Oral Surgery (Advanced Training) MClinDent
London, Bloomsbury
This is the programme information for 2024 entry
This full-time, three-years master's programme gives you access to hands-on training in oral surgery in the heart of London. You will develop a depth of understanding of the theoretical and clinical aspects of this surgical field, applied clinical sciences and research methodology, and complete a research project dissertation.
Study mode
UK tuition fees (2024/25)
Overseas tuition fees (2024/25)
Duration
Programme starts
Applications accepted
Applications closed
Entry requirements
All applicants must hold an approved dental qualification and have a minimum of two years' clinical experience post-qualification.
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The English language level for this programme is: Level 3
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.
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
Advances in research mean that oral surgery is continually evolving, enhancing patients' clinical experience. This programme combines theoretical and clinical elements of oral surgery to create an enjoyable balance of academic study and patient care and giving you a strong foundation for a career in this field.
Clinical skills training is held within our new university facilities and gives you the chance to develop and refine your surgical skills, using microscopes and imaging equipment. The clinical, patient-facing aspects of the programme are nearby, in our new hospital environment, where you will take part in consultation clinics, local anaesthetic, conscious sedation, and general anaesthetic oral surgery operating sessions. You will also observe inpatient oral and maxillofacial surgery operating procedures.
Lectures provide a theoretical knowledge base, complemented by interactive seminars, case-based discussions, and problem-based learning, and you will also complete a research project and written dissertation.
The course lasts for three years, meeting the requirement for recognition of completion of training in the UK and most other countries. The oral surgery syllabus covers the curriculum recommended by the UK General Dental Council and the Royal College of Surgeons of England for oral surgery specialist training.
Who this course is for
This programme is suitable for students who have completed an undergraduate degree in dentistry and who wish to extend their knowledge of oral surgery while developing transferable research skills.
We aim to support the development of oral surgery in other countries, especially where healthcare challenges are different from the UK. We are aware that surgeons in these countries may have to contend with a higher prevalence of untreated disease, limited financial and technical resources, and potentially limited support for specialist surgery.
What this course will give you
This programme offers you the following benefits and opportunities.
- Full involvement in the supervised clinical care of patients.
- The opportunity to develop and improve your communication skills and proficiency in history taking, examination, investigations, diagnosis, treatment planning and the hands-on surgical management of cases under local anaesthetic, conscious sedation, or general anaesthesia.
- The chance to extend your knowledge of oral surgery, understand the concepts of research methodology, and establish your competency and confidence in performing hands-on surgical skills and dentoalveolar surgery techniques.
- The chance to work with experienced academics and researchers to develop a range of often innovative and clinically relevant research projects, to develop your confidence in research.
- An understanding of the literature in the subject.
- A good grounding should you wish to consider further research or academic degrees.
- On completion of the programme, UK, EU and overseas students are currently eligible to sit the Tri Collegiate Royal College of Surgeons of England, Edinburgh and Glasgow, Membership in Oral Surgery examination or the FFD Oral Surgery examination of Ireland.
The foundation of your career
Most students go on to sit the Tri-collegiate Royal College of Surgeons of England, Glasgow, and Edinburgh MOS (Membership in Oral Surgery) examination. Many have successfully passed this exam and have embarked on a career specialising in oral surgery in the UK, Europe and overseas.
The course content, quality, training techniques and high performance levels impressed me immensely. I had exposure to state-of-the-art facilities at the Macmillan Cancer Centre, observing how top surgeons manage their patients.
Employability
The programme gives you a solid foundation in oral surgery for clinical practice or hospital posts as well as transferable skills for further research studies.
Graduates follow a range of career trajectories, ranging from clinical practice and hospital posts to research and academic careers, with appropriate guidance provided.
If you are inspired by the opportunities of clinical oral surgery and eligible to work in the UK, you could take your skills into the NHS or a private dental practice. Depending on your previous experience, you could also apply for competitive NHS clinical posts in UK teaching hospitals.
If you demonstrate a particular acumen for the research elements of the programme, you might consider going on to a PhD postgraduate research degree.
