MSc (Clin) Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

The University holds regular open days, where you will have the opportunity to tour the campus and find out more about our facilities and courses. On this day, you will find out more about the course and meet academic and admissions staff who will be able to answer any questions you have. For more information, see Open days .

Please apply via our online application form . See the application and selection section for details of the supporting documents we require.

We recommend that you apply as early as possible. We reserve the right to close applications if the course is full.

Please see below for our application deadlines by stage, for 2025 entry:

• Stage 1: Complete application received by 02 December 2024. Decision (including interview invite) by 13 January 2025.
• Stage 2: Complete application received by 03 March 2025. Decision (including interview invite) by 14 April 2025.

Applicants must provide the following:

• proof of two years' recent post-graduation clinical experience, this must no include your internship;
• two academic references will be sought. You will be required to provide contact details for two academic referees when completing your application form. Professional references can be provided in instances where you have been out of university for more than 3 years;
• copies (not originals) of degree certificates;
• official academic transcripts of previous study showing the subjects taken and grades obtained. (If these are in a language other than English please provide official translations.) Note: If you hold a BDS from a UK university you need not provide a transcript of results, but you must provide a copy of the certificate;
• personal statement (300-500 words);
• full CV;
• copies (not originals) of English Language certification if you are an EU/international applicant from a country not officially recognised as majority English-speaking.

Only applications with all required supporting documentation (above) will be processed. Conditional offers cannot be made for those that do not meet the minimum requirements for the course.

International students should upload a copy of your current valid passport showing the photograph page with your application. Evidence of citizenship of an EU country will be required for those claiming home student status.

Our three-year MSc (Clin) Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery course enables dentists to train in the diagnosis and management of diseases, injuries and defects affecting the mouth, jaws, face and neck.

All academic units are based on the speciality of oral surgery, but within the wider context of oral and maxillofacial surgery. You will undertake minor oral surgery under supervision, carried out under local anaesthesia, conscious sedation and general anaesthesia. You will also attend theatre to assist and observe major surgery and attend consultation clinics, trauma clinics, ward rounds and carry out ward duties.

The clinical component of the course consists of units covering surgical basic sciences, reflective oral surgery practices, dental tissues, bone disease and injury, soft tissues, and salivary tissue, pain and the temporomandibular joint.

You will attend weekly interactive seminars led by senior staff and invited guest and international speakers. Some of these have actor patients present to allow you to rehearse your clinical skills.

If you study the full three-year MSc, you will also attend external teaching events such as residential blocks for basic science applied to surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons of England.

The course infers eligibility to sit at the Tricollegiate Membership examination in Oral Surgery (MOral Surg) of the Royal College of Surgeons on completion of this MSc course.

The course aims to:

• provide dental practitioners with the knowledge and skills to undertake oral surgery in the context of wider knowledge of oral and maxillofacial surgery;
• provide you with the appropriate knowledge, understanding, intellectual skills, practical skills and attitude to practice oral surgery in selected cases;
• enable you to carry out critical evaluation, problem solving and use sound judgement for clinical problems;
• give you the knowledge to critically understand the issues involved in the scientific basis of oral and maxillofacial surgery;
• ensure you are competent in the design and interpretation of original clinical research at the forefront of current dental research (including data collection and statistical analysis using appropriate computer software);
• provide you with the knowledge and experience to plan, implement and complete a research project showing initiative and personal responsibility.

Key academic staff

• Dr Helen Petersen (Programme Director)
• Dr Karan Singh (Senior Clinical Tutor)

• Assessment is by essay and Single Best Answer papers (SBAs) throughout the course and related to the taught units.
• You will also maintain a clinical surgical logbook and complete work based assessments (WBAs) throughout the course and undertake an oral examination.
• Research Methods: Formal assessment takes the form of two tutor marked assignments.
• Biostatistics: Formal assessment takes the form of two tutor marked assignments.
• Clinical component: This is assessed by a viva voce.
• Dissertation (10,000-15,000 words).

You will have access to dedicated postgraduate suites. You will also be able to access a range of facilities throughout the University.

MSc courses are designed for dental practitioners who wish to further their knowledge of surgery and are a useful foundation for specialist training in this field.

The three year course provides specialist oral surgery clinical training.