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STUDENT FUNDING DSA
Our local, and very friendly LEA emailed me the following extract from the guidance on DSAs which you migh find useful to quote.
 
 
 
"Department of Health bursary holders
    1. DH provide bursaries for courses in nursing, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, radiography, midwifery, speech and language therapy, chiropody, dietetics, and prosthetics. Full-time health care students who are eligible to receive these NHS bursaries (bestowed under section 63 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968) are excluded in the main from receiving student support under regulations 4(3)(c)(i), 11(9)(a) and 13(3)(a). The exception to this are means tested bursary holders who are eligible to receive a reduced rate loan under regulation 25(13). Part-time health care students eligible to receive NHS bursaries are also excluded from receiving student support under regulation 34 (3)(a)(i). It is, therefore, recommended that before assessing eligibility for support from applicants in these subjects, LEAs ascertain whether the individual will be eligible for a bursary, and if so whether! or not it is means-tested. 
    NHS secondees
    2. Students who attend designated courses in these subjects but who do not receive a DH bursary are eligible for support in accordance with the conditions in the Regulations in the same way as any other applicant. The Department of Health has confirmed that health care students who are employed by NHS trusts and seconded onto health care courses are not eligible for NHS bursaries. These students continue to receive their salary and have their tuition fees paid by the NHS, but the payment of their fees falls outside the NHS bursary scheme. Such students, who receive assistance from the NHS only for their fees, are not excluded from the student support provisions and can therefore receive support for living costs and DSAs, subject to relevant means-testing and of course to their satisfying all the usual eligibility criteria. "
 
Gillian Malins
Disabilities Adviser
University of Luton
Park Square
Luton
LU1 3JU

>>> [log in to unmask] 25/02/2005 12:38:29 >>>

We have had great difficulty with a seconded NHS student obtaining support from her Lea. But there is a specific guidance note on this to Leas from Dfes and there is a guy you can ring at Dfes. Can’t find paper at present but will send hard copy to you Rachel when administrator is here on Monday and can run it to ground.Skill also provided support to us. Good luck. Liz

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Discussion list for disabled students and thheir support staff. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Demery, Rachel
Sent: 24 February 2005 16:41
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: STUDENT FUNDING DSA

 

Can anyone help please?

Have a student who is hard of hearing and uses a hearing aid.  She is on the Social Work BA and is funded and seconded by her employer, attending university one day a week.  There has been alot of confusion with the LEA about whether the course is classified full time, part-time postgraduate or undergraduate.

My understanding is that the course is undergraduate and full time and this information has come from the course director.  However, the LEA seem to be having difficulty accepting this and keep requesting that I send in a postgraduate application form for DSA, even though the course is an Undergraduate one.

Has anyone had this difficulty?  How have other people applied for DSA funding for those students that are funded by their employer?

Grateful for any information you can offer.

Rachel Demery
Disability Adviser
UWIC
Cardiff