Dental SurgeryBDS Honours

UCAS code A2065 Years

www.ncl.ac.uk/ug/A206Printed from the web page above on 25/06/2018

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Dental SurgeryBDS HonoursUCAS code A2065 Years

Dentistry involves the treatment andprevention of a wide range of diseases of themouth – from tooth decay to oral cancer.

Our BDS degree in Dental Surgery is professionallyaccredited by the General Dental Council and entitlesgraduates to practise dentistry anywhere in the UK and inmany other countries.

It is designed to give you both the scientific background andthe practical skills you need throughout your career,enabling you to provide for the complete oral health ofpatients.

Newcastle is one of the UK's top three universities fordentistry, offering:

• expert staff, including holders of national teachingfellowships and distinguished scientist awards

• some of the most modern and best-equipped facilities inthe country

• high levels of clinical practice in our specialist clinics• opportunities for study abroad and intercalated study

Highlights of this degreeQuality and rankingDentistry at Newcastle is highly regarded. We rank

• 3rd in the UK –The Times/Sunday Times GoodUniversity Guide 2018

• 4th in the UK – The Complete University Guide 2019• 9th in the UK  - The Guardian University Guide 2019• 3rd in the UK for student satisfaction (98% overall

satisfaction score) – National Student Survey 2017• 40th – Dentistry category – QS World University

Rankings by Subject 2018• top 25% in the UK for world-class research –

Research Excellence Framework 2014• top 125 – Clinical, Pre-clinical and Health category –

Times Higher Education World University Rankings bySubject 2018

Professional accreditation*This course is professionally accredited by the GeneralDental Council (GDC), which means it meets the standardsset by the dental regulator.

*All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly bytheir professional body.

Clinical experience

Clinical dental practiceClinical practice occupies an increasingly large part of yourtime as you progress through the course.

In Stage 1, you learn simple procedures such as fillings androot treatments, and see patients in the Dental Hospitalwhile shadowing a senior student.

In Stage 3 you start managing your own patients underclose supervision.

In Stages 4 and 5 you are exposed to advanced treatmenttechniques including dental implants and intravenoussedation. By the end of Stage 4 you will be spendingapproximately half of your time on patient care.

Our specialist clinicsYou will gain experience in a full range of dental procedures,with clinics run by specialists in:

• oral and maxillofacial surgery• oral medicine• paediatric dentistry• orthodontics• restorative dentistry

Find out moreSee full details of what you will study in the CourseDetails section or find out more about clinical dental practiceon the School website.

On the School website you can also read about a day in thelife of one of our dental students.

Intercalated study and electives

Intercalation opportunitiesOur dental students have the opportunity to enrich theirpersonal and professional development further by takingtime out of their dental studies to pursue an intercalateddegree.

Intercalation provides an opportunity to study a subject thatinterests and excites you as well as develop newperspectives on healthcare delivery, research andeducation. We offer a broad range of Biomedical ScienceBSc degrees and Masters' degrees that cover aspects ofdental practice. We encourage you to develop skills that willbe useful throughout your future career and offer options toundertake your own research project.

Find out more about intercalated study on the Faculty ofMedical Sciences website.

ElectivesAt the end of Stage 4, you have the opportunity toundertake a period of elective study, exploring a topic ofparticular interest to you in depth. This can be anywhere inthe world and is a great opportunity to experience dentistryin another country.

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Facilities and supportYou will be based in the School of Dental Sciences, which isin the same building as the Dental Hospital. Together withthe adjacent Medical School and Royal Victoria Infirmaryteaching hospital, it forms one of the largest integratedteaching and hospital complexes in the country.

FacilitiesYou will have access to a hi-tech Clinical Simulation Unitand the Dental Learning Resource Centre.

Take a virtual tour of our dental teaching and learningfacilities or find out more about our facilities on the Schoolwebsite.

SupportYou will have an academic member of staff as a personaltutor throughout your degree. They can help with academicand personal issues. You will also have opportunities tointeract with other members teaching staff.

