Dental Surgery MChD/BChD, Oral Science BSc

The only joint Master and Bachelor dentistry degree in the UK, our MChD/BChD course integrates clinical dentistry, science and personal development. You’ll graduate from Leeds as a highly qualified and well-equipped professional, trained to think critically and work independently.

You gain early clinical exposure in year 1 and experience in a range of settings throughout the course – at the dental hospital, in the community, at outreach clinics and through hospital placements. You can also undertake a four-week local or international placement at the end of your fourth year.

Our clinical and teaching facilities are excellent. You will have access to 3D virtual reality dental training simulators to practise clinical skills and build their confidence.

The MChD/BChD shows you have Masters level skills and attributes and can expand your employment and further study options.

Course highlights

Besides our unique integrated Masters and Bachelor degree, there are other benefits of studying dentistry at Leeds:

The School of Dentistry, in partnership with Leeds Dental Institute, is one of few dental schools in the UK where the whole dental team (dentists, dental therapists, hygienists, technicians and dental nurses) trains together. We emphasise teamwork to develop your communication, leadership and professional skills and, where possible, you’ll learn with students from other dental courses. The School is also at the forefront of research advances, which directly benefit our patients.

The first year of the course is co-taught with the first year of the Dental Hygiene and Dental Therapy course.

We’re proud of the School’s friendly atmosphere and good student-staff relations. The National Student Survey annually rates the School highly for overall satisfaction, our learning resources and the level of academic support.

As a dental student, you will have the opportunity to be a member of the Leeds University Dental Society (DentSoc), which organises social and sports events, visits and talks throughout the year.

General Dental Council registration

Successful completion of this course (and meeting Fitness to Practise criteria) allows you to be recommended for registration with the General Dental Council (GDC), the regulatory body for dental professionals in the UK.

Professional standards

Dental professionals must adhere to a professional code of ethics to maintain their registration with the General Dental Council (GDC). As a dental student, you’ll be expected to demonstrate that you have the knowledge, skills and attitudes expected of a dental professional. You must apply the principles of professionalism to your studies, education and your personal and social life. Please read the guidance on professionalism on the GDC website.

You’ll develop vital communication, leadership and teamwork skills through personal and professional development modules in all years of the course.

In the first year you’re introduced to the basics of dentistry and you’ll be involved in the clinical environment from the start of the year. Scientific learning and clinical experience are integrated. Amongst other topics you’ll be introduced to health and health promotion, oral anatomy, microbiology and related science, and periodontal disease.

Year 2 builds your scientific knowledge and further develops your patient communication skills and competency in simple clinical procedures. You’ll learn about biomedical and social sciences relating to dentistry. You’ll be introduced to evidence-based practice and psychological models of dental anxiety. You’ll develop your operative clinical skills and be responsible for patient care.

In year 3 you’ll be introduced to clinical skills used in the diagnosis and treatment of more complex dental disease and complex restorations. You’ll study ‘illness and well-being’ and communication skills relevant to patient care. You’ll have the opportunity to consolidate your knowledge of psychological theories of anxiety and stress and their effects on health. You’ll undertake an assessed research project, which helps develop your skills in scientific research and in applying research principles.

There is a possibility for you to take a year out and undertake an intercalated degree before beginning year 4. Please read more about intercalation.

You continue to build your experience in year 4. All practising clinicians must be able to assess the health of their patient to undertake safe dental treatment and you’ll continue to build relevant skills. Your clinical experience will span the specialist areas of restorative and paediatric dentistry, orthodontics, oral medicine, oral surgery, pathology and radiology. You’ll choose your final-year project and acquire the skills you need to undertake this.

Our fourth year students also have the option of a three-month exchange with students from Trinity College Dublin School of Dental Sciences, Ireland, which is part of the Erasmus programme. Alternatively, a professional development elective allows you to undertake an activity related to dentistry, organised and run by you. You cannot take both these options and you do not have to take either.

