Nursing students are set to be able to claim upfront payments for placement travel and accommodation costs.

From the beginning of the 2026/27 academic year, eligible students accessing the NHS Learning Support Fund will have the option to receive advance payments towards placement-related expenses, rather than paying costs upfront and waiting to be reimbursed.

The announcement follows campaigning by the RCN to stop people being left out of pocket while training.

Under the new plans announced by the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England, eligible students will be able to claim an upfront “float” of £200 to cover travel and £400 for accommodation costs associated with clinical placements.

They can also apply for top-ups when the balance drops.

Students will continue to submit claims as normal, with approved claims automatically deducted from their advance payment balance and the current system will still be available for those who want to use it.

The new system will be administrated by the NHS Business Services Authority.

Patricia Marquis, Executive Director of RCN England, said: "For so long, nursing students have been forced to use their limited funds to pay for travel to mandatory clinical placements, only to wait weeks and often months to get anything back at all.

"Today's announcement of an upfront payment system is recognition of just how inflexible and unfair that process is, and the RCN's demands for change.”