Skip to content

Dental Students

 If you are currently a dental student (studying for a BDS or BChD) who is living in the UK and has insufficient incoming funds this academic year to afford your essential expenses (e.g. food, accommodation, travel, bills), then we are here to support you. 

Watch the video to learn more about our process and how we help. Then click the ‘application form’ button to access the application form.

Students should access all available support and apply to their university’s hardship funds and NHS bursary hardship funds prior to requesting support from us

Dental student applications cover the whole academic year – September to September and therefore we only consider one request per academic year. 

Keep scrolling for access our other servies – free wellbeing support including the 24/7 helpline, wellbeing apps and 1:1 counselling as well as advice on finances, some useful links and budgetting tips.

Want to know what other Dental Students told us about their financial and wellbeing challenges they faced through dental school? Watch the below video summarising the research findings from our student surveys.

Student Finance

The following information is to help you navigate your finances whilst at university.

Budgeting and Planning

The UCAS Calculator helps youunderstand the average costs at your university.

Student Loan

Student loans are available to help you
pay for tuition fees and help with living
costs (aka maintenance loan).  You will have to apply for funding through the student finance organisation (England, NI, Scotland, Wales).

University Hardship Fund

Each institution is different and so the best way is to search ‘university hardship’ + your institution and the relevant eligibility and application process should come up. Please note that often these are only open at set times throughout the year so check on the application deadlines.
If your loan is insufficient to meet your living costs (i.e. rent, food, clothing, bills, travel and books and equipment for your course), then these are the options open to you;
Work out what the full loan should be and if you are receiving less than this. The amount of loan you are offered is means tested and based on your parent’s income with the assumption that they will contribute. It also differs depending on which country and part of the country (i.e. London or outside London) and if you will be living with your parents.
Speak to your parents or guardians and ask if they can help to make up the difference.
If your parents’ circumstances have changed, you can put in a request to appeal the amount given (search ‘student finance appeal’ + your relevant country)
Minimise your expenditure wherever possible and make sure that you are not overspending whilst maintaining a healthy lifestyle. The budget calculator will help.
Check that you are accessing all types of support including your full student loan, the NHS bursary (in later academic years), university hardship funding and the university’s scholarship/ bursaries/ departmental funding as well as any pre-agreed overdrafts.

Get support in other ways

You can also get support with your wellbeing including counselling, legal and debt advice via our Assistance Programme in partnership with Health Assured via a 24/7 helpline, smartphone app or online wellbeing content.

Dr Austin Banner

Vice-Chairman

  • Trustee since 2010
  • Dental speciality – Retired consultant Orthodontist
  • County – Southern Counties
  • I am a Past President of the BDA Southern Counties Branch with extensive experience in committee, management, teaching, and training.

Dr Peter Crooks

Trustee

  • Trustee since 2020
  • Dental Speciality – General Dental Practitioner
  • County – Antrim, Northern Ireland
  • I am the representative of the Principal Executive Committee of the BDA on the BDA Benevolent Fund Board. I hope to continue and foster the close working relationship between the Charity and the BDA, of whose members are also members of the charity. I’m also a Director and Secretary of a charitable company – CHEERS Youth Centre

Dr Molly Deykin

Trustee

  • Trustee since 2020
  • Dental speciality – General Dental Practitioner
  • County – London
  • I have been involved in student support groups and I was elected British Dental Student Association President. I worked with the Sands Cox Charity when I was the Dental School Society Vice-President. After graduating I was the Foundation Dentist Representative on the BDA Young Dentists Committee.

Dr Allan Franklin

Trustee

  • Trustee since 2003
  • Dental speciality – General Dental Practitioner for 35 years
  • County – Oldham/ Rochdale
  • I am the Chairman of BDA Oldham & Rochdale Section (and previous Secretary). Chairman for the E.Lancs & E Cheshire Branch of BDA in charge of section regeneration. Previous Chairman of British Society for Dental Hypnosis (as it was then) and involved in Local Dental Committees.

Dr Alex Gormley

Trustee

  • Trustee since 2020
  • Dental Speciality – Academic Clinical Fellow at the University of Bristol
  • County – Bristol
  • I have worked in primary dental care and a maxillofacial unit since graduation. I am continuing my dental core training alongside academic training at the University of Bristol. I also serve as the Early Career Representative as an invited board member at the FDS at the Royal College of Surgeons of England.

Dr Chris Hayward

Treasurer

  • Trustee since 2013
  • Dental speciality – Associate Specialist in Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Lead Clinician Dental Emergency Department Newcastle Dental Hospital, Honorary  Clinical Lecturer Newcastle Dental School
  • County – Newcastle/ Northern Counties
  • I have been active in the BDA at Section, Branch, and National Levels. I was a member of the Rep Board/Body; a former member of the BDA PEC; a Director of International Affairs; and the previous BDA Board.

Dr Philip Henderson

Trustee

  • Trustee since 2006
  • Dental Speciality-Principal Practice Owner and in General Dental Service for 37 years.
  • County – Antrim, Northern Ireland
  • I have been a Church Elder for 34 years with pastoral care responsibility Local Dental Adviser for Dental Protection including attending GDC Hearings and Probity work in NHS Current member “Probing Dental Stress” group in N.I.
  • Past: LDC Chair, N.I.DPC Chair, Northern Ireland Branch BDA President, Director of the BDA’s PEC for two terms

Dr Ros Keeton

Chairman

  • Trustee since 2008
  • Dental Specialty – Leadership and management of Dental Services
  • County – Shropshire
  • I am an experienced NHS Chief Executive and health care leader who combines a dental background with substantial leadership experience. I am also a Chairman of a specialist hospice and EOL charity Compton Care. I am a passionate and committed advocate for dentists in distress.

Dr Stuart Robson

Trustee

  • Trustee since 2006
  • Dental speciality – A General Dental Practitioner
  • County– North Yorkshire
  • Former President of BDA 1999- 2000, previous Vice-Chairman of BDA Council and also Dental Services Committee. On behalf of North Yorkshire LDC, was organiser and lead of the North Yorkshire PASS (Practitioner Advice and Support Scheme) preventing some dentist with problems having dire financial and professional difficulties.

Dr Bill Creedon

Trustee

  • Trustee since 2014
  • Dental speciality – GDP
  • County – Hampshire
  • I have been in general practice for over 20 years as a practice owner in Southampton. The last four years I have been also working at Kings College, London. I am Chair of the BDA’s Wessex branch and Vice Chairman of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight LDC.