Year 5 is the culmination of your studies. Final-year modules and clinical experience consolidate the skills, behaviours and knowledge you need to move successfully into dental foundation training and professional life. You’ll practise conscious intravenous and inhalation sedation. You’ll undertake the in-depth Masters-level project which develops and assesses your higher-level cognitive learning skills. The final personal and professional development module focuses on preparation for the world of work. It introduces the organisational, business and managerial skills needed in general dental practice and provides support for the dental foundation training selection process.

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 Surgery MChD/BChD, Oral Science BSc in the course catalogue

Modules

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Year 4

Year 5

Discovery modules

Throughout your degree you will benefit from a range of opportunities to expand your intellectual horizons outside or within your subject area.

This course gives you the opportunity to choose from a range of discovery modules. They’re a great way to tailor your study around your interests or career aspirations and help you stand out from the crowd when you graduate. Find out more about discovery modules on our Broadening webpages.

Learning and teaching

We’ll build your knowledge and skill with a range of learning and teaching methods.

Lectures, seminars, tutorials and e-learning are a core part of your formal learning. Self-directed study also plays a vital part and you’ll keep a reflective portfolio and your own personal development plan.

Clinical dentistry is our focus throughout the course and you’ll be developing your professional and personal attributes from the outset.

The School benefited from a major refurbishment in 2017 and is undertaking ongoing improvements to our resources, for example in digital dentistry. Facilities include clinical skills classrooms, where you develop and hone your skills before using them in practice. This includes three-dimensional virtual reality trainers, where you practise drilling on anatomically faithful reproduction teeth, which give tactile feedback. This helps you learn about processes of decay, how much pressure to apply and accuracy. The School is a world leader in the development of this facility.

The dental hospital provides outstanding facilities for education and patient care. Local demand for dental treatment at the hospital and our outreach clinics ensures that you gain broad and extensive clinical experience.

We have an excellent Health Sciences Library with a dedicated team librarian responsible for meeting our students' needs.

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

We have an international reputation for the quality of our comprehensive assessment processes. They incorporate: essays, presentations, multiple choice questions, short answer questions, extended critical research reports, clinical and practical tests and objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs). Verbal examinations are part of some assessments, as it’s essential you can demonstrate that you are able to communicate effectively too.

By the end of the course, you’ll need to demonstrate competence to practise dentistry independently at the level of a safe beginner.

Entry requirements

A-level: AAA Including Biology and Chemistry, excluding General Studies and Critical thinking. You must achieve a Pass in the practical element of any science A-levels.

GCSE: A minimum of 6 GCSEs at Grade B or higher or Grade 6 and above, including Chemistry, Biology (or Dual Science) English and Maths.

Other course specific tests:

Biomedical Admissions Test (BMAT)

We ask all applicants to take the BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT) in the year of application. The only sitting available for 2021/22 is in November. The deadlines for registering are different and you should double check the BMAT website for full information. Please be aware that in cases where BMAT results are received for one applicant from both sittings, we will only consider the first sitting of the BMAT. If you are a school or college student, discuss test centre options with your exams officer. If you’re not a school or college student, find test centres on the BMAT (Admissions Testing Service) website.

Health and disclosure and barring screening

All successful applicants will also need to pass health and disclosure and barring screening.

The University has a policy statement on students with criminal records. For the vast majority of students who are resident in the UK the record will be checked via the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

The DBS check can only include background checks on your time in the UK. A criminal record check from other countries in addition to the UK DBS check may be required. Abroad this may be referred to as a "Certificate of Good Conduct" (CoGC), but the name varies.

To ensure a safe and professional environment for patients, you’ll also need to meet other requirements, including screening for communicable disease - read "Professional requirements" section.

Occupational health

Any offer of a place to study Dental Surgery is conditional upon a satisfactory confidential occupational health assessment, which will include a health questionnaire, and if necessary further telephone consultation and/or an appointment with an occupational health clinician. Screening for serious communicable disease, (Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, HIV, tuberculosis (TB) and a review of immunisation status and needs, which includes COVID-19, will also be arranged before beginning your studies.

