University intake targets for Prosthetics and Orthotics 2026-27
Purpose
- I am writing to announce the university intake targets for the pre-registration BSc (Hons) Prosthetics and Orthotics programme for Academic Year (AY) 2026-27.
Background
- In Spring 2020, SFC was advised of the intention of the Scottish Government (SG) to make pre-registration BSc (Hons) Prosthetics and Orthotics (P&O) education a controlled subject. The University of Strathclyde is the sole provider of a Prosthetics and Orthotics programme in Scotland, and until this point the SG had issued a direct grant letter to the University.
- In 2021, a four-year transition period was approved which would see funding for P&O being transferred from the SG to SFC. The final year of the transition period was AY 2025-26; from AY 2026-27 P&O will be managed in a similar manner to other controlled subjects.
Intake target for AY 2026-27
- The overall university intake target for Prosthetics and Orthotics in AY 2026-27, as recommended by the Chief Nursing Officer’s (CNO) Directorate, is 25 students with ‘home fee’ status.
- The University Final Funding Allocations for AY 2026-27 will confirm the final funded places and funding for P&O.
- As referenced above, in setting this intake target, SFC received guidance from the SG’s CNO Directorate – see Annex A.
Rest of UK and international students
- The intake targets in this announcement relate to Scottish-domiciled/’home fee’ students eligible for funding (SEFF) only. The University of Strathclyde may recruit students from the rest of the UK (rUK) and international students at its discretion, provided there is evidence of sufficient practice placements available for SEFF.
Monitoring
- The University of Strathclyde should return information on students on their P&O programme to SFC through their annual Early Statistic Returns. Details of the information required will be published in the annual Early Statistic Return Notes of Guidance on the SFC website.
- The University is also expected to provide annual information to the CNO Directorate where possible on the destination of graduates from its P&O programme. Such monitoring will help to ensure that there are enough students to satisfy the workforce needs of the NHS and that accurate data is held on where students may subsequently be employed.
Under-recruitment policy
- SFC will operate an under-recruitment policy for the P&O programme in AY 2026-27 and we may recover funding if the University of Strathclyde under-recruits against its funded student places, subject to a tolerance of 5 FTE or 5%, whichever is greater. This is subject to consideration of any mitigating evidence provided by the University.
- If it is agreed that recovery should take place, we will recover Main Teaching Grant equivalent to that associated with the recruitment below the tolerance threshold.
Over-recruitment policy
- SFC will operate an over-recruitment policy for P&O in AY 2026-27. The University of Strathclyde may be liable for a financial penalty if it exceeds its intake by more than 10%. This is subject to consideration of any mitigating evidence provided by the University.
- If it is agreed that any financial penalty should be applied, the penalty will reflect the additional tuition fee income associated with those students recruited above the tolerance threshold.
Further information
- Please contact the Funding team, Investment & Research Directorate, tel: 0131 313 6500, email: funding@sfc.ac.uk.
Tiffany Ritchie
Acting Director of Finance
SFC Strategic Plan 2022-27
Building a connected, agile, sustainable tertiary education and research system for Scotland.