NHS Bursary

[chappell1285]

Hi

i am currently studying nursing and i am in reciept of an nhs bursary. for the past 9 months i have been on maternity leave and still in reciept of my funding. i am now due to return to my course in september but i have today been told that there are no places are available and that i will have to join the march 2013 intake. aswel as this i have been informed that my bursary will stop until i return. i have looked on the nhs bursaries website and they mention that if uni cannot allow me to go back then i can extend my mat leave. nhs bursaries say its down to the uni to organise but when i have spoken to my university they seem very unwilling to help me stating that i could go on benefits or get a job. benefits is not really an option due to my partner working and as for a job in this economic climate its very unlikely especially one that will be for 6 months that will pay for my rent which is what my bursary covers and also the added cost of childcare.

i am really stuck and unsure of who to turn to. does anyone know the details around this situation and what i can do to resolve it????

[stargazer1]

Hi chappell,
Afraid I can't say as I'm only at the stage of looking into bursaries myself, having just been told I've got a place to start in Sept 2012. I had already read up on the maternity policy myself though and from what I understood you would have agreed your return date with your tutor before your mat leave started - did this not hapen? Surely if it did they have an obligation to keep a place open for you? I would dig my heels in and insist on that place if I were you - and maybe think about some legal advice?