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Restorative Dental Practice MSc

London, Bloomsbury

This part-time, three-year MSc programme is designed for practising dentists aiming to provide high quality, comprehensive restorative management for their patients in practice. You will benefit from a contemporary, co-operative, and collaborative teaching environment, work with UCL's eminent restorative dentists, and acquire valuable skills and acumen to enhance patient care and career progression.

UK students International students
Study mode
UK tuition fees (2025/26)
Fees to be confirmed
£18,250
Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.
Overseas tuition fees (2025/26)
Fees to be confirmed
£36,500
Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.
Duration
3 academic years
5 academic years
Programme starts
January 2025
Applications accepted
January 2025 entry: 05 Apr – 29 Nov 2024

Applications closed

Find similar courses still open

Entry requirements

Applicants must possess an undergraduate dental qualification (i.e. BDS, or equivalent from a recognised institution) and have a minimum of one year experience post-qualification. Applicants must have full and current registration with the UK General Dental Council (or equivalent) and to be in practice with access to patients for the duration of the programme.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 2

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


Restorative dentistry is the backbone of contemporary primary care dentistry. It covers a wide range of specialties encompassing prosthodontics, aesthetics, endodontics, and periodontics.

The ability to predict and restore a patient’s dental health using evidence-based approaches is satisfying and fulfilling. The field is constantly evolving with new techniques and materials, and the requirement for dentists to keep up to date becomes progressively more challenging.

This programme is ideal for dental practitioners wishing to enhance their skills and knowledge in restorative dentistry. You will enhance your confidence in the clinical applications and limitations of this field, develop your critical reading of published literature, and build your research methodology and presentation skills.

The course covers a comprehensive range of restorative dentistry topics, offering the opportunities to increase your depth of knowledge progressively and systematically. You will also develop your skills as a researcher, while undertaking a year-long, original, supervised research project.

The programme is delivered through seminars, lectures, and practical sessions in state-of-the-art skills laboratories, providing a highly supportive and relevant learning experience for those wishing to develop their skills in this area of dentistry.

The programme academic year runs from January to December, with the next intakes beginning in January 2025 and January 2026.

Who this course is for

The programme is well suited to dental practitioners throughout the UK and those dentists in Europe with equivalent registration to the General Dental Council, wishing to develop their skills and acumen in restorative dentistry. These skills can facilitate career progression, job satisfaction, and enable you to offer your patients a higher standard of care.

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 unique opportunities to work with UCL's eminent restorative dentists at UCL Eastman Dental Institute as well as respected visiting clinicians and teachers.
  • First-class teaching facilities and access to a wide range of clinical cases and techniques.

Facilities include:

  • Two dedicated laboratories to produce patient devices such as fixed and removable prosthetic devices.
  • Five clinical skills laboratories containing 90 clinical skills stations equipped with dental manikins, allowing students to refine skills and work practically and safely in conditions that mimic real-life practice.
  • Two suites that are also equipped with dental microscopes to aid identification of anatomical landmarks to facilitate effective bespoke management of patient care.
  • Fully equipped, air-conditioned dental surgeries for clinical teaching sessions.

The programme is also flexible in the following ways:

  • You can choose to study a three-year part-time programme, or three years’ study over a maximum of five years.
  • In Year 1, students can choose whether to attend teaching on Monday, Wednesday or Friday each two weeks.
  • Students can exit the programme at the end of Year 1 or Year 2 or on completion of the MSc in Year 3.
Read about what you'll get out of a graduate programme

The foundation of your career

Most Restorative Dental Practice graduates return to enhanced careers in primary care dentistry in the UK, EU and beyond. According to the HESA Graduate Outcomes survey (2018-2022), almost 90% of our graduates said that have either remained in, or progressed onto, highly skilled work in dental practice. Some graduates of the programme are now teachers at the Eastman and throughout the world.

We have a great balance of lectures and hands-on practice, and I really benefit from how friendly and approachable our tutors are. I can offer higher quality dentistry to my patients, with more possibilities than before.

Asim Mahmood

Asim Mahmood

Restorative Dental Practice, MSc

Student testimonial: Asim Mahmood

Employability

Graduates can use this qualification to:

  • improve their prospects in different dental practices
  • set up their own practices
  • progress to full-time master's programmes
  • progress to specialist training
  • progress to PhD degrees
  • developing careers in teaching.

