NHS Bursaries

[whitecloud]

Am looking at the NHS Bursary website. Applications are needed by 23rd August and my dd is starting a nursing course at the end of September. Has anyone any experience of how long the applications take to process? Also, I can't find out what supporting evidence they need. They mention it and then don't say what it is. Am not impressed so far! If anyone has any advice, I would be grateful.

[Lifeisontheup]

Their website is dreadful and they are monumentally inefficient. My DD was given a bursary for living expenses and two years later they say it was a mistake and they want it all back. They admit it is totally their mistake but it's caused an awful lot of grief at a time when she's doing her final placement.
They need details of both parents income but will probably lose it or take no notice of them. Can you tell I'm a bit fed up with them?

[letmehelpyou]

Assuming the system is the same as for medical students, once the application has been submitted online your DD will receive an immediate response by email listing the documents required. These have to be originals (including in our case the birth certificate of our other child - which then had to be sent again the following year!). You will need to send them Special delivery, with another Special delivery envelope inside for their return. I don't remember how long they took, but it was certainly much longer than originally indicated, so just get the application in as soon as you can.

[whitecloud]

Thank you for the info, Lifeisontheup. How awful to have it all clawed back. They should have paid you compensation, never mind demanding money. Am not surprised from the look of the website. I will now sound very old, but at one time administrators had to use their common sense and bother about the customer. My brother said the other day that he thought people are only trained to read what is on their computer screens and have lost the ability to think. Probably true. And good administration is not appreciated - nor is anyone prepared to pay for it. Sorry! Rant over! Hope you get it all sorted. Am sure you will be glad when your dd has finished her training!! Thanks for info as well, letmehelpyou.

[MedusaIsHavingaBadHairday]

They are incredibly crap!
Unlike normal student finance , who are merely inefficient and inaccurate (and you will deal with these too as your DC will probably want the non means tested loan portion) NHS finance want everything bar your bra size, originals and to pay for recorded special delivery (cost me £20 )just so you can prove when they lose the certificates you sent. You need everything..p60s birth certificates, proof of halls of residence/living expenses , pensions....

So far this year they have magically reduced my DD2's degree to 1/2 it's lengths and awarded accordingly... sigh..

I have two girls at uni and at the mercy of both loan and NHS bursary systems and it SUCKS!!

[Bakingnovice]

I'm in the process of applying for the bursary too. The online form is a bitch to complete. At one point it's asking for an estimate of income for the forthcoming year, then it switches to previous year. Can't make sense of it, and calling them leads to more confusion. It's almost impossible to complete without an over/underpayment ensuing if your spouse is self employed. On top of that they want everyone's birth certificates and my passport too, p60's, pension info, company accounts, mortgage payment plan etc etc. I hate sending originals in the post anyway, but sending it to them is making me all jittery.

[Rascalls3]

You have me worried now.DD2 will be doing this next year.Will they really need to see my original passport? I am airline crew,so there is no way I can send that off. Could someone please advise?