Perhaps what to expect from applying and receiving the NHS bursary, rather than what is entitled
Dear Editors
Perhaps it's a generational phenomenon or just a personal perspective but I am intrigued by the use of the word "entitled" in the title and the main text of this article.
To be sure, there is no mention of "entitlement" or "entitled" in the NHS bursary webpage so it is not a term used by the scheme itself.
Ironically as reflected by the personal experience of some of the authors, being on the NHS bursary program does not mean they are financially better off in the immediate future.
However it is important to be aware that the bursary is a non-repayable grant to assist students in senior years studying to be doctors or dentists (and this is not tied to academic or other performance, unlike scholarships), whereas student finance is repayable later. To get either financial support, the applicants have to be eligible for the scheme, apply for it with the correct paperwork and agree to abide to the terms and conditions in order to receive the monies; it is only then the successful applicants are entitled to things they are granted for.
Hence being X amount "worse off on the NHS bursary than on student finance" is a matter of perspective; obviously the acute needs and current financial demands can be more urgent than the servicing of the debt in the future.
Similarly it can be perceived that NHS bursary "abuses the time of the students its supposed to provide for" particularly when the application process requires original documents and receipts; however it is possible that a one way system ensures that that non-repayable grants are not abused or given to those ineligible trying to obtain them by fraudulent means, in an era where it is not hard to fake an document electronically.
If there are more applicants to support, the increment in grant value may not keep up with inflation despite the increase in budgeting; hence the NHS bursary has a duty and a process to ensure only eligible applicants receive these grants.
I do agree however some documentation for identification should not require the originals to be sent off; after all if one can apply for unemployment benefits online in the UK by using a National Insurance number, why shouldn't it be possible for something similar for a student bursary? In Australia the students studying to be healthcare professionals are required to be registered with the licencing authority and this may happen in UK with the GMC in the future, hence another identification number. There should be some flexibility in accepting documentation electronically (while requiring the applicants to keep the originals for sporadic auditing) otherwise I am trying to picture the NHS bursary office receiving actual mail/parcels from about 20,000 medical students each year (2 year eligibility x [8000 current quota+1500 new students from 2018 intake onwards]).
So, yes, it is time to bring NHS bursary into the 21st century in its application process.
The authors may be entitled to use the word "entitled" in their opinion piece, just as I would be entitled to have an opinion of their use. Perhaps it would have been better if the article title referred to what to expect when applying for the NHS bursary and what may be affected when receiving the NHS bursary.
Competing interests:
I have previously received a bursary to help with my studies, but the application process tied to good academic performance felt like I was applying for a scholarship (since the grants came from a very limited community budget), hence I have never thought being eligible for a bursary equates to having an entitlement to it.
Rapid Response:
Perhaps what to expect from applying and receiving the NHS bursary, rather than what is entitled
Dear Editors
Perhaps it's a generational phenomenon or just a personal perspective but I am intrigued by the use of the word "entitled" in the title and the main text of this article.
To be sure, there is no mention of "entitlement" or "entitled" in the NHS bursary webpage so it is not a term used by the scheme itself.
Ironically as reflected by the personal experience of some of the authors, being on the NHS bursary program does not mean they are financially better off in the immediate future.
However it is important to be aware that the bursary is a non-repayable grant to assist students in senior years studying to be doctors or dentists (and this is not tied to academic or other performance, unlike scholarships), whereas student finance is repayable later. To get either financial support, the applicants have to be eligible for the scheme, apply for it with the correct paperwork and agree to abide to the terms and conditions in order to receive the monies; it is only then the successful applicants are entitled to things they are granted for.
Hence being X amount "worse off on the NHS bursary than on student finance" is a matter of perspective; obviously the acute needs and current financial demands can be more urgent than the servicing of the debt in the future.
Similarly it can be perceived that NHS bursary "abuses the time of the students its supposed to provide for" particularly when the application process requires original documents and receipts; however it is possible that a one way system ensures that that non-repayable grants are not abused or given to those ineligible trying to obtain them by fraudulent means, in an era where it is not hard to fake an document electronically.
If there are more applicants to support, the increment in grant value may not keep up with inflation despite the increase in budgeting; hence the NHS bursary has a duty and a process to ensure only eligible applicants receive these grants.
I do agree however some documentation for identification should not require the originals to be sent off; after all if one can apply for unemployment benefits online in the UK by using a National Insurance number, why shouldn't it be possible for something similar for a student bursary? In Australia the students studying to be healthcare professionals are required to be registered with the licencing authority and this may happen in UK with the GMC in the future, hence another identification number. There should be some flexibility in accepting documentation electronically (while requiring the applicants to keep the originals for sporadic auditing) otherwise I am trying to picture the NHS bursary office receiving actual mail/parcels from about 20,000 medical students each year (2 year eligibility x [8000 current quota+1500 new students from 2018 intake onwards]).
So, yes, it is time to bring NHS bursary into the 21st century in its application process.
The authors may be entitled to use the word "entitled" in their opinion piece, just as I would be entitled to have an opinion of their use. Perhaps it would have been better if the article title referred to what to expect when applying for the NHS bursary and what may be affected when receiving the NHS bursary.
Competing interests: I have previously received a bursary to help with my studies, but the application process tied to good academic performance felt like I was applying for a scholarship (since the grants came from a very limited community budget), hence I have never thought being eligible for a bursary equates to having an entitlement to it.