Dental Hygiene and Dental Therapy

Course description

A 27-month full-time course (with an April start date) enabling students to gain professional accreditation as dental hygienists and dental therapists.

We recognise the importance of training the dental team together so you'll learn alongside dental students in a way that prepares you for practice.

You'll also benefit from our outreach training programme. It's one of the most rigorous placement programmes in the UK. Treating patients of all ages and backgrounds in real work environments sharpens your skills and gives you a head start in your career.

Our students find the course provides them with opportunities to explore ideas, apply what they have learned and to achieve their best.

Our teaching is driven by world-class research so you'll learn about the new techniques and advances that are rapidly taking place in the field of dentistry. Our research is multidisciplinary with a mix of biomedical, engineering and social scientists working together for the advancement of clinical excellence.

Learning and assessment

Many of our staff are internationally respected for their research. Some are general dental practitioners with years of clinical experience.

Assessment

Throughout the course, you will be assessed by a variety of methods including written and practical examinations, assignments and an extensive project. As part of your final examination you will present a patient for whom you have provided an extensive range of treatments.

You'll also have to demonstrate you clinical competence in a range of key clinical skills expected of a qualified dental hygienist and dental therapist. Through our broad range of assessment methods you will develop a wide collection of transferable skills.

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Graduate careers

Our graduates can register with the General Dental Council and work in dentistry as dental hygienists and dental therapists. Career opportunities exist in local NHS and private dental practices, hospital services, community dental services and the Ministry of Defence. Others go on to research and teaching roles within universities or hospital trusts.

There are also opportunities within multinational organisations which specialise in healthcare and pharmaceutical products. You may even consider 'topping up' your qualification to a degree, studying for a postgraduate qualification, or studying to become a dentist.

Completing your application

The form is divided into two parts. Part 1 is for personal information, including English language ability, and previous education and employment. You have to complete all of the mandatory fields in this part (marked with a *) before you can go on to Part 2. Part 2 is where you select the course or courses you want to apply for. You can apply for a total of three different postgraduate courses.

Supporting documents

You'll need to include certain documents to support your application, for example evidence of your previous qualifications, and a personal statement. You can supply these simply by uploading them to the relevant sections of your application.

You can find more information about the supporting documents you'll need, and how to supply them, on our Supporting Documents webpage:

Supporting documents

Submitting your application

Your application will only be submitted to us when you click the 'Submit Application' button. If you've forgotten to fill in any sections, you'll be prompted to go back and complete them at this stage. When you've successfully submitted the completed form, we'll confirm this on-screen. We'll also send you an email confirmation.

If you want to apply for more than one course, you don't need to submit them all at the same time. Each course choice has its own 'Submit Application' button.

If you have any problems completing your online application, please contact us:

Contacts for prospective students

See our key dates webpage for application deadlines:

Deadlines for postgraduate courses

After you've applied

When we've created your applicant record, we'll send you a second email to confirm this. This email will include your applicant and choice numbers, as well as information about what happens next.

You can find more information about what happens after you submit your application, and about preparing to study at the University of Sheffield, on the After You Apply webpage:

After you apply