Overview
The approved areas of study for the Degree of BDS (Hons) extend over a period of not less than five academic years from the date of registration as a dental student. Third, Fourth and Fifth Year Dental students are reminded that evidence of the satisfactory completion of schedules of work must be presented before they will be permitted to sit the relevant examinations. A student who fails the Third, Fourth or Final BDS (Hons) Examination may be obliged to fulfil other clinical and/or academic requirements prior to re-sitting the examination.
If a student is permitted to repeat a year of the program, the student will be scheduled to clinical simulation/clinical activity in Restorative Dentistry, Dental Surgery and/or Oral Health and Development as appropriate as part of the repeat module(s) to ensure clinical skills are retained. Full attendance is required at all scheduled activity in a repeat module.
The Dentistry modules are scheduled on a full five days per week basis. Full attendance is required at all scheduled clinical and teaching activities in Dentistry. Students are required to notify the Dental School Office of the reason for non-attendance via the digital 'Record of Notified Leave During Academic Year' form. Students may be required to provide medical certificates or explanation of other mitigating circumstances for all absences. The Deputy President and Registrar will be informed if a student's attendance has not been satisfactory. Failure to comply with these regulations can result in a student being deemed not to have fulfilled the requirements for entry to the relevant examinations.
Students must make formal application to the Dean for planned leave of absence. Such leave may be granted by the Dean in exceptional circumstances, in consultation with the relevant module coordinators.
Garda Vetting
Students, or applicants in receipt of an offer, on this programme will be subject to Garda Vetting as relevant. Students will be prohibited from engaging in a relevant work placement unless the vetting process has been cleared. Click here to view UCC's Student Garda Vetting Policy.
Fitness to Practise
Commencing with the 2013/2014 intake of first year students (including repeats), this programme will be subject to the University's Fitness to Practise Policy - full details may be found here.
Exemptions
Module exemptions are not available.
Regulations for the Degreee of BDS (Hons)
In each year of the BDS (Hons) programme, each subject consists of modules which are measured in terms of credits. A module may correspond to 5, 10, 15 or 20 credits. One year of a degree programme consists of modules to a total value of 60 credits. Module descriptions are contained in the Book of Modules.
First Year - Dentistry
In order to be admitted to the First University Examination in Dentistry, a student must have satisfactorily attended, for at least one year (i.e. the First Year) subsequent to entry to the College of Medicine and Health, prescribed modules amounting to 60 credits.
Second Year - Dentistry
No student may enter the Second Dental Year until he/she has passed the First University Examination in Dentistry. In order to be admitted to the Second University Examination in Dentistry, a student must have satisfactorily pursued, subsequent to registration for the Second Dental Year, prescribed modules amounting to 60 credits.
Note: Each Third Year Dentistry student and each Second Year Graduate Entry to Dentistry student is required to make a payment of €1,500 for the use of dental hospital equipment and instruments as part of the total charge of €4,000. The remaining payments will be made at the start of Fourth Year and Final Year in the amounts of €1,500 and €1,000 respectively. For Graduate Entry this applies to Third Year and Fourth Year.
Students may also opt to pay the full amount of €4,000 instead of the first instalment. Payments must be made at an appointed date during orientation week (you will be informed of this date/time in advance). Failure to make payment as scheduled will mean that access to instruments will be withdrawn immediately and access will not be reinstated until the scheduled payment has been made in full.
Third Year - Dentistry
No student may enter the Third Dental Year until
- he/she has passed the Second University Examination in Dentistry and
- he/she has satisfactorily attended the University and Hospital courses during the Third Semester of the Second Dental Year.
In order to be admitted to the Third Dental Examination, a student must have satisfactorily pursued, subsequent to registration for the Third Dental Year, prescribed modules amounting to 60 credits.
Note: Unsatisfactory attendance at the prescribed Hospital or University courses will debar a student from admission to the Third University Examination in Dentistry.
BSc (Ordinary) (Oral Health Studies) Degree - NFQ Level 7, Major Award
Students passing the Third University Examination in Dentistry at the Summer and/or Winter Examination and who subsequently exit the BDS programme will be eligible for the award of the BSc (Ordinary) (Oral Health Studies) Degree.
Fourth Year - Dentistry
No student may enter the Fourth Dental Year until he/she has passed the Third University Examination in Dentistry. In order to be admitted to the Fourth Dental Examination a student must have satisfactorily pursued for at least one year (i.e. the Fourth Year) subsequent to passing the Third University Examination in Dentistry, prescribed modules to the value of 60 credits.
