Prospective Students

Dentistry (BDS)

The aims of the Dental programmes of study are to teach you to practise dentistry in a training environment appropriate to your professional aspirations. They will enable you to combine and use knowledge, skills and judgement and have an appropriate attitude to deliver a high standard of professional care.

The School of Dentistry has developed an integrated curriculum which is designed to meet the challenge of providing training which will prepare you for working in a rapidly changing educational and clinical environment. You will need to have the flexibility and appropriate attitudinal skills to adapt competently within the workplace.

Features of the programme include:

· Early clinical contact - clinical teaching is introduced at an early stage, you will spend a day each week during the first year at the School of Dentistry and University Dental Hospital.

· Innovative teaching and learning methods including the use of Computer-Assisted Learning, video-based teaching and IT tools;

· An integrated curriculum which blends the basic dental sciences and the clinical disciplines within a structure that combines traditional learning methods with aspects of a problem-centred approach;

· Opportunities to teach and practise in community clinics, District General Hospitals and satellite academic units;

· An emphasis on Inter-professional Education. Joint teaching sessions are arranged with students of Dental Hygiene and Therapy

You will spend most of your first year studying with Cardiff School of Biosciences learning the basics of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, which underpins Dentistry, through a series of lectures, seminars and practicals.  You will also be timetabled to spend one afternoon per week at the University Dental Hospital observing clinics, learning about clinical procedures, professionalism and dental terminology, as well as learning about the role and responsibilities of the Dental Team. 

Following successful completion of the first year, you will continue to learn about the foundation topics integrating with modules covering Oral Ecosystems which teaches the Biology and Biochemistry elements of Dentistry.  These themes are enhanced and supported by modules on Human Diseases through which students learn the aspects of Medicine, Pharmacology and Surgery which are required by the dentist.  In addition to these lectures, seminars and practicals, you will be introduced to Clinical Dentistry.  You will also examine themes of Dentistry in the Wider Community, including Behavioural science and Ethics, as well as continuing the Family Study programme which started in your first year.

In the third and fourth years you will follow themes incorporating Clinical Dentistry, Human Diseases and Dentistry in the Wider Community, covering topics such as Integrated Restorative Care,  Prosthodontics, Periodonotology, Paediatric Dentistry, Orthodontics, Statistics, Oral Surgery, Medicine and Pathology and Dental Public Health.  In addition to this you will increase the amount of time spent in the clinics treating patients and developing interpersonal and clinical skills.

Your final year is spent mainly in the Community.  Students spend their time in general dental hospitals, local and outreach clinics, secondments and ERASMUS.  The School is actively involved in the ERASMUS exchange programme and has formal links with institutions located in Sweden, the Netherlands, Italy and Turkey amongst others.

The underlying philosophy of the clinical teaching in the School of Dentistry has always been one of total patient care and this principle means that you will be personally responsible for the oral and dental health of the patient in similar way to that which you will experience after qualification.

Typical Offer

AAA

Entry Requirements

Three A-level subjects excluding General Studies and Critical Thinking.  

For the five year programme: Three A levels to include an A in Chemistry and Biology.

We do not give preference to an applicant whose third A-level is a Science subject.

For the six year programme: The six year course is designed for students who either take no Science subjects at A-level or who take a maximum of one of Chemistry, Biology or Physics.  Entry Requirements will be three A-levels at AAA.

UKCAT

All applicants will be required to take the UK Clinical Aptitude Test (UKCAT) before being considered. For more information please click here.

Selection Policy:
The School is seeking to admit students from all backgrounds who can demonstrate the following qualities:
Evidence of and potential for high academic achievement; an understanding of the demands of the Dental training and practice; a caring and committed attitude towards people, the ability to communicate effectively; a willingness to accept responsibility; evidence of broad social cultural or sporting interests. The selection policy for prospective Dental Students also involves a judgement about the individual's ability to meet the academic, the physical and the emotional demands of health care training.

Health Check:

All applicants given offers will be required to undergo a Health Check, which is carried out independently by Cardiff University Health Centre, Park Place. Health questionnaires will be sent to applicants when offers are made and these must be completed fully and honestly, and returned. A history of serious ill health will not preclude a career in dentistry unless the condition impinges on professional fitness to practise. Students with chronic health problems are welcome to contact the Cardiff University Health Centre for advice prior to submitting an application.

Enrolment on to the course cannot take place until the Cardiff University Health Centre has received and approved an applicant's health questionnaire. Delay in returning the questionnaire may also compromise an applicant's university accommodation options. Those who are known to be travelling overseas at the relevant time should endeavour to authorise another individual to deal with this correspondence on their behalf.

In addition to this you will be required to attend the Health Centre in the first couple of weeks of the course to be screened for Blood Borne Viruses.  If a student is found to have a BBV they will NOT be permitted to commence the course.

The admission of students into the School of Dentistry is a transparent process comprising competitive selection that provides equality of opportunity to all applicants, but the nature of undergraduate dental training precludes entry of those who may pose a risk of blood-borne virus (BBV) infection to patients. 

Criminal Record Check:
All students will be required as a condition of acceptance to satisfactorily complete a University Criminal Record Disclaimer form and also a Criminal Records Bureau Disclosure at the Enhanced level.  CRB application forms will be sent to applicants who have received offers.

Disabilities/Special Needs:
Potential applicants are encouraged to let us know if they have a disability including dyslexia.  Advice can then be given as to whether the applicant can meet the "fitness to practise" criteria of the General Dental Council.  All disclosures will be treated in a positive, sensitive and constructive way.

Alternative Entry Requirements

Applications from those offering alternative/overseas qualifications (eg Access) are welcome as are those who may have combinations of qualifications or other relevant work/life experience.

Detailed Admissions Criteria

Please click here for a full list of entry requirements and admissions criteria for this degree programme

Next intake: September each year

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