Undergraduate
Undergraduates build key clinical skills and enjoy expert teaching in our dental school.
Practical teaching
We integrate teaching for both courses when you're studying with us. There is a focus on practical work, starting with a phantom head with natural teeth. Then you will treat patients at Newcastle Dental Hospital and clinics in the city.
Work experience
We recommend you gain some work experience if you are applying to study with us. We may be able to help find you a placement.
Intercalated and elective study
Our students have the opportunity to enrich their development with an intercalated degree.
Most of our students choose some elective study. Experiences have included:
- observing top cosmetic practice in New York
- performing basic dental care in the Amazon basin
We offer a limited number of students opportunity to do a special care elective in the region.
We'll help smooth your transition from clinical simulation to patient care.
Key clinical skills
You'll learn practical skills and fine motor control required for your career at the end of:
- Stage 2 for BDS students
- Stage 1 for BSc students
Our Clinical Skills Unit delivers this key training. You will also learn about dental materials and the principles of disease management.
You will not take responsibility for treating your own patients until the next year. By then you'll have:
- strong foundations in the relevant science
- shown your competence
- completed key clinical skills training
Advanced practical training
As you progress, you'll return to the unit for more advanced practical skills. These include:
- endodontics (root canal treatment)
- crown and bridgework
- removable prosthodontics (denture work)
- aspects of implantology
You'll then exercise these skills in the clinics. Every qualified dental professional remembers their first days in a clinic.
We'll help smooth your transition from clinical simulation to patient care.
The responsibilities are considerable, but the rewards of clinical service are great.
Work experience will help you decide if dentistry is for you. It will give you valuable first-hand insight.
Work experience
Work experience will help you decide if dentistry is for you. It will give you valuable first-hand insight. We recommend this if you are applying to study dentistry with us.
Help with placements
If you would like to arrange a week of work experience at the Dental Hospital in Newcastle, please contact the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals Trust to arrange this. They can be reached via email nuth.WorkExperienceQueries@nhs.net
Remember to include your contact details and the dates you would hope to visit.
Intercalation provides an opportunity to study a subject that interests and excites you. We want our students to enrich themselves with elective study.
Intercalation
Our dental students have the opportunity to enrich their personal and professional development. They can take time out of their dental studies to pursue an intercalated degree.
Intercalation allows students to do a separate but related research degree (one year). They then return to their main degree.
New perspectives
Intercalation provides an opportunity to study a subject that interests and excites you. It can help you develop new perspectives on healthcare delivery, research and education.
We offer several Biomedical Science BSc degrees. These cover aspects of medical and dental practice.
Developing skills
We encourage you to develop skills that will be useful throughout your future career. We also offer options to undertake your own research project.
Electives
We want our students to enrich themselves with elective study.
Eight-week experiences
At the end of Stage 4, our students have up to eight weeks to:
- travel
- attend clinics at home or overseas
- undertake some research
We have a vast network of dental contacts around the world. Recent students have engaged in a variety of activities.
Some observed top-level research in leading European universities. Some provided simple dental care in Latin America or tropical Pacific communities. Others engaged in meaningful projects far closer to home.
Policy and application
Check out our elective policy document (PDF: 301 KB). If you are already with us, make an elective application (PDF: 224 KB).