Note: Unsatisfactory attendance at the prescribed University or Hospital courses will debar a student from admission to the Fourth University Examination in Dentistry.
Fifth Year - Dentistry
No student may enter the Fifth Dental Year until he/she has passed the Fourth University Examination in Dentistry. In order to be admitted to the Fifth Dental Examination, a student must have satisfactorily pursued, subsequent to registration for the Fifth Dental Year, prescribed modules to the value of 60 credits.
Note: Unsatisfactory attendance at any of the above prescribed University or Hospital courses will debar a student from admission to the Fifth (Final) University Examination in Dentistry.
Recognised Teaching Hospitals for Dental Students
University Dental School and Hospital
Head of Dental School and Hospital
Professor Paul Brady
The Dental School Year commences in August. For further particulars and information apply to: Professor Paul Brady Head of the Dental School and Hospital, University Dental School and Hospital, Wilton, Cork.
Programme Requirements
For information about modules, module choice, options and credit weightings, please go to Programme Requirements.
Programme Requirements
Module List
| Code |
Title |
Credits |
| |
| AN1005 | Principles of Human Structure for Dentistry | 5 |
| AN1006 | Topographical Anatomy | 10 |
| BC1024 | Introduction to Biomolecules and Metabolic Pathways | 10 |
| PL1001 | Introduction to Physiology for Dentistry I | 5 |
| PL1002 | Introduction to Physiology for Dentistry II | 10 |
| OH1001 | Fundamentals of Dentistry I | 15 |
| OH1002 | Fundamentals of Dentistry II | 5 |
| |
| AN2006 | Neuroanatomy and Embryology for Dental Students | 5 |
| AN2007 | Mammalian Cell and Tissue Structure | 5 |
| AN2008 | Dental Morphology, Histology and Embryology | 5 |
| BC2103 | Molecular Biology | 5 |
| PL2033 | The Nervous System | 5 |
| PL2034 | Physiology for Dental Students | 10 |
| FM2004 | Foundations of Medicine: Mechanisms of Disease | 10 |
| PT2201 | Principles of Dental Pharmacology | 5 |
| RD2007 | Introduction to Primary Care Dentistry | 10 |
| |
| PT3201 | Dental Pharmacology | 5 |
| PM3009 | Manifestations of Systemic and Oral Disease | 10 |
| RD3002 | Foundations of Primary Care Dentistry | 20 |
| RD3006 | Clinical Skills Development in Primary Care Dentistry | 10 |
| RD3009 | Theoretical Primary Care Dentistry I | 15 |
| |
| DS4003 | Clinical Medical Sciences in Dentistry | 5 |
| DS4004 | Introduction to Dental Surgery | 15 |
| OH4003 | Oral Health and Development 1 | 15 |
| RD4003 | Theoretical Primary Care Dentistry II | 5 |
| RD4005 | Clinical Primary Care Dentistry | 20 |
| |
| RD5003 | General Dental Practice | 15 |
| DS5001 | Dental Surgery | 10 |
| OH5002 | Oral Health and Development 2 | 15 |
| RD5001 | Clinical Dental Practice | 20 |
| Total Credits | 300 |
Examinations
Full details and regulations governing Examinations for each programme will be contained in the Marks and Standards Book and for each module in the Book of Modules.
Programme Learning Outcomes
Programme Learning Outcomes for BDS (Hons) Degree (NFQ Level 8, Major Award)
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:
1
1-1
Display an appropriate caring behaviour towards patients and appropriate professional behaviour towards all members of the dental team;
1-2
2
Demonstrate a thorough understanding of the ethical, professional and legal responsibilities involved in the provision of care to individual patients, to populations and communities;
1-3
3
Communicate effectively with patients, their families, relatives and carers, and with other health professionals involved in their care;
1-4
4
Demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of the biological sciences, the biopsychosocial model and their role in human functioning in the context of disease and illness;
1-5
5
Apply knowledge and understanding of the biological, medical, technical and clinical sciences as relevant to the practice of dentistry;
1-6
6
Obtain and record a complete history and examination of the patient's medical, oral and dental state, interpreting the findings in order to evaluate the oral and dental condition in patients;
1-7
7
Formulate and record a diagnosis and treatment plan which meets the needs and demands of patients;
1-8
8
Provide oral health care for patients at all stages in their life (including children, adolescents, adults and the ageing population/elderly) appropriately, effectively and safely;
1-9
9
Use current concepts of oral health promotion, prevention and treatment of oral disease which supports the maintenance of systemic and oral health of individuals, families and groups in the community.
