UCAS course code A200, institution code L23
5 year course (1st year entry) integrating early clinical experience with scientific learning.
Teaching
Theoretical learning and teaching methods include lectures, seminars, tutorials, practical sessions, and self-directed study as well as “e-learning”.
In year one, students will cover the following topics: health and health promotion; the oral environment in health and disease; and pain and anxiety. In year two, topics covered include nutrition and metabolism; disease, defence and repair. In year three students will study well-being and illness. Students in year three will also undertake a research topic. In year four, topics include: human disease, complex dentistry – the adult and the child, and sedation. Optional courses to broaden the students’ knowledge base can be undertaken in year four such as healthcare, ethics and law or a modern European language. In the final year, topics include integrated oral care, ageing, and preparing for the world of work. Optional courses in year five include Advanced Restorative Dentistry or the Erasmus European exchange programme or a second Research Project.
Emphasis is placed on the integration of teaching with the development of communication skills, clinical skills, team working, personal and professional development throughout the five years.
Clinical experience is gained early on from year one where students are introduced to the newly refurbished clinical skills laboratories. Here, they will learn vital technical and manual dexterity skills with the aid of phantom heads and state of the art equipment. When students are clinically competent, students are able to treat patients during clinical sessions in the Leeds Dental Institute under close supervision of tutors. As well as the Dental Institute, students will develop clinical skills as well as gain important patient management and communication skills in local outreach clinics.
Leeds Dental Institute is the only Dental School on mainland Britain that offers in-house training to all members of the dental team from dentists, dental hygienists and therapists, dental technicians, and dental nurses. This allows the students to work and be taught together as a dental team, providing dental students with valuable skills in teamwork and leadership.
Students will learn the principles and practice the clinical disciplines of conservative dentistry including endodontics, periodontology, prosthodontics, paediatric dentistry, orthodontics, oral surgery and oral medicine, acute dental care and radiology, and integrated adult care.
Assessments include both formative assessments and summative assessments. Various methods of assessment are used including essays, Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs), Short Answer Questions (SAQs), Extended Matching Questions (EMQs), oral examination (vivas), extended critical research reports, and clinical practical tests. Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) are used later on in the course, which incorporate clinical competency tests, examination of knowledge and communication.
Outstanding students also have the opportunity to undertake an intercalated BSc (Hons) degree in other subjects.
Students who decide not to continue studying dentistry may exit at Certificate, Diploma and Degree (BSc) level and the end of years one to three respectively.
A levels: 3 A levels at grades AAB including A grades in Biology and Chemistry. The third A level may be in any subject excluding General Studies. Those taking a 4th A2 subject do not have an advantage over those taking 3.
GCSEs: A minimum of 6 GCSEs or equivalent, including English, Mathematics, Chemistry and Biology (or Dual Science). Minimum grade C level pass in both English and Mathematics or equivalent is required but higher is preferred.
Scottish Highers / Advanced Highers: A / B grades in higher in Chemistry, Biology, English and either Physics / Mathematics before application. A grades in Chemistry and Biology at Advanced Higher level, and a further Advanced Higher subject with a minimum of grade B or two further Higher level at a minimum of grade B.
International Baccalaureate: a minimum of 35 points overall is required including at least grade 6 at Higher level in Chemistry and Biology, and a further Higher at grade 6. English must be offered at Higher or Subsidiary level (with a minimum grade of 5 if not offered at GCSE).
European Baccalaureate: with a total overall score of 80% with minimum grades of 8 in Biology and Chemistry
English language: minimum grade C level at GCSE or the following equivalent qualifications:
International English Language Testing (IELTS) score of 7.0 overall with a minimum of 7.5 in listening / speaking and a minimum of 6.9 in writing and reading.
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of 570 including 55 in the Test of Spoken English (TSE) and a minimum of 5 in the Test of Written English (TWE).
International Baccalaureate with English at Higher or Subsidiary level ( a minimum of grade 5 if not offered at GCSE).
For details of other accepted entry requirements including other international requirements and access to higher education applications, please see the institution website.
http://www.leeds.ac.uk/dental/prospective_students/bchd/entry_requirements/bchd_entry_requirements.html
Work experience: candidates are encouraged to undertake work experience in a variety of dental settings such as in a general dental practice and dental hospitals.
Non academic criteria include but are not limited to evidence of work-experience, teamwork, caring activities, development of communications skills, responsibility and manual dexterity. Those applicants with the most evidence, depth and breadth in these non-academic areas will score the highest.
Team work and leadership skills and experience, communication skills, caring activities: Candidates may demonstrate these skills through their UCAS personal statement.
Manual dexterity: Candidates must demonstrate through their UCAS personal statement their manual dexterity skills; this could be through the study of art or craft, or a hobby that involves a degree of manual dexterity.
Health screening: All students must produce evidence of non-infectivity to Hepatitis B and C, and immunisation against Hepatitis B prior to commencement of clinical studies.
Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check: All potential students must undergo a CRB check at enhanced level.
The Leeds Dental Institute normally receives around 1000 applications per year. There are 81 places available for UK/EU citizens and an additional 4 international students.
Candidates must apply via UCAS between September and October 15th in the year preceding entry. UCAS applications must include a personal statement, list of all qualifications undertaken and those pending, and a school or college reference (or other appropriate referee). Applicants must also declare if they wish to defer entry; those wishing to defer entry by 12 months will not be prejudiced against in the application procedure.
The UCAS applications are scored by academic staff members according to the same academic and non-academic criteria. Applicants with the highest prior academic achievement and highest predicted grades will score the highest. Applicants with the most evidence of and the greatest variety of non-academic skills and qualities will score the highest. Candidates that meet the minimum requirements and score highly will be invited for interview. Interviews normally take place between January and March and are usually accompanied by a tour of the Dental Institute. Candidates are usually interviewed by a panel of three members including a dentally qualified staff