Students who withdraw and resume training at any point during the course, including the first year, will lose their capped place when they resume training unless their break in studies was for maternity leave.
If your university wants to allocate a capped place to you when you return to the course, this can only be done if:
- capped places are available from their annual allocation
- the withdrawal from the course was due to exceptional circumstances
Your university must send us an SWB03 form including:
- full details of your exceptional circumstances
- the relevant academic years allocated or capped bursary if appropriate
We'll not request an SWB03 form from your university.
Your university is not involved in the final decision about your bursary funding. This decision is made by us.
You must reapply for your Social Work Bursary if you're joining a new academic year. There are no exceptions for late applications.
Once your application has been processed, you’ll receive a final decision in writing from us.
If you have any outstanding bursary overpayment from your withdrawal, this will be deducted from any new entitlement.
Maternity leave
If you've not been nominated for a capped place during your period of maternity leave, you'll not receive:
- Placement Travel Allowance (PTA)
- payment of your tuition fees
You may be eligible to receive the PTA when you resume training.
For your award to be reinstated after maternity leave, your university must send us an SWB03 form to confirm you’ve returned to training and the attendance data.
This must include:
- the date of your return
- the cohort you’ve joined
- the new expected end date of your course
- any other information which will help clarify your personal circumstances
You must reapply for your Social Work Bursary for the academic year you’re returning to. There are no exceptions for late applications.
If you return to training after a period of maternity leave, you’ll keep your capped place if you return within 12 months.