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

1. he/she has passed the Second University Examination in Dentistry and
2. 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
Year 1
Students take 60 credits as follows:
Core Modules
Anatomy
AN1005	Principles of Human Structure for Dentistry	5
AN1006	Topographical Anatomy	10
Biochemistry
BC1024	Introduction to Biomolecules and Metabolic Pathways	10
Physiology
PL1001	Introduction to Physiology for Dentistry I	5
PL1002	Introduction to Physiology for Dentistry II	10
Dentistry
OH1001	Fundamentals of Dentistry I	15
OH1002	Fundamentals of Dentistry II	5
Year 2
Students take 60 credits as follows:
Core Modules
Anatomy
AN2006	Neuroanatomy and Embryology for Dental Students	5
AN2007	Mammalian Cell and Tissue Structure	5
AN2008	Dental Morphology, Histology and Embryology	5
Biochemistry
BC2103	Molecular Biology	5
Physiology
PL2033	The Nervous System	5
PL2034	Physiology for Dental Students	10
Pathology
FM2004	Foundations of Medicine: Mechanisms of Disease	10
Pharmacology
PT2201	Principles of Dental Pharmacology	5
Restorative Dentistry
RD2007	Introduction to Primary Care Dentistry	10
Year 3
Students take 60 credits as follows:
Core Modules
Pharmacology
PT3201	Dental Pharmacology	5
Pathology
PM3009	Manifestations of Systemic and Oral Disease	10
Restorative Dentistry
RD3002	Foundations of Primary Care Dentistry	20
RD3006	Clinical Skills Development in Primary Care Dentistry	10
RD3009	Theoretical Primary Care Dentistry I	15
Year 4
Students take 60 credits as follows:
Core Modules
Dental Surgery
DS4003	Clinical Medical Sciences in Dentistry	5
DS4004	Introduction to Dental Surgery	15
Oral Health and Development
OH4003	Oral Health and Development 1	15
Restorative Dentistry
RD4003	Theoretical Primary Care Dentistry II	5
RD4005	Clinical Primary Care Dentistry	20
Year 5
Students take 60 credits as follows:
Core Modules
Part A
Restorative Dentistry
RD5003	General Dental Practice	15
Part B
Dental Surgery
DS5001	Dental Surgery	10
Oral Health and Development
OH5002	Oral Health and Development 2	15
Restorative Dentistry
RD5001	Clinical Dental Practice	20
Total Credits		300

Note: Unsatisfactory attendance at the prescribed Hospital or University courses will debar a student from admission to the Third University Examination in Dentistry.

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:

• Display an appropriate caring behaviour towards patients and appropriate professional behaviour towards all members of the dental team;
  
• Demonstrate a thorough understanding of the ethical, professional and legal responsibilities involved in the provision of care to individual patients, to populations and communities;
  
• Communicate effectively with patients, their families, relatives and carers, and with other health professionals involved in their care;
  
• 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;
  
• Apply knowledge and understanding of the biological, medical, technical and clinical sciences as relevant to the practice of dentistry;
  
• 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;
  
• Formulate and record a diagnosis and treatment plan which meets the needs and demands of patients;
  
• 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;
  
• 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.