Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to (a) improve retention of student doctors and (b) ensure that they receive adequate funding throughout their studies.

Health Education England is working with medical schools and university infrastructure to provide academic support and pastoral care to ensure students can successfully complete their course. In years one to four of an undergraduate course, domestic students can access student loans from Student Finance England. From year five of an undergraduate course and year two of a graduate-entry course, the non-repayable NHS Bursary can be accessed. This comprises payment for tuition fees, a non-means-tested grant and a further means-tested award. These funding arrangements are reviewed annually.