Dental Public Health MSc

Course overview

Dental public health offers you the opportunity to enhance professional, clinical and academic knowledge alongside others from multi-disciplinary backgrounds around the world.

The course can equip you with the understanding and skills to manage the competing demands, resource implications and expectations inherent in providing a 21st century public dental service. It will suit dental professionals or public health professionals who want to grow their knowledge, skills and commitment to develop equitable and fair dental health services. It includes tutors from outside the university environment with specialist knowledge and experience in oral health protection and the management of dental services locally.

Course details

This course combines taught modules with a research project. The course can be categorised in the following way:

• Dental Public Health and Theoretical Basis of Public Health
  • Principles of Dental Public Health
  • Health Promotion
  • Principles of Public Health
• Research Theory and Application of Research
  • Introduction to Research Methodology and Ethics.
  • Core Epidemiology, Statistical Methods.
  • Transferable Skills
  • Research Project which helps you to develop practical research skills.

Course structure

The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our terms and conditions.

For more information and a full list of typical modules available on this course, please read Dental Public Health MSc in the course catalogue

Year 1 compulsory modules

Learning and teaching

The course is delivered as a series of modules, containing a mix of lectures, seminars and workshops, complemented by e-learning. It will teach you to:

• Critically analyse and debate the theories and issues related to dental public health and effectively communicate these ideas.
• Talk knowledgeably and construct arguments around the social, political and economic factors determining the health of populations.
• Analyse and synthesise evidence-based research and its application to the practice of dental public health.
• Develop and evaluate appropriate oral health protection and promotion initiatives at the population level.
• Develop and apply research methodology by conducting a specified programme of research under one-to-one supervision.

On this course, you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.

Assessment

You'll be assessed through a combination of in-course assessments, end of module written examinations, and a research dissertation.

Applying

Entry requirements

• A bachelor degree with 2:2 (hons) in a related subject or medical or dental degree. New graduates with limited or no work experience in a health-related area would be expected to have a 2.1 or above.

OR

• Professional qualification with 2 years' work experience.
• Postgraduate experience is preferred, but we will also consider elective experience or experience gained throughout degree.

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in each component. For other English qualifications, read English language equivalent qualifications.

Improve your English

International students who do not meet the English language requirements for this programme may be able to study our postgraduate pre-sessional English course, to help improve your English language level.

This pre-sessional course is designed with a progression route to your degree programme and you’ll learn academic English in the context of your subject area. To find out more, read Language for Science (6 weeks) and Language for Science: General Science (10 weeks). 

We also offer online pre-sessionals alongside our on-campus pre-sessionals. Find out more about our six week online pre-sessional.

You can also study pre-sessionals for longer periods – read about our postgraduate pre-sessional English courses.

How to apply

Application deadlines

Please submit your application by 31 May 2024.

If you're unsure about the application process, contact the admissions team for help.

Interview dates: to be confirmed.

The ‘Apply’ link at the top of this page will take you to information on applying for taught programmes and to the University's online application system.

If you're unsure about the application process, contact the admissions team for help.

Read about visas, immigration and other information in International students. We recommend that international students apply as early as possible to ensure that they have time to apply for their visa.

Admissions policy

Taught Admissions Policy 2025-26

This course is taught by

School of Dentistry

Contact us

School of Dentistry Taught Postgraduate Programme Admissions team

Email: denadmissions@leeds.ac.uk
Telephone:

Fees

UK: £12,750 (Total)

International: £31,000 (Total)

Deposit

You must pay a £3,000 deposit when you accept your offer to secure your place on the course.

Read more about paying fees and charges.

For fees information for international taught postgraduate students, read Masters fees.

Additional cost information

There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more on our living costs and budgeting page.

Scholarships and financial support

If you have the talent and drive, we want you to be able to study with us, whatever your financial circumstances. There may be help for students in the form of loans and non-repayable grants from the University and from the government.  Find out more at Masters funding overview.

Career opportunities

There are dental public health opportunities at all levels of health service planning, government offices and health departments, health agencies and in academia.

Candidates studying our MSc in Dental Public Health may be eligible to continue their studies in the PhD or Doctorate of paediatric dentistry programmes. If you’re interested in combining your studies in this way, please speak to Professor Gail Douglas, Dr Richard Balmer or our admissions team before applying to find out more about your options.

Careers support

We encourage you to prepare for your career from day one. That’s one of the reasons Leeds graduates are so sought after by employers.

The Careers Centre and staff in your faculty provide a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate. Find out more about Careers support.