Students studying the following courses in nursing, midwifery and allied health (NMAH) are supported through the higher education finance system, with students paying fees to providers and the OfS supporting providers through high-cost funding, the student premium and other targeted allocations:
At undergraduate level:
Dental hygiene and dental therapy
At undergraduate and postgraduate level:
Pre-registration nursing, midwifery, dietetics, diagnostic radiography, therapeutic radiography, operating department practice, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, podiatry, prosthetics and orthotics, orthoptics, speech and language therapy
Data analysis
Recruitment and student characteristics
In 2019, the OfS analysed recruitment to nursing, midwifery and allied health disciplines in the year preceding the recent major funding reforms, 2016-17, and the first year of the new funding approach, 2017-18.
This analysis provides new understanding of the student population in these disciplines. It provides a snapshot of changes that occurred in the first year of the funding reform, though caution needs to be applied as neither the last year of one funding methodology, not the first year of a new one, can necessarily be considered typical.
View the analysis
Year one continuation data
We are working with health system partners to better understand retention in nursing, midwifery and allied health. Understanding student retention supports the work of Health Education England (HEE) and other health system stakeholders in planning the future health workforce. HEE has previously undertaken work in this area - find out more about their Reducing Pre-registration Attrition and Improving Retention (RePAIR) project.
Using data from HESA, the OfS has analysed year one continuation data for students commencing study of pre-registration nursing, midwifery and allied health disciplines:
View the analysis
These figures show continuation rates which compare favourably with those for the overall sector. Sector level continuation rates are available in our 'Condition B3: Sector level indicators' document and our analysis of continuation and transfer rates.
It is, however, important to note that this analysis measures whether students in the first year are still studying any subject in UK higher education in the second year. It is not the same as measuring whether students will complete a healthcare course in later years.
