Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when he plans to publish the funding arrangements for new pre-registration dental hygiene and dental therapy students who are starting courses on or after 1 August 2018.

The Department for Health and Social Care published an updated policy paper on GOV.UK (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/healthcare-education-funding-for-postgraduate-and-dental-students/healthcare-education-funding-for-postgraduate-and-dental-students) on 6 April 2018. This explains the funding arrangements for new pre-registration dental hygiene and dental therapy students starting courses on or after 1 August 2018.

From 1 August 2018, most pre-registration dental hygiene and dental therapy students will be able to access the standard student loan package and the Learning Support Fund.

For the cohort starting in 2018 to 2019 only, students at five specific institutions will continue to have access to an NHS bursary for the duration of their course. These providers will be required to reform their courses to fit the standard model from August 2019.