Tuition Loan For Second Degree

Hi I was hoping for clarification regrading whether or not I can get tuition loans for a 2nd degree in Dentistry. I have graduated with a BSc Hons in Neuroscience this past April and am started a 2nd degree in Dentistry this September. I will be due to graduate in 5 years time with a Bachelors of Dental Surgery as its a Undergraduate course at QMUL. I was made aware that since its my 2nd degree that I would not be eligible for tuition loans (I will link examples of the many sources that indicate this below), however my letter of confirmation said I am entitled and will send the money to my university. This greatly surprised me due to the amount of sources online saying I cannot and so I contacted over the phone just to make sure it wasn't a mistake. Over the phone the agent at first told me I am not eligible but then checked again and said I am, this back and forth finally concluded with her saying I am as it is a ELQ exemption but when I read online I believe this would only be true if its a part time course which it is not. To add to the confusion, when I contacted another agent through the live chat afterwards to confirm, they said I do qualify but when I asked if theres anything that explains why as what I read online contradicted this, they directed me to the NHS LSF page. As you can imagine this actually left me more unsure so I was hoping for some confirmation as I am worried this might have been a mistake and I am scared I will have to find a way to pay back the loan after having made my financial plans around this.
Any help would be immensely appreciated. Thank you.
Sources saying I can't get loans - https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/career-planning/study-and-training/considering-or-university/financial-support-university/financial-support-medical-and-dental-students
https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-9734/CBP-9734.pdf?

(edited 2 months ago)

Reply 1

SFE Clare

Official Rep

Hi boelee205,

Is the course undergraduate or graduate entry? Are you able to confirm the name of the university, course and course length please?

Thanks, Clare

Reply 2

boelee205

Original post

by SFE Clare

Hi boelee205,
Is the course undergraduate or graduate entry? Are you able to confirm the name of the university, course and course length please?
Thanks, Clare

Hi, its Undergraduate Dentistry at Queen Mary's University of London and it 5 years long

Reply 3

boelee205

Original post

by SFE Clare

Hi boelee205,
Is the course undergraduate or graduate entry? Are you able to confirm the name of the university, course and course length please?
Thanks, Clare

Sorry to send another message, I was wanted to ask if there is any information as I just got off the phone again with another agent and they again said I could get tuition loan, and I completely understand that the information online may not be accurate but if you could explain why I do actually qualify that would be great as I am very confused at the moment :smile:

Reply 4

Stephen SLC

Official Rep

Hi there, is this the course in question?

Funding Level : Undergraduate
Study Mode : Full-time
Course name : BDS FT Dentistry (Years 1 - 5)
Qualification : Bachelor Degree with Honours
Duration : 5 Years
Location : Whitechapel

Term 1 : 15/09/25 - 05/12/25
Term 2 : 06/01/26 - 02/04/26
Term 3 : 13/04/26 - 05/06/26

Hi there, Medicine and Dentistry courses ar classed as exception courses. However if a student already holds an Equivalant Level Qualification (ELQ), they are entitled to maintenance loan only for the first 4 years of the course. In the 5th year and any subsequent years of the course students are entitled to an income-assessed NHS bursary and, therefore, we award them the reduced rate of maintenance loan only. If applying for the course advised above, you would only be eligible under the ELQ route for maintenance loan only. Thanks, Stephen