• Access to HE Diploma

  Access to HE diplomas are not accepted for Dental Surgery.

• BTEC

  We will accept either:

  • BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Applied Science with D*DD
  • BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Applied Science with D*D, plus A Level Chemistry at grade A.

  Please note, you must still meet our standard GCSE requirements as outlined above. We are also unable to accept BTECs in Health and Social Care for entry to this programme.

• Cambridge Pre-U

  D3 Biology, D3 Chemistry, M1 other subject.

• International Baccalaureate

  At least 35 points overall including a score of 6 in higher level Chemistry and Biology, plus a further higher at grade 6. English must be offered at higher or subsidiary level (grade 5 minimum if not offered at GCSE). Maths Studies is acceptable.

• Irish Leaving Certificate (higher Level)

  Minimum of AAABBB (regardless of sub-score), including Chemistry and Biology at grade A. English and Maths are also compulsory.

• Scottish Highers / Advanced Highers

  Applicants must have grade B minimum in Chemistry, Biology, English and either Physics or Maths at Higher level. At Advanced Higher, we require AA in Biology and Chemistry, plus either a third subject at grade A at Advanced Higher level, OR two additional Highers at grade B.

• Other Qualifications

  European Baccalaureate: 80% overall, with minimum grades of 8 in Biology and Chemistry.

  We also welcome:

  The University of Leeds’ BSc Interdisciplinary Science with Foundation Year, which you apply directly to through UCAS.
  The University of Leeds' BSc Science for those that have an Arts background and wish to apply for Dentistry

  Applications from graduates. To apply you’ll need a 2:1 or higher in a relevant science or healthcare subject plus GCSE maths at grade 4 or C.

Read more about UK and Republic of Ireland accepted qualifications or contact the School’s Undergraduate Admissions Team.

Alternative entry

We’re committed to identifying the best possible applicants, regardless of personal circumstances or background.

Access to Leeds is an alternative admissions scheme which accepts applications from individuals who might be from low income households, in the first generation of their immediate family to apply to higher education, or have had their studies disrupted.

Find out more about Access to Leeds and alternative admissions.

Typical Access to Leeds offer

A level: ABB (A in either Chemistry or Biology)

English language requirements

IELTS 7.0 overall, with no less than 7.5 in listening and speaking, and no less than 6.0 in writing and reading. For other English qualifications, read English language equivalent qualifications.

Improve your English
If you're an international student and you don't meet the English language requirements for this programme, you may be able to study our undergraduate pre-sessional English course, to help improve your English language level.

How to apply

Apply to this course through UCAS. The institution code for the University of Leeds is L23. Check the deadline for applications on the UCAS website.

The application closing date for Dental Surgery is earlier than for many other courses – usually 15 October in the year preceding entry (e.g. for entry to the course in September 2020, the UCAS deadline was 15 October 2019). The School of Dentistry will not accept applications after the UCAS closing date. We do not participate in the UCAS Extra scheme or in Clearing.

Read more about applying or contact the Undergraduate Admissions Team for further information

Deferred entry

You’re welcome to postpone your start date by 12 months, if you want to. This won’t affect how we judge your application, but you do need to tell us in advance, in your UCAS application. If you don’t do this, but ask for a deferral later, we may not agree to it.

Equal opportunities

The School of Dentistry operates an equal opportunities policy and supports widening participation. Whilst some health conditions and disabilities may prevent admission, the University takes a positive view and tries to meet the needs of all students. You can find University equality policies on the Equality Service website.

International students apply through UCAS in the same way as UK students. Our network of international representatives can help you with your application. 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.

Selection process

The main stages in our selection process are:

1. Evaluation of academic qualifcations
2. Assessment of application, taking into account academic and non-academic criteria, including BMAT results
3. Multiple Mini Interview (MMI)
4. Offer

Interviews

Interviews are scheduled in February for Home/EU and international candidates.

We cannot facilitate interviews outside of this period, so if you apply, you must make sure you are free to attend in this timeframe.

