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Dental Public Health MSc

London, Bloomsbury

The internationally renowned Dental Public Health MSc at UCL offers a challenging and innovative programme of study. Based in the UCL Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care, a particular strength of the programme is the application of public health philosophy to dental public health issues.

UK students International students
Study mode
UK tuition fees (2023/24)
£11,800
£5,900
Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.
Overseas tuition fees (2023/24)
£32,100
£16,050
Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.
Duration
1 calendar year
2 calendar years
5 calendar years
Programme starts
September 2023
Applications accepted
All applicants: 17 Oct 2022 – 30 Jun 2023

Applications open

Apply for this course

Entry requirements

All applicants must normally hold an approved dental or medical qualification.

If your education has not been conducted in the English language, you will be expected to demonstrate evidence of an adequate level of English proficiency.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 1

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level. International Preparation Courses

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree


This internationally renowned MSc in Dental Public Health offers a challenging and innovative programme of study.

"The UCL Dental Public Health Master’s has an outstanding reputation. At international conferences around the world, I have met many dentists who have studied at UCL and been very impressed by their commitment to public health." Prof. Sir Michael Marmot

Over the last 25 years, over 300 dentists from around the world have successfully completed the UCL MSc in Dental Public Health. Many of these individuals are now senior academics or chief dentists in their home countries.

Oral diseases are a major public health problem worldwide, despite being largely preventable. The burden of oral diseases is not shared equally – almost everywhere around the world, oral diseases disproportionally affect socially disadvantaged members of society. Dental Public Health applies public health principles and philosophy to oral diseases. It is the science and practice of preventing oral diseases, promoting oral health and improving quality of life through population-based approaches.

The Dental Public Health MSc is designed to provide you with a thorough grounding in the factors determining oral health, as well as evidence-based ways of preventing oral diseases and reducing oral health inequalities. Apart from studying the social determinants of health and oral health, this programme will equip you with specific knowledge and transferable skills in epidemiology, statistics, research methods and the planning and evaluation of oral health promotion interventions and dental health care systems. The programme is designed to engage and inspire you and to encourage maximum participation and involvement. Delivery is mainly via small group teaching, where a questioning approach is actively encouraged, enabling you to challenge the basis for current dental policy and practice.

The programme is based in the Research Department of Epidemiology & Public Health, which is part of UCL's Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care.

Who this course is for

The programme is suitable for graduates of dentistry or a related discipline who wish to develop a comprehensive understanding of the principles of dental public health and its application in the prevention and treatment of oral diseases.

Read about what it takes to study for a Master's at UCL

What this course will give you

UCL is among the world's top ten universities (QS World University Rankings 2022) with a reputation for high-quality research. Located in the heart of London, it is a stimulating and exciting environment in which to study.

  • UCL is rated No.1 for research power and impact in medicine, health and life sciences (REF 2021)
  • 7th in the world for public health (Shanghai Ranking's Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2022)
  • 8th in the world: among the top universities in the world (QS World University Rankings 2022)

UCL can bring the full power of a multi-faculty university to bear on discussions of population health, involving academics from the wide range of disciplines necessary to tackle some of the most difficult issues in public health.

The Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care is a friendly, thriving multidisciplinary environment. Staff, specialising in biology, dentistry, economics, epidemiology, medicine, psychology, public health, statistics and sociology, aim to develop a better understanding of health and prevention of ill health through vigorous research at a global, national and local level. This knowledge is applied via teaching and contributions to national and international health policy and the wider public understanding of health.

The UCL Dental Public Health Group, led by Professor Richard Watt, has an outstanding national and international reputation for high quality dental public health research, teaching and policy. The Group is a World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre of Oral Health Inequalities and Public Health. Professor Watt also co-chairs the recently established Lancet Commission on Oral Health.

Read about what you'll get out of a graduate programme

The foundation of your career

Our former students have become chief dental officers, dental public health academics and planners in their own countries. Many of our completing students go on to work within governing bodies, healthcare institutions and local dentist practices. Some go on to academic careers and commence research degrees within their specified areas of interest at various higher education institutes around the world. Within the UK, several of our past students are now lecturers in dental public health or consultants in dental public health.

Employability

Graduates will have gained a range of specific practical and transferable skills, such as:

  • written and oral communication skills including report writing and oral presentations,
  • quantitative and qualitative research methods,
  • statistical analysis skills,
  • critical appraisal skills, and
  • planning and evaluation of interventions and services.

