Social Work Bursary Funding
Practice Learning Opportunity Allowance
The Practice Learning Opportunity Allowance is a contribution towards the placement expenses that social work students incur as an integral part of their qualifying training.
All Social Work Bursary recipients are entitled to an initial Practice Learning Opportunity Allowance (PLOA) per placement. Part-time students will receive the PLOA for any year in which they undertake a practice learning opportunity.
If students find their placement related travel costs exceed the initial allowance, they will be able to claim reimbursement of eligible cost in excess of this allowance. To do this, students demonstrate that the initial allowance has been spent on eligible practice learning opportunity expenditure, and submit evidence of excess expenditure. Eligible expenditure includes public or private travel costs, parking costs or accommodation expenses.
How much PLOA will I receive?
The initial PLOA allowance will depend on the length/level of your placement, please refer to the Travel Scheme for further details.
How do I make a claim for reimbursement in excess of the initial allowance?
To claim for Travel expenses in excess of the initial allowance, applicants need to complete and submit the Travel Claim Form. On the 'Daily Expenses' sheet within the form you must complete one row for each day of your placement, starting with the first, enabling you to demonstrate how the initial allowance was spent. The claim will be assessed and you will receive email notification within 28 working days to inform you if the claim has been successful and when payment will be made.
Note: All documents relating to the PLOA can be found on the right hand side of this page.
How will I receive the payments?
The initial PLOA will be paid with the first Bursary instalment.
Reimbursements in excess of the initial allowance will be paid into the applicant’s bank account within 28 working days of the Student Funding Team receiving a correctly completed Travel Claim form.
If you wish to claim for a PLOA undertaken in 2010/11, please contact the Student Funding team.
Claiming PLOA
Travel Claim Form (including guidance)
Please read the guidance before completing the form.