Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what funding options has he considered for international students who require financial assistance to travel to placements in NHS Trusts.

Eligible international students can receive Travel and Dual Accommodation Expenses (TDAE) through the NHS Learning Support Fund and the NHS Bursary. The eligibility criteria for TDAE provided via both the Learning Support Fund and NHS Bursary mirrors the guidance in the Education (Student Fees, Awards and Support) (Amendment) Regulations 2021. International students undertaking an undergraduate medical degree, within the Office for Student intake target, are eligible to receive travel and accommodation support through the education and training tariff.

While the Government is not currently considering increasing existing funding options for international students that undertake placements in National Health Service trusts, we continue to keep funding under review.