Peer mentors will help you in your first year. They are fellowstudents who can help you settle in and answer anyquestions you have.

Social activitiesThe School is home to almost 500 undergraduate students.The student-led society, Dentsoc, organises social events tohelp you settle in and make friends.

Relax between lectures in our dedicated StudentCommon Rooms.

Course Details

Modules for 2017 entry

Modules for 2018 entry

Please noteThe programme information below is for 2018 entry.Programmes may be amended on an annual basis to takeaccount of changing staff expertise, developments in thediscipline, the requirements of external bodies andpartners, and student feedback.Programme information for 2019 entry will be publishedhere as soon as it is available (end of May 2019).Our degrees are divided into Stages. Each Stage lasts foran academic year.

This degree is designed to develop the skills required toprovide for the complete oral health of patients, and entitlesgraduates to practise dentistry anywhere in the UK and inmany other countries.

The programme of professional study covers humanstructure, function, behaviour, clinical dental studies andrelated sciences.

Clinical dental practice occupies an increasingly large part ofyour time as you progress through the course, whichconsists of five Stages.

Stages 1 and 2

You spend the first two years studying the basic medicalsciences. This provides a basis for clinical work in laterStages. Topics include:

Orientation and Study Skills

Anatomy of the Head and Neck

Cell Biology

Interpersonal Skills and Shadowing

Introduction to Dentistry

Neurobiology

Dental Physiology

Metabolism and Homeostasis

Craniofacial and Tooth Biology

Behavioural and Social Science for Dentists

Basic Pharmacology

Dental Materials Science

Microbiology for Dentistry

Immunology and Healthcare

Nutrition and Diet

Key Clinical Skills

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Stages 1 and 2

Intercalated study is available for BDS students aftercompletion of Stage 2.

Stage 3

You study:

Clinical Introduction Course

Applied Anatomy

Dental Materials Science

Dental Public Health

Human Diseases

Oral Diseases

Clinical skills courses in Restorative Dentistry andOrthodontics

Clinical attachments with associated lectures andseminars in Restorative Dentistry, Paediatric Dentistry,Primary Care Outreach (Oral Health Education), OralSurgery, Dental Emergency Clinic and Radiology

Stage 4

You study:

Dental Public Health

Dental Sedation

Human Diseases

Oral Diseases

Clinical skills courses in Restorative Dentistry and OralSurgery

Clinical attachments with associated lectures andseminars in Restorative Dentistry (includingInterprofessional Clinic), Paediatric Dentistry, PrimaryCare Outreach, and Oral Surgery

By the end of Stage 4, half your time is spent on patientcare and clinical dental practice, with supportingclinical-related teaching.

An optional elective period at the end of Stage 4 givesyou the opportunity to organise a few weeks studyingdentistry outside Newcastle. In recent years this hastaken students all over the world.

Stage 5

You study:

Current Opinion in Dentistry

Dental Public Health

Gerodontology

Oral Diseases

Stage 5

Clinical attachments with associated lectures andseminars in Restorative Dentistry, Paediatric Dentistry,Primary Care Outreach, Dental Emergency Clinic and Oraland Maxillofacial Surgery

A vertically integrated course on Professionalism andPersonal and Professional Development runs through allstages of the programme.

Teaching and assessment

Study at the cutting edgeThe Dental School has research labs conductingcutting-edge research at the highest international standards.This cutting-edge knowledge feeds into your undergraduatedegree, giving you the latest knowledge in the field.

Teaching methodsBenefit from teaching from expert staff, including holders ofnational teaching fellowships and distinguished scientistawards

Teaching is by a combination of:

• lectures and seminars• laboratory demonstrations (including closed-circuit TV)• practical laboratory work• clinical demonstrations

Assessment methodsFormal assessment during the first two years takes the formof examinations in December and at the end of each year.

You also undergo continuous assessment in the form ofessays and projects, which allows for feedback on yourprogress.

