BSc Dental Therapy and Hygiene (A920)

Overview

Study an innovative dental curriculum at a top school with world-class facilities and access to London’s diverse population.

Dental hygienists and therapists are a vital member of the dental team, focussing the prevention and treatment of oral diseases. We are building on the success of our 28-month Diploma in Dental Hygiene and Therapy that was established in 1983; other dental schools have followed our model of an integrated curriculum studying alongside our colleagues studying BDS dentistry. This degree was previously called BSc Oral Health but has been renamed to better reflect graduate careers.

On this three-year degree programme, you will study alongside, and be integrated with, the BDS students, which fosters a team approach to patient care. You will learn the skills and knowledge that are required for you to register with the General Dental Council as a dental therapist or hygienist on graduation.

Our graduate employability rate is 100%. Career options include work in General Practice (NHS or privately), community, armed forces, education and dental research or further study.

Our location in east London means you’ll serve a population of great diversity and encounter a wide range of diseases. You’ll be exposed to patients early on, and as you progress in your studies you’ll work in our outreach clinics in Canary Wharf and Stratford.

We encourage you to take a holistic approach to dentistry by studying the human sciences along with your core dentistry modules – including sociology and psychology – to examine patients’ attitude to oral healthcare and the dental profession.

Structure

Our aim is to assist students to acquire the skills, knowledge and attitudes that are necessary to practice as a dental care professional in the 21st century. 

Year 1

Fundamentals of clinical practice 

We will introduce you to basic biological principles and help you to develop the study skills you will need throughout the programme and your professional career.

You will cover:

•    Oral biology and the normal biological structure and function of cells.
•    The main organs and body systems. 
•    The effects of illness on people and their families. 
•    Development of clinical skills using haptics, clinical skills laboratories and the dental clinics. This increases the exposure of students to clinical dentistry in the first year.
•    Critical thinking.
•    Dental materials and their application.
•    The impact of environmental and social factors on health.
•    The impact of systemic health and medication on oral health.

Year 2

Developing clinical skills

You will apply and integrate the knowledge gained in the first year to body systems in both health and disease, with topic areas geared towards the requirements of a dental practitioner.

Substantial portions of your time will be spent with patients, coupled with complementary educational activities, including seminars, clinical skills laboratory work, tutorials, e- learning projects and library activity.

You will cover:

•    Abnormalities and diseases of the mouth and how to care effectively for these patients.
•    Oral biology, including the study of normal structures and functions of the adjacent tissues.
•    Specialist areas such as adult and child restorative dentistry.

You will also work in our outreach centres, devising strategies for prevention and treatment. You will receive teaching at The Royal London Dental Institute, as well as rotating around our three outreach dental clinics. This will provide you with an excellent opportunity to serve the local community, treat and improve the oral health of patients whilst developing the skills required to become an excellent practitioner. 

Year 3

Preparation for practice

You will apply and consolidate your knowledge and skills in preparation for professional dental practice. You will be exposed to a greater range of cases, including hospital-based treatments. Teaching is delivered through symposia, small group teaching, modules and wide clinical experience.

New digital scanning technology is embedded in the course. 3D images of a patient’s mouth will transform treatment planning and delivery of restorative dental care.

You will undertake:

•    Clinical Practice - Child Oral Health.
•    Clinical Practice – Adult Restorative dentistry. 
•    You will learn more advanced skills of a dental therapist such as emergency care (within your scope of practice), dental impressions and more extensive direct restorations.
•    A research project.

To prepare for graduation you will hear from graduates on their experiences applying for jobs and learn about the different career routes from dentists working in specialised fields.

Please note that all modules are subject to change.

Additional Costs: Students are encouraged to attend at least one conference that is relevant to your studies and future role as a graduate, which would be self funded. The cost for the conference, accommodation and travel is usually in the region of £250. You will attend outreach clinics and you will need to cover the costs of travel to local placements, although the Southend placement will have some financial support.

You also need to purchase a clinical uniform and protective eyewear, in addition to books, although there is a well stocked library on site.

