Being a student at UCL is about so much more than just acquiring knowledge. Studying here gives you the opportunity to realise your potential as an individual, and the skills and tools to thrive.
Find out more about what makes UCL research world-leading, how to access UCL expertise, and teams in the Office of the Vice-Provost (Research, Innovation and Global Engagement).
Discover the many ways you can connect with UCL, and how we work with industry, government and not-for-profit organisations to tackle tough challenges.
Founded in 1826 in the heart of London, UCL is London's leading multidisciplinary university, with more than 16,000 staff and 50,000 students from 150 different countries.
In the latest series of the The Apprentice, Lord Sugar calls the candidates to the UCL Eastman Dental Institute and asks them to design a new electric toothbrush for children.
13 January 2022
In episode two, dubbed ‘Toothbrush’, the remaining 15 contestants were given access to UCL Eastman’s new state-of-the-art teaching and research facility, based at UCL’s Rockefeller Building in the heart of London.
Lord Sugar took the form of a 'sugar fairy' avatar to fill in the candidates on their task in the Eastman's state-of-the-art Clinical Skills lab. The teams then broke out across the Institute, able to take inspiration from the phantom head (dental manikin) workstations, Clinical Skills Suite and the Prosthodontics Lab, equipped with the latest technology used to plan dental restoration and 3D print dentures, bridges crowns and implants.
Commenting Professor Stephen Porter, Director of the UCL Eastman Dental Institute, said: “We are absolutely delighted The Apprentice chose the UCL Eastman Dental Institute to host its ‘Toothbrush’ episode.
“Our state-of the-art facilities, teaching expertise and highly talented staff, along with our colleagues in UCL estates and security teams, combined to help pull off a fantastic programme, which befits such a high-profile show.
"As the programme alluded, oral health care is extremely important to welbeing and quality of life, and it is great to see Lord Sugar and his team showcase this."
The contestants had earlier arrived in blacked-out people carriers to UCL’s quad, at the main entrance off Gower Street, and descended up the steps of UCL’s Wilkin’s Building and landmark Portico, before entering the Flaxman Gallery.
Episode two of the Apprentice is avilable on BBC iPlayer: Toothbrush
Designed by Professor Paul Ashley and Dr Susan Parekh, this short course of study is intended to help improve the knowledge and skills of dentists and dental care professionals to ultimately improve the oral health and wellbeing of children.
Playbrush has been a trailblazer in digital oral hygiene since it was founded in 2015. It’s sold over 300,000 units in 25 countries, raised millions in investment and won multiple industry awards.
UCL researchers and industry partners have developed a new dental filling material to ensure dental procedures on younger patients are fuss-free, quick and cost-effective. The revolutionary SMART composite enables painless tooth restoration in less than 5 minutes.
Our facilities
The Eastman Dental Institute has moved to the heart of UCL's Bloomsbury campus. Learn more about our new teaching and clinical skills spaces and resources for our student community.
Study with us
We offer a range of postgraduate study opportunities including Master's degrees, specialty training, certificates, diplomas, research-informed degrees and CPD courses. Our clinically-intensive programmes – both part and full-time - feature small class sizes, led by international specialists.
International dentistry prize awarded to UCL Eastman Fellow
Dr Junaid Saleem Malik of the UCL Eastman Dental Institute has won first prize at AIOP (Accademia Italiana di Odontoiatria Protesica) YOUNG 2025, becoming the first international participant to do so.
AI-assisted intelligent hearing system surpasses human ear in sound direction recognition
A new AI-assisted hearing device inspired by the human cochlea could advance hearing aid technology, offering improved sound and direction recognition.
