Program Overview

Advanced Dental Nursing Professional Practice Top-Up BSc (Hons)

Top-up your dental nursing qualification to a BSc (Hons) degree in two years full-time or four years part-time while you develop advanced clinical and leadership skills.

Key Information

UCAS Code:

B755

Typical Offer:

120 HE credits at level 4 (Certificate) in Dental Nursing related subjects

Study Mode and Duration

• 2 years full-time
• 4 years part-time

Start Date

September 2025

Course Information

Overview

Whether you’re due to graduate with a GDC accredited CertHE Dental Nursing or other Level 4 Dental Nursing Qualification, or you’re a practising dental nurse and keen to develop your career, this Advanced Dental Nursing Professional Practice degree will boost your prospects. It enables you to top-up your existing qualifications to a BSc (Hons) degree in just 2 years full-time or 4 years part-time.

You'll develop your clinical skills and learn to become more interactive with patient care and to improve skill mix within the dental team. You'll gain graduate skills to help you progress into senior dental nursing roles and practice at a higher level. Employers recognise the part that dental nurses with advanced skills contribute to improving dental care across the UK. As demand for dental care services continues to rise, you’ll be well placed to take advantage of opportunities to grow your role.

Course Highlights

• Broaden your clinical skills in areas ranging from impression taking to radiography
• Get ready for opportunities as a lead dental nurse, clinical coordinator or practice manager by developing knowledge and skills in mentorship and clinical audit
• Develop demonstrable skills in leadership and decision-making, communication and managing people
• Build your credibility for senior roles by gaining knowledge and understanding of clinical governance
• Apply your learning in the community as part of a clinical student team, treating real patients via the University of Portsmouth Dental Academy and its outreach projects
• Become an Oral Health Practitioner, providing preventative advice and procedures in community and clinical environments

Entry Requirements

Typical Offer (September 2025 start)

• UCAS points – 120 HE credits at level 4 (Certificate) in dental nursing related subjects.
• Applicants with Dental Nurse GDC Registration and sufficient level 5 credits from FDSc or DipHE or equivalent Dental Nursing education programmes can apply for direct entry (with advanced standing) to level 6, subject to RPL.
• All applicants must have a qualification that is recognised by the GDC and allows them to work as a dental nurse in the UK.

Selection Process

• All shortlisted applicants will be invited to attend an interview in support of their application. Applicants must pass Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and Occupational Health checks before starting the course.

English Language Requirements

• English Language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5 with no component score below 6.0.

Facilities and Clinics

Discover our dental facilities

Gain experience developing your skills and prepare for a career in dentistry with our dental facilities.

Careers and Opportunities

Now is the ideal time to boost your career potential with this BSc (Hons) Advanced Dental Nursing Professional Practice (Top-Up). Health Education England’s Advancing Dental Care Review 2021 recommends building up the capabilities of dental professionals. It calls for better use of the skills mix and multi-disciplinary teamworking within dental care services.

If you’re already working professionally as a dental nurse, you will almost certainly have noticed that demand on dental services is rising. Increasingly, dental nurses will be expected to carry out more direct patient care and senior roles, as well as performing their statutory duties of supporting clinicians and patients.

This qualification will equip you to take advantage of those opportunities. It can also open up a range of other professional paths.

What areas can you work with in with a BSc (Hons) Advanced Dental Nursing Professional Practice?

• General dental practice (NHS or private)
• Specialist services such as cosmetic dentistry and dental implants
• Pharmaceutical industry
• Oral care industry
• Dental education
• Supervision of trainee dental nurses

What jobs can you do with a BSc (Hons) Advanced Dental Nursing Professional Practice?

• Senior dental nurse
• Clinical coordinator
• Dental practice manager
• Graduate roles in the pharmaceutical industry
• Graduate roles in the oral care industry

You’ll also be a step closer to specialist dental roles such as hygienist or therapist, with further training.

Alternatively, you could choose to progress into further study, such as a Master’s in the dental field. Pursuing an academic path may lead you to further advanced career opportunities, or allow you to move into higher educational roles or research.

Modules

Each module on this course is worth a certain number of credits. In each full-time year, you need to study modules worth a total of 120 credits, or 60 credits if studying part-time.

