§ Andrew MackinlayTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will increase the level of support available for those students in higher education who are on longer courses and those with higher equipment costs with specific reference to medicine and dentistry. [49806]
§ Margaret Hodge[holding answer 17 April 2002]: Student support is already available for the full length of a designated undergraduate course regardless of the duration of the course. From 2002–03, in recognition that they need to study on longer courses, medical and dental students in their fifth and any subsequent years will receive from the Department of Health about half their support as non-repayable grants (with the remainder as loans from the Student Loans Company). Students on longer courses, including medical and dental students, are eligible to apply to their universities for additional £500 Hardship Loans and grants from the Hardship Fund.