Attitudes of Undergraduate Dental Students to Proposed NHS ‘Tie-in’ for Graduate Dentists in the United Kingdom

Aims: To explore the attitudes of UK undergraduate dental students towards a proposed mandatory National Health Service (NHS) ‘tie-in’ period following graduation, in which newly qualified dentists would be required to work in the NHS for a minimum period in return for publicly funded training. Methods: An online survey was distributed to elected representatives of the British Dental Association (BDA) Students Committee across all 16 UK dental schools. Quantitative data assessed agreement with government consultation proposals, preferred incentives to encourage NHS participation, and overall support for compulsory service. Free-text responses were analysed thematically. Results: The survey received responses from 32 representatives. Most students opposed the proposed mandatory NHS ‘tie-in’, with 41% strongly opposing and 10% opposing. Financial incentives were the most acceptable approach, with 56% favouring loan repayment schemes and 22% favouring guaranteed training posts. Free-text responses highlighted three key themes: financial support, career progression, and NHS contract reform. Attitudes towards mandatory service varied by year group and familiarity with policy discussions. Students expressed concern that compulsory NHS service could undermine recruitment, reduce professional autonomy, and fail to address underlying workforce challenges. Conclusions: UK dental students demonstrate strong preference for voluntary engagement with the NHS supported by financial and career incentives, rather than compulsion. These findings have implications for workforce planning, suggesting that recruitment and retention strategies should focus on aligning NHS opportunities with graduate motivations and wellbeing. Future research should examine the long-term impact of different workforce incentive models on dental career pathways, NHS engagement, and service sustainability.