If you’re unable to attend your allocated interview you should contact us as we may be able to change your appointment to another day or time during the interview period, but this is not guaranteed. We would only agree to this for exceptional circumstances, for example, you cannot attend our interview because you have previously agreed to an interview elsewhere at the same time.

We interview using MMIs instead of traditional panel interviews. In MMIs you move around a series of interview stations. At each station, you undertake a task or answer a few short questions, for which you are scored. The scores at each station are independent of the other scores. Afterwards your scores are computed to give us your overall score and ranking.

The MMIs help us to assess your attitudes, communication skills, empathy, analytic skills and ethical reasoning, attributes that are in accordance with the NHS Constitution values-based recruitment. Some stations may be held in clinics, so you also see our working environment. Most applicants tell us they find the multiple mini interviews a positive experience.

Admissions policy

School of Dentistry Undergraduate Admissions Policy 2022

Fees

UK: See fees section below

International: £40,250 (per year)

Tuition fees for UK students starting in 2022/23
For UK full-time students starting in 2022, the fee for 2022/23 will be £9,250.  
The fee may increase in future years of your course in line with inflation, and as permitted by law. Fees for UK undergraduate students are decided by the Government and may vary if policy changes.
 

Read more about paying fees and charges.

Additional cost information

<p>Students will incur a direct cost for the following items:</p><p><strong>Sensible shoes</strong><br />Approximately £40 - These should be plain, non-slip, low heeled, wipeable and soft soled with enclosed toes and heels.<br />Wipeable dark leather trainers are acceptable. Non-wipeable trainers, canvas shoes, open backed or open toed footwear, crocs, ‘ballet’-type slippers are not permitted. See the School Dress Policy for further information.</p><p><strong>Padlock for locker (deposit)</strong><br />£25 payable at registration (deposit will be returned to you on completion of your degree)</p><p><strong>DentSoc (School of Dentistry's social society)</strong><br />£80 (5 year membership) for Dental Surgery.</p><p><strong>Travel expenses for external placements</strong><br /><em>From 2018/19 Students in Year 4 will be paid £30 as a contribution towards their travel expenses.<br />Please see the School’s travel policy which provides further details.</em><br />GDP observational placement (Year 1 – 1 day), will incur travel expenses Oral Surgery placement (Year 4 - 2 weeks), will incur travel expenses<br />Oral Medicine placement (Year 5 - 1 week) will incur travel expenses. (Accommodation may be provided for more distant Oral Surgery and Oral Surgery placements but this cannot be guaranteed).<br />Year 4/5 Outreach placements - students are expected to pay their own travel costs to Beeston and Bradford Outreach.</p><p><strong>Exam resits</strong><br />There will be a charge if you need to resit any examinations. Please see the additional costs webpage on the University website for more details.</p><p><strong>Uniforms</strong><br />You may incur additional costs cleaning your uniforms as they will need to be washed at a higher temperature and separately to other items.</p><p><strong>Study Abroad Programme, Intercalation and Elective modules</strong><br />There are options within the Dental Surgery programme to Study Abroad in Dublin (during year 4), intercalate for a year to undertake an additional programme (following year 2 or 3) and undertake a professional development elective module.<br />These options may incur additional costs, information regarding this will be made available during the programme.</p><p><em>Costs associated with Dental Foundation Training</em><br />You will need to pay costs in order to commence DFT Training. These will include GDC registration, DBS checks and occupational health clearance.</p><p><strong>School Funding Information</strong></p><p>The School will fund the following:<br />- Four sets of uniforms for clinical use<br />- A name badge<br />- Disclosure &amp; Barring Service Checks in year 1<br />- Locker padlock<br />- USB encrypted memory stick<br />- Full Library access<br />- Occupational health clearance (for entry to your programme)<br />- Handbooks: currently, School, programme and module handbooks are provided online. Printed clinical handbooks are provided individually to students but as of November 2018 this is under review</p><p>Students may incur costs for the following items:</p><p><strong>Locker padlock</strong><br />You will not be charged for a padlock but if you lose it or fail to return at the end of your programme then you will be charged £25.</p><p><strong>USB Encrypted Memory Stick (Year 3 onwards)</strong><br />You will not be charged for a USB stick but if you lose it or fail to return at the end of your programme then you will be charged £25.</p><p><strong>Student Uniforms</strong><br />If you lose or damage an item of uniform you will be charged for a replacement £10 per item.</p><p><strong>Student name badges</strong><br />If you lose your name badge you will be charged £5 for a replacement.</p><p><strong>Occupational Health Checks</strong><br />Non-attendance at an occupational health appointment - £50 per missed appointment.</p><p><strong>Loss or damage to clinical skills models</strong><br />Costs will vary, students will be informed of replacement costs for any items damaged through negligence or lost.</p><p><strong>Clinical skills locker key</strong><br />You will not be charged for a key but if you fail to return the key to the clinical skills department you will be charged £10.</p><p><strong>Disclosure and Barring Service</strong><br />You will be charged if you lose your DBS certificate and you require a replacement.</p><p><em>Costs are subject to change throughout the course. However, you will be informed if this is the case.</em></p>

