Could Increased Fees Hamper The Future Of Dentistry?

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by: Bridget Waters
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Word Count: 354
Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2011 Time: 5:01 AM
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Changes in University funding could have a direct impact on any student thinking of studying dentistry.

The comments come after Lord Browne published his report into how Universities should be funded in the future. His report recommended a massive increase in student fees over the coming years.

While recent increases have luckily not affected the growth in applications, this could change if the proposed changes are too large; students may think twice if they end up having to pay back £30,000 or more, later in life.

Severely affected

If this does happen, dentistry could be severely affected. This is primarily because both medical and dentistry courses are longer than the normal 3 year degree. This means the mounting debts could well end up far greater than the typical student debt; some argue by as much as £100,000. The latter is most likely to occur if an unlimited fee is taken up by particular top end Universities.

The worry for future students is compounded when it is realised that the report comes out at a time when University funding is going to be severely diminished, resulting from Government spending cuts.

Is there even a job available?

One of the major worries for many people these days is whether they will either lose or have a job over the coming months or years. It is always a struggle for students just leaving University to find employment. This applies equally to medical and dental students as much as other general graduates.

The question therefore is whether future potential dentists will decide that it is not worth it for them to go to University to study dentistry. That said Lord Browne in his report has suggested the lower limit at which students are expected to repay their loans should be increased.

However whether a higher pay back limit will be sufficient to influence future students to study dentistry is yet to be tested. For the sake of the profession, hopefully it will be if Lord Browne's proposals are accepted.

About the Author

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