Last year the Government announced it was removing the bursary funding for university courses in England in nursing, midwifery and the allied health professionals. From 1 August 2017, new occupational therapy students in England will no longer receive NHS bursaries and will have to apply for student loans.
Julia Skelton, Director of Professional Operations at the College of Occupational Therapists (COT), said: "COT is engaging with our colleagues in Higher Education Institutions across the four nations to get a clear picture of how the removal of bursaries in England will impact student applications across the UK. Although it is too early to paint a definitive picture, there are early indications that the number of applications for occupational therapy courses in England will be lower than last year.
"COT is monitoring the situation and will update members more fully in February once we have a better understanding of the situation. COT continues to lobby for the best outcomes for students and occupational therapy education, and to raise the profile of the profession. Occupational therapists provide a crucial range of skills and expertise across the NHS and social care. It’s vital that we continue to develop a well-trained occupational therapy workforce to meet the challenges of the future."