Healthcare education funding for postgraduate, dental hygiene and dental therapy students
Updated 31 May 2018
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1. Parliamentary process
Regulations implementing the following changes for the 2018 to 2019 academic year were laid on 6 February 2018.
2. Postgraduate students
From 1 August 2018, new pre-registration postgraduate nursing, midwifery and allied health students will have access to the same student loans system as other students. This applies to new students on pre-registration courses (those which lead to registration with one of the health professional regulators).
Courses affected:
- nursing (adult, child, mental health, learning and disability)
- midwifery
- dietetics
- occupational therapy
- orthoptics
- orthotics and prosthetics
- physiotherapy
- podiatry/chiropody
- radiography (diagnostic and therapeutic)
- speech and language therapy
- operating department practitioner
This change applies only to new postgraduate students from 1 August 2018.
3. Dental hygiene and dental therapy students
From 1 August 2018, the majority of new pre-registration undergraduate dental hygiene and/or dental therapy students will access the same student loans system as other students. This applies to new students on pre-registration courses (those which lead to registration with one of the health professional regulators). The majority of these courses will no longer be funded via NHS bursaries.
This change applies only to new dental hygiene/dental therapy students from 1 August 2018.
3.1 Arrangements for 2018 to 2019 for some providers of dental therapy/hygiene courses
The following providers running pre-registration courses in dental hygiene and dental therapy will remain on the NHS bursary system for 2018 to 2019 entrants only. Students applying for these courses for 2018 to 2019 entry should contact the NHS Business Services Authority and the provider directly for further information on the NHS bursary. These students will not be eligible for support from the Learning Support Fund:
- Birmingham Dental Hospital and School of Dentistry
- Bristol Dental School
- Eastman Dental Hospital
- King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
- Greater Manchester School for Dental Care Professionals
4. Background to the changes
On 1 August 2017 the government implemented the revised funding system for nursing, midwifery and some allied health professional students. Most new students are now funded through the standard loans system rather than through the NHS bursary scheme.
For new postgraduate pre-registration students and most dental hygiene and dental therapy students, changes from August 2018 bring support in line with changes made in August 2017 for other healthcare students.
The aim of the reforms is to provide a more sustainable model for universities while increasing the supply of nurses, midwives and allied health professionals to the NHS.
4.1 Learning Support Fund
To support students while undertaking the clinical placement element of their studies, and in addition to the student support allowances, the government is providing non-repayable grants. The Learning Support Fund administered through the NHS Business Services Authority makes available:
- £1,000 Child Dependants Allowance
- up to £3,000 for exceptional hardship
- reimbursement of additional travel and accommodation costs over normal daily travel to clinical placements
A revised economic impact assessment was published in July 2016 as part of the government’s consultation response Reforming healthcare education funding: creating a sustainable future workforce.
Following implementation of the policy, the intention is to look for suitable opportunities, including through existing stakeholder forums, to monitor developments.