AlessandroBiascioli/ Alamy Stock Photo
The Royal College of Pharmacy (RCPharm) has called on the government to ensure pharmacy students are included in its offer of advance payments for travel and accommodation costs incurred during healthcare placements.
In a press release published on 1 September 2026, the government announced that from the start of the 2026/2027 academic year, eligible students with full access to the NHS Learning Support Fund (LSF) can receive advance payments for placement-related travel and accommodation costs.
“The move will also make it easier for students to undertake placements in rural and coastal communities, where travel costs can be particularly high,” it added.
The change will mean students no longer have to cover expenses themselves before claiming the money back. Under the current system, students must book and pay for travel and accommodation upfront — which often amounts to hundreds of pounds — then submit claims before being reimbursed.
However, pharmacy students do not have full access to the LSF. While they can claim eligible travel and dual accommodation expenses for clinical placements, pharmacy students are not eligible for the new advance payment facility.
The government has also confirmed that it intends to explore opening the service to pharmacy students in the future.
“The scheme is currently only available to students who are eligible for the full LSF; however, our intention is to explore opening this up to other student groups, such as pharmacy and healthcare science students, in the future,” it said.
Mahendra Patel, chair of RCPharm’s English Pharmacy Advisory Council, commented: “It is disappointing that pharmacy students still do not have full and equal access to the LSF.
“The NHS long-term workforce plan recognised the need to grow the pharmacy workforce, and as pharmacists take on greater clinical and prescribing responsibilities, pharmacy students should have the same access to support as those training for other healthcare professions.
“Pharmacy students should not face unjust financial barriers at the very start of their careers. The government should now build on the progress made so far and ensure pharmacy students have the support they need to train for the future NHS and deliver the care patients need.”
In May 2025, the DHSC announced that pharmacy students would be eligible for financial support for travel and accommodation during their placements.
Meanwhile in May 2026, RCPharm in England, the British Pharmaceutical Students’ Association and the Pharmacy Schools Council wrote to health minister Karin Smyth to ask for pharmacy students to have full access to the NHS LSF.
In addition to advance payments, full access would give pharmacy students access to a training grant of up to £5,000 per year and parental support of £2,000 per year for eligible students with children.
