1. Student Services Student Movement Stakeholder Event 30/31 January 2017
NCVO, King’s Cross, London
Matthew Rainbow and John McComish

2. Introduction
From 1 August 2017 new students will apply to the Student Loans Company to cover the cost of their tuition fees and means tested support for living costs.
Students who accept a place for 2016 but defer and commence their course after 1 August 2017 will be funded on the standard student loan system which is in line with wider changes in higher education introduced in 2012.
Students who started a course in 2016/17 but defer their studies will be funded through the standard student loan system unless they had to defer for significant reasons such as maternity leave, illness or a significant family event such as a bereavement or serious family illness where the student is the main carer.

3. Students on a part-time course
Where a student enrols on a part-time course commencing on or after 1 August 2017 but subsequently withdraws or temporarily suspends their studies regardless of the reason and later returns, they may not be eligible for any bursary funding elements.

4. Terminology There are various definitions of course terminology: Defer
Intercalate
Withdraw (temporarily/permanent)
Suspend
Back-set
Step Off
Postpone
Enrol
Resume
Transfer (internal/external/course/programme)
Engaged on course/programme

5. Student Movement- Current Understanding
What is the current understanding of funding in the 2017/18 academic year where a student has ceased attending their training programme but will be returning after 1 August 2017?
What are students being advised and what expectations have been set; are they legally binding?

6. Student Movement
We have recently undertaken a sample of 76 cases from September 2016 intakes where students have withdrawn/temporary withdrawn/deferred training.
Count of Reasons
Activity Type
Reasons
Total
Withdrawal
Academic Failure 4
Changed HEI/COURSE 2
Deferred 3
Discontinued from course 1
Employed
Ill Health 5
Interrupted
Not enrolled
Not Known 13
Personal Reasons 11
Wrong Career/course 7
Discontinued
Permanent
Maternity Withdrawal
Maternity 24
Grand Total 76

7. Student Movement
Are HEIs provided with the required information for the NHSBSA and HEE to make a determination on future funding?
BUR forms not always completed in full e.g. type of withdrawal whether it is temporary or permanent - is this always known?
Reason for withdrawal is not always provided - is this not always known?
What is a significant family event?
How is a serious illness determined?

8. Case Study 1
A student commences a full-time nursing programme in September The HEI confirms to Student Services that the student has enrolled and Student Services pays the student their first instalment of the NHS Bursary. Two weeks after enrolment the HEI sends student services a BUR 101(w) to confirm that the student has withdrawn from training and is deferring their studies until September 2017, where they will return to the programme starting at day one, year one. The HEI also advises that the ‘student never formally engaged on the programme’. Should this student be classed as a new student in 2017/2018 and fall under the standard student support regulations or an existing student and remain on the NHS Bursary Scheme?
No bursary
New student – Student Loan

9. Case Study 2
A student commences a full-time nursing programme in September The HEI confirms to Student Services that the student has enrolled and Student Services pays the student their first instalment of the NHS Bursary.
The student withdraws from training due to maternity reasons after 8 weeks and is deferring their studies until September 2017, where they will return to the programme starting at day one, year one.
Should this student be classed as a new student in 2017/2018 and fall under the standard student support regulations or an existing student and remain on the NHS Bursary Scheme?
Yes to bursary
They will receive a bursary

10. Case Study 3
A student commences a full-time nursing programme in September The HEI confirms to Student Services that the student has enrolled and Student Services pays the student their NHS Bursary.
After three months the student withdraws from training due to personal reasons and is stepping off the programme with the intention of returning at some point in the future. The HEI cannot confirm at this point when this may be but it could be up to a two year period. At the point the student returns they will start the programme on day one, year one.
Should this student be classed as a new student at the point they return and fall under the standard student support regulations or an existing student and remain on the NHS Bursary Scheme?
New student – Student Loan

11. Case Study 4
A student commences a full-time nursing programme in September The HEI confirms to Student Services that the student has enrolled and Student Services pays the student their NHS Bursary.
The student withdraws from training after four months due to failing a module. The student decides to interrupt their studies until September 2017, where they will return from day one, year one.
Should this student be classed as a new student at the point they return and fall under the standard student support regulations or an existing student and remain on the NHS Bursary Scheme?
No bursary
New student – Student Loan

12. Case Study 5
A student commences a full-time nursing programme in September The HEI confirms to Student Services that the student has enrolled and Student Services pays the student their NHS Bursary.
The student withdraws from training after four months due to failing a module, which they are repeating in their own time. The student decides to back-set their studies until September 2017, where they will join the March 2017 cohort.
This student will remain on the NHS Bursary Scheme as an existing student.
Yes to bursary

13. Case Study 6
A student attends University of the first day of term to enrol on a full-time nursing programme in September At the same time the student advises the HEI that she is pregnant, provides them with her MATB1 form and informs them she is going on maternity leave with immediate effect.
The student never engages in any formal academic study but expects an NHS Bursary for the duration of her maternity leave, which could be up to 12 months, and an NHS Bursary on her return as new student which is likely to be after 1 August 2017.
What funding provisions should apply when the student returns as a new student, assuming she is returning in September 2017?
Not eligible
New Student – Student Loan

14. Students that remain on bursary
A student can only remain/continue on a bursary if they remain/continue on a commissioned place where funding is available and has been approved by HEE.
Funding of NHS Bursaries is provided by HEE.
Exceptions to this are part-time students where transitional arrangements are in place and the new Learning Support Fund, which is being funded by the Department of Health.

15. Funding Framework Department of Health (ALB Sponsor)
Health Education England
Social Work Bursaries, Education Support Grant, part-time students 17/18, Learning Support Fund
Administration Costs
NHS Bursaries (including transitional arrangements for 2017/18 for postgraduate and dental hygiene/therapy)
NHS Business Services Authority
Programme expenditure – funding is to customers and is drawn down from sponsor
Administration expenditure – funding is for NHSBSA revenue costs and is provided in overall baseline funding

16. Next Steps
NHSBSA/HEE/HEIs to work collaboratively in determining funding route and process when a student returns/restarts a programme after 1 August 2017
Students fully informed of funding decision prior to returning/restarting
Consider students already in the system (prior to September 2016 intakes)

17. Any questions?