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This Postgraduate Diploma programme is designed for dentists wishing to enhance their endodontic knowledge and clinical skills, whilst continuing to work in practice, and runs part-time over two years. Graduates are well-regarded and recognised for their performance; and enjoy high employment and employer satisfaction rates.
Key information
Programme starts
September 2021
Modes and duration
Students would expect to attend 17 days on-site appropriately spread out over the year in year one, interspersed with 14 half days of online academic teaching and 6 days for assessments (on-site or on-line). They would expect to attend 18 days, appropriately spread to facilitate clinical patient care in year two.
Application dates
Tuition fees (2021/22)
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: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees. This programme may be studied on a part-time basis only; the fee shown here is the part-time tuition fee.
Fee deposit: All students on this programme on a part-time or flexible basis are required to pay a fee deposit of £500.
Entry requirements
All applicants must hold an approved dental qualification and be registered with the General Dental Council in the UK, with a minimum of two years' post-qualification clinical experience.
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: Good
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.
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
The programme enables participants to improve their knowledge and refine their practical and clinical skills. Subjects covered include the biological basis of disease management, as well as the clinical and technical aspects of treatment. The programme is delivered by leading clinicians, providing close support, coaching and mentoring to aid improvement in technical, clinical and cognitive domains. Outcomes are distinguished by confident clinical performance.
The programme consists of seven compulsory modules (120 credits); four are taken in year 1 (15 credits each), and three are taken in year 2 (total 60 credits).
Upon successful completion of 120 credits, you will be awarded a PG Dip in Endodontic Practice.
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
- Clinical Endodontics
- Endodontic Sciences
- Level 1 Practical Endodontics
- Level 2 Practical Endodontics
- Generalist Skills
- Special Interest Skills - Trauma Management and pulp therapy
- Special Interest Skills - Primary Root Canal Treatment and the management of treatment failure
Optional modules
There are no optional modules for this programme.
Dissertation/report
Not applicable.
Fieldwork
Candidates will need to be employed in a general dental practice, where they would be able to receive and manage patients requiring endodontic care on a regular basis, using contemporary equipment (microscope beneficial but not essential) and materials as specified for practitioners with enhanced skills by Health Education England. Patient-management logs will form part of a contemporaneously maintained portfolio to facilitate distance-mentoring.
Teaching and learning
The programme is delivered through seminars, lectures, tutorials, hands-on practical sessions, reflective clinical and technical work log-books and case conferences on practice-managed patients in the first year, supported by direct clinical supervision of patient management during the second year.
A range of different assessment techniques are used including essays, short answer questions, oral examinations, multiple choice questions, as well as assessed pieces of work including practical work log-book, clinical work log-book, clinical audit project, and technical and clinical case presentations.
The first year consists of 17 days of attendance for technical/practical skills training (130 contact hours), live, online academic synchronous and asynchronous teaching (125 hrs) and 6 days of assessments (online or onsite) with the student undertaking 345 hrs of non-contact study/learning and formative clinical practice (log-book monitored) in preparation.
The second year consists of 15 days of attendance for supervised clinical practice (120 hrs), 3 didactic days (25 hrs), plus 2 assessment days (15 hrs); the student undertaking 440 hours of non-contact but mentored study/learning and log-monitored reflective clinical practice, including a practice-based clinical audit and 40 hours of on-line generalist skills courses.
Additional costs
There are no specified additional costs but students should ensure that they either already use or will have the facility of appropriate Level 2 NHS practitioner equipment for provision of endodontic care as specified by NHS England.
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 accessable.co.uk. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support & Wellbeing team.
Funding
Note on mode of study: Selecting the part-time mode allows you access to study loans, but students must complete their studies in consecutive years and may not take any time away from study without authorised Extenuating Circumstances. Those selecting the flexible mode of study cannot access loans. They are able to take a break from the end of a year of study but must complete the programme within five years.
It is not possible to transfer between modes of study so students need to select the option that suits their personal circumstances. Students will be taught together irrespective of their mode of study.
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
Graduates often decide to focus a main part of their practice on endodontics, whilst others prefer to maintain a broad-based practice with a special interest. A number have gone on to undertake the MSc in Endodontics or Specialist Training, a proportion of whom have taken up teaching. A recently opened and suitable workstream is a contract to act as a GDP with enhanced skills in Endodontics in primary care.
Employability
All graduates, without exception, find fulfilling and satisfying job placements to pursue their interests and consolidate their newly developed skills. Employers rate our graduates highly.
Why study this degree at UCL?
The first year of the programme is delivered in a new state-of-the-art clinical skills laboratory under the direct coaching and mentoring of experienced and highly regarded teaching staff. This year lays the foundation of knowledge and integrates it with technical skill development. Both facets are integrated into the students' own clinical practices through mentored support and reflective case-log.
The second year includes 15 days of directly supervised clinical work on patients at the Eastman Dental Institute/Hospital. Staff-to-student ratios are optimal allowing maximum opportunity for clinical application of knowledge and technical skills development. A clinical log-book is maintained throughout with student and tutor reflections to ensure tangible and systematic growth in knowledge and skills.
Department: Eastman Dental Institute
What our students and staff say
"I took up the position as a Clinical Lecturer at the Eastman Dental Institute in 1997 due to its reputation for graduate dental education and the close working relationship between clinical and research departments. My research focused on the clinical efficacy of endodontic treatment which generated further exploration in the laboratory to develop novel approaches to control root canal infections. I most enjoy coaching and mentoring students and junior staff to reach their full potential."
Dr Yuan-Ling Ng
Endodontic Practice PG Dip, Endodontics MSc, Endodontology MClinDent
Eastman Dental Institute
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.
This programme requires two references. Further information regarding references can be found in our How to apply section.
There is an application processing fee for Eastman Dental Institute programmes of £120 for online applications and £145 for paper applications. Further information can be found at: ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/graduate/taught/application.
Who can apply?
The programme is specifically designed for the general dental practitioner keen to follow a structured programme but unable to undertake full-time postgraduate study, and who wishes to work at a higher, more satisfying level and gain enhanced skills in endodontics.
Application deadlines
- Visa nationals
- 31 May 2021
- Non-visa nationals
- 30 July 2021
For more information see our Applications page.
Apply nowWhat are we looking for?
When we assess your application we would like to learn:
- how your academic and professional background meets the demands of this programme
- why you want to study this programme at graduate level
- what particularly attracts you to this programme
- where you would like to go professionally with your degree and how this programme meets your needs.
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.
Applicants should have sound skills and suitable experience as a general dentist.
UCL is regulated by the Office for Students.
Page last modified on 28 August 2021
