Program Overview

Programme: MChD Maxillofacial and Oral Surgery (endorsement ChirMaxFac-Dent)

The MChD Maxillofacial and Oral Surgery programme is offered by the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Pretoria.

Programme Information

• Code: Faculty of Health Sciences
• Credits: 1088
• Duration: Minimum duration of study: 5 years
• NQF level: 09

Admission Requirements

• Obtained the BChD degree of the University of Pretoria or an equivalent qualification and the MBChB degree or an equivalent qualification at least one year previously.
• Passed the Advanced Trauma Life Support Course (maximum three attempts) as well as the basic subjects Anatomy 870, Physiology 806 and Pharmacology 809 and the PGDipDent (Oral Surgery), with a minimum pass mark of 65% in the major subject.
• Students who hold the Postgraduate Diploma in Dentistry [PGDipDent(Oral Surgery)] and/or the Master of Science Dentistry [MScDent] with Oral Surgery as the main field of study may apply in writing for credit for the basic subject(s).
• Registered as a dentist and/or physician with the Health Professions Council of South Africa in the category Independent Practice.

Other Programme-Specific Information

In order to qualify for the degree, a candidate must, for a period of four to eight years, depending on the specific requirements for a particular field of study, have held a full-time training position/registrarship successfully, at a training institution approved by the University.

Examinations and Pass Requirements

1. Examinations in the basic subjects:

• A student must pass all the basic subjects (Anatomy [with Embryology], Physiology and Pharmacology [University of Pretoria or College of Maxillofacial and Oral Surgery of the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa]) before he or she may be admitted to the first year of study.
• A minimum pass mark of at least 50% is required in all examinations for the University of Pretoria and College of Maxillofacial and Oral Surgery and a minimum pass mark of 65% from another tertiary institution.

2. Examinations in the subsidiary (intermediary) subjects:

• The minimum pass mark is 50%.
• For the endorsement Maxillofacial Surgery-Medicus, a student has to pass in Principles of surgery in the year of study as indicated, before he or she may continue with the programme.
• A student has to pass in Applied oral pathology at least two and a half years prior to the examination in his or her major subject.

3. Examination and evaluation in the major subject:

• If a student fails his or her major subject, the student has to reapply for admission to the final examination of the College of Maxillofacial and Oral Surgery of the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa.
• In the light of the fact that a postgraduate student may repeat an examination in any subject only once, a student who fails a second examination, will have to discontinue the programme.
• Subminimum: A student must obtain a subminimum of 60% in the clinical section (operation and short cases) of the examination, with a subminimum of 50% in all the other sections for the master's degree.

Exemption

Exemption may be granted by the Dean, on the recommendation of the relevant head of department by virtue of comparable training and/or experience in terms of the requirements of School Regulations, with the proviso that exemption from the examination and evaluation in the major subject may not be granted.

Pass with Distinction

A student who obtains a final mark of at least 75% (on the first attempt) in the major subject, qualifies to obtain the degree with distinction.

General Information

1. The content of the basic subjects, subsidiary subjects and attendance courses will be determined by the relevant head of department in consultation with the head of the department at Dentistry or Medicine.
2. General information concerning content and extent of the basic and subsidiary subjects is available at the relevant department.
3. Students have to ensure that certificates of satisfactory preparation are acquired in all the attendance courses.

Major Subject

Maxillofacial and oral surgery: Experience is acquired through practical and clinical training and supplemented by seminars, discussions, papers and research. Diagnosis, planning, surgical and secondary treatment of diseases, injuries and defects of the human mouth, jaws, face and related structures.

Subsidiary (Intermediary) Subject

Principles of surgery: Instruction mainly by the departments of Surgery (and its divisions), Neurosurgery, Otorhinolaryngology, Ophthalmology and Family Medicine. This training takes place over nine months.

Endorsement ChirMaxFac-Med BVC 806

• General Surgery (including Paediatric Surgery): 2 months
• Intensive Care: 2 months
• Neurosurgery: 2 months
• Ophthalmology: 1 month
• Otorhinolaryngology: 1 month
• Plastic Surgery: 1 month
• Applied Oral Pathology: 3 months

Endorsement ChirMaxFac-Dent BVC 807

• Distress Unit (Family Medicine): 1 month
• General Surgery (including Paediatric Surgery): 1 month
• Intensive Care: 2 months
• Neurosurgery: 2 months
• Ophthalmology: 1 month
• Otorhinolaryngology: 1 month
• Plastic Surgery: 1 month
• Applied Oral Pathology: 3 months

Core Modules

• ANA 870: Anatomy 870 (Credits: 36.00)
• APA 808: General pathology 808 (Credits: 24.00)
• BVC 806: Principles of surgery 806 (Credits: 52.00)
• EHR 800: Ethics and human rights 800 (Credits: 0.00)
• FAR 806: Pharmacology 806 (Credits: 36.00)
• FSG 806: Physiology 806 (Credits: 36.00)
• KGM 802: Maxillo-facial and oral surgery 802 (Credits: 700.00)
• MPG 805: Oral Pathology 805 (Credits: 24.00)
• TNM 802: Applied research methodology 802 (Credits: 0.00)