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 about additional costs

Financial support

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

As a dental student, you can apply for the standard government loans and support package for the first four years of your course. In year five onwards, you become eligible instead for the NHS student bursary scheme.

Employment prospects for dentists are good. After graduating and successfully registering with the General Dental Council (GDC), most graduates take up a one- or two-year salaried foundation training post. This is mandatory if you want a career in the NHS. Dentists must undertake continuing professional education to qualify for GDC registration each year.

As a qualified dentist there are a range of opportunities open to you, including academia and practising in general dental practice, hospital, community and corporate settings and the armed forces. There are also clinical and non-clinical opportunities at non-governmental organisations worldwide and other international agencies.

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.

Leeds for Life is our unique approach to helping you make the most of University by supporting your academic and personal development. Find out more at the Leeds for Life website.

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 at the Careers website.

Study abroad

Fourth year students have the option of a three-month exchange with students from Trinity College Dublin School of Dental Sciences, as part of the Erasmus programme.

Work placements

You'll work with patients in a range of settings – at the dental hospital, in the community, at outreach clinics and through hospital placements.

Hepatitis B and health screening

Entry to the course depends on satisfactory health screening.

It is a Department of Health requirement that all healthcare workers who come into contact with patients should not be infectious carriers of Hepatitis B, C or HIV viruses and should accept vaccination against Hepatitis B.

We advise all candidates to seek vaccination with their medical practitioner against Hepatitis B viruses before starting the course because they will have early contact with patients.

The School will organise an immunisation schedule for students who have not already completed a successful course of vaccination before enrolment.

Applicants who have been immunised by their medical practitioner will be required to provide documentary proof of immunisation on registration. Simple blood tests will be required to confirm that students are not a carrier of the Hepatitis B or C viruses.

Dress and personal appearance

The School of Dentistry has a dress policy to promote a clinical, professional appearance within our premises and outreach facilities.

Your clothes and personal appearance must match public expectations of a professional person.

Professional code of conduct

Dental professionals have to adhere to a professional code of ethics to maintain their registration with the GDC.

As a dental student, you will be expected to demonstrate that you have the knowledge, skills and attitudes expected of a dental professional – this includes applying the principles of professionalism to your education, clinical practise and your personal and social life at all times. The GDC has published guidance on professionalism (“Student Fitness to Practise” and “Standards for Dental Professionals”) which you can find on the GDC website.

The General Dental Council (GDC)

The GDC is the regulatory body for dental professionals in the UK. All dentists, dental nurses, dental technicians, clinical dental technicians, dental hygienists, dental therapists and orthodontic therapists must be registered with the GDC to work in the UK.

The GDC is also responsible for checking the quality of all dental and Dental Care Professional (DCP) education and training courses which lead to registration. Our courses in dental surgery, dental hygiene and dental therapy, and dental technology are accredited by the GDC. The dental nursing courses are accredited by the City and Guilds of London and The National Examining Board for Dental Nurses.