Assessment of clinical skills is carried out on a continuousbasis, with careful feedback so that you can constantlyimprove your performance and continue to learn

Find out moreVisit our Teaching & Learning pages to read about theoutstanding learning experience available to all students atNewcastle University.

Entry Requirements

All candidates are considered on an individual basis.

If your qualifications are not listed here, please see ouradditional entry requirements web pages to find out whichother qualifications are considered.

The entrance requirements below apply to 2019 entry.

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Important Information for All Students

Important information on the School of DentalSciences Admissions Policy.BSc Honours Degree:Graduates are accepted onto thefull 5-year course. A degree with a 2:1 or higher is required,and must include Biology and Chemistry as a significantpercentage of the degree.

UKCAT: All applicants are required to sit the UK ClinicalAptitude Test (UKCAT) in the year of application. Seewww.ukcat.ac.uk for further information.

UCAS admission procedure: You are permitted amaximum of four choices on the UCAS form for Dentistry.The deadline for applications is 15 October. Candidates whoare considered, on the basis of their application form, to beparticularly promising are interviewed to establish suitabilityfor the course prior to an offer being made.

Health Requirements for Admissions and ContinuingPractice: We have an overriding duty of care to the publicwith whom students come into close contact. All studentsare required to comply with the Department of Health’sguidance on health clearance for healthcare workers. Earlyclinical contact means that students will be asked to provideproof of their immunisation status by completing anOccupational Health Questionnaire on entry. Immunityagainst the following is required: polio; tetanus; varicella(chicken pox); diphtheria; measles; mumps; rubella; TB.

Newcastle University follow the Dental School's Councilprotocol on blood-borne viruses. Early in the coursestudents will be required to be screened for hepatitis B;hepatitis C and HIV. All aspects of a student’s medicalrecord will be bound by the same duty of confidentiality asfor any doctor-patient interaction and informed by the sameethical guidance. Students commencing the programme willbe immunised against hepatitis B by our OccupationalHealth provider, the cost will be covered by the School.See School of Dental Sciences Admissions Policy.

Occupational health: All applicants who take up an offerfrom Newcastle University are required to complete a NHSoccupational health questionnaire. From the informationprovided, the Occupational Health Service will assess theapplicant's immunisation status and students will berequired to fulfil any stipulated requirements identified fromthis assessment. Any required immunisations will beprovided by our Occupational Health Service.

In certain circumstances, it may also be necessary forapplicants to undergo an Occupational Health Assessmentwith an NHS Occupational Health Consultant in theNewcastle Hospitals Trust before we are able to confirmtheir offer of a place. This assessment is designed to help usensure that applicants are not only able to undertake therigours of the BDS programme, especially with respect toworking with patients in the clinical setting, and meet itsoutcomes in line with the statutory requirements of theGeneral Dental Council, but also to ensure that we provideany reasonable support necessary.

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks: All dental schools are required to ensure that their students, who will

have a high level of unsupervised contact with children orvulnerable adults undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service(DBS) enhanced check to ensure students are ‘fit topractise.’ The Dental School reserves the right todiscontinue your studies on receipt of an unsatisfactorydisclosure.

Work experience: All applicants are required to haveundertaken a period of relevant experience by the time theysubmit their UCAS application. This should be carried out ina General Dental Practice, but other types of dental workexperience may be considered.

Resits: We would normally expect applicants to haveachieved their A levels (or equivalent) in one sitting.

Academic achievement: Once the academic screeningcriteria have been met, academic achievement is notconsidered further in subsequent parts of the applicationprocess, ie, additional A levels or A* results do not givefurther advantage.

Please note that we do not consider applications fromcandidates who have previously commenced a dentaldegree at another institution and failed to progress for anyreason.

A LevelsAAA including Chemistry and Biology. For Biology,Chemistry and Physics A levels, we require a pass in thepractical element. General Studies and Critical Thinking arenot accepted.

