you to read its guide to Social Work Bursaries before you apply.
Create a MyFunding account
New students apply by creating a MyFunding account, and continuing students sign in to theirs.
Send proof of identity and residency
You need to give evidence of your identity and residency the first time you apply.
Apply inside your application window
For courses starting 1 September to 31 December 2026, the window runs from 1 April to 31 October 2026.
Wait for your university to nominate you
You only get the bursary if your university nominates you for a capped place.
Things to watch
NHSBSA will not accept an application after your window closes. For courses starting from 1 January to 28 February 2027, the window runs from 1 November 2026 to 21 February 2027.
Undergraduates cannot get tuition fee support from the bursary, so you may need a tuition fee loan from Student Finance England. The government consulted on changing the bursary in 2026, so the rates may change.
Phone, forms and how long it takes
- Social Work Bursaries (NHSBSA)
- 0300 330 1342
- Apply: create a MyFunding account
- NHSBSA: MyFunding (Social Work Bursary)
- If you disagree with a decision
- You can ask NHSBSA to review its decision on your bursary application.
From the official pages (nhsbsa.nhs.uk), re-checked every night. Numbers and times can change, so check the official page before you send anything.
Common questions
How much is the Social Work Bursary?
£5,262.50 a year for undergraduates in London and £4,862.50 elsewhere, at the rates NHSBSA shows.
When can I apply for the Social Work Bursary?
If your course year starts between 1 September and 31 December 2026, apply between 1 April and 31 October 2026.
Can first year students get the Social Work Bursary?
No. Undergraduates can only apply once they have finished year 1 and are starting year 2.
Do I have to pay the Social Work Bursary back?
It is a grant, not a loan, so you do not normally need to pay it back.
Is the Social Work Bursary available in Northern Ireland?
This bursary is for students who normally live in England. Northern Ireland has its own funding for social work students.