Oral Radiology MPhil

Research within Oral Radiology aims to develop and promote evidence-based imaging in dentistry through research. The group collaborates with others in the Dental School, the Faculty and wider University and has strong links with several comparable research groups in European Dental institutions.

Although based in the Dental School, access to complex imaging facilities (MR, CT, bone densitometry) is available within the Central Manchester and Manchester Children's University Hospitals NHS Trust and the Medical School.

In the majority of cases, an MPhil degree is undertaken by candidates seeking eventual entry onto the PhD. Successful completion of the MPhil year, following the assessment of a transfer report and viva, permit progression to PhD which would then involve either 2-3 years of further research before submission for the degree of PhD.

Candidates will often be recommended to register for the degree of MPhil due to the policy of the admitting School or due to the nature of the research if the supervisory team do not feel the study warrants three-years of scholarship. Alternatively, candidates often register onto the MPhil due to restrictions of funding guarantees beyond the initial year, which if resolved would facilitate transfer to the PhD at a later date.

The supervisory team will assist the MPhil candidate throughout the study, ensuring academic objectives are met and suitable training is provided in core skills fundamental to the research.

Transferable skills training is provided by a dedicated Graduate Training Programme offered by the Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences, which provides training in research methodology, critical writing skills, intellectual property, research ethics etc.

All dentistry based MPhil/PhD researchers are required to successfully complete course units in Research Methods, and Biostatistics, and to participate in the Graduate Training Programme. Students are encouraged to attend journal clubs and research meetings within the School and are provided a personal laptop computer for the duration of their studies.

• Research Methods Component (15 credits): The aim is to equip students with skills related to design, execution and interpretation of clinical and clinically-related research.

  Formal assessment takes the form of two tutor-marked assignments.

• Biostatistics Component (15 credits): The aim is to equip students with skills related to data collection, simple analysis and interpretation of clinical and clinically-related research.

  Formal assessment takes the form of two tutor-marked assignments.