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DentistryUndergraduate study

CoursesSingle HonoursBDS Dentistryfive years A206Gateway to Dentistryone year (plus five years) A208Why study dentistry at Bristol?Our Dentistry course gives you a thoroughgrounding in biomedical sciences and allows you todevelop the clinical skills and confidence you needto provide high-quality patient care. We have beentraining dentists for over 100 years and produceexceptional dental professionals, giving you a firmfoundation for your future career. As a studentdentist in Bristol you will: Prepare for general practice by following a pathfrom the University campus into hospital- andcommunity-based placements. Learn in the heart of the city at Bristol DentalSchool and Hospital, a Centre of Excellenceproviding routine and specialist clinicaldental services. Develop teamwork skills and gain vital insightsinto work in practice by training alongside DentalCare Professional students. Hone your clinical skills using state-of-the-artequipment at South Bristol Community Hospital. Have the option of intercalating for a yearto follow a specific interest, engage withworld-leading research and expand yourfuture career opportunities. Learn from nationally and internationally respectedclinicians and researchers.‘ The whole universityexperience is geared aroundyou. From ensuring asupport network to helpingmanage patients, the schoolis always there to enrich youand make you the bestdentist you can be, ready topractise at the highest level.’Theo (BDS Dentistry)This leaflet contains information for students planning to startuniversity in autumn 2019. We have made every effort to ensureall details are correct at the time of going to press (June 2018).However, since this information is subject to change, you areadvised to check the University’s website, bristol.ac.uk/ug-study,for the latest updates.bristol.ac.uk/ug-study

What will you study?How will you study?Year oneYou will study the foundations of dentistry, whichwill give you an understanding of the clinicalenvironment and knowledge of relevant healthand social sciences so that you will have theconfidence to treat patients from year two.Years four and fiveBy year four you will see patients across thedisciplines, practising whole-patient care. Therewill be an opportunity to undertake a researchproject of your choice in Bristol, elsewhere in theUK, or abroad.Year twoYou will practise dental skills in the laboratoryand learn about common oral diseasesto support your first patient treatments.Radiography and paediatric clinical observationswill expand your dental experience.Throughout the course you will gain anunderstanding of behavioural and socialsciences and develop essential skills ineffective communication, building rapport, andethical, professional behaviour. You will revisitthemes such as wellbeing, lifelong learning,professionalism and teamwork, which alongwith Bristol Futures will encourage your personaland professional development.Year threeBy now you will have responsibility for treatingyour own patients, providing a broad rangeof general dental treatments. Our PrimaryCare Dentistry unit includes the preventionand treatment of dental disease, restorativedentistry, paediatric dentistry, orthodonticsand oral surgery. Human Disease teaches youabout clinical medical sciences and includesobservational sessions in clinical departments,wards, emergency and operating theatres.bristol.ac.uk/ug-study‘ Good working relationshipswith supervising staffcreate a friendly learningenvironment.’Naz (BDS Dentistry)Teaching is delivered through a mix of formallectures and small-group teaching, whichcomplements hands-on training in our clinicalskills laboratory and clinical experience.In the clinical skills laboratory you will be taughtvia video presentations and hands-on practicaldemonstrations. Clinic staff guide and advise youthroughout. Patient safety is key to our trainingand we go to great lengths to ensure that youare confident in your knowledge and clinical skillsbefore treating patients.Our electronic tools allow you to build a personalportfolio across all disciplines, which contributesto a record of achievement at qualificationand will continue to be used through dentalfoundation training after graduation. Furthermore,it provides an important tool for reflection andfeedback, increasing learning from each clinicalencounter and building key skills required forlifelong learning.Dedicated student advisers in the Facultyof Health Sciences will provide you with anexcellent confidential support service. Inaddition, the University has an award-winningStudent Health Service, Student CounsellingService, Disability Services and OccupationalHealth Service.What support can you expect?You will be allocated a personal tutor withinthe Dental School who will offer support andguidance on academic issues and provideopportunities to reflect on your personal andprofessional development. We have an opendoor policy, which gives you easy access tofeedback and guidance from academic staff.bristol.ac.uk/ug-study

