Dental Specialty Training

Study leave includes:

Day release to attend regional teaching sessions
• Time taken for research and/or to undertake a higher qualification
• Examining or taking examinations
• Visiting clinics out with your normal timetable
• Attending professional courses or conferences.

Study leave is not an entitlement; however, as a full time Specialty Trainee you can apply to take up to 30 days per annum.  This is a pro rata figure and will be reduced for less than full time trainees.  Your study leave year starts the date you started the training programme.
 
When planning study leave you should be conscious that taking all 30 days, will have a considerable impact on your clinical training and experience and will also impact on your team. 
 
You need to think carefully about the value of the study leave to your development as a specialist.
 
Your study leave should be well planned and spread throughout your training.

Although all specialty trainees have the same access to study leave, your Training Programme Director (TPD) may have already allocated study leave days for regional teaching, for example for ST1 Orthodontists – the seminar programme leaves only a handful of days per year for flexible use. 
 
You are required to attend local/regional training sessions.  Where a topic is covered through local/regional teaching, study leave will not be approved for external courses (unless under exceptional circumstances and only with prior discussion with your ES and TPD).

Whilst there is no longer a “cap” on study leave budget, the South West study leave budget is finite and needs to be managed responsibly and equitably across Dental Core Training and Dental Specialty training. To ensure allocation of budget is as fair as possible, each specialty has a matrix of essential and discretionary course courses. Discretionary course may be part reimbursed depending on study leave budget availability.
 
The funding to NHSE for study leave has not kept pace with the rising costs of courses and conferences and the reality is that most trainees may need to partly/fully self-fund discretionary courses.  Please do bear this in mind when booking discretionary study leave courses.

NHSE SW holds your study leave budget and looks after the administration of this budget.
 
You should apply for study leave only if your Educational Supervisor (ES) has agreed that it is required to meet an aspect of curriculum not covered through local/regional teaching (see flow chart) and appears on the South West Study Leave approved course matrix.  You must have completed all Trust mandatory training, including induction, prior to requesting study leave time or funds.  When discussing your application you should provide your ES with a summary of the study leave you have already taken. 
 
When your ES has confirmed they are happy you and the course is in line with the study leave matrix, then you should submit a study leave application via Accent Leave Manager  
 
Any queries should be directed to england.dentalstudyleave.sw@nhs.net

You need to apply at least 6 weeks in advance.  However, some services will need greater notice for rota planning.

Yes, you need to take study leave even if you do not have clinical commitments on that day.

For most specialties one national conference will normally be funded during a three-year training programme.  However, you can apply to attend additional conferences if you are presenting a poster or giving a presentation. For smaller specialties your TPD or ES may recommend annual attendance.  Please refer to the study leave matrix for further guidance.

Normally you will be able to take a maximum of one week prior to an exam and up to two weeks in any calendar year but should be discussed with your educational supervisor

Yes, you will need to take study leave to sit the exam.  Your study leave application can include travel and subsistence for the exam for the first sitting, but you cannot claim the exam fee.  At one subsequent sitting time can be taken but no expenses can be claimed.
 
Please ensure that you retain enough days of study leave to enable you to resit exams

• Course/Conference fees
• Travel
• Subsistence
 
For further information please visit Approved Course Matrix

No, this should be taken as annual leave.

International study leave is not an entitlement, but an exception and should only occur when an equivalent is not available in the UK, or the international opportunity is cheaper than the UK equivalent in total. If approved NHSE will consider funding either the full cost of the conference fee or the full cost of economy travel and accommodation whichever is the lower amount. You are encouraged to apply for a grant to attend any overseas meetings.

Special leave is not normally available to trainees.  However, your employer may grant special leave in exceptional circumstances.

You are not eligible for funding within a Period of Grace as study leave funds are used for meeting Certificate of Completion of (Specialty) Training requirements.

Interview practice (including for consultant interviews) is usually provided locally within training programmes as part of career guidance, funded from study leave budgets. Where appropriate in-house courses are available, funding for private interview courses will not be approved, although there is Dean’s discretion for exceptional circumstances.