Paramedic students to receive £10,000 bursary as Scottish Government unveils its new financial support scheme
Paramedic students in Scotland will receive an annual bursary of £10,000 as part of a new scheme to support them unveiled by the Scottish Government yesterday.
Around 668 students will receive the paramedic, nursing and midwifery bursary for courses starting in September, rising to more than 900 next year.
Student nurses already receive a £10,000 bursary and the SNP had pledged to create one for paramedic students in its election manifesto.
Health Secretary Humza Yousaf unveiled the scheme as he visited an ambulance station in Dundee on Thursday.
Mr Yousaf said: "The introduction of this bursary for our paramedic students fulfils this Government's pledge to bolster support for this crucial service.
"Paramedics have been a driving force in maintaining NHS services throughout the Covid-19 pandemic and I am determined to ensure we attract and support the next generation of these vital workers.
"Scottish student paramedics, studying in Scotland, will be able to apply for a bursary of £10,000 a year, compared with the £5,000 bursary announced last year by the UK Government in England.
"These Scottish paramedic students can also apply for other associated additional allowances.
"Scottish paramedic students studying in the rest of the UK will continue to receive the current undergraduate funding package of tuition fee loan, incomeassessed living cost loans and bursary, as well as other additional grants they may be entitled to.
"Our allied health professionals are the third largest part of our NHS workforce and this announcement underlines our determination to remobilise the service as we emerge safely from the pandemic lockdown."
Pauline Howie, chief executive of the Scottish Ambulance Service, said: "This is fantastic news for current and prospective students across the country.
They are an important part of our workforce and this announcement will be a real boost which will help encourage the paramedics of the future."