Full-time

• Year 1:
  • Applied Dental Nursing Professional Practice - 40 credits
  • Communication for the Dental Team - 20 credits
  • Dental Radiography - 20 credits
  • Engaging With Service Improvement (Dental) - 20 credits
  • Evidence Based Decision Making (Dental) - 20 credits
• Year 2:
  • Behaviour Management - 20 credits
  • Enhancing Advanced Dental Nursing Professional Practice - 40 credits
  • Leading Safe and Effective Care (Dental) - 20 credits
  • Project - 40 credits

Part-time

• Year 1:
  • Applied Dental Nursing Professional Practice - 40 credits
  • Communication for the Dental Team - 20 credits
• Year 2:
  • Dental Radiography - 20 credits
  • Engaging With Service Improvement (Dental) - 20 credits
  • Evidence Based Decision Making (Dental) - 20 credits
• Year 3:
  • Behaviour Management - 20 credits
  • Enhancing Advanced Dental Nursing Professional Practice - 40 credits
• Year 4:
  • Leading Safe and Effective Care (Dental) - 20 credits
  • Project - 40 credits

Assessment

• Essays
• Group and individual presentations
• Portfolio development
• Online exams
• Vivas (oral defences of your work)
• Clinical observations

Teaching

Teaching methods on this course include:

• Pre-clinical simulation
• Clinical team working
• Lectures
• Workshops
• Seminars

Teaching staff include experienced dental professionals who currently work with patients in the University of Portsmouth Dental Academy and other local services. They are thoroughly up-to-date with the latest developments in the industry and professional practice. This means they can share valuable experience and insights with you as part of their approach to developing your knowledge and skills.

How You'll Spend Your Time

One of the main differences between school or college and university is how much control you have over your learning.

We use a blended learning approach to teaching, which means you’ll take part in both face-to-face and online activities during your studies. As well as attending your timetabled classes you'll study independently in your free time, supported by staff and our virtual learning environment, Moodle.

A Typical Week

• Full-time: We recommend you spend at least 30 hours a week studying for your degree. You’ll be in timetabled teaching activities such as seminars and pre-clinical simulation for about 25 hours a week. The rest of the time you’ll do independent study such as engaging with online learning resources, or working with peers to prepare a group presentation. Most timetabled teaching takes place during the day, Monday to Friday.
• Part-time: We recommend you spend at least 16 hours a week studying for your degree. You’ll be in timetabled teaching activities such as seminars and pre-clinical simulation for about 8-10 hours. The rest of the time you’ll do independent study such as engaging with online learning resources, or working with peers to prepare a group presentation. We’ll expect you to attend teaching activities on campus at least 1 day a week Monday to Friday. You may also be required on campus to complete clinical aspects of the course in June and July.

Supporting You

The amount of timetabled teaching you'll get on your degree might be less than what you're used to at school or college, but you'll also get support via video, phone and face-to-face from teaching and support staff to enhance your learning experience and help you succeed. You can build your personalised network of support from the following people and services:

Types of Support

• Personal tutor
• Learning support tutors
• Academic skills support
• Wellbeing and mental health support
• Disability advice and additional support
• Library support
• Support with English

Course Costs and Funding

Tuition Fees

• UK/Channel Islands and Isle of Man students:
  • Full-time – £9,535 per year (may be subject to annual increase)
  • Part-time – £4,767 per year (may be subject to annual increase)
• EU students:
  • Full-time – £9,535 a year (including Transition Scholarship – may be subject to annual increase)
  • Part-time – £4,767 per year (may be subject to annual increase)
• International students:
  • Full-time – £17,200 per year (subject to annual increase)
  • Part-time – £8,600 per year (subject to annual increase)

Funding Your Studies

Find out how to fund your studies, including the scholarships and bursaries you could get. You can also find more about tuition fees and living costs, including what your tuition fees cover.

Applying from outside the UK? Find out about funding options for international students.

Additional Course Costs

• Accommodation and living costs
• Recommended reading
• General costs
• Final year project
• Clinical equipment
• Lock padlocks
• Travel costs

Apply

How to Apply

• September 2025 start (full-time): To start this course full-time in 2025 - please contact us.
• September 2025 start (part-time): To start this course part-time in 2025 - please contact us.

You can also sign up to an Open Day to:

• Tour our campus, facilities and halls of residence
• Speak with lecturers and chat with our students
• Get information about where to live, how to fund your studies and which clubs and societies to join

If you're new to the application process, read our guide on applying for an undergraduate course.

Applying from Outside the UK

As an international student you'll apply using the same process as UK students, but you’ll need to consider a few extra things.

You can get an agent to help with your application. Check your country page for details of agents in your region.

Find out what additional information you need in our international students section.

If you don't meet the English language requirements for this course yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.