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Periodontology (Distance Learning) MSc

London, Bloomsbury

This is the programme information for 2025 entry

If you require details of the previous year's programme, Periodontology (Distance Learning) MSc (2024), click here

UK students International students

Study mode

Part-time

UK tuition fees (2025/26)

£14,900

Overseas tuition fees (2025/26)

£23,550

Duration

3 academic years

Programme starts

September 2025

Applications accepted

All applicants: 14 Oct 2024 – 31 Jul 2025

Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Apply for this course

Entry requirements

All applicants must hold an approved dental degree qualification and a minimum of two years clinical experience post qualification and currently be working as a dentist.

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.

The full-time and part-time versions of this programme are taught primarily online with some teaching taking place on campus in London. As such, international students who apply to this programme are not eligible to apply for a regular Student visa for full-time study in the UK.

To attend the on-campus teaching sessions for this course, international students will ordinarily use a UK Standard Visitor visa for study.

Please note that UK immigration rules are subject to change by the UK Government, as such, there is no guarantee that the current rules referred to here will be in place for the duration of your study with UCL.

Should you have any questions regarding visa compliance, please contact the UCL Student Immigration Compliance Team.

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 innovative, flexible and inclusive MSc programme is ideal for dentists looking to expand their knowledge of the non-surgical and surgical management of patients with periodontal needs. You will study peri-implant disease management, non-surgical therapy and the fundamentals of diagnosis and treatment planning in implant dentistry.

The course includes a mix of live and recorded sessions online and compressed face-to-face teaching in London. As a busy dental practitioner, you can plan your life around your study and complete periodontal training while studying at a time that suits you.

Clinical skills training is delivered during residential weeks or days, using phantom heads and pig jaws models, and covering all aspects of managing periodontal diseases and conditions.

Your clinical progress is monitored through constant review of a specifically designed clinical logbook and clinical cases submissions.

Our mix of theory, latest scientific evidence and technical skills provides an exciting opportunity, especially for overseas students who may be unable to access high-quality clinical education and the latest technologies.

Who this course is for

The course is ideal for national and international applicants who want to improve their knowledge of periodontal and implant dentistry. Applicants should have regular access to patients with periodontal needs for the duration of the course.

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

What this course will give you

This programme offers you the following benefits and opportunities.

The chance to advance your knowledge in periodontology and implant dentistry, with the flexibility of a part-time, blended-learning educational route and multiple exit points (Certificate/ Diploma).
Advanced practical skills in non-surgical periodontal therapy, including hand and mechanical instrumentation.
Advanced practical skills in surgical periodontal therapy, including the latest minimally invasive surgical techniques for periodontal regenerative surgery, and hard and soft tissue management around teeth and dental implants.
Access to UCL's highly advanced simulation facilities for non-surgical and surgical periodontal training.
Excellent collaborative links with similarly progressive units throughout the worldwide periodontal community.
Opportunities to learn directly from experienced academics and develop projects that will be clinically applicable to your future career.
Engagement with some of the key opinion leaders in periodontology and implant dentistry.
The confidence to manage patients with periodontal needs and the ability to tailor your practice to learn operative skills and be at the forefront of modern periodontology.

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

The foundation of your career

MSc Periodontology graduates can undertake a wide variety of high-standard clinical skills. Most develop their clinical dental practice with the enhanced skills and knowledge to treat, advise and monitor the periodontal needs of patients. Our graduates are well equipped to accept periodontal referrals for non-surgical management of periodontal patients.

I'm amazed by the amount of things I'm learning and how much I'm already putting into practice. The MSc has already provided job opportunities in clinics where I work and as an author for a scientific journal.

Laura Bettini

Periodontology (Distance Learning), MSc

Student testimonial: Laura Bettini

Employability

Whatever your career pathway, this MSc will help you to advance your career to a more specialised level or to become more established within the periodontal field.

Our programme supports the unique combination of theory, practice and innovation you will need for a fast-moving, competitive and evolving discipline.