Scottish QualificationsAAAAA at Higher Grade normally including Chemistry andBiology. Two Advanced Highers also normally required(minimum A/B) to include Biology and/or Chemistry. If onlyone out of Biology and Chemistry is offered at AdvancedHigher, a grade A is required in that science. Candidatesoffering only one out of Higher Chemistry and Biology will berequired to take the other in their final year along withAdvanced Higher in the first, and achieve A grades in boththe Advanced Higher and the Higher. English andMathematics required at grade 2 Standard Grade (orIntermediate 2 equivalent).

Scottish qualifications can be taken in more than one sitting.

International BaccalaureateA minimum of 37 points with Chemistry and Biology atGrade 6 or above at Higher level.

Irish Leaving CertificateH1H1H1H2H2H3 at Higher Level, to include Biology,Chemistry, English and Maths, and excluding Irish.

Access QualificationsAt least 45 level 3 credits to be achieved at Distinction. Mustinclude at least 15 level 3 credits in each of Biology andChemistry (Human Biology and Chemistry for the HEFC). Aminimum of 2 years of full-time employment required afterundertaking school-leaving examinations beforecommencing the Access to HE Diploma.

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Cambridge Pre-UD3,D3,D3 in Principal Subjects including both Chemistryand Biology. AAAAA or 77777 at GCSE including Biologyand Chemistry or AA or 77 in Dual Award Science alsorequired.

PARTNERS - A LevelsABB including both Chemistry and Biology at grade B. ForBiology, Chemistry and Physics A levels, we require a passin the practical element.

The PARTNERS Programme is Newcastle University’ssupported entry route for students from schools andcolleges in England and Northern Ireland. Find out moreabout the PARTNERS Programme.

PARTNERS - Pearson BTEC Level 3 NationalExtended Diploma/OCR Cambridge TechnicalLevel 3 Extended DiplomaBTEC qualifications are not accepted for entry to thiscourse.

The PARTNERS Programme is Newcastle University’ssupported entry route for students from schools andcolleges in England and Northern Ireland. Find out moreabout the PARTNERS Programme.

English Language RequirementsApplicants whose first language is not English requirea minimum score of IELTS 7.0 or equivalent.

If you need help to meet our English Languagerequirements, we can provide support with extra tuition.

Read more about UK visas and immigration requirements.

Other International QualificationsABB at A level is typically the minimum required for entry toan undergraduate course. You can check the equivalentgrades for qualifications offered in your country.

We will also consider your application if you have lower ornon-standard qualifications.

Undergraduate Admissions Policy

See our 2018 Admissions Policy (PDF: 185 KB).

See further policies related to admission.

Careers

100% of graduates from our Bachelor of DentalSurgery programme were employed or in furtherstudy within six months of graduating earning anaverage salary of £31,355 (2017-18).*

Once you have qualified there are a number of differentcareers open to you. Most graduates undertake a period of

post-graduate foundation training whatever branch ofdentistry they eventually take up.

Dentistry is a fairly flexible career and selecting oneparticular branch does not mean that you cannot ventureinto others later on in your career. Advice, to help you makethe appropriate choice, is available from your tutor as wellas other members of staff and through our links with HealthEducation England.

General PracticeMost graduates initially join a Dental Foundation Programmewhere you will join an established practice and work with atrainer who will guide you in those early months. In addition,some foundation training schemes operated in differentparts of the country give you the opportunity to spend partof that period in a dental hospital attachment.

Further training is given in study days during this time,covering important aspects such as practice management,advanced clinical skills and team-building.

Publicly funded servicesThe Community Dental Service is  a complementary serviceto the general dental services. Dental Officers working in thispublicly funded service provide dental care for those peopleeither unwilling or unable to obtain care elsewhere, forexample, patients with special needs or for people in theirown homes.

In addition, this service provides a screening programme inschools as well as dental health education and promotion todifferent community groups.

There are also career opportunities available in the defenceservices and working with industrial partners.

Universities – teaching studentsCareers in university dental schools also allow you tospecialise in a particular aspect of dentistry, combiningresearch with teaching and the treatment of patients.