Teaching and learning

Assessment in this programme is through both formative (unmarked) and summative assessment methods. Summative assessments (i.e. grades are taken into account for the degree classification) include essays, oral presentations, oral exams, unseen written exams and the completion of a research project.

It is expected students will spend approximately 150 hours on each taught module. This time is made up of formal learning and teaching events such as lectures, seminars and tutorials (normally about 30 hours), as well as independent and private study. Additionally, it is expected students will spend about 600 hours preparing their dissertation projects.
 
This time is made up of formal learning and teaching events such as lectures, seminars and tutorials, as well as independent study.

Modules

You will undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. The programme consists of eight compulsory modules (120 credits) and a research dissertation (60 credits).

You will take eight compulsory modules on basic statistics, epidemiology, philosophy and principles of dental public health, research methods, regression modelling, oral health promotion, evidence-based practice, planning for better oral health, and finally a dissertation.

You will take eight compulsory modules across two years, which focus on basic statistics, epidemiology, philosophy and principles of dental public health, research methods, regression modelling, oral health promotion, evidence-based practice, and planning for better oral health, and finally a dissertation to be completed in the second year.

You are required to complete the basic statistics module before enrolling on the regression modelling module. Otherwise, part-time students can complete modules in any order, following consultation with the Programme Directors.

You will take eight compulsory modules across two to five years, which focus on basic statistics, epidemiology, philosophy and principles of dental public health, research methods, regression modelling, oral health promotion, evidence-based practice, and planning for better oral health, and finally a dissertation to be completed in the final year.

You are required to complete the basic statistics module before enrolling on the regression modelling module. Otherwise flexible students can complete modules in any order, following consultation with the Programme Directors.

Compulsory modules











Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability is subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MSc in Dental Public Health.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble accessable.co.uk. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support & Wellbeing team.

Visit us

All open days and events

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Online - Open day

Graduate Open Events: UCL Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care

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UCL's Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care addresses major 21st-century health challenges such as health equity, obesity, tobacco and alcohol, ageing and the organisation of healthcare. Join our Virtual Postgraduate Open Events to find out more about our postgraduate programmes, such as MPH Master of Public Health, MSc Dental Public Health, MSc Health Psychology, MSc Humanitarian Policy and Practice, MSc Population Health and MSc Social Epidemiology.

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Online - Open day

Graduate Open Events: Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) Health

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The UCL DBA Health is a professional doctorate degree designed for leaders in health-related fields who want to apply research skills to tackle health sector challenges. Studying flexibly over 5 years, you'll develop research skills for evaluating, assessing, and overseeing health projects and research, enabling you to apply strategic decision-making. Attend this open day to learn more about the UCL DBA Health, the admissions process and ask any questions you may have about the programme.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time Part-time
Tuition fees (2023/24) £11,800 £5,900
Tuition fees (2023/24) £32,100 £16,050

Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Where the programme is offered on a flexible/modular basis, fees are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees.

Additional costs

There are no additional costs for this programme.

For more information on additional costs for prospective students please go to our estimated cost of essential expenditure at Accommodation and living costs.

Funding your studies

Aubrey Sheiham Scholarship

The UCL Research Department of Epidemiology and Public Health is pleased to offer two one-year Scholarships for full-time students undertaking the MSc in Dental Public Health. The awards will commence in the September of each academic year and the Scholarships will consist of £2,500 towards tuition fees for home students and £5,000 for overseas students. The recipients will be expected to secure the remaining part of their tuition fees and to cover their living costs.

More information

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.

See all the ways you can fund your studies

Next steps

Students are advised to apply as early as possible due to competition for places. Those applying for scholarship funding (particularly overseas applicants) should take note of application deadlines.

There is an application processing fee for this programme of £90 for online applications and £115 for paper applications. Further information can be found at Application fees.

When we assess your application we would like to learn:

  • why you want to study Dental Public Health at graduate level
  • why you want to study Dental Public Health at UCL
  • how your academic and professional background meets the demands of this programme
  • where you would like to go professionally with your degree

Together with essential academic requirements, the personal statement is your opportunity to illustrate whether your reasons for applying to this programme match what the programme will deliver.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate programmes (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.

Year of entry: 2023-2024

Apply for this course

Got questions? Get in touch

Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care Department
Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care Department

dentalpublichealth@ucl.ac.uk

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