Oral Health Science MSc

What is special about this course?

The exciting and innovative MSc Oral Health Science is the first of its kind. A customised programme for qualified, registered dental therapists, it will also be of direct relevance and interest to other clinical dental professionals, including dentists.

Clinical topics include periodontology, paediatrics, prevention, and direct restorations, as well as subjects related to leadership, management, and communication. Through focused research at Masters level, you will gain the skills and opportunity to develop your role in the evolving dental teams of the future.

The course is designed to provide innovative education by using online delivery whilst linking closely to your clinical practice within your professional setting. There is a particular focus on studying treatment approaches for patients with extensive periodontitis, as well as the treatment of children, especially those who may be anxious.

Prevention plays an important role and this method will be examined in practice. The work of a dental therapist, in particular, focuses on the use of direct restorations, so you will also investigate different approaches to treatment and materials. 

The programme meets the QAA benchmarks for dentistry in terms of prevention, treatment, knowledge, and understanding, and in the development of skills and attitudes in the postgraduate student through analysis, evaluation, critical exploration, and treatment approaches.

Special features

• Completely on-line
• Access to personal academic tutors 
• Optional modules available
• Virtual learning environment and innovative communication with tutors and other students
• Flexible learning enables you to continue working
• Investigate and apply skills attained during the BSc Oral Health Science
• Meets all of the General Dental Council's domains of practice for educational and continuing professional development (CPD)
• Single-qualified dental hygienists and dental therapists are encouraged to apply for a bespoke route to Masters
• Directly related to the clinical work of the hygienist and therapist but also of interest to others, including dentists

Entry requirements

• This course is suitable for dental hygienist/therapists and dentists, with a BSc Oral Health Science or above, a Diploma in Dental Hygiene and Therapy, or an equivalent clinical qualification in Dentistry
• Applicants must be in clinical practice or have worked in clinical practice within the last two years
• Those with a single Diploma in Dental Hygiene or a Diploma in Dental Therapy may also apply, with evidence of an additional 3 years of clinical experience
• All applicants must be Registrants with the General Dental Council (GDC) at the time of study
• A bridging module may be an option for students who wish to undertake an introduction to Postgraduate learning prior to embarking on the course

PgCert

Therapists, dual-qualified therapists/hygienists, and dentists
You will select one core module from the following:

• Periodontology in practice
• Paediatric dentistry: a team approach
• Developing preventative practice
• Direct restorations in practice

You will also select two option modules from the following (students wishing to continue on to Masters must choose at least one of the Masters route modules, either during the PgCert or PgDip):

• Research methods and techniques - UN811989 (Masters route)
• Mixed methods and action research - UX311997 (Masters route)
• Periodontology in practice
• Paediatric dentistry: a team approach
• Developing preventative practice
• Direct restorations in practice
• Ethics in health and wellbeing - UM211981
• Leading the contemporary workforce - UN211014
• Effective communication - UP911001
• Introduction to lean healthcare quality improvement - UB711011
• Introduction to patient safety in integrated health and social care environments - UB911976
• Informatics in health and social care - UG410938

Single-qualified hygienists
You will study the following core module:

• Periodontology in Practice

You will also select two option modules from the following (students wishing to continue on to Masters must choose at least one of the Masters route modules, either during the PgCert or PgDip):

• Research methods and techniques - UN811989 (Masters route)
• Mixed methods and action research - UX311997 (Masters route)
• Ethics in health and wellbeing - UM211981
• Leading the contemporary workforce - UN211014
• Effective communication - UP911001
• Introduction to lean healthcare quality improvement - UB711011
• Introduction to patient safety in integrated health and social care environments - UB911976
• Informatics in health and social care - UG410938

PgDip

Therapists, dual-qualified therapists/hygienists, and dentists
You will select one of the remaining modules from the PgCert core module list:

• Periodontology in practice
• Paediatric dentistry: a team approach
• Developing preventative practice
• Direct restorations in practice

You will also select two of the remaining modules from the PgCert option module list (students wishing to continue on to Masters must choose at least one of the Masters route modules, either during the PgCert or PgDip):

• Research methods and techniques - UN811989 (Masters route)
• Mixed methods and action research - UX311997 (Masters route)
• Periodontology in practice
• Paediatric dentistry: a team approach
• Developing preventative practice
• Direct restorations in practice
• Ethics in health and wellbeing - UM211981
• Leading the contemporary workforce - UN211014
• Effective communication - UP911001
• Introduction to lean healthcare quality improvement - UB711011
• Introduction to patient safety in integrated health and social care environments - UB911976
• Informatics in health and social care - UG410938

Single-qualified hygienists
You will study the following core module:

• Developing preventative practice

You will also select two of the remaining modules from the PgCert option module list (students wishing to continue on to Masters must choose at least one of the Masters route modules, either during the PgCert or PgDip):

• Research methods and techniques - UN811989 (Masters route)
• Mixed methods and action research - UX311997 (Masters route)
• Ethics in health and wellbeing - UM211981
• Leading the contemporary workforce - UN211014
• Effective communication - UP911001
• Introduction to lean healthcare quality improvement - UB711011
• Introduction to patient safety in integrated health and social care environments - UB911976
• Informatics in health and social care - UG410938

MSc

To achieve the award of MSc, you will complete a final project or dissertation.

Fees

For students normally domiciled in Scotland, with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:

This includes

• EU nationals with settled or pre-settled status in the UK,
• EEA/Swiss nationals with settled status in the UK
• EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.

Rest of UK students

For students normally domiciled in the rest of the UK (England, Wales and N. Ireland) or assessed as rest of the UK for fee status, the following fees apply:

Fees are payable in advance each academic year unless otherwise agreed.

This course is not available to students domiciled outside of the UK or for international students requiring Student Route visa sponsorship to study in the UK. For students living in the UK and assessed as international fee status, the following fees will apply:

This includes EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are not self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.

A no fee increase guarantee is available for self-funding full-time and structured part-time rest of the UK, EU and international postgraduate students for continuous study for the same award, up to the permitted standard time limit for the relevant award.

Funding

Eligible Scotland-domiciled students studying part-time can apply for a tuition fee loan from SAAS. You must be intending to complete the course in no longer than twice the length of time it would take for a full-time student. For example, if your course is available to full-time students as a one-year programme, you will be funded for a maximum of two years' part-time study. If your course does not have a full-time option, you must complete within three years. You can apply for a tuition fee loan up to £5,500, which will be paid pro-rata for each academic year of study. 

Full details can be found on the SAAS website. Applications for loans open in April.

Students from the rest of the UK who meet the eligibility requirements may be able to apply for a loan from the Student Loan Company.