Dental Study Leave

This guidance applies to Dental Core Training and Dental Specialty Training programmes in the South West, including academic programmes. It should be read alongside the NHS England Study Leave Guidance.

No. Foundation Dentists and those on the Early Years programme in the primary care element attend a mandatory study programme and are not entitled to additional study leave. Any exception is at the discretion of the Postgraduate Dental Dean.

Study leave exists to help doctors and dentists in training meet the requirements of their curriculum. Discretionary study leave may also be approved for activities that enhance medical or dental knowledge, support patient care, or contribute to personal development. Dentists in training are responsible for understanding the guidance and following the correct study leave process.

Approved courses are listed in the South West Dental Study Leave Matrix for Dental Core Training and Dental Specialty Training programmes. Requests outside the matrix will not  be accepted. Each approved course also lists which expenses may be claimed.

All requests should be made in advance using the Accent Leave Manager system. Before applying, you should check that your request aligns with the South West Dental Study Leave Matrix. Requests outside the matrix will not be supported.

After identifying your study leave requirement, you must obtain the relevant approvals, including Educational and Rota Manager approval. If these approvals are not provided, the application will be declined. Once submitted via Accent, the NHS England South West team will review the request and either approve or decline it. If it is declined, you will be told the reason.

Yes, once your application has been approved, you may be eligible to claim expenses. Eligible expenses for each approved study leave event are listed in the approved course matrix and should be checked before applying. Some courses do not allow the full course fee to be claimed, so you may need to cover part of the cost yourself. Travel and subsistence are paid in line with the NHS doctors and dentists in training Terms and Conditions.

After your study leave application is approved, NHS England will inform your employing trust which expenses are eligible to be claimed, such as full or half course fees, or travel and subsistence only. You are expected to use the most cost-effective way of attending study leave. Reimbursement is then made through your employing trust’s expenses process.

If you have any queries, please contact england.dentalstudyleave.sw@nhs.net