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 for International Students without personal funding.
The demand for nurses and other medical professionals in the UK is on the rise and the UK healthcare system is short-staffed thus there are vacancies for healthcare personnel, especially nurses.
This blog post will explore pathways to study nursing in the UK for free.
How to study nursing in the UK for free for International Students
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 and 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 who want to study nursing in the UK for free.
- Employer funding/Apprenticeship
This is the best route for international students to study nursing in the UK for free. It involves securing a healthcare assistant job in a health facility in the UK.
Healthcare employers operating in the United Kingdom usually have funding for nursing apprenticeships and other educational programmes.
If you intend to become a registered nurse in the United Kingdom, discuss the options with your employer. 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 to become graduate registered nurses in the United Kingdom through an apprentice route.
The apprenticeship route allows nursing students to work for their employers while studying part-time in an institution of higher learning. The study entails posting in different practice settings. They will learn from the UK Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) approved education providers.
Your employer provides full funding for the apprentice route, thus providing an opportunity to study nursing in the UK for free. Also, your employer adjusts your work rotations/schedule to enable you to learn effectively.
Alternatively, an employer can provide some scholarships for employees to advance their nursing education/training. Employees can be offered 70 to 100% scholarships to advance their training to undergraduate and postgraduate levels on a full or part-time basis.
However, after the period of study/training, the employee will have to work for their employer for about a year or two depending 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 and does not allow a student to study nursing in the UK for free because the student is expected to repay the loan after the study.
However, the student has an eternity to repay the loan, consequently, the loan payback system is usually friendly and does not pose significant financial strain. The loan repayments commence when the student has completed the study and has secured gainful employment.
The student loan is not available to all students. Eligibility criteria include being a citizen of the United Kingdom, having a residency permit, having a first-degree relative who has a residency permit or having a student who has lived in the United Kingdom for three years or more.
Eligibility for student loans also depends on the course of study, the university or college, the student’s age and if the student has studied at an institution of higher learning.
You must set up a student finance account to apply for a student loan. Visit www.gov.uk, search for a student loan, set up a student finance account and follow the steps to complete the process.
Free Nursing Courses in the UK Online
Individuals interested in studying nursing in the UK for free can also develop, grow or kick-start their nursing career by starting free online nursing courses with certificates.
The free online nursing courses are short certificate courses that increase a nurse’s skill, knowledge and competence. Some universities in England offer free nursing courses and the lectures are mostly online. Some reputable websites also support free nursing courses online.
In conclusion, any interested highly motivated individual can study nursing in the UK for free depending on the surrounding circumstances and what the student is willing to do. Explore the options in this article to see what works for you good luck.
Read also: Requirements for internationally trained nurses to work in the UK.