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Welsh students working towards the social work diploma are still having difficulties accessing bursaries despite assurances from the Welsh health minister that they would be entitled to support.

Jane Hutt promised DipSW students last year that they would be able to apply for bursaries of up to £2,500 a year, giving them parity with English students studying for the diploma in Wales. But a group of around 50 students at the University of Wales Institute Cardiff (UWIC)have still not been able to obtain the necessary forms.


A first year DipSW student told Community Care: "Our tutors said we were supposed to get funding, but the university said it does not have the forms. A lot of students like me are heavily in debt and won't be able to finish the course without a bursary."

UWIC was told last month by an administrator at the Care Council for Wales that the scheme was being put together and the forms should be ready "within a couple of weeks".

But this week, a spokesperson at the Council said the forms were still being produced and they could not give an exact date as to when they would be ready.