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Conscious Sedation for Dentistry PG Dip

Key information

Course type

Diploma

Delivery mode

On campus

Duration

Nine months, January to September. Clinical attendance is part-time - one day per week, January to July, alongside self-directed study. In addition, seven study days and at least two assessment days are attended on campus.

Credit value (UK/ECTS equivalent)

UK 120/ECTS 60

Application status

Closed

Start date

January 2026

Key benefits

• High levels of exposure to the clinical environment at Guy's Hospital with its diverse patient population.
• Close expert supervision, to gain competence and confidence in treating patients under conscious sedation
• Compliant with the IACSD national guidelines
• Clinical sessions one day per week

Course essentials

You will study applied basic sciences, conscious sedation, inhalation/intravenous sedation techniques and management of possible complications. The course is based on self-directed learning, and you will undertake an epidemiological or case-study-based project report with a literature review, in addition to a minimum of 22 days of supervised clinical practice. There will be introductory days in January 2026 with additional study days (total of 7) and assessment days (at least two additional days as well as assessment on regular supervised clinical days).

Course Aims

• The course is designed for dentists already engaged in the provision of sedation for dentistry, or planning to develop a service, as well as those involved in teaching conscious sedation techniques. It will provide practitioners with the knowledge and skills to use a wide range of conscious sedation techniques with confidence and safety.

Base campus

Guy’s Campus

The Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, and the Institute of Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience are based at the riverside Guy's Campus, next to the Shard.

Please note that locations are determined by where each module is taught and may vary depending on the modules you study.

Regulating bodies

King's is regulated by the Office for Students

Entry requirements

UK applicants

Standard requirements

A recognised undergraduate dental qualification

Programme-Specific Requirements

A recognised, formal dental qualification is required with a minimum of 3 years post-qualification experience.

Applicants should demonstrate a focused interest in conscious sedation with the specified intent to provide sedation services in their place of work.

Since this programme requires clinical activity that falls within the scope of practice of a dentist, applicants should ensure that they either have full registration as a dentist with the General Dental Council or are able to obtain temporary registration. It is not possible to hold two forms of registration concurrently (for example, full registration as a Dental Care Professional and temporary registration as a Dentist).

International applicants

Equivalent International qualifications

International applicants are required to have a Dental degree from a recognised institution. The recognised status of an institution will be assessed after submission of an application.

English language requirements

English language band:

D

To study at King's, it is essential that you can communicate in English effectively in an academic environment. You are usually required to provide certification of your competence in English before starting your studies.

Nationals of majority English speaking countries (as defined by the UKVI) who have permanently resided in this country are not usually required to complete an additional English language test. This is also the case for applicants who have successfully completed an undergraduate degree (of at least three years duration), a postgraduate taught degree (of at least one year), or a PhD in a majority English speaking country (as defined by the UKVI) within five years of the course start date.

For information on our English language requirements and whether you need to complete an English language test, please see our English Language requirements page.

Selection process

Applications must be made online using King's Apply, the Admissions Portal. A non-refundable application fee of £85 applies.

Completed applications for January 2026 entry (which consist of an online application form, two references, a transcript of previous degrees and a CV) should be submitted by the deadline date of 15 September 2025.

Applications will be considered on an ongoing basis until the closing date. Candidates will be shortlisted for interviews and interviews will not be offered until after the closing date.

Interviews for shortlisted candidates will take place in autumn 2025.

Personal statement and supporting information

You will be asked to submit the following documents in order for your application to be considered:

• Personal Statement | Yes | A personal statement is required. This can be entered directly into the online application form (maximum 4,000 characters) or uploaded as an attachment to the online application form (maximum 2 pages). Applicants should demonstrate a focused interest in conscious sedation.
• Previous Academic Study | Yes | A copy (or copies) of your official academic transcript(s), showing the subjects studied and marks obtained. If you have already completed your degree, copies of your official degree certificate will also be required. Applicants with academic documents issued in a language other than English, will need to submit both the original and official translation of their documents.
• References | Yes | One academic reference is required. A professional reference will be accepted if you have completed your qualifications over five years ago.
• Other | Yes | Please submit a separate CV in addition to the application form.

Teaching & structure

Teaching methods - what to expect

• Lectures
• Seminars
• Supervised clinical practice
• Self-Study
• Set essays and dissertation

Teaching
Lectures, seminars and education supervision: 70-100 hours
Self-study, set essays and dissertation: hours
Supervised clinical practice and feedback: 200-300 hours

We will use a delivery method that will ensure students have a rich, exciting experience from the start. Face to face teaching will be complemented and supported with innovative technology so that students also experience elements of digital learning and assessment. This course is taught at King’s College London's Guy’s Campus.

