Funding information for MA Social Work

This information is based on 24/25 information. This page will be updated when 25/26 information is made available by the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC).

This information is primarily for UK students and students with ‘Home fees’ status. International students and students with an ‘overseas fee’ status are not usually eligible for funding from the UK government (including Social Work Bursaries and Masters Loans). International students can find information on funding on the International fees and funding page.

Tuition Fees

Tuition Fees for UK Home students are £8,000 each year of the 2 year full-time course (so £16,000 in total). The tuition fee for overseas fee status students is £15,000 each year of the 2 year full-time course (so £30,000 in total). Tuition Fees must be paid in accordance with the University's Student Financial regulations. 

MA Social Work Bursary allocations

You might qualify for a Social Work Bursary from the Department for Health and Social Care. The number of bursaries is limited and is decided by the Department for Health and Social Care. Not all students studying a social work course will receive one. Leeds Trinity will determine which students are eligible for an allocated bursary place (also known as capped place). Our number of allocated bursary places will be published when the DHSC inform us of our allocation (expected to be June / July 2025). It is possible that Leeds Trinity may not be allocated any bursary places for 2025/26.

Leeds Trinity determine which applicants are allocated a bursary place and will advise applicants whether they have been allocated a bursary place once we have completed our allocation process.

All applicants should apply for the Social Work Bursary. This means that you will have an application ready to process if you are allocated a bursary place. You can also receive the Placement Travel Allowance element of the bursary, which all eligible students can receive, regardless of whether they are allocated the full bursary package.

If you progress onto the next academic year of your course, you will keep your allocated bursary place, unless you have a break in your studies, repeat part of your course or change university.

MA Social Work Bursary amounts

The Social Work Bursary is a grant so does not need to be paid back. You can apply for the bursary each year of the course. The bursary is made up of (based on 2024/25 figures):

  • A tuition fee contribution of £4,052
  • A non-income assessed grant of £3,362.50 (this amount includes the Placement Travel Allowance of £862.50)
  • An income assessed grant of up to £2,721 – find out more about how the income-testing works at Social work - Apply for a Postgraduate bursary | NHSBSA
  • Some additional elements if you have dependants or a disability:
  • A Placement Travel Allowance of £862.50 if you are not allocated a bursary place (so are not eligible for the above elements).

You must meet the residency requirements, which are usually:

  • You have been living in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man for at least three years before starting your course
  • England is your home, for example, you live and work in England and have not moved there solely for the purposes of study
  • And you are one of the following:
    • a UK national or Irish citizen
    • settled under the EU Settlement Scheme
    • granted settled status for other reasons
  • Some other residency categories qualify, and some qualify only for tuition fee support. Visit Your guide to the Social Work Bursary 2023/24 (nhsbsa.nhs.uk) for more information

You are not eligible if:

  • You are already a qualified Social Worker
  • You are receiving funding for your course from any other public sector body (not including Student Finance England).
  • A social care employer is:
    • paying you to attend your course
    • paying any of your tuition fees
    • giving you any paid time off to attend your studies
  • You are receiving a payment from a practice learning provider for undertaking placement duties for them.

Applying for the Social Work Bursary

All applicants should apply for the Social Work Bursary. This means that you will have an application ready to process if you are allocated a bursary place.

For courses starting in September 2025, apply as soon as the application opens (usually March / April 2025) and no later than 31st October 2025. If you apply after the deadline, you will not be eligible for the bursary, even if you are allocated a bursary place by Leeds Trinity.

Create an account and apply on the MyFunding system Sign in to MyFunding - NHS Social Work Bursary - NHSBSA. Applications are usually processed within 20 working days.

You will need to provide identity and residency evidence the first time you apply. You will need to apply each year of your course, by the deadline.

You may not know if you have been allocated a bursary place or not, but you should still make an application as you may still be entitled to the Placement Travel Allowance.

You will need to reapply for the Social Work Bursary for the second year of the course, and the NHSBSA will e-mail you to advise you when to apply.

Payment

The bursary is paid in 3 termly instalments each academic year and you will be able to see the payment schedule in your MyFunding account. Payment depends on Leeds Trinity confirming you are fully registered on the course and that you have been allocated a bursary place.

The Placement Travel Allowance is paid in one lump sum, either included within your first payment of non-means tested grant, or in a one-off payment if you are not allocated a bursary place. Make sure you budget this accordingly across the year.