If you are inspired by the opportunities in maxillofacial surgery, you may consider applying for medical school in the UK or overseas with the aim of working towards a hospital career in oral and maxillofacial surgery.
Networking
There are regular networking opportunities, including events where you can hear from expert speakers. We encourage students to broaden their skills and expand their networks by attending and participating at conferences.
Accreditation
None. However, successful completion of the MClinDent in Oral Surgery Advanced programme follows an oral surgery specialist training curriculum and fulfils the requirement of three years' training. This currently confers eligibility to sit for the Tri Collegiate Royal College of Surgeons of England, Edinburgh and Glasgow Membership in Oral Surgery examination or the FFD Oral Surgery examination in Ireland.
Teaching and learning
The programme is delivered through a mix of online learning resources, lectures, tutorials and interactive teaching sessions, case-based discussions, problem-based learning, self-directed learning, hands-on clinical skills sessions, supervised clinical consultation clinics, and surgical procedures under local anaesthetic, conscious sedation, and general anaesthesia.
Assessments vary during the learning and examination stages, giving you the opportunity to develop and refine a range of written and verbal communication skills. You will receive verbal or written feedback to highlight your strengths and any areas for improvement.
Assessments include:
- Multiple choice questions, short answer questions, extended matching questions, objective structured clinical examinations, direct observation of procedural skills
- Continual assessment of clinical surgical skills, clinical care of patients and professionalism
- Clinical case scenario discussions, individual and team activities
- Oral presentations, both to an audience and via pre-recorded on-line oral presentations
- Written essays
- Case reports
- A research project dissertation.
You will study with us five days (40 hours) a week.
Year one averages at:
- (30-40%) 12-16 hours of teaching (lectures and tutorials, and clinical lab-based training during the first term) per week.
- (30-40%) 12-16 hours per week of supervised clinical activity from term two onwards.
- (20-30%) 8-12 hours per week of independent study and self-directed learning.
Year two averages at:
- (15-20%) 6-8 hours per week of teaching (lectures, tutorials) a week.
- (40-50%) 16-20 hours per week of supervised clinical activity.
- (20-30%) 8-12 hours per week of research work and self-directed learning.
Year three is for consolidation of clinical and theoretical knowledge, and a bespoke timetable will depend to some extent on learner requirements. This averages at:
- (15-20%) 6-8 hours of teaching (lectures, tutorials) per week.
- (60 %) 24 hours per week of supervised clinical activity.
- (20-30%) 8-12 hours per week of independent study and self-directed learning.
Modules
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Full-time students complete 12 compulsory modules worth 360 credits over two years.
In year one, you take seven modules.
- DENT0119 Clinical Science and Research Methods
- DENT0068 Principles of Treatment Core Course (Oral/Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery)
- DENT0069 Clinical Care Core Course (Oral/Oral Maxillofacial Surgery)
- DENT0070 Theory of Oral/Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
- DENT0071 Dento-Alveolar Surgery 1
- DENT0072 Dento-Alveolar Surgery 2
- DENT0073 Dento-Alveolar Surgery 3
The first term introduces clinical research, covering the principles of clinical science and research methods with an emphasis on clinical statistics. This is important preparation for the later research project and dissertation module in the second year.
You also complete 'Principles of Treatment' in term one. This hands-on, clinical surgical skills, laboratory-based course prepares you for the clinical care of patients and supervised dentoalveolar surgery modules that will follow in the hospital environment.
'The Theory of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery' is covered in lectures and discussed during tutorials. You will have the opportunity for various formative assessments including essay writing practice with feedback, before the concluding essay paper in the third term.
In contrast to the MSc, a third dentoalveolar component is incorporated into the first year to give you additional clinical experience.
In year two, you complete five modules.
