Do student nurses get paid in the UK? (2026 guide)

The honest one-line answer

Pre-registration nursing, midwifery and AHP students in the UK are not paid a wage for placement hours. You're a student, not an employee. But you do get a substantial non-repayable grant on top of standard student finance, plus reimbursement for placement travel and accommodation.

NHS Learning Support Fund (England)

If you started in September 2020 or later you can claim:

£5,000 per academic year — training grant, paid in instalments, doesn't have to be paid back, doesn't affect your loan.
£1,000 specialist subject payment for mental health nursing, learning disability nursing, midwifery, radiography (therapeutic and diagnostic), prosthetics and others where there's a recognised shortage.
£2,000 parental support if you have a child under 15 (under 17 if they have special educational needs).
Travel and Dual Accommodation Expenses (TDAE) — reimbursed for placement costs that exceed your normal commute.

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

Scotland pays a non-means-tested Nursing & Midwifery Student Bursary (around £10,000 per year for new students). Wales offers an NHS Bursary worth a similar amount. Northern Ireland funds tuition and pays an income-assessed bursary plus £5,000 training grant. Amounts change each year — always check the relevant NHS or government site before you apply.

Working alongside the course

Most universities cap paid work at around 16 hours a week so it doesn't clash with placement. The most common option is signing up as a Bank Healthcare Assistant at your placement Trust — flexible shifts, builds clinical confidence, and the Trust often prioritises bank staff for jobs after qualification.

What about apprenticeships?

Nursing Degree Apprentices and Nursing Associates are paid from day one, usually on NHS Agenda for Change Band 3 or 4 while training. You don't pay tuition fees either — the employer covers them.

Budgeting reality check

With student finance plus the £5,000 grant, a single student with no dependants in England typically has around £13,000–£15,000 a year to live on. It's tight in London, manageable outside it, and significantly better than most non-healthcare students who only get the repayable loan.

Frequently asked questions

Do student nurses get paid for placement hours?

No — student nurses in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland aren't paid a salary for placement hours on a standard pre-registration degree. You can claim travel and accommodation costs separately, and you receive the NHS Learning Support Fund grant on top of your student finance.

How much is the NHS Learning Support Fund?

From the 2024/25 academic year, eligible nursing, midwifery and most allied health students in England get at least £5,000 per year as a non-repayable training grant, with up to £3,000 in additional payments for specialist subjects, parental support and dependants.

Can student nurses get paid jobs alongside the course?

Yes — many universities allow up to around 16 hours of paid work per week. Common roles are Healthcare Assistant (HCA) or Bank HCA with your placement Trust, which also looks good on your CV. Always check your university's policy.

Are nursing apprenticeships paid?

Yes. The Nursing Degree Apprenticeship and Nursing Associate Apprenticeship are paid roles — you're employed by an NHS Trust on at least the apprentice national minimum wage, and often higher under Agenda for Change Band 3 or 4.