Where will you study?The early part of our Dentistry course is mostlydelivered on campus.From year two you will be based primarily atBristol Dental Hospital, where you will learnclinical skills, gain experience of treating patients,and develop professionalism, communication,leadership and management skills. You will alsospend time at South Bristol Community Hospital,Charlotte Keel Health Centre and other localhospitals, giving you experience of dental care indifferent settings.Bristol Dental Hospital offers a comprehensiverange of specialist services, giving you exposureto many complex treatments. Its services includeoral medicine, paediatric dentistry, and oral andmaxillofacial surgery. It has excellent facilities,including a clinical skills laboratory in whichyou can develop practical skills before treatingpatients, a common room, a canteen and privatestudy rooms.Careers support andgraduate destinationsSouth Bristol Community Hospital gives youexperience of providing treatment to thecommunity in a large department similar toa general dental practice. You will deliverpatient-centred care plans incorporatingrestorative dentistry, oral surgery and child dentalhealth. The hospital’s community engagementprojects offer rewarding personal andprofessional development opportunities.Dentistry is a rewarding profession offeringa wide choice of careers and great flexibility.Nearly all our graduates go on to a year of dentalfoundation training in an NHS dental practice.After foundation training you can work in privateor NHS practices; most dentists will see amixture of both NHS and private patients. Thosewith an interest in business may go on to runtheir own practices.Charlotte Keel Health Centre offers theopportunity to provide comprehensive care forchildren, allowing you to develop your skills inpaediatric dentistry in a community setting. Youwill work as an operator under close supervision,alongside a qualified dental nurse.Some graduates work in community clinics orhospitals, where they can specialise in disciplinessuch as oral surgery, restorative dentistry,paediatric dentistry, orthodontics, oral medicineor special care dentistry. Some may chooseto undertake a medical degree at Bristol toenable training in specialties such as oral andmaxillofacial surgery.You may choose to go on to gain postgraduatequalifications, which can open the door toa career in teaching or research. GeneralPractitioners can combine practice with teachingeither as a Clinical Teaching Fellow as part of ateaching hospital/outreach facility, or as a trainerin a foundation training practice.National funding bodies such as the NationalInstitute for Health Research (NIHR) supportgraduates in undertaking clinical trainingalongside the development of research interests.bristol.ac.uk/ug-studyThe University of Bristolhas one of the bestemployment recordsin the UK. We are ratedsixth in the UK in the QSGraduate EmployabilityRankings 2018 and arethe fourth most targeteduniversity by top UKgraduate employers (HighFliers Research 2018).bristol.ac.uk/ug-study

Making your applicationTypical offer for BDS Dentistry*Visit bristol.ac.uk/ug19-dentistry forother qualifications.A-levels AAA (contextual AAC†) includingAA in Chemistry and either Biology or Physics.Graduate applicants are required to obtain a2:1 in their degree and BBB at A-level includingChemistry and either Biology or Physics.IB Diploma 36 points overall (contextual32†) with 18 at Higher Level (contextual 16†),including 6, 6 at Higher Level in Chemistryand either Biology or Physics.English Language profile A††GCSEs Advanced numeracy requirement(A in GCSE Mathematics or equivalent) andstandard literacy requirement (C in GCSEEnglish or equivalent).For information on contextual offers, visitbristol.ac.uk/contextual-offers.†For details of English language profiles, Selection UCAS and Multiple Mini Interviews(MMI). If you are offered a place, you will haveto pass a health assessment and undergo aDBS check.The UK Clinical Aptitude Test (UKCAT)is required.Work experience is required.ReferencesThese should ideally be from a personal tutor ata school or college, confirming your academicpotential for study at degree level. Where this isnot possible, a non-academic reference shouldconfirm your relevant experience and indicateyour potential for study at degree level.*The typical offer is indicative only and theUniversity accepts a wide range of qualifications.The information is correct at the time of printing(June 2018); however, we recommend youcheck the University’s website for the mostup-to-date information: bristol.ac.uk/ug-study.What kind of student are welooking for?We are looking for students who are passionateabout studying dentistry and have the potentialto become compassionate, safe and effectivedentists. You should enjoy communicating,interacting and empathising with people of allages, social backgrounds and cultures, andthose with special needs. You will need to havean excellent academic record, particularly inthe sciences, and good time management andorganisational skills. Joining this professionrequires a lifelong commitment to continuedprofessional development, so enthusiasm forlearning is essential.You will need to be able to demonstrate thatyou have: a realistic and considered interest in dentistryas a career; dental and related work experience (a minimumof one week, and you should have engagedthoroughly in the experience); other work experience (optional); a wide range of interests outside dentistry; contributed to school/college/communityactivities.We will also be looking for examples of yourpractical, analytical, problem-solving andcommunication skills.Multiple Mini InterviewsThe final stages in your application, followingacademic and personal statement scoring, areMultiple Mini Interviews (MMIs). MMIs at Bristolusually consist of ten stations, each taking fiveminutes, and you are assessed on a specificskill or attribute at each of these stations. Thestations may include communication skills, workexperience, teamwork and observation.bristol.ac.uk/ug-studyThese are a great opportunity for you todemonstrate the skills and attributes that arenecessary for a career in dentistry. The interviewday also gives you an opportunity to visit the city,tour Bristol Dental Hospital and meet currentstudents, to help you decide if you would like tostudy here.Interviews are usually held from December untilMarch each year, and you will be expectedto be available throughout the interview period.No offers are made without an interview.Further informationFind out more about Bristol Dental School:bristol.ac.uk/dental.bristol.ac.uk/ug-study