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Nursing and midwifery

If you're an applicant who lives outside the European Union (EU), read the following information before applying for nursing or midwifery diplomas/degrees

You should check your eligibility with your chosen universities and colleges before applying. Applicants who do not meet the residence criteria described below, and who fall outside the exceptions defined at I-III, will not be eligible for NHS bursary support. It is very unlikely that any universities and colleges will be able to consider applicants who are not eligible for NHS bursaries. The bursary eligibility criteria may change from time to time in accordance with new legislation and regulations.

The information provided on this page is subject to change. For further information, please contact the NHS Business Services Authority or the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

Before you complete and return your application, we suggest you:

  • contact directly the universities and colleges to which you would like to apply
  • contact the British Mission (or the Home Office if you live in the UK) to find out whether you require a student visa in order to undertake a nursing or midwifery programme in the UK, and if so, what criteria you must satisfy in order to obtain one
  • contact the nurse registration/licensing authority and/or national nurses' association in your country to check that the UK qualification you will obtain on completion of your course is recognised. You may have to take examinations on your return to your country in order to practise as a nurse.

Student visas for non-European Economic Area (EEA) applicants

If you are not a citizen of one of the Member States of the EEA (The EEA currently comprises Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Republic of Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom), you must find out whether you will require a student visa to undertake a programme of nursing or midwifery education in England (see above).

If you are an overseas citizen who needs to come for an interview before you can be accepted for a nursing or midwifery programme, you are advised to apply for a prospective student entry clearance before seeking to come to the UK. It is particularly important that you hold the correct visa (if required) before you travel to the UK.

For all matters relating to immigration and working in the UK, go to www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk.

Remember: it is your responsibility to find out how and if the United Kingdom immigration rules affect you. It is also your responsibility to keep abreast of future changes to these rules. It is not the responsibility of the NMC, the Department of Health, the Home Office or NMC-approved educational institutions to keep you informed. For further advice, contact the UK Border Agency:

UK Border Agency
Lunar House
40 Wellesley Road
Croydon CR9 2BY
Tel: 0870 606 7766

You should in all cases contact the universities and colleges to which you intend applying.

Bursary eligibility for non-UK applicants

In order to qualify for NHS bursary support, applicants for diploma-level courses will have to:

  • have been ordinarily resident in the UK, Channel Islands or the Isle of Man throughout the three years preceding the first day of the first academic year of the course, for purposes other than receiving full-time education
  • have settled status in the UK within the meaning of the Immigration Act 1971 on the first day of the first academic year of the course
  • be ordinarily resident in the UK on the first day of the first academic year of the course.

Exceptions

I. Migrant workers from within the EEA (see above for countries) who have taken up residence and employment in the UK and have been ordinarily resident in the EEA for the three years preceding the first day of the first academic year of the course, for purposes other than receiving full-time education, will remain eligible for both bursary and tuition fees. The EEA is defined as the European Community and, subject to the conditions laid down in the EEA agreement, the areas comprising Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway (including Svalbard).

II. Applicants from within the EU (but not the wider EEA) who do not meet the criteria in I above will not be eligible for the NHS bursary. They may, however, receive tuition fee support.

III. Special arrangements apply to refugees, individuals granted exceptional, indefinite, humanitarian protection or discretionary leave to enter or remain in the UK, and UK nationals absent from the UK due to temporary employment abroad.