*** Only for Incoming First Years and Repeat First Years 2024/2025 ***
*** Click here for Marks and Standards for all other years ***
Marks and Standards
These Marks and Standards should be read in conjunction with the Programme Requirements and the Book of Modules.
Fitness to Practise
All students on programmes subject to Fitness to Practise in UCC will be required to comply with the Fitness to Practise Policy and meet the relevant Fitness to Practise standards, in order to progress to the next year of his/her/their programme. Click here for a list of programmes subject to the Fitness to Practise Policy.
Marks and Credits
Students are required to take modules to the value of 60 credits.
Total Marks for year: 1200.
First Year - Pass and Progression Criteria
To pass first year and progress to second year, students must have satisfied the Fitness to Practise requirements and must achieve:
- An aggregate mark of 50% across all modules, and
- A pass mark in modules to the value of 60 credits.
Award of Honours in the Degree Award
An honours classification is awarded for the final degree using the final year examination results and marks carried forward from the penultimate year. The aggregate of 33.33% of the penultimate year marks plus 66.67% of the final year marks will be used to calculate the final degree award.
Honours will be awarded as follows:
- First Class Honours: ≥ 70%
- Second Class Honours, Grade I: ≥ 60% and <70%
- Second Class Honours, Grade II: ≥ 55% and <60%
- Pass: ≥ 50% and <55%
Examination Boards
- Provisional marks for Semester 1 examinations are released in January/February of each year. These marks are subject to approval at the University Examination Board.
- Marks for all modules taken in Semester 1 and 2, including those wholly assessed by Continuous Assessment, will be presented to the University Examination Board at the end of Semester 2.
Supplemental Examinations and Assessment
- Students who fail to achieve the progression standard for the year at the Summer Examination Board must complete Supplemental Examinations and/or Continuous Assessment for those specific module(s), where there is provision to do so.
- Please refer to the Book of Modules for requirements governing the Supplemental Examination and Assessment for individual modules. Note: For some modules there is no Supplemental Examination and Assessment.
- The marks achieved in the Supplemental Examinations and/or Continuous Assessment of a repeat module are considered at the Autumn Examination Board.
- The actual mark achieved by the candidate in the Supplemental or Repeat Year Examination will be recorded on the student record (Academic Transcript).
- The maximum mark that will be taken into account for aggregation and progression purposes is a pass level, unless the student has been granted a cap waiver or deferral by the University Mitigation Committee, or a University Examination Board, or has been approved to defer the previous attempt by the University Mitigation Committee.
- At the Autumn Examination Board, marks from all passed modules approved at the Summer Examination Board are carried forward and are combined with the marks achieved in Supplemental Examinations and/or Assessments. The pass and progression criteria are applied to the aggregate mark achieved.
Note: The mark achieved at the last examination/assessment attempt is the mark that is included in the calculation of the aggregate mark for pass and progression purposes.
Exemptions
All passed modules carry an exemption, which is limited to a period of two academic years subsequent to the award of the exemption.
Repeat Year Examinations
Students who are permitted to repeat the first year of the dental programme will carry exemptions for all passed modules in the repeat year. Students may be timetabled to clinical, simulation and/or didactic teaching in passed modules during that repeat year, as directed by the Dental School, to ensure they retain their clinical skills and knowledge whilst repeating. Full attendance and participation at all timetabled activity is a Pass/Fail requirement for the repeat module(s). Students must demonstrate retention of clinical skills through attendance and participation throughout the repeat year.
The pass and progression criteria are then applied to the combination of full marks achieved in modules passed at the first attempt, plus capped marks achieved in modules in the Repeat Year Examinations.
Two Year Rule
Students must pass/progress within two academic years of the date of first registration for a year, otherwise they cannot continue in the programme. Students are permitted to repeat any academic year once only and may not repeat any more than two academic years in any one programme.
Terms and Definitions
Programme Description
Module Descriptions/Assessment
- Module descriptions, including the pass standard for a module, special requirements to pass a module, and assessment elements and their weightings, are contained in the Book of Modules.
Marks and Credits
- A maximum of 100 marks may be awarded for every five credits of a programme.
- Some modules are assessed on a Pass/Fail basis only, i.e. marks are not awarded.
Pass and Progression
- Progression is defined as the permission granted to a student to register in the subsequent academic year for the next set of modules within his/her/their programme of study.
- Compensation is defined as the process by which a student, who fails to satisfy some of the regulations for credit in a specific module, is nevertheless recommended for credit to be awarded on the grounds that the failure is offset by his/her/their performance in the other modules on his/her/their programme of study.
