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<p>The Government has no plans to reinstate the bursaries for nursing degrees and
is committed to increasing uptake of the additional places these reforms have made
available.</p><p> </p><p>The intention of the funding reforms was to unlock the cap
which constrained the number of pre-registration nursing training places, and to allow
more students to gain access to nurse degree training courses, creating a sustainable
model for universities and securing the future supply of homegrown nurses to the National
Health Service. In support of the reforms, we announced additional clinical placement
funding to make available 5,000 more nurse training places each year from September
2018 and 3,000 more midwifery training places over the next four years.</p><p> </p><p>Students
on the loans system are at least 25% better off than they were under the previous
bursary system. In recognition of the additional costs that the healthcare students
incur in order to attend the mandatory clinical placement, the Government introduced
the Learning Support Fund, a £1,000 per student, per year for child dependent allowance,
reimbursement of all travel costs above their usual daily travel and up to £3,000
per year for exceptional hardship. These payments are in addition to the allowances
on the student loans system.</p><p> </p><p>On 7 February, the University and College
Admissions Service published full-time undergraduate nursing and midwifery applications
made by the 15 January deadline. This data showed a 4.5% increase in applicants to
undergraduate nursing and midwifery courses at English providers. We are working with
Health Education England and the university sector to ensure students continue to
apply for these courses this year and in future years.</p>
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