Postgraduate Dental Courses

This table lists the names and telephone numbers of universities and colleges where you can study for postgraduate degrees and diplomas.

University dental schools in the UK offer postgraduate programmes in a variety of dental subjects. The postgraduate courses offered may be: Diplomas, Masters or Doctorates. When choosing a course you need to consider the reason for studying in the UK and the usefulness of the course to you when you return to your home country.

Length of courses

The length of courses will vary depending on whether the course is full time or part time, and may take from one to two years, or in a few cases up to five years.

Fees

Overseas student rates are likely to be applicable for candidates from outside the EEA. Make sure your funding is sufficient to cover your course fees, living costs and accommodation in the UK. When you make your application for a visa to study in the UK you will need to show that you have sufficient funds to cover all these expenses. In general, degrees offering an element of clinical training will be more expensive than non clinical degrees. When you start looking at university websites you will need to be very clear about whether you will be charged “home student fees” or “overseas student fees”. Please remember that living in the UK for three years does not automatically entitle you to pay “home student fees”. In order to be eligible for “home student fees” you must first have settled immigration status in the UK before your course begins. Settled means that you are a British Citizen or have the right of abode or indefinite leave to remain in the UK. More details can be found on the UKCISA website . 

Some postgraduate programmes enable postgraduate students to embark on a programme leading to eligibility of entry into specialist membership examinations. You must always check this aspect with your course organiser before enrolling. Other factors you need to consider include: is it a research degree or a taught course, are you applying for a dental postgraduate degree as opposed to a more general or non dental postgraduate degree/diploma which may have limited relevance for dentistry.

After being awarded a postgraduate degree in the UK

A postgraduate degree (MSc or PhD) is not an alternative route to becoming a dentist in the UK. If you are required to sit a registration examination you will need to pass either the ORE or the LDS to go on the GDC register.

Always remember that registration as a dentist  in the UK is an entirely separate consideration from your eligibility to enter or remain in the UK.

Whilst you are a postgraduate student you will probably have a Tier 4 visa with your university being the sponsor. On completion of your postgraduate degree under current  regulations you are able to change you visa to a Tier 1 post study work visa. This opportunity will no longer be available when the Tier 1 post study work visa closes in April 2012.