Article
Funding and Financial Support for Nursing Courses
Last reviewed: July 2026
Funding for an Access to HE course is separate from funding for a nursing degree. The Access to HE Diploma is studied before university, while student finance and NHS Learning Support Fund support are normally considered once you are applying for, or studying on, an eligible university nursing course.
Eligibility can depend on your residency, previous study, age, personal circumstances, course choice, provider and the rules in force for the academic year you apply. Use this guide to understand the main areas to check, then confirm your position with the relevant official funding body before committing financially.
Funding at a glance
| Stage of study | Possible cost or support | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Access to HE Diploma course fee | The Access course is paid for separately from university tuition fees. | Check the current Academy Online Learning course fee and payment terms before enrolling. Registration fees are included in Academy Online Learning’s Access to HE course price. |
| Academy Online Learning payment options | Payment options may help spread the Access course cost. | Use the current course and payment pages rather than relying on old figures copied elsewhere. |
| Advanced Learner Loan | May be available only for eligible courses delivered by approved providers in England. | Do not assume a loan is available for a particular Access course. Check the current course funding information directly. |
| University tuition-fee support | Eligible students may be able to apply for a tuition-fee loan for a qualifying nursing degree. | Check your university, course, residency and previous-study position with the relevant student finance body. |
| University maintenance support | Eligible students may be able to apply for maintenance support towards living costs. | Check whether you qualify and how household income, study location and living arrangements affect support. |
| NHS Learning Support Fund | Eligible university nursing students may be able to apply for additional NHS support. | This is university-level support. It should not be treated as Access to HE course funding. Any NHS-funded Access place would be a separate arrangement that must be confirmed directly. |
| Placement travel or accommodation | Eligible healthcare students may be able to claim some placement-related costs. | Check the rules, evidence requirements and claim deadlines before assuming a cost will be reimbursed. |
| Childcare or parental support | Extra support may be available for eligible students with children. | Check age, dependency, income and course rules with Student Finance and NHSBSA where relevant. |
| University hardship support | Universities may have hardship funds or discretionary support. | Ask the university student money team what support exists and when applications open. |
| Equipment and study costs | You may need to budget for books, technology, travel, uniform, DBS checks or occupational health requirements. | Check the university course page for compulsory costs and ask admissions or student support if anything is unclear. |
Paying for the Access to HE Diploma
The Access to HE Diploma is the course you complete before university. Its fees are separate from university tuition fees and separate from the NHS Learning Support Fund for university healthcare students. Some learners may have an NHS-funded Access place through a specific arrangement, but this is separate from standard university student finance and NHSBSA Learning Support Fund applications.
Academy Online Learning’s Access to Nursing route leads to the Access to Higher Education Diploma (Health Science Professions), a QAA-recognised Level 3 qualification validated by Skills and Education Group Access. Check the current Access to Nursing course fees and details before enrolling, because course fees and payment options should be taken from the live course or payment page rather than copied into a general guide. Academy Online Learning includes registration fees in the Access to HE course price.
If you use instalments with Academy Online Learning, check the total amount payable, payment dates and cancellation terms. Registration fees are included in Academy Online Learning’s Access to HE course price, although this may not be the case with every provider. University student finance does not pay for the Access to HE course, and the NHS Learning Support Fund applies at university level. If you have been offered an NHS-funded Access place, confirm exactly what is covered before enrolling.
Advanced Learner Loans
Advanced Learner Loans are a form of government-backed loan for eligible courses at approved colleges or training providers in England. Official GOV.UK guidance says eligibility depends on factors including age, course, college or training provider, and nationality or residency status.
For Access to HE courses, GOV.UK explains that an outstanding Advanced Learner Loan balance can be written off after the learner completes an eligible higher education course. This depends on the Access course, the higher education course and the current Student Finance England rules. It should not be presented as automatic funding for every learner or every provider.
Important: do not assume an Advanced Learner Loan is available for this Academy Online Learning course unless the current course funding information confirms it. If you are planning to use an Advanced Learner Loan, ask Academy Online Learning (Call us on 0161 726 5970) and check the official Advanced Learner Loan guidance on GOV.UK for eligibility before enrolling.
Student finance for the nursing degree
University funding is separate from the Access to HE Diploma. Eligible students may be able to apply for a tuition-fee loan and maintenance support for a qualifying nursing degree, but eligibility is not the same for everyone.
Student finance can depend on your university, course, previous higher education study, age, nationality and residency status. If you live in England, GOV.UK provides student finance guidance and an eligibility checker. Students from Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland should use the official funding body for where they normally live.
- Student finance for undergraduates on GOV.UK
- Check student finance eligibility by nationality and residency
- Student Awards Agency Scotland
- Student Finance Wales
- Student Finance Northern Ireland
NHS Learning Support Fund
The NHS Learning Support Fund is not funding for the Access to HE Diploma. It is additional support for eligible healthcare students on eligible university courses, including nursing branches such as adult, children’s, mental health and learning disability nursing. Any NHS-funded Access to HE place is a separate funding arrangement and should be checked directly with the organisation offering it.
NHSBSA guidance currently lists support areas including a Training Grant, Specialist Subject Payment for certain courses, Parental Support, Travel and Dual Accommodation Expenses, and an Exceptional Support Fund. Eligibility rules apply, and students usually need to be on an eligible university course in England and eligible for tuition-fee and maintenance support from the Student Loans Company.
Check the official NHS Learning Support Fund guidance before relying on this support in your budget.
Placement, travel, childcare and living costs
Nursing degrees normally include practice placements. These can create costs that are easy to underestimate, including travel, parking, temporary accommodation, childcare, uniforms, equipment and changes to working hours.
Some eligible students may be able to claim towards placement travel or accommodation through NHSBSA, but claims are subject to rules, evidence and deadlines. Build a budget that can cope with costs before reimbursement, and ask the university how placements are allocated geographically.
Questions to ask before you commit financially
- What is the current Access to HE course fee, and are registration fees included? Academy Online Learning includes them, but other providers may not.
- What payment options are available, and what happens if my circumstances change?
- Is any government-backed loan available for this exact Access course and provider?
- Which student finance body should I apply to for the nursing degree?
- Could my previous higher education study affect my student finance eligibility?
- Does the nursing degree qualify for NHS Learning Support Fund applications?
- What placement costs should I expect, and what can be claimed back?
- What support is available for childcare, disability-related costs or financial hardship?