We do not offer the option of an Intercalated degrees

Careers & Experience

• Clinical experience gained within the Dental Hospital and outreach centres, supervised by a variety of clinical lecturers, who may be General Dental Practitioners.
• Upon successful completion of our BSc Dental Therapy and Hygiene, students will be eligible to register with the General Dental Council, primarily as a dental therapist but also a dental hygienist.
• Dental hygienists and therapists have many options open to them. They can work in general practice, both for the NHS or privately, in the community or in the armed forces, at home or overseas. There are also opportunities to be involved in dental research and education.
• We have a 100% graduate employability rate.

Entry Requirements

Further information:

Due to exceptionally high demand/competitive nature of the programme combined with the highly limited clinical spaces, this programme is unable to consider the following:

• Re-sits (not considered)
• Extenuating Circumstances (not considered)
• No Contextual/EPQ offers are made
• No deferred entry is permitted

Please also note that the candidates must be aged 18 or over at the start of the course in September (latest by mid-September). Applicants who will be under the age of 18 by the start of this course will need to wait to apply in the following year as there is no deferred entry alternative to this programme.

Selection Criteria

For the 2025 intake, we received nearly 790 applications. We are expecting a similar number of applications for 2026 Entry.

Only applications received prior to 14 January 2026 - UCAS's equal consideration deadline for 2026 entry will be considered by the Admissions and Institute of Dentistry Teams. The pre-interview screening process will already have ensured that all candidates invited to interview demonstrate the academic potential to be successful.

Candidates who are not invited for interview will be informed through UCAS that their application has been unsuccessful. Please note that whilst all candidates are entitled to apply to other programmes via UCAS, we are looking for genuine interest and passion for BSc Dental Therapy and Hygiene programme and hygienist/therapist profession. This needs to be demonstrated through your Personal Statement and shadowing experience (or dental nursing experience for mature applicants).

Prior to receiving an Offer to study on the BSc Dental Therapy and Hygiene you will be invited to attend a remote interview; no offers are made without an interview. Interviews are offered to applicants who score highly according to the selection process rankings. Candidates who are successfully shortlisted for the interview will need to prepare also a brief assessment task before-hand, which will be emailed in conjunction with their interview invitation.

We cannot offer other dates outside of the interview period. If you are genuinely unable to attend your allocated remote/online interview slot, we may be able to change your appointment to another day or time during the interview days, however, this is not guaranteed.

The interview process will follow a remote/online type of interview. There will be a task sent before-hand to all shortlisted candidates to prepare. Candidates will be asked questions related to the task. This is just one part of the overall interview assessment, where we will be assessing candidates’ suitability to be a dental care professional.

The interview is not a test of your knowledge but aims to explore your attitudes, views and whether you have the personal qualities and attributes to become a dental care professional suitable for registration with the General Dental Council upon graduation from the programme.

Qualities and values set out in the NHS constitution include:

• Working together for patients
• Respect and dignity
• Commitment to quality of care
• Compassion
• Improving lives
• Everyone counts

The full list of values can viewed at https://www.hee.nhs.uk/about/our-values

The interviewers are selected from both the university and clinical environments and have undergone specific training and guidance for interviewing applicants, which includes equality and diversity. We appreciate that some candidates will be nervous, so staff will ensure that interviews are conducted in as relaxed an environment as possible.

Feedback

Feedback is only given directly to unsuccessful on interview applicants who request this in writing by email or letter.  Feedback will only provide the numerical score from the interview and the position of this score in the overall ranking.

Application Process

Fees

Tuition fees for Home and EU students

2026 entry
Full-time £9,535

Tuition fees for International students

2025 entry 
Full-time £37,500*

*2026 international fees will be confirmed shortly

Further advice

https://www.qmul.ac.uk/undergraduate/feesandfunding/

The Advice and Counselling Service at Queen Mary offers detailed advice and guidance on all aspects of student finance and more. It also offers advice to international students about all the financial, practical and immigration-related aspects of studying at Queen Mary.

Contact the Advice and Counselling Service on:

Tel: +44 (0)20 7882 8717 
www.welfare.qmul.ac.uk/