Dentistry (pre-dental entry) BDS

The course is specifically constructed to prepare you for the first year of the standard five-year BDS course
. All topics have a medical or dental orientation, many using clinical material, although you will not have direct contact with patients.

Part of the foundation year is taught at Xaverian FE College
, with access to all its facilities and support systems.
Enquiry-bachelorsed learning (EBL):
In EBL, the tutor establishes the task and helps the process, but you will pursue your own lines of enquiry, drawing on existing knowledge and identifying your own learning needs. Through EBL, you will participate in a wide range of different learning activities including PBL sessions, small-group seminars, themed theatre events, case-bachelorsed activities, computer-assisted learning (CAL), the use of web-bachelorsed resources and project work. The emphasis on EBL means that traditional lectures do not form a major part of the course.

Projects:
During Years 2-6 of the course, you will complete a research project and a Clinical Case Presentation.

Problem-bachelorsed learning (PBL):
This features interdisciplinary cases where learning is driven by the need to acquire knowledge in order to understand a particular clinical problem or scenario. This approach involves a mixture of small group and self-directed learning with the tutor acting to support the student rather than teach.

Lecture/symposium:
These are interdisciplinary-themed theatre events combining presentations, clinical case presentations and interactive exercises.

Technical/laboratory:
Classes in life science laboratories, the anatomy dissection room, and our clinical/technical skills facilities are timed to complement the knowledge you will acquire through EBL. These are designed to equip you with the competencies you need to treat patients during each stage of your development.

Clinic:
Clinical experience in a range of environments (dental hospital, outreach community clinics,) working in a dental team from Year 2 onwards.
The course has been carefully designed to ensure that assessment is appropriate in terms of both timing and quantity, and that there is consistency of assessment methods throughout.
These will include multiple choice questions, short answer written papers, assessed projects, presentation of completed cases with companion oral examinations (sometimes known as vivas), objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs) incorporating clinical competency tests, peer assessment and reflective journal writing.

Integration and early clinical experience:
The integration of non-clinical and clinical aspects of the course means that the relationship of science subjects to the treatment of patients and disease elimination is immediately apparent to students. This philosophy allows for the rapid transfer of relevant research findings to the clinics.

Outreach clinics:
This course emphasises exposing you to dentistry outside the confines of the School and Dental Hospital through its custom-built community clinics. Treatment needs are high, there is no shortage of patients and you will gain valuable experience of working as part of a team including dentists, dental nurses, hygienists, therapists and receptionists.

Teamwork:
The importance of teamwork is emphasised on the course. Alongside the BDS course, the School of Dentistry provides a bachelorchelor in Oral Health Sciences
which trains dental hygienists/therapists. There are close links with the Dental Hospital's School of Dental Nursing and nearby Manchester Metropolitan University's long-standing programmes in Dental Technology.
Students drawn from different years of the programme and from dental care professions, such as student dental therapists and student dental technicians, work as a team to meet the treatment needs of shared patients. This helps students to experience true teamwork in a dental context throughout their time in Manchester.
The essential components include:
Modules covering the core syllabus using problem-bachelorsed learning (PBL) concepts
Formal academic teaching sessions covering some aspects of the relevant bachelorsic sciences
Special Study Modules with a clinical orientation
Guest lectures by clinicians
Entry to the five-year BDS course is automatic on satisfactory completion of the year.
Excellent clinical, library and IT facilities are available to support learning. The University of Manchester Library is the third-largest academic library in Britain. In addition, the Medical School houses a separate medical library.
IT facilities are provided within the University of Manchester Library and at the School's own multimedia cluster.
The £24m Alan Gilbert Learning Commons opened in September 2012. It has been designed to give students a focal point for learning, offering a stimulating and comfortable 24/7 environment for study.
The world-class 21st century study space boats more that 1000 flexible study spaces and an inspiring range of equipment and furnishings for individual and group study.
There are 400 PCs, laptop charging lockers, 30 bookable group study rooms, skype area and media screens for presentation and group work. The wifi available throughout the building extends to the space outside and to the ground floor cafe which is open to the public.
All students for Years 3 - 5 are loaned an Apple iPad for the duration of the course. This facilitates their learning and is also used for assessment and communication.
The School's skills facility and technical-skills teaching areas support the acquisition of clinical skills. Clinical facilities are renewed on a rolling programme.
Practical support and advice for current students and applicants from the Disability Support Office
 
Careers
Overall statistics

96% of students are in work and/or further education within six months of graduation.

Types of jobs

Almost invariably, dental graduates apply for one-year Vocational Dental Practitioner (Dental Foundation 1) posts when they graduate. These are salaried posts in NHS general dental practices, comprising four days per week of clinical work and one day per week of professional study. Each VDP is mentored by a Vocational Trainer in the same practice. All VDP practices are inspected to ensure they are of a required standard.
In 2012 there were 1138 applications for 953 places on the 78 VDP training schemes to start in August 2013. Those not allocated a place were put on a reserve list which covers the possibility that some applicants will not pass their Final BDS examinations.

Further study


Many graduates decide to specialise in a particular branch of dentistry e.g. orthodontics, endodontics. Specialist training programmes are available in all dental specialties and are highly competitive. Some general experience in dentistry is required prior to entry to a specialist training programme, as is either the MJDF or MFDS examinations run by the Royal Colleges of Surgeons
of London or Edinburgh.

