UK consultation on targeted social work bursaries 2026

Studying social work or teaching on a programme? This week brings a practical chance to shape student funding. The Department of Health and Social Care has opened an eight‑week consultation on targeted support from 6 February 2026, closing 7 April 2026. (gov.uk)

What is being reviewed is straightforward: the Social Work Bursary (SWB) and the Education Support Grant (ESB). Together they provide about £50 million a year and have been in place since 2003. (gov.uk)

Why now matters to you. In 2024–25, around 1,500 of 4,000 bursaries went unclaimed. Ministers say the goal is to make sure support reaches students with the greatest need, including those from low‑income backgrounds. (gov.uk)

A quick refresher on the money. Undergraduates typically receive around £4,900 and postgraduates around £11,300. ESB funding contributes to practice placement costs. Unlike loans, bursaries and grants do not need to be repaid. (gov.uk)

Who should speak up and how. The consultation invites responses from students, universities, social workers, local authorities and NHS trusts. You can submit your views via the GOV.UK consultation page. (gov.uk)

Let’s turn this into a mini lesson. Start by mapping the real costs you and your peers face on placements-travel, food, equipment, childcare, and lost shifts-then note what SWB and ESB currently cover and where gaps appear. Policymakers respond best to specific examples and clear figures from lived experience.

What this means for students right now. These are proposals, not final rules. Keep applying under current guidance and use your response to explain what would make the system fairer and more usable for you and your cohort.

Zooming out for context. The government links this review to wider social care reform, including a £500 million Fair Pay Agreement for care workers, a universal career structure and improved training, alongside the 10 Year Health Plan’s shift to neighbourhood services. (gov.uk)