If you choose to take a year in work placement as part of your course, either in the UK or overseas, you may still be entitled to some funding from SFE, as long as it is a recognised element of your course
Funding for living costs for students on paid placements
Home students will be able to apply for a reduced rate maintenance loan only, regardless of whether the work placement is in the UK or overseas, paid or unpaid. The maximum reduced rate maintenance loan in 2024/25 is:
| Living away from home (including overseas work placements) | Max. £3098 |
| Living in the parental home | Max. £2324 |
EU students will not be able to apply for funding for living costs
Funding for living costs for students on unpaid placements
There are some exceptions where students will continue to be eligible for the same funding package as in previous years (which may include maintenance or special support grant, dependants’ allowances and disabled students’ allowances). Students will still be eligible for their full funding package if they are undertaking ‘unpaid service’ in one of the following:
- Unpaid service in a hospital or in a public health service laboratory or with a primary care trust
- Unpaid service with a local authority relating to the care and or welfare of children / young persons or similar activities with a voluntary organisation
- Unpaid service in the prison or probation and aftercare service
- Unpaid research in a UK institution (university) or, in the case of a student attending an overseas institution as a part of his course in an overseas institution
- Unpaid service with a Health Authority in England or Wales or equivalent in Scotland or Northern Ireland
Other types of unpaid work placements will receive the reduced rates of maintenance loan as if it were a paid placement
It is a student's responsibility to ensure that they can live on what is available before accepting a work placement
Is there any other financial support available?
If, once you have started your placement year, you are facing unexpected financial difficulty, you may be able to apply to the University's Financial Assistance Fund (UFAF). Please see our Ask Herts page for further information