Dental Hygiene and Dental Therapy BSc (Hons)
University of Portsmouth
Key Course Facts
Course Description
Overview
Both dental hygienists and dental therapists help people maintain good oral health by providing treatments, carrying out procedures and giving dietary and hygiene advice.
The role of dental therapist is the same as a dental hygienist, however they can also carry out some of the restorative work dentists do, such as fillings and extractions.
This dual role BSc (Hons) Dental Hygiene and Dental Therapy course, accredited by the General Dental Council (GDC), gives you the theory and practical skills required to register as both a dental hygienist and dental therapist with the GDC.
- Become eligible to register with the General Dental Council (GDC) when you graduate, which you'll need to work as a dental hygienist and/or therapist in the UK
- Practise your skills in our Dental Academy model clinical practice, with dental treatment bays and simulation technology, including our Phantom Head skill lab, new haptics suite and radiography equipment
- Work in a dental team alongside practising dentists, dental nurses and other students, giving you a taste of your future work environment
- Have the chance to work with the public through community healthcare projects, providing additional patient-focused work experience
NHS Learning Support Fund
Students on this course may be eligible for additional funding through the NHS Learning Support Fund bursary of at least £5,000 a year.
Accredited by:
This course is accredited by the General Dental Council (GDC). This allows you to register with the GDC when you complete the course.
The GDC continually assess the course to make sure it meets the standard required for accreditation, so you'll know you're getting the most relevant and up-to-date teaching available.
Careers and opportunities
Both dental hygienists and dental therapists provide oral care that helps patients maintain a healthy mouth, gums and teeth. In addition to this, dental therapists are also trained to do some of the same work as dentists, including fillings, and extracting and placing preformed crowns on 'baby' teeth.
On adult patients, dental therapists can provide any dental work that doesn't require treatment to the nerve of a tooth, which makes them an essential support to dentists and a versatile and multi-skilled member of a dental team.
Register as both a dental hygienist and a dental therapist
On this degree, you'll develop the knowledge, skills and professionalism you need to take on either of these roles, both of which are in high demand throughout the UK, in the NHS and in the private healthcare sector.
After you complete this course, you’ll be able to register with the General Dental Council (GDC) as a dental hygienist and a dental therapist.
Looking to study just dental hygiene? Take a look at our BSc (Hons) Dental Hygiene degree.
What areas can you work in with a dental hygiene and dental therapy degree?
When you complete the course, you'll be qualified to work in areas such as:
- general dental practice
- hospital dental services
- the Armed Forces
- the NHS
- health promotion
- owning and managing a dental business of your own
Work experience with patients in the community
To help you gain professional experience, you'll help to provide free dental health services to the public at the Dental Academy and work with patients in local community settings.
You'll have the chance to offer preventative and educational dental support within institutions such as school clinics and hostels for homeless people, enabling you to gain a better understanding of the social impact of good dental care.
Our community work experience projects include:
- outreach activity in community surgeries and maxillofacial departments in local hospitals
- oral health promotion
- supervised tooth brushing in infant schools
- helping staff to develop oral care plans in residential homes
- providing dental screening to offenders in the probation service
Entry Requirements / Admissions
Minimum Required UCAS Tariff
120-128 points from 3 A levels, or equivalent, including 40 points from a pure Science subject. For A levels which include a separate science practical component, a pass is desirable and may strengthen an application.
Qualification requirements
Including a relevant subject/science @ C or above (80 UCAS tariff points)
M in T Level Health, Healthcare Science, or Science.
Access to HE Diploma
Including one in a relevant subject/science (80 UCAS tariff points)
A minimum of DDM with the main subjects being Science or Maths. Also required: GCSE at C or above in English or English Language, Mathematics and in either Chemistry, or Physics or Dual Award Science.
31-30 overall or 665-655 in 3 HL subjects.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
Including one in a relevant subject/science (90 UCAS tariff points)
The Welsh Baccalaureate Skills Challenge Certificate will be accepted in lieu of one A Level at the A Level grades specified, excluding any subject specific requirements.
If Mathematics is not taken beyond GCSE, a grade 7, (or A) in GCSE Mathematics, or Core Mathematics grade B is essential
English language requirements
| test | Grade |
|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic) | 7 |
| PTE Academic | 68 |
| TOEFL (iBT) | 100 |
| Cambridge English Advanced | |
| Cambridge English Proficiency | |
| Trinity ISE | |
| IELTS (Academic) | 7 |
| PTE Academic | 68 |
| TOEFL (iBT) | 100 |
| Cambridge English Advanced | |
| Cambridge English Proficiency | |
| Trinity ISE |
Costs
Tuition Fees Dental Hygiene and Dental Therapy BSc (Hons)
| EU | £9250 | year 1 |
|---|---|---|
| England UK | £9250 | year 1 |
| Northern Ireland | £9250 | year 1 |
| Scotland | £9250 | year 1 |
| Wales | £9250 | year 1 |
| Channel Islands | £9250 | year 1 |
| Ireland | £9250 | year 1 |
| International | £25400 | year 1 |
Additional fee information
Students who are resident in EU countries: please note that the net fee is inclusive of the Transition Scholarship
Placement Year and Year abroad:
UK/Channel Islands and Isle of Man students – £925 |
EU – £925 (including Transition Scholarship)|
International (Non-EU) – £2,000
Fees are accurate at the time of publishing and are subject to change at any time without notice.
Fees may also go up in later years, in line with inflation
Average student cost of living in the UK
| Rent | £518 |
| Water, gas electricity, internet (at home) | £50 |
| Supermarket shopping | £81 |
| Clothing | £35 |
| Eating out | £33 |
| Alcohol | £27 |
| Takeaways / food deliveries | £30 |
| Going out / entertainment (excl.alcohol, food) | £24 |
| Holidays and weekend trips | £78 |
| Transport within city | £17 |
| Self-care / sports | £20 |
| Stationary / books | £13 |
| Mobile phone / internet | £13 |
| Cable TV / streaming | £7 |
| Insurance | £51 |
| Other | £95 |
| Average student cost of living | £1092 |
London costs approx 34% more than average, mainly due to rent being 67% higher than average of other cities. For students staying in student halls, costs of water, gas, electricity, wifi are generally included in the rental. Students in smaller cities where accommodation is in walking/biking distance transport costs tend to be significantly smaller.
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About University of Portsmouth
List of 234 Bachelor and Master Courses from University of Portsmouth - Course Catalogue
Student composition of University of Portsmouth
-
Total number of students enrolled at University of Portsmouth by level Academic year 2021/22 - Full-time equivalent student enrollments published by Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) on February 2022
- undergraduates:
- 18085
- postgraduates:
- 5005
- Total:
- 23090
Where is this programme taught
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FAQ about Dental Hygiene and Dental Therapy BSc (Hons) University of Portsmouth
- Tuition fees for this programme are 9250 per year for UK students. In addition to the tuition fees you should also take into consideration the average monthly cost of living for students in the UK.
- Dental Hygiene and Dental Therapy BSc (Hons) is taught on campus and cannot be taken online at University of Portsmouth.