Postgraduate Dental Courses
This table lists the names and telephone numbers of universities and colleges where you can study for postgraduate degrees and diplomas.
University dental schools in the UK offer postgraduate programmes in a variety of dental subjects. The postgraduate courses offered may be: Diplomas, Masters or Doctorates. When choosing a course you need to consider the reason for studying in the UK and the usefulness of the course to you when you return to your home country. While you are a postgraduate student in the UK you will have a Tier 4 visa with your university being the sponsor. Universities in the UK do not usually consider applicants for Master’s degree courses, who have just completed their undergraduate studies to qualify as a dentist. It is better to have at least two years’ experience of general dentistry before applying for a higher degree course.
Length of courses
The length of courses will vary depending on whether the course is full time or part time, and may take from one to two years, or in a few cases up to five years.
Fees
Overseas student rates are likely to be applicable for candidates from outside the EEA. Make sure your funding is sufficient to cover your course fees, living costs and accommodation in the UK. When you make your application for a visa to study in the UK you will need to show that you have sufficient funds to cover all these expenses. In general, degrees offering an element of clinical training will be more expensive than non-clinical degrees.
When you start looking at university websites you will need to be very clear about whether you will be charged “home student fees” or “overseas student fees”. Please remember that living in the UK for three years does not automatically entitle you to pay “home student fees”. In order to be eligible for “home student fees” you must first have settled immigration status in the UK before your course begins. Settled means that you are a British Citizen or have the right of abode or indefinite leave to remain in the UK. More details can be found on the UKCISA website.
Types of Degree
MSc courses will give you an in depth knowledge of a particular subject. Some postgraduate degree courses enable postgraduate students to embark on a programme leading to eligibility to enter for specialist membership examinations with one of the UK Royal Colleges. You must always check this aspect with your course organiser before enrolling.
Other factors you need to consider include:
- is it a research degree or a taught course?
- are you applying for a dental postgraduate degree as opposed to a more general or non-dental postgraduate degree/diploma which may be considerably cheaper but have limited relevance for dentistry?
Travel to the UK or distance learning degree?
Do you want to study for a higher degree but would find it difficult to leave home to live in the UK for the duration of a degree course? You may have family commitments or be unable to afford to give up practice whilst studying in the UK. If this is the case then you should consider a distance learning course. There are several universities that offer this sort of programme in the UK. The university that has pioneered these courses is Kings College London.
After being awarded a postgraduate degree in the UK
A postgraduate degree (MSc or PhD) is not an alternative route to becoming a dentist in the UK. If you are required to sit a registration examination you will need to pass either the ORE or the LDS to go on the GDC register.
Always remember that registration as a dentist in the UK with your name entered on the Dental Register is an entirely separate consideration from your eligibility to enter, remain or work in the UK.