Many students have presented their research work at international conferences throughout the world.

The ability to deliver high-quality restorative dental services is an important building block in a successful dental practice. The skills developed on the course help students improve their prospects and build fulfilling careers, whether they move to a better dental practice or choose to set up their own.

Graduates can also progress to other full-time master's programmes, including those with specialist training incorporated. Some have progressed to PhDs in related disciplines. You might also develop special interests in aspects of restorative dentistry, engage in teaching or progress to key management and examining roles.

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. The small group teaching that is a feature of the RDP programme encourages students to work together, often resulting in friendships and professional associations.

Teaching and learning

The programme is delivered through seminars, workshops, lectures (some of these are multi-modal, face-to-face or hybrid) and face-to-face practical sessions. The normal teaching day starts with a seminar or lecture, where students are encouraged to discuss the topic of the day. Most of the day is spent doing hands-on practical exercises under close supervision.

You will study in state-of-the-art clinical skills laboratories, providing a highly supportive and relevant learning experience in restorative dentistry.

You will have your own personal tutor and receive close mentorship throughout the programme. Students are offered annual appraisals with tutors to discuss their progress.

Assessments include:

  • Reflective portfolios
  • Clinical case presentations
  • Coursework (essays)
  • Written and MCQ examinations
  • A dissertation
  • Oral examinations.

Contact days vary throughout the three years. There is a lot of contact in the certificate and diploma years, with less during the MSc year when you will undertake more self-directed learning as part of your dissertation.

  • Certificate - 29 contact days (plus independent study of approximately five hours per week).
  • Diploma - 26 contact days (plus independent study of approximately seven hours per week).
  • MSc - Eight contact days (including the oral examination day), plus a year-long supervision on the dissertation.

Teaching days typically start at 09.30 and conclude at 17.00 with a break for lunch.

Modules

In this part-time programme, you will complete the five compulsory modules and dissertation over three years. The programme is delivered through a mix of online learning and hands-on sessions in our skills laboratory and clinical suites.

Year one (Certificate)

  • The Scientific Basis of Restorative Dentistry 1
  • The Scientific Basis of Restorative Dentistry 2

You will have approximately 29 contact days during this year of the programme.

Year two (Diploma)

  • Advanced Clinical Restorative Dentistry I
  • Advanced Clinical Restorative Dentistry II

You will have approximately 26 contact days during this year of the programme.

Year three (MSc)

  • MSc Dissertation

You will have approximately eight contact days during this year of the programme.

You can apply to study flexibly, which gives you a maximum of five years to complete the programme. On this mode, each year can be taken followed by a pre-planned break, for instance:

  1. Certificate (one year), one-year break, Diploma (one year), one-year break, MSc (one year).
  2. Certificate (one year), Diploma (one year), two-year break, MSc (one year).
  3. Certificate (one year), one-year break, Diploma (one year), MSc (one year).

We encourage students to complete the three-year course consecutively, as per the part-time route.

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 180 credits. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MSc in Restorative Dental Practice.

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: Restorative Dental Practice MSc

This lunchtime session is designed for busy dental practitioners who are considering advancing their knowledge and skill in Restorative Dentistry by attending a part-time, flexible, structured programme leading to a Masters' degree in Restorative Dental Practice. There will be an introductory talk about the programme from the programme director followed by questions to the director and other members of the teaching team.

Watch on demand event

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time Part-time
Tuition fees (2025/26) Fees to be confirmed £18,250
Tuition fees (2025/26) Fees to be confirmed £36,500

Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.

Additional costs

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

For flexible/modular offer holders a £500 fee deposit will be charged.

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

We advise students to purchase certain items during the certificate and diploma years, such as a camera and an articulator (estimated cost, £2,500), but there is no obligation. Students will need to fund their travel to and from the Eastman. Transport costs within Greater London can be found at Transport for London.

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

Students accepted on the three-year programme may apply for a student loan to cover programme fees.

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 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:

  • your academic and professional background meets the demands of this programme
  • why you want to study restorative dental practice 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
  • about your enthusiasm and motivation to learn.

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.

Got questions? Get in touch

Eastman Dental Institute
Eastman Dental Institute

edi.rdpadmin@ucl.ac.uk

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