- DENT0074 Trauma and Correction of Facial Deformity
- DENT0075 Oral Oncology
- DENT0076 Clinical Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
- DENT0077 Dento-Alveolar Surgery 4
- DENT0079 MClinDent in Oral Surgery Dissertation
These provide a broader understanding of oral surgery and associated topics, including trauma and correction of facial deformity, oral oncology, clinical oral and maxillofacial surgery and further dentoalveolar surgery. You will also complete a research dissertation. These modules are studied concurrently over the year and time allocated to each module is not defined by academic terms.
In the third term, you will submit your case reports and presentations, undertake oral viva examinations and complete your thesis and oral presentation for your research project.
In your third year, you will consolidate your knowledge and clinical skills acquired during the first two years, predominantly through supervised clinical activity.
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 are 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 360 credits. Upon successful completion of 540 credits, you will be awarded an MClinDent in Oral Surgery (Advanced Training).
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 and Wellbeing Services team.
Where you'll study
We are a world-leading, academic centre for postgraduate dentistry and translational research. We offer high-quality postgraduate education, including Master's degrees, speciality training, certificates, diplomas, research degrees and CPD courses. Our clinically-intensive programmes are led by international specialists. As a world-class research centre, we are continually improving systemic and oral health by developing novel treatments, therapies, diagnostics and smart materials. Our new state-of-the-art facilities at Bloomsbury campus ensure that our students, researchers and academics have exceptional access to patients and opportunities for education and research. The UCLH Eastman Dental Hospital is part of the largest hospital in Europe specialising in complex oral health care and advanced ear, nose and throat treatments.
Fees and funding
Fees for this course
Fee description | Full-time |
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Tuition fees (2024/25) | £37,500 |
Tuition fees (2024/25) | £61,800 |
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
Further potential costs include:
- Travel and accommodation in London throughout the programme.
- A personal computer / laptop is useful, though UCL computers are available on campus.
- You may wish to purchase textbooks, though recommended textbooks on the reading list are available to borrow from the library or accessible online.
- Optional printing of lecture handouts and peer-reviewed articles, which are also available online.
- Hospital uniform: laundered theatre scrubs are provided daily at the hospital to wear on clinic and in the operating theatres, but you will need your own clogs or plain white or black trainers.
- Extracurricular attendance at seminars or conferences, if you wish to attend. These events usually offer a student discount.
If presenting UCL research work at a conference, you may be eligible to apply for the Eastman Conference fund.
This programme requires a completed Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check for some compulsory modules. You will receive more information from UCL on how to complete the check once you have firmly accepted an unconditional offer for the programme.
A charge for Post Office ID verification (£15.00) needed for an application to the Disclosure and Barring Service is payable by the student. The cost of the DBS check itself is paid for by UCL.
If you have lived, worked, studied or travelled in any single country outside of the UK for six continuous months or more, in the last five years, you will be required to obtain a Certificate of Good Conduct/Police Check from the relevant country/countries. The cost of this check varies by country and is payable by the student. More information on how to obtain these can be found on gov.uk
For more information about the DBS application process, please contact the UCL Graduate Admissions team
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
For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.
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 Eastman Dental Institute programmes of £120 for online applications and £145 for paper applications. Further information can be found at Application fees.
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 oral surgery at graduate level
- what particularly attracts you to this programme
- what is your source of funding and is this something you have applied for already
- what is your previous experience in oral surgery
- what is your aim after completion of this Master's degree and how you expect this qualification to help you.
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.
What happens next?
If you are shortlisted, we shall invite you for an online interview to assess your understanding of the discipline, your professional values, your strengths, motivations, interests, and communication skills.
What qualities are we looking for?
In addition to an enjoyment of academic learning and research:
- An understanding of professional integrity and a commitment to patient care.
- Good interpersonal and communication skills.
- Good manual dexterity and an ability to follow surgical guidance.
- An understanding of the values of teamwork, safety, and improvement.
- Always treating others with compassion, kindness, dignity, and respect, ensuring patient-centred care, listening, and responding to the specific needs of individuals.
Further requirements if accepted.
Working with the public, you will be subject to screening by UCL Occupational Health and through the Criminal Records Bureau Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). You will need to consent to vaccinations to protect yourself and your patients.
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.
Got questions? Get in touch
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