Program Overview

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About this Course

The Professional Doctorate in Orthodontics is a research qualification that contains Professional Skills Training. The Doctorate prepares candidates for the examinations of surgical Royal Colleges leading to the award of Membership in Orthodontics or further orthodontic qualifications.

Introduction

The programme fulfils the need for dental practitioners to have access to a higher dental degree which provides specialist clinical training in Orthodontics. The Professional Doctorate is a research qualification that contains Professional Skills Training. In addition, the Doctorate prepares candidates for the examinations of surgical Royal College leading to the award of Membership in Orthodontics or further orthodontic qualifications.

Who is this Course for?

This Programme is designed for those who are already a Graduate of Dental Surgery and wish to specialise. This is a 3-year full-time Doctorate programme comprising 540 credits. The programme has 120 credits at Level 7 and 60 credits at Level 8 in year one and 360 credits at level 8 in years two and three, totalling 540 credits, therefore making the DDSc a higher degree than a Masters degree.

Course Content

Discover what you'll learn, what you'll study, and how you'll be taught and assessed.

Year One

The DDSc is a 3-year full-time Doctorate programme comprising 540 credits. The programme has 180 credits in year one mostly at master's level and 360 credits in years two and three at doctorate level. All modules are mandatory i.e. must be passed, and make up the taught, clinical and research components of the programme. The programme consists of 5 core modules and 4 speciality specific modules.

Modules

• RESEARCH METHODS ONLINE (15 CREDITS) (CDEN207) - 15 credits
• COMMUNICATION, HEALTH PROMOTION AND CLINICAL GOVERNANCE (CDEN233) - 15 credits
• RESEARCH PROTOCOL (CDEN299) - 60 credits
• ORTHODONTIC PATIENT CLINICAL ASSESSMENT (CDEN201) - 30 credits
• ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT PLANNING (CDEN202) - 15 credits
• ORTHODONTIC APPLIANCES A (CDEN203) - 30 credits
• ORTHODONTIC APPLIANCES B (CDEN204) - 15 credits

Year Two

Modules

• GROWTH MODIFICATION AND ANCHORAGE (CDEN301) - 30 credits
• CLINICAL PRACTICE (CDEN303) - 60 credits

Year Three

Modules

• Clinical Research and Investigation (CDEN304)
• Doctoral Thesis (CDEN399)
• MULTIDISCIPLINARY ORTHODONTICS (CDEN302) - 30 credits
• CLINICAL PRACTICE (CDEN303) - 60 credits

Teaching and Assessment

The DDSc Orthodontics Programme is a clinical programme. Candidates are expected to be on clinic for 60% of their time. Clinical teaching is delivered through blended learning, including seminars, work-based discussions as well as face to face and online lectures.

How you'll Learn

The course includes both taught clinical components. In the first year of the programme, students are trained as specialists in Orthodontics in theory-based and clinical taught modules and begin to assess and treat patients.

How you're Assessed

The assessment strategy for the programme adopts a varied approach with individual modules tailoring the assessment to the specific skills and learning outcomes to be tested. For clinical work, students are assessed through specifically designed continuous assessments to evaluate the competency of the student in the clinical setting and so are graded pass/fail.

Your Experience

The DDSc orthodontics is a professional doctorate programme with heavy emphasis on clinical skills. The Orthodontics pathway prepares students for the Royal Colleges of Surgeons (RCS) examinations (MOrth) and has a research component required to become a specialist.

Supporting your Learning

From arrival to alumni, we're with you all the way:

• Careers and employability support, including help with career planning, understanding the job market and strengthening your networking skills
• A dedicated student services team can help you get assistance with your studies, help with health and wellbeing, and access to financial advice
• Confidential counselling and support to help students with personal problems affecting their studies and general wellbeing
• Support for students with differing needs from the Disability advice and guidance team

Careers and Employability

The DDSc orthodontic programme prepares students to become specialists in their field. Likely career destinations for graduates include:

• Specialist Orthodontic Practice (Orthodontist)
• Hospital Orthodontist or Consultant
• Clinical academia (University researcher/lecturer)

Career Support

Career planning, our campus Career Studio is a space for students and graduates to drop into and talk to a career coach. Career coaches are highly trained to help no matter what stage you are at in your career planning.

Fees and Funding

Your tuition fees, funding your studies, and other costs to consider.

Tuition Fees

• UK fees (applies to Channel Islands, Isle of Man and Republic of Ireland): Full-time place, per year - £22,150
• International fees: Full-time place, per year - £45,250

Additional Costs

We understand that budgeting for your time at university is important, and we want to make sure you understand any course-related costs that are not covered by your tuition fee. This could include buying a laptop, books, or stationery. The Clinical Research Support Costs help towards supporting students research and will cover the cost of consumable materials used during the course.

Entry Requirements

The qualifications and exam results you'll need to apply for this course.

Qualification Requirements

• We accept a 2:2 honours degree from a UK university, or an equivalent academic qualification from a similar non-UK institution.
• The programme is intended for graduates of BDS/BChD programmes or equivalent, with some vocational experience.
• Candidates for whom English is not their first language need to provide documentary evidence of their competency in English.
• The English Language Requirement for this programme is 7.0 in IELTS (minimum of 6.5 in each of the subtests) or equivalent.

English Language Requirements

You'll need to demonstrate competence in the use of English language, unless you're from a majority English speaking country. We accept a variety of international language tests and country-specific qualifications.

Accepted English Language Tests

• IELTS: 7.0 overall, with no component below 6.5
• TOEFL iBT: 100 overall, with minimum scores of listening 21, writing 21, reading 21 and speaking 23
• Duolingo English Test: 135 overall, with writing not less than 140, speaking and reading not less than 125, and listening not below 120
• Pearson PTE Academic: 69 overall, with no component below 61
• LanguageCert Academic: 75 overall, with no skill below 70
• PSI Skills for English: C1 Pass in all bands
• INDIA Standard XII: National Curriculum (CBSE/ISC) - 75% and above in English. Accepted State Boards - 80% and above in English
• WAEC: C6 or above

Pre-sessional English

Do you need to complete a Pre-sessional English course to meet the English language requirements for this course? The length of Pre-sessional English course you'll need to take depends on your current level of English language ability.