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Dental Public Health MSc

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

Covid-19 programme updates

Due to COVID-19, there may have been updates to this programme for the 2020 academic year. Where there has been an update, these are indicated with a red alert and a link which will provide further information.

Key information

Programme starts

September 2020

Modes and duration

Full time: 1 year
Part time: 2 years
Flexible: 2-5 years

Application dates

All applicants
Open: 1 November 2019
Close: 11 August 2020
Notification
Due to the large number of applications received, this programme is no longer accepting applications for 2020/21 entry. We apologise for any inconvenience caused. Applications for 2021/22 entry will open later in the year.

Tuition fees (2020/21)

UK/EU:
£10,160 (FT)
£5,080 (PT)
Overseas:
£25,900 (FT)
£12,890 (PT)


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

Location: London, Bloomsbury

Entry requirements

All applicants must normally hold an approved dental or medical qualification. Applicants must be confident using computers and show evidence of numeracy (e.g. GCSE Mathematics or Statistics).

English language requirements

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: Standard

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

International students

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.

Select your country:

About this degree

You will develop a broad understanding of the philosophy of dental public health, and in particular the underlying social, economic and political determinants of health. 

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.

The programme consists of eight compulsory modules (120 credits) and a project report (60 credits).

Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded a MSc in Dental Public Health.

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.

Compulsory modules

  • Philosophy and Principles of Dental Public Health
  • Oral Epidemiology - This module is suspended for 2020-21 and will be replaced by Epidemiology
  • Basic Statistics for Medical Sciences
  • Principles and Practice of Oral Health Promotion
  • Research Methods in Dental Public Health - This module is suspended for 2020-21 and will be replaced by Research Methods for Social Epidemiology
  • Regression Modelling
  • Evidence Based Dental Practice
  • Planning for Better Oral Health
  • Epidemiology and Public Health: Report on an Individual Project

Optional modules

  • There are no optional modules for this programme.
Covid-19 module updates
Due to COVID-19, there may be updates to the modules for your chosen programme of study this year. Some modules may not be available or may need to be moved to a later term or year of study.  We have included these updates below:   Oral Epidemiology (IEHC0010) will be suspended and replaced by Epidemiology (IEHC0045) in Term 1. Research Methods for Social Epidemiology (IEHC0051) will run in Term 2. These updates are relevant for 2020-21 academic year only.  The full list of modules will be available in the module catalogue from late August.  From the first week of September, you will be invited to complete module selection from Portico, our student record system. There may need to be additional updates or changes to modules during the academic year to allow for new guidance from the UK Government and Public Health England. Your department shall keep you updated of these changes as they become available.  

Dissertation/report

All MSc students undertake an independent research project which culminates in a report of no more than 12,000 words.

Teaching and learning

The programme is designed to encourage maximum student participation and involvement, and is based upon small group teaching seminars, where a questioning approach is actively encouraged, enabling students to challenge the basis for current dental policy and practice. Assessment is through internal assignments, examination, oral presentation and the research dissertation.

Covid-19 contact hours on campus
In Term One, while campus will be open, all the learning activity for the core content of your modules will take place online – including lectures, tutorials, seminars and assessments. By “core content” we mean everything you need to learn to complete the module successfully. In addition to these online contact hours, we will be offering some face-to-face educational activities for students on campus, and we will provide alternative online activities for those students unable to join us on campus. These activities, which will include contact with academic staff, will be relevant to your programme of study may include seminars, academic and employability skills workshops, small-group or individual tutorials, lab and practice-based teaching. UK Government safety guidelines will limit the amount of ‘in person’ activity we can offer and while it will vary from programme to programme, is likely to be no more than 1-2 hours per week. This will vary across departments, particularly if your programme includes laboratory/practical/studio/workshop sessions. You will be updated with more specific details as they are available and your timetable will indicate which sessions will be on campus and which will be available online.
Covid-19 assessment updates
There may be changes to the format of assessments for modules in this programme due to COVID-19. These will be summarised for each module on the module catalogue from 17 August 2020.   If any changes to assessments need to be made during the academic year due to updates in government guidance, these will be communicated to you as soon as possible from your department.    
Communicating further Covid-19 mitigation plans
We are continuing to follow UK Government guidance, as well as the expertise of our researchers, including specialists in health, education, human behaviour and infection prevention, to make sure UCL is as safe as possible during the COVID-19 pandemic. If it becomes necessary to make further changes to your programme as a result of new guidance/regulations, UCL and your department will communicate these as soon as this becomes clear. We will keep you up-to-date with our plans throughout term one, so you have the information you need to be able to take decisions that are right for your circumstances. Please ensure that you keep in touch with your department by regularly checking your UCL emails, Moodle courses, the Coronavirus FAQs for Students page and any UCL online groups or social media you follow.

Additional costs

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

Accessibility

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

Funding

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 September 2020 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.

Careers

Many former students have become chief dental officers, dental public health academics and planners in their own countries.

Employability

Many of our completing students go on to work within governing bodies, healthcare institutions and local dentist practices. A large number also 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, while others are consultants in dental public health working at Public Health England.

Why study this degree at UCL?

UCL is one of the world's pioneering universities 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 ranked 10th in the world for public health (Shanghai Rankings' Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2019).

  • 1st in the UK: top-rated university in the UK for research strength (REF 2014)
  • 8th in the world: among the top universities in the world (QS World University Rankings 2020)
  • 10th in the world for public health (ShanghaiRanking's Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2019)
  • 10th in the world for life and medical sciences (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2019)

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.

Department: Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care

Application and next steps

Applications

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 £80 for online applications and £105 for paper applications. Further information can be found at: www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/graduate/taught/application.

Who can apply?

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.

Application deadlines

All applicants
11 August 2020

For more information see our Applications page.

Apply now

What are we looking for?

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.

UCL is regulated by the Office for Students.

Page last modified on 13 August 2020