Careers support

Careers advice is available through the School throughout the five-year programme, but is concentrated in Year 5 as graduation approaches. Specific help and guidance is given in Year 5 to prepare students for the VDP selection process, which is done on a national bachelorsis.

Employability skills

Dental graduates have a range of skills, both technical and interpersonal. In Manchester, participation in the Manchester Leadership Programme in Year 3 of the programme is compulsory and gives our students additional skills and experience outside the dental programme.
The Degree of bachelorchelor of Dental Surgery is accredited as a qualification registerable with the General Dental Council website.

The best way to get a feel for what it's like to study at the School of Dentistry is to come and visit us on one of our open days
.

36 Points overall:
6,6,6 in the Higher Level subjects
5,5,5 in the Standard Level subjects
One science subject only permitted
1 core point
A minimum of A2 A2 A2 A2 A2 including Biology, Chemistry, Physics, English Language and Maths are required.
AAAAA including English Language and Maths. Only 1 science subject permitted. Biology, Chemistry and Physics must have been studied at Standard/intermediate level.
We require two Advanced Highers in non-science subjects at grades AA.
Acceptable on its own or in combination with other qualifications where no Science is included however, students will be expected to have examination grades for GCSE Level Biology, Chemistry and Physics. If English Language and Maths are not included in the qualification these subjects must be achieved at GCSE with B grades. Applications from students studying for this qualification are welcome and all such applicants will be considered on an individual bachelorsis
There are no overseas seats on this course.

We do not accept applications from individuals already holding a dental qualification awarded by another country. We are not able to accept applications from outside the EU for the Foundation Year. If you are uncertain about whether you qualify for entry, you should contact the admissions secretary
.
We welcome the introduction of the level 3 specialised diplomas. We look forward to providing guidance regarding progression opportunities and subject and grade requirements when further details on equivalences are published.
If you have followed a non-standard educational route and have been, for example, educated at home, your application will be considered against the standard entry criteria of the course to which you applied. You will be required to demonstrate that you meet the academic entry requirements as specified for the course. We will also require a reference which should be written by somebody who knows you well enough, in an official capacity, to write about you and your suitability for higher education. Please refer to UCAS
for further information.
We encourage applications from older candidates; there is no upper age limit. The competition for places is keen and the standard of applications is high. Each application is carefully considered in the light of individual circumstances.
Graduates are required to have obtained a First/2:1 pass in the first degree. Previous A-Level qualifications will be taken into consideration.
Any queries regarding qualifications required for entry onto the course should be directed to the admissions secretary.

Deferred applicants

If you wish to defer entry for one year you will not be disadvantaged and should apply through UCAS
for deferred entry in the normal way.
You must be proficient in the use of the English Language. The minimum acceptable level of proficiency is:
GCSE English Language grade B or above
Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English grade B or above
Some English language test results are only valid for two years. Your English language test report must be valid on the start date of the course.
A minimum of 2 weeks shadowing a General Dental Practitioner is required prior to application and must have taken place within the last two years. UK Students are expected to have completed this in the UK in either NHS or Private practices.
Application and selection
Applications for this course are made through UCAS


Please refer to our Application process
page for guidance
Please refer to the Application process
page for further guidance on the following:
How to apply
How your application is considered
Personal statement guidance
Interview requirements
Aptitude test requirements
UK Clinical Aptitude Test (UKCAT): All applicants for the BDS course will be required to sit the UKCAT.

See: Application process
for more information.
Health screening

In Manchester, you will be introduced to the clinic in your first term. Therefore, you will have to produce satisfactory evidence on non-infectivity with respect to the blood-borne viruses HIV, Hepatitis B and C and Tuberculosis. In addition, you must pass a health screening in Student Occupational Health prior to entry to ensure you are fit to practice.
You will have to undergo a Disclosure and bachelorrring Service (DBS) check. This will reveal any criminal convictions, spent or unspent, as well as any police cautions, warnings or reprimands. You must declare any criminal convictions, cautions, warnings or reprimands on their UCAS application. Some criminal convictions may preclude candidates from working as a dentist.
If you wish to defer entry for one year, you will not be disadvantaged and should apply through UCAS
for deferred entry in the normal way.
We welcome applications from those re-sitting their A-Levels, though you should only have re-sat either Year 12 or Year 13.
If you have taken three A levels, you are expected to have obtained a minimum of Grade B in each subject at the first sitting. Re-sitting candidates are expected to achieve Grades A*AA in the A level subjects specified above and the A* is expected to be achieved in the Year 13 re-sit year.
If you applied in the previous year and your application was not successful you may apply again. Your application will be considered against the standard course entry criteria for that year of entry.  In your new application you should demonstrate how your application has improved.  We may draw upon all information from your previous applications or any previous registrations at the University as a student when assessing your suitability for your chosen course.If you are applying for a place for the same year of entry through UCAS Extra, you should provide additional evidence of your suitability for the course. If you are applying through clearing you are required to meet the clearing requirements. In both UCAS Extra and clearing the places will be subject to availability.
Transfers to the School of Dentistry from other courses are not possible.
You are required to have observed a general dental practitioner at work before applying. A minimum period of two-weeks experience in a general dental practice (either NHS or private or both) is required.
Course details