Assessment

• Assessment on the programme is both formative and summative and can take the form of seen/unseen written examinations, single best answer questions, unseen case presentations, oral and practical examinations and dissertations. The programme handbook will provide more specific detail of assessment within modules.

Extra information

As we are seeking to identify your suitability for this clinical environment, we expect our interviewees to adopt the dress code required of clinical dental students at King's. Further information will be given should you choose to apply. Entry to the programme is strictly dependent upon occupational health clearance that you are able to conduct exposure prone procedures (EPPs) before you start clinical work. This will assess your hepatitis B surface antigen and hepatitis C antibody status, HIV and TB status following the completion of a health questionnaire and a further health check before or at enrolment.

If offered a place on the course, overseas students are advised to be tested locally and send the results of these checks with the questionnaire, prior to a separate full test in the UK at the College's Occupational Health Department before the term begins. All offers of a place on a programme are made subject to a satisfactory criminal conviction disclosure. If you are from overseas or have never lived in the UK before, you should contact the relevant authorities in your home country to arrange for the equivalent check to be conducted and/or a certificate of good conduct to be issued.

The study time and assessment methods detailed above are typical and give you a good indication of what to expect. However, they are subject to change.

Structure

Required modules

Courses are divided into modules. You will normally take modules totalling 120 credits. Typically, one credit equates to 10 hours of work. You are required to take:

• Science of Conscious Sedation (45 credits)
• Clinical Conscious Sedation (45 credits)
• Conscious Sedation: Literature Review, Critical Appraisal (30 credits)

King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-to-date, innovative and relevant programmes of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for updates.

Please note that modules with a practical component will be capped due to educational requirements, which may mean that we cannot guarantee a place to all students who elect to study this module.

Careers

Employability

The course is designed for dentists already engaged in the provision of sedation for dentistry, or planning to develop a service, as well as those involved in teaching conscious sedation techniques. It will provide practitioners with the knowledge and skills to use a wide range of conscious sedation techniques with confidence and safety.

Fees & Funding

Tuition Fees

UK:

Full time: £10,125 per year (2025/26) - course starts January 2026

Part time: N/A

International:

Full time: £17,000 per year (2025/26) - course starts January 2026

Part time: N/A

These tuition fees may be subject to additional increases in subsequent years of study, in line with King’s terms and conditions.

Deposit

If you receive an offer for this programme, you will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit to secure your place. Deposit payments are credited towards the total tuition fee payment.

The Home deposit is £500.

The International deposit is £2,000.

• If you receive an offer between 1 September and 31 October, payment is due within two weeks of receiving the offer.
• If you receive an offer between 1 November and 30 November, payment is due within one week from the offer date.
• If you receive an offer from 1 December, payment is due within three days from the offer date.

If you are a current King’s student in receipt of the King's Living Bursary this academic year you are not required to pay a deposit to secure your place on the programme. Please note, this will not change the total fees payable for your chosen programme.

Please visit our web pages on fees and funding for more information.

Additional Costs

In addition to your tuition costs, you can also expect to pay for:

• Clinical tunics
• Costs for local occupational health checks for overseas students prior to course commencement
• DBS checks or equivalent criminal conviction disclosure checks; approximately £50 for an initial check and ongoing subscription at £13 per year. Check the government website for further information
• Clothing for optional course related events and competitions
• Travel, accommodation and subsistence for face-to-face training
• Internet access
• Computer equipment
• Books if you choose to buy your own copies
• Library fees and fines
• Personal photocopies
• Printing course materials
• Society membership fees
• Conference attendance (optional)
• Stationery
• Binding for logbooks/dissertations – binding is not necessary but is optional
• Examination fees (if not taken at venue in London)
• Graduation costs

Funding

To find out more about bursaries, scholarships, grants, tuition fees, living expenses, student loans, and other financial help available at King's please visit the Fees and Funding section.

Application closing date guidance

We recommend that you submit your application as soon as possible as we may need to request further information from you to assess your application. This is particularly important if your application is successful, and you are required to meet any conditions and/or you need a Student Visa to study at King’s.

The application deadline will be on 15 September 2025 (23:59 UK time).

Related courses in this study area

Operative Dentistry PG Dip Endodontics MSc Fixed & Removable Prosthodontics MClinDent Aesthetic Dentistry MSc

Key information

Course type

Diploma

Delivery mode

On campus

Duration

Nine months, January to September. Clinical attendance is part-time - one day per week, January to July, alongside self-directed study. In addition, seven study days and at least two assessment days are attended on campus.

Credit value (UK/ECTS equivalent)

UK 120/ECTS 60

Application status

Closed

Start date

January 2026

Contact us

King's College London Strand London WC2R 2LS United Kingdom

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