About this course

The University of Liverpool School of Dentistry offers a unique research-connected learning environment that is primarily focused on developing each individual, so that they can each realise their personal potential as well as qualify as a professional capable of providing compassionate, evidence-based, holistic dental care to patients.

Introduction

Welcome to the School of Dentistry.

Students from different dental disciplines have the opportunity to work side-by-side and develop their skills in state-of-the-art simulation suites. Student growth is supported by our world-leading learning technology systems that provide personalised developmental progress information so that learning needs can be tailored by the individual. This personalised and supportive approach enables our students to have early access to patients, in their first year, so that developing skills can be authentically consolidated and integrated in the real-world situation. At Liverpool we take a blended approach to learning; this means that we use some online learning but with a predominance of in-person face to face teaching.

The School’s educational approach is driven by an ethos of continuous professional development because we strongly believe that our students need to learn how to continually adapt, so that they can appropriately respond to the current, as well as future, challenges in a dynamic world.

On successful completion of the programme you’ll be granted a Bachelor of Dental Surgery degree that is registrable with the General Dental Council.

Programme in detail

This innovative programme has been specifically designed to facilitate the development of real-world clinical, team working, and leadership skills, along with essential personal growth. The BDS programme embraces the University’s hallmarks of active learning, confidence, authentic assessment, and research-connected teaching, as well as having many notable and unique design elements.

The programme shares a three year Collaborative Learning Core (CLC) with dental therapy students, where learning and collaborating in teams builds mutual respect and understanding of the varied roles of the dental team. The remaining two years of the programme will prepare you to undertake the scope of practice of a dentist.

Components within the programme are closely integrated and provide clear steps for you to develop, integrate and demonstrate your skills before building to the next level of clinical capability. Clinical experience commences in the first year of the programme and is underpinned by aligned medical and anatomical knowledge; communication skills; professionalism; ethics and clinical safety.

During the programme, you will also have opportunities to experience and develop your skills in a primary and secondary care setting and engage with the local community. Quality improvement projects are also included in the programme to ensure an in-depth understanding of clinical governance.

Learning and assessment are supported by state-of-the-art technology to provide a personalised mechanism for monitoring your progress and allowing you to take control of your own learning.

Through embedding continuous personal development within the curriculum, you will understand the importance of self-reflection, goal setting and on-going professional development, an ethos aimed at ensuring that you will be prepared for the demands of both the profession and life after University.

Admissions procedures

To apply for a place on the Bachelor of Dental Surgery BDS programme, applicants should read the admissions document and submit it as per the instructions provided on the form.

What you'll learn

The knowledge, skills and values essential for a confident dental career in a 21st-century healthcare environment.
An understanding of the human body that will underpin your future skills.
In-depth understanding of clinical governance.
Communication skills, professionalism, ethics and clinical safety.
The ability to provide holistic patient care in the context of the primary care services.
How to provide compassionate, evidence-based, holistic dental care to patients.

Course content

Discover what you'll learn, what you'll study, and how you'll be taught and assessed.

Year one

The aim of the first year is to transition students to learning in higher education, whilst ensuring that they gain a core knowledge base, skills, and understanding, fit for learning in the clinical environment and their future careers.

Teaching of Clinical Sciences is designed to enable students to understand clinical practice. Problem based learning is used to guide students’ understanding of the human body that will underpin their future skills. Teaching is supported through attendance to HARC (the University’s Human Anatomy Resource Centre). Students receive teaching in personal development and wellbeing, communication skills, equality and diversity, management of medical emergencies, infection control, preventive care, and periodontal health, and patient care provision. Students develop their clinical skills via blended and simulation learning before attending clinic to deliver care to patients. Students observe and assist students in senior years in order to enhance their communication skills and prepare them for learning that lies ahead.