Overview

Treating patients effectively as a dentist takes both scientific understanding and genuine professionalism, built through real, hands-on clinical experience from the very start of training. The BDS (Hons) Dental Surgery at the University of Birmingham is taught within the £50 million Birmingham Dental Hospital, the UK's first integrated dental hospital and school built in nearly 40 years, giving students access to modern facilities including a computerised phantom head lab. Students begin observing treatments and interacting with patients in the first year, progressing to treating their own patients by the end of the second, in partnership with Birmingham Community NHS Foundation Trust. The course suits students committed to a demanding, practically grounded route into dentistry, with full GDC accreditation supporting registration to practise.

​

What You'll Learn

• Body systems, craniofacial anatomy and the biological sciences underpinning dental practice

• Law, ethics and professionalism in clinical care

• Behavioural management and the foundations of clinical practice

• Oral biology, microbiology and immunology, alongside public health and epidemiology

• Simulated clinical procedures and dental materials science

• Human disease and its relevance to dental treatment

• Restorative dentistry, prosthodontics, endodontics and specialist paediatric care

• A special study module in your final year, allowing you to explore a clinical area of your choice

​

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, students will be able to apply scientific knowledge of anatomy, oral biology and disease to diagnose and treat a wide range of dental conditions. They will be equipped to communicate professionally and compassionately with patients, having developed these skills through progressively advanced clinical placements from the first year onward. Through extensive hands-on training in simulated and real clinical settings, students will build strong practical, diagnostic and teamwork skills relevant to real dental practice. Graduates will be eligible for registration with the General Dental Council, ready to begin a foundation training year and pursue careers across general practice, specialist dentistry, hospitals or academia.