If you are awarded a Childcare Allowance, the subsequent payments will depend on you providing evidence of your childcare expenditure.

The tuition fee contribution is paid directly to the University, provided you are fully registered on 1st December of the relevant academic year.

Master’s Loan

Students starting a master’s course in 2025 can apply for a Master’s Loan of up to £12,471 (24/25 rate) for the entire course (not per year of the course). Students must meet the residency and eligibility requirements to be eligible and you can find out more on our Postgraduate funding pages.

Postgraduate Finance UK Students - Study - Leeds Trinity University

Students should only apply for a Master’s Loan if they know they are not eligible for a Social Work Bursary. You may need to provide evidence from Leeds Trinity that you have not been awarded a Social Work Bursary.

Students cannot claim the Social Work Bursary and the Master’s Loan. Students who are eligible for a Social Work Bursary and are allocated a bursary place will not be eligible for a Master’s Loan. The Social Work Bursary is financially better than the Master’s Loan as:

  • It does not have to be repaid
  • The non-income assessed elements (the tuition fee contribution and the non-income assessed grant) are £7,414.50 a year (and some students will also receive the income assessed elements and additional elements depending on their circumstances). The Master’s Loan is £12,471 for the course, so £6,235.50 a year for a two year full-time course.

Students can receive the Travel and Placement Allowance element only of the Social Work Bursary package (if that is the only element they are eligible for) and still apply for the Master’s Loan.

Budgeting and financial preparedness

Master’s students are responsible for ensuring they have planned their budget and are financially prepared for their tuition fee costs and living costs. There is no separate ‘tuition fee loan’ element of the funding as with undergraduate student finance. For students with children who are not eligible for the additional dependants’ costs elements of the Social Work Bursary, there is no other support for childcare (e.g. from Student Finance England at master’s level). Our Money Advice Team can help you consider your budget and the financial viability of the course.

The tuition fees for a course starting in 2025/26 for UK home students are £8,000 a year.

Students in receipt of a Social Work Bursary will receive a tuition fee contribution (paid directly to the University) through the bursary package of £4,052 a year, provided they are fully registered on the course on 1st December each year, leaving the student £3,948 left to contribute each year. Students in receipt of a Social Work Bursary will receive a grant of between £3,362.50 and £6,083.50 which they can use towards their tuition fee liability, leaving between £585.50 and £0 to pay towards their tuition fee liability each year.

Students not in receipt of a Social Work Bursary can apply for a Master’s Loan (provided they meet the eligibility criteria) which is £6,235.50 a year, leaving the student £1,764.50 to pay towards their tuition fee liability themselves each year.

Please refer to the financial regulations for information on when and how the tuition fees must be paid or contact the Finance Office (finance@leedstrinity.ac.uk) for more information

Some students choose to save up enough money to cover their tuition fees and living costs prior to starting the course and some choose to work part-time alongside the course to ensure the course is financially affordable.

Students who are on a student visa should have sufficient funds in place for tuition fees and living costs to meet UKVI visa eligibility requirements.

Students with the Right to Study in the UK but who have been assessed as having an Overseas fee status should ensure that they have sufficient funds available to cover tuition fee and living costs.

 It is recommended that all students consider their budget plan carefully before starting the course.

University Bursaries

Leeds Trinity offers an Alumni Scholarship which is a tuition fee discount of up to 50% for students who have studied their undergraduate degree with us. You will need to achieve a 2:2 or above in a Leeds Trinity Undergraduate course to qualify - please note that not all courses accept a 2:2 and you should check the relevant course page for the specific entry requirements. Find out more about the eligibility criteria at Postgraduate Finance UK Students - Study - Leeds Trinity University. Leeds Trinity does not offer any other bursaries or scholarships at postgraduate level.

Universal Credit

If you are in receipt of Universal Credit or any other means-tested welfare benefits from the government, you should upload your masters loan entitlement letter or your Social Work Bursary Award letter in your Universal Credit Journal / provide those letters to the relevant agency so they can reassess your benefit entitlement. Some of the funding for which you are eligible will count in the benefit assessment.

Useful information and contacts

Social Work Bursaries: Social Work Bursaries | NHSBSA

Leeds Trinity Money Advice Team (for information on student funding): moneyadvice@leedstrinity.ac.uk

Leeds Trinity Finance Office (for information on payment of tuition fees): finance@leedstrinity.ac.uk                           

 

 

r

Hi, what can we help you find?