You will gain cutting-edge knowledge in periodontology as well as transferable skills in conducting research in clinical and medical science. It will give you up-to-date perspectives on trends in the causality, diagnosis, management and innovative approaches in periodontology and implant dentistry.

If you wish to go on to further academic study and research activity, such as a PhD, we will give you guidance and support to help you realise your ambitions.

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.

Teaching and learning

The programme is delivered through a mix of:

Online lectures and clinical demonstrations
Live synchronous online lectures and group discussions and feedback on formative assessments
Clinical case presentations, problem-based learning, and unseen clinical cases
formative assessments
Discussion forums (general and clinical)
Research appraisal and literature seminars
Practical sessions, work-based learning, and group discussions.

New teaching content is made available at the beginning of each programme week to allow a coordinated learning experience. The content includes a variety of exercises and formative tasks to ensure that content is correctly and progressively assimilated.

During the residential weeks, hands-on clinical skills are taught on campus.

To aid independent study, students have access to online reading lists and library resources. The online sessions are set to UK time but always recorded and accessible, and you will have access to other pre-recorded sessions.

Students will be assessed by:

Coursework
Essays
Clinical case submissions
Unseen written and oral clinical cases
Online oral and video presentations
Case studies
Role-play
Formative direct observation
A research project dissertation (written thesis).

Based on full-time hours, you are expected to spend around 50% of your working week in your own clinical environment (with no direct clinical supervision) managing independently patients with periodontal needs.

The contact hours / taught components for the programme take up 20-25% of your time. These include online synchronous lectures, seminars, clinical case-based discussions and drop-in sessions for the distance learning content, and residential weeks / days for the lab-based hands-on practical training. The rest of your working week will be dedicated to independent study.

You should expect to spend about 15 hours per week learning from the online synchronous or pre-recorded teaching episodes, making use of library resources, and working on your formative assessments.

Modules

On this part-time programme, the seven compulsory modules and dissertation are completed over three years. The programme is delivered through a mix of online learning and hands-on sessions in our skills laboratory and clinical suites.

Contact days

Year one: one week in October, one week in February
Year two: one week in March
Year three: three days in September, three days in February

Certificate (Year one)

Scientific Basis of Periodontology

This module provides knowledge and fundamental understanding of the scientific basis of periodontology.

Topics include: development and anatomy of the periodontium, aetiology and pathogenesis of periodontal diseases, the role of host response and risk factors, classification of periodontal diseases, periodontal prognosis, periodontal wound healing, epidemiology of periodontal diseases, teeth with furcation involvement, the perio-endo lesion, trauma from occlusion and the periodontium, supportive periodontal therapy, introduction to periodontal surgery and periodontal medicine.

Periodontal Diagnosis and Treatment Planning

This module provides the tools and clinical and presentation skills for diagnosis and formulation of treatment planning in periodontology and in relation to interdisciplinary aspects across dentistry.

Topics include: clinical assessment and treatment planning I and II, interdisciplinary therapy I and II and case discussion

Non-surgical Periodontal Therapy

This module provides knowledge and skills for the initial phase of non-surgical periodontal therapy enabling theoretical and practical understanding of principles, outcomes, instruments and techniques necessary to manage a periodontal patient.

Topics include: supragingival plaque control, aims and expected outcomes of NSPT, treatment modalities for NSPT, health behaviour management I and II, limitations of NSPT and factors affecting outcomes, adjunctive therapy I and II and clinical exam cases preparation.

Diploma (Year two)

Complicating Factors and Other Oral Conditions

This module focuses on identification of, and the correct approach to, complicating factors and oral conditions that have an impact on periodontal diseases. It also includes access to a CPD course and development of an audit project (clinical governance).

Topics include: clinical governance, management of patients with complex medical history, other periodontal conditions, gingival diseases: non-biofilm induced - Part 1 and 2, periodontitis as manifestation of systemic diseases, management of complex cases I and II.

