Medical students who qualify for a full NHS bursary (see here) are also entitled to have some of the additional costs of attending a practice placement. These are known as Practice Placement Expenses (PPE). This is an easy way of recouping some money spent on travelling to and from placement.

This article will detail how to claim PPE and what you may be entitled to.

What can you claim?

1. Travel costs - the total cost of travel from your term-time residence and your practice placement can be reimbursed, but minus the cost of travel from your term-time residence and your normal place of study (usually your university).

The NHS bursary website states that students are expected to travel by the cheapest form of transport available, where it is reasonably practical for them to do so.

This includes your own private vehicle - costs will be calculated by mileage. Car parking and bridge tolls/tunnels can also be reimbursed so make sure you keep any recipients! If you are driving another NHS Bursary funded student in your private vehicle then you many claim an additional amount per mile for each student passenger. These passengers must also be eligible to claim PPE.

Important - those students that receive a lift cannot claim travel costs for those journeys.

If travelling to and from placement by public transport, make sure again to keep your receipts for each journey as this will be needed for proof of travel. Any additional costs for luggage or a bicycle may also be claimed.

Use of a hire car may also be claimed, if this is the most practical way for you to get to placement. For example, a particularly rural placement with poor public transport links. In these instances you can claim for costs of hiring the car, mileage to and from placement as well as parking and tolls.

Travel by taxi will only be reimbursed if this has been specifically recommended by the Disabled Students Allowance or under very exceptional circumstances eg. if a student does not have access to their own transport or a lift, and they are required to attend a very early or late placement.

2. Placement accommodation costs - you can claim for the cost of any temporary accommodation on or near their practice placement site if it was not practical for you to travel there from your normal accommodation each day. The only exception is if the temporary accommodation is your parental home.

Evidence should be provided which should at least include your name, address of where you stayed, the cost of the stay and the dates.

How?

• Print off and fill out PPE form - link here for the form.

• Fill out your PPE form - full guide to filling your form can be found here.

• Submit for to your university for authorisation

• Await reimbursement!

Claims must be submitted by the student to the university within six months of the last day of the placement being claimed for, and forms aim to be assessed within 20 working days of NHS Bursary receiving the form.

Any questions ask in the comments below!