Do you want to study nursing in the UK for free? Studying nursing anywhere in the world is expensive. However, there are pathways to study nursing in the UK for free without personal funding.
The demand for nurses and other medical professionals in the UK is on the rise. The United Kingdom healthcare system is short-staffed thus there are vacancies for healthcare personnel, especially nurses.
How to study nursing in the UK for free
There are different pathways to study nursing in the UK for free for international students. The routes include Scholarships, Employer funding, and Student loans.
- University Scholarships
University scholarships are quite competitive to get in the UK. They depend on available funding, your academic performance, the course of study, and the university. However, bright students with excellent grades can easily secure scholarships once they apply.
Some universities offer Undergraduate nursing scholarships /postgraduate nursing scholarships for local and international students.
- Employer funding/Apprenticeship
This is the best route to study nursing in the UK for free for international students. It involves securing a job in a health facility in the UK as a healthcare assistant.
Healthcare employers operating in the United Kingdom usually have funding set aside for nursing apprenticeship programmes and other educational programmes.
If you are interested in being a registered nurse in the United Kingdom, discuss with your employer the available pathways. The common pathway available to most health facilities especially NHS facilities is the nursing associate and apprenticeship program.
The nursing degree apprenticeship enables nursing students to train for four years. They become graduate registered nurses in the United Kingdom through an apprentice route.
This apprenticeship route allows nursing students to work for their employer while they study part-time in a higher education institution. They will train in a range of practice placement settings. They will learn from the United Kingdom Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) approved education providers.
The nursing degree apprentice route is fully funded by your employer. This funding provides an opportunity to study nursing in the UK for free. Also, your employer adjusts your work rotations/schedule to allow you to study effectively.
An employer can also provide a variety of scholarships for their employees to advance their nursing education/training.
Employees can be offered 70 to 100% scholarships. This allows them to advance their training to undergraduate and postgraduate levels. The training can be on a full-time or part-time basis. However, after the period of study/training, the employee will have to work for their employer for about a year. The exact duration depends on the terms and conditions of the study.
- Student loan
This entails having 100% funding provided by the UK government which covers tuition fees and living expenses.
This route is not entirely free. It does not allow a student to study nursing in the UK for free. The student is expected to repay the loan after the study. But, the student has an eternity to repay the loan. So, the loan payback system is usually friendly. It does not cause any significant financial strain.
The loan repayments start when the student has completed the study and has secured gainful employment.
The student loan is not available to all students, to be eligible for a student loan in the UK the student must meet the criteria:
- The student must be a citizen of the United Kingdom, have a residency permit, lived in the United Kingdom for three years or more or have a first-degree relative who has a Residence Permit in the UK
- Eligibility for student loans also depends on the course of study, the university or college, and the student’s age. It also depends on whether the student has studied a higher education course.
Applying for a student loan requires a student finance account. Visit www.gov.uk. Search for a student loan option. Then set up the student finance account and follow the steps to complete the process.
Explore Work in the UK as a Healthcare assistant
Conclusion
Any interested motivated individual can study nursing in the UK for free. This depends on the surrounding circumstances. It also depends on what you are willing to do. Look at the options in the article to see what works for you good luck.
Read also: Requirements for internationally trained nurses to work in the UK. UK visa application requirements for students. How to study abroad for free. Caregiver Jobs In the UK for Foreigners