Government Funded Sports Massage Courses

Students looking to apply for government funding for a sports massage course must first understand:

• How to Apply for Different Fundings
• What are Non-Funded Sports Massage Courses?
• Benefits of Government Funded SMT Courses
• Disadvantages of Government Funded SMT Courses

Enquire about OriGym’s Sports Massage Courses to kickstart your career, or download our FREE course prospectus today!

How To Apply For Different Government Fundings

#1 Advanced Learner Loan

This loan helps fund further education courses that are Level 3 or above, meaning you can apply for this support for both OriGym's Sports Massage Courses respectively. 

To be eligible for this funding, applicants must meet the specific criteria outlined by the UK.Gov website with examples such as: 

• Your Age
• Your Chosen Course
• Your Chosen Education Provider
• Your Nationality or Residency Status 

The latter of which is the most detailed requirement, as outlined below: 

Those with a different residency status can still apply, to see if you fall under this category check the UK.Gov site.

If you're still unsure about your eligibility the student loan company tool can help assess your can apply for this funding. Simply answer all the questions that are provided in as much detail as possible.

To apply for the Advanced Learner Loan follow these steps:

• Receive confirmation that your preferred training provider accepts Advanced Learner Loans
• The request said training provider to provide a 'Learning and Funding Information Letter' - This will be required for your application
• Apply Online by registering a student finance account - This can also be done via post if you do not have access internet
• Receive confirmation that your funding request has been approved - This takes up to 2 weeks if you apply online, postal applications may face longer wait times.

Once your application has been approved, the government funding for the sports massage course payments will be made directly to your training provider. 

#2 Low Value Provision Scheme

Low Value Provision Schemes (LVP) are used to provide vocational and occupational training to individuals who have a job offer, or require training to apply for vacancies in their chosen industry.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) lays out the policies and procedures for applying for this funding for your Sports Massage Therapy courses, which includes criteria such as:

• You must be able to provide evidence that you're seeking employment - Typically provided by sending your sports massage therapist CV to employers.
• Research and report the exact cost of your chosen Sports Massage Course
• Meet with an assigned advisor who will go through all the documentation you have provided to assess whether you're eligible for an LVP

To see if you meet the criteria required to receive a LVP be sure to check out the UK.Gov's application form, for a full list of terms and conditions. 

It’s important to monitor your application once it’s been submitted as it will remain active for a year until there is a change in your employment status.

Before applying for this type of funding, it’s essential to check that employers and clinics will allow you to fund your training through this government scheme.

#3 Military Resettlement Grant

If you’ve recently completed military service and are looking to find employment, you may be eligible to receive a fixed sum to help finance your training to become a sports massage therapist.

Some other key features of the grant that you need to be aware of include:

• It’s a tax-free amount paid to regular service personnel once they leave the military
• Only applicable if you don’t qualify for an immediate pension, early departure or an ill health award
• You can receive £11,651 as of 15th June 2021

Note: This applies to anyone who has completed over 12 years of active military service.

What Are Non-Funded Sports Massage Courses?

If you are not eligible for funding or wish to opt for an alternative, there are options available to you.

For example, you can finance the qualification yourself on a 'non-funded SMT course'. Here you will pay the set fees yourself, with no intervention from the government. 

Non-funded courses carry their benefits and are chosen by thousands of aspiring students every year. For example, if you choose to pay for a Sports Massage Therapy Course at OriGym the following financial perks will be made available to you: 

• Flexible Payment Plans - These plans are designed to suit your needs, allowing you to pay back what you can at a time that suits you! 
• 0% Interest - OriGym's SMT course is interest free meaning you won't be charged for anything other than the course itself! 
• Cheaper Than Government Funding - Starting from £1,299 OriGym's non-funded course is cheaper than many funded alternatives, which charge their students a higher price! 

With this comparison fresh in your mind, let's compare the benefits and drawbacks of opting to receive government funding for an SMT course. 

The Advantages Of Government Funded Sports Massage Courses

When you’re researching government-funded sports massage courses, you’ll discover they come with many financial benefits, including:

• No requirements to pay upfront - The majority of government-funded courses don’t require you to pay a deposit or instalments to enrol!
• No credit checks - This means your credit history won’t determine your eligibility to receive funding for your SMT course.
• Smaller Repayments - You’ll only be required to make repayments once you’re earning over a certain salary threshold.

If you have concerns about financing an SMT course yourself, you may want to further explore the different forms of government funding available to you.

The Disadvantages Of Government Funded Sports Massage Courses

Whilst government-funded sports massages courses carry many financial benefits, it’s important to recognise the disadvantages they carry too. These include:

• Limited flexibility - You’ll have little influence over the study method or work schedule you need to follow to complete your SMT course!
• Little payment control - You’ll have to agree to repayments set by the government's terms and conditions to receive funding.
• You’ll need to meet specific criteria - You may find it difficult to secure funding, if, for example, you’ve completed a higher education qualification

Remember, a loan is a large commitment, so we strongly recommend taking time to conduct proper research before deciding whether this funding is right for you.

Are You Ready To Kickstart Your Sports Massage Career?

Now that you understand what funding options are available to you, why not enquire about enrolling on either one of the SMT courses?

You can also download our free course prospectus to learn more about courses.