Hospitals – specialist careIn the Hospital Dental Service you will work in differentdepartments under the guidance of consultants and will, atthe end of a two-year period of professional training, beeligible to gain additional qualifications that set you on thecareer pathway to become a specialist in your chosensubject.

During this time you will have the chance to undertake smallresearch or audit projects if you so wish and to write upyour research for publication in a scientific journal.

*Source: https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk

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What our graduates go on to do:employment and further studychoicesSee what our recent graduates went on to do and viewgraduate destinations statistics. These statistics are basedon what graduates were doing on a specific date,approximately six months after graduation. The most recentdata available is for graduates who completed their coursein 2014/15.

The destination data is available in varying levels, beginningwith the University and moving through Faculty and Schooldown to individual course reports. This final level may giveyou some useful ideas about possible options after yourcourse or a course you are considering.

Careers and employability atNewcastleNewcastle University consistently has one of the bestrecords for graduate employment in the UK.

94% of our 2014/15 UK/EU graduates progressed toemployment or further study within six months ofgraduating.

Of our graduates who entered employment 85% were in aprofessional or managerial position.

We provide an extensive range of opportunities to allstudents through an initiative called ncl+. This enables youto develop personal, employability and enterprise skills andto give you the edge in the employment market after yougraduate.

Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest andbest in the country, and we have strong links withemployers.

Fees & Funding

Tuition Fees (UK and EU students)

2019 entry:Tuition fees for 2019-20 have not yet been confirmed.2018 entry*:£9,250 in 2018-19Currently, students studying on the five-year Medicine orDentistry degree programmes do not have to pay tuitionfees in the fifth year of these courses because they arefunded by the NHS. They can also apply for a meanstested bursary towards maintenance costs. NHS fundingfor 2018 entry is yet to be confirmed.Some of our degrees involve additional costs which arenot covered by your tuition fees.*Please note:

Tuition Fees (UK and EU students)

The maximum fee that we are permitted to charge for UKand EU students is set by the UK government.As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee toincrease in each subsequent academic year of yourcourse, subject to government regulations on feeincreases and in line with inflation.Newcastle University has guaranteed that EU studentsentering our University in 2018 will pay the UK (Home)rate of fee for the full duration of their programme ofstudy.See more information on all aspects of studentfinance relating to Newcastle University.

Tuition Fees (International students)

2019 entry:Tuition fees for 2019-20 have not yet been confirmed.2018 entry:Year 1 (Phase 1): £21,000Years 2, 3, 4 and 5 (Phase 2): £35,200**Fee applies to students starting years 2, 3, 4 or 5 in2018-19. Fees for those starting years 2, 3, 4 or5 beyond 2018-19 are subject to review.You will be charged tuition fees for each year of yourdegree programme (unless you are on a shorterexchange programme).Please note that the tuition fee amount you will pay mayincrease slightly year on year as a result of inflation.See more information relating to all aspects of studentfinance at Newcastle University.

Scholarships and Financial Support (UK and EUstudents)

You may be eligible for one of a range of NewcastleUniversity Scholarships in addition to government financialsupport.Newcastle University ScholarshipsGovernment financial support

Scholarships and Financial Support(International students)

You may be eligible for an International Family Discount(IFD).

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Apply

Applying to Newcastle Universitythrough UCASTo apply for undergraduate study at Newcastle you mustuse the online application system managed by theUniversities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).

UCAS codes for Newcastle University

• institution name - NEWC• institution code - N21

UCAS buzzwordAsk your teacher or adviser from your school or college forthe UCAS buzzword. You need the buzzword when youregister on the Apply system. This makes it clear whichschool or college you are applying from.

All UK schools and colleges and a small number of EU andinternational establishments are registered with UCAS.

If you are applying independently, or are applying from aschool or college which is not registered to manageapplications, you will still use the Apply system. You will notneed a buzzword.

Making your applicationOn the UCAS website you can also find out more about:

• application deadlines and other important dates• offers and tracking your application

Application decisions and enquiriesFind out more about our admissions process and who tocontact if you need help with your application.

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