Program Overview

BSc (Hons) Dental Hygiene and Therapy

Overview

The BSc (Hons) Dental Hygiene and Therapy degree will provide you with the knowledge, skills, and professionalism you need to take on either of these roles, both of which are in high demand throughout the UK, in the NHS and in the private healthcare sector.

Course Structure

Our undergraduate programmes are delivered as 'block and blend', more information can be found on Why Suffolk? You can also watch our Block and Blend video.

• Year one: Establishes the foundations on which clinical practice lie, namely biomedical sciences and developing clinical skills in a simulated setting. This is paralleled by development of personal and professional skills, such as communication strategies and their role in social responsibility.
• Year two: Builds on this skill-set, with clinical placements and introduces them to the dental specialities.
• Year three: Consolidates learning and fosters competence in technical and leadership skills, whilst developing research skills. Innovation and entrepreneurship is encouraged through self-selected, independent project-based learning in education, business development or research methods.

Course Modules

• Introduction to Professional Practice (Mandatory): This module supports students to develop effective academic skills, build resilience and wellbeing skills to assist them through their programme of study and beyond.
• Pre-Clinical Dental Sciences (Mandatory): This module is designed to provide students with foundation knowledge regarding the anatomy and physiology of the head and neck region, considering embryonic development, and the recognition of normal and variations from normal.
• Clinical Skills Development 1 (Mandatory): This module focusses on periodontal disease and the diagnosis and management to treat patients.
• Clinical Practice (Mandatory): This module continues to develop knowledge, clinical and technical skills to manage caries and non-carious tooth surface loss.
• Dental Sciences (Mandatory): Students will learn about the disease processes that affect a medical history and how this could impact on the provision of oral health.
• Clinical Skills Development 2 (Mandatory): This module builds upon previous clinical skills development modules and continues to enhance existing technical clinical skills in the dental simulation laboratory.
• Dentistry in Society 1 (Mandatory): Poor oral health is almost entirely preventable and despite good progress over the last few decades, is still prevalent in many communities. This module looks at prevention of oral diseases at the population and community level, and at the individual level are presented and discussed.
• Research Skills for Oral Health (Mandatory): This module will enable students to identify appropriate literature, understand the research process and methods as a basis for the formulation of a research proposal and continue this in the final year Dissertation module.
• Dentistry in Society 2 (Mandatory): This module builds upon previous knowledge gained in Dentistry in Society 1, where some of the concepts around health education and promotion were introduced. Dental public health at a whole population level will be explored in order to consider current local oral health trends and needs across the East of England.
• Oral Health Dissertation (Mandatory): The final year dissertation will build upon the knowledge and skills gained from the Year 2 Research Skills for Oral Health module. It provides the opportunity for students to engage in a rigorous piece of independent study and to present findings through a dissertation.
• Preparing for Professional Practice (Mandatory): This module will focus on supporting the student to transition from a clinician under supervision to that of a registered autonomous practitioner, working effectively in a team.
• Integrated Clinical Practice (Mandatory): This module will continue to develop clinical practice skills development in primary and secondary care placements.

Entry Requirements

• UK Academic Requirements:
  • 120 UCAS Points (or above)
  • BBB (A-Level)
  • DDM (BTEC)
  • Merit (T Level)
  • Access to HE Diploma 45 Level 3 credits at Merit grade or above
• Non-Academic Requirements:
  • Successful interview
  • Satisfactory Health check
  • Satisfactory Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check
  • Two satisfactory references
• International Requirements:
  • IELTS 7.0 overall is required where English is not the student's first language.

Fees and Funding

• 2025/26:
  • UK Full-time Tuition Fee: £9,535 per year
  • UK Part-time Tuition Fees: £2,384 per 30 credit module
  • International Full-time Tuition Fee: £15,690 per year
• 2026/27:
  • UK Full-time Tuition Fee: £9,535 per year
  • UK Part-time Tuition Fees: £2,384 per 30 credit module
  • International Full-time Tuition Fee: £15,690 per year

Career Opportunities

This dual role BSc (Hons) Dental Hygiene and Dental Therapy course is currently undergoing accreditation by the General Dental Council (GDC). The course will provide students with the theoretical and practical skills required to register as both a dental hygienist and dental therapist with the GDC.

Facilities and Resources

Our state-of-the-art teaching facilities, including a fully computerised phantom head laboratory, exclusive training clinics, dedicated study spaces and computer clusters, provides you with access to world-class research facilities and a modern learning environment.