Evidenced-Based Healthcare

This module focuses on understanding research methods and developing academic writing skills and literature search tools through the application of evidence to case examples and coursework.

Topics include: How do I find the evidence?, levels of research, systematic reviews and critical appraisal.

Surgical Periodontal Therapy

This module focuses on the surgical phase of periodontal treatment, including conservative, resective and regenerative strategies (including minimally invasive techniques) as well as mucogingival therapy applied to root coverage procedures (for single and multiple recessions).

Topics include: conservative surgery: open flap debridement (OFD), resective periodontal surgery, crown lengthening procedure, periodontal regenerative surgery I – IBD, periodontal regenerative surgery II - furcation defects, periodontal plastic surgery I - management of single gingival recession defects, periodontal plastic surgery II - management of multiple gingival recession defects, sinus floor elevation procedures.

Implant Therapy and Peri-implant Diseases

This module is dedicated to implant therapy, the diagnosis and management of peri-implant mucositis and peri-implantitis.

Topics include: implant hard and soft tissues, tooth vs implant, implant treatment planning, peri-implant pathology, implant diagnosis, implant risk factors, implant non-surgical treatment and maintenance care and implant surgical treatment.

MSc (Year three)

MSc dissertation

The MSc helps you develop your research skills in the delivery of high-quality patient care by developing a practice-based project and/or by evaluating published studies and guidelines. Learn the principles behind clinical research methods with an emphasis on statistics.

Compulsory modules

Scientific Basis of Periodontology

MSc in Periodontology Dissertation

Complicating Factors and Other Oral Conditions

Evidence Based Healthcare

Periodontal Diagnosis and Treatment Planning

Non-surgical Periodontal Therapy

Surgical Periodontal Therapy

Implant Therapy and Peri-implant Diseases

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 180 credits. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MSc in Periodontology (Distance Learning).

Fieldwork

You will treat patients in your own clinic and synthesise your knowledge and practice skills through discussion with peers, staff and others, to improve your clinical practice and effectiveness.

Accessibility

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

Where you'll study

Welcome to UCL Eastman Dental Institute

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.

Learn more about the Eastman Dental Institute, our staff and facilities

Visit us

All open days and events

Online - Open day

Graduate Open Events: Periodontology (Distance Learning) MSc

The MSc Periodontology is a three-year blended-learning programme that offers busy dental practitioners the chance to learn the latest techniques in Periodontology. It combines flexible online learning with compressed residential components in London. We will present the programme structure, the virtual environment and examples of learning activities, including some of the practical elements delivered during the residentials weeks.

Watch on demand event

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students

Fee description	Part-time
Tuition fees (2025/26)	£14,900
Tuition fees (2025/26)	£23,550

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

For Full-time and Part-time offer holders a fee deposit will be charged at 10% of the first year fee.

Further information can be found in the Tuition fee deposits section on this page: Tuition fees.

Students will face costs of travel and subsistence to attend the campus-based teaching blocks in London (for which, we have some guidance).

You will also need an SLR camera set up with appropriate lens and ring flash for documentation of clinical cases (approx. £1,400).

UCL’s main teaching locations are in zones 1 (Bloomsbury) and zones 2/3 (UCL East). The cost of a monthly 18+ Oyster travel card for zones 1-2 is £114.50. This price was published by TfL in 2024. For more information on additional costs for prospective students and the cost of living in London, please view our estimated cost of essential expenditure at UCL's cost of living guide.

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.

See all the ways you can fund your studies

Next steps

There is an application processing fee for Eastman Dental Institute programmes of £120 for online applications. Further information can be found at Application fees.

When we assess your application, we would like to learn:

why you want to study Periodontology (Distance Learning) at graduate level
why you want to study Periodontology (Distance Learning) at UCL
what particularly attracts you to the chosen programme
how your academic and professional background meets the demands of this challenging 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.

This programme only requires one reference in support of your application. Your reference should be academic unless you have been out of university education for more than four years. Further information regarding references can be found on this Selecting your references page.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.