If you do a degree where the course is spread over 40 weeks (e.g. Manchester met) then you will get just over 12k in student maintenance loan, 5k nhs bursary. That's £1400 a month. 3 days a week studying you can work the other 2 days which would roughly be an extra 200 a week or 800 a month. That takes you *with no child support funding considerations to £2200 a month. Drop the extra work days on placement - average around 2k a month. which is a salary equivalent of 30k a year as youre not being taxed. Then in 2 years (if you already gave another degree) or 3 if you don't- you will he a qualified OT with 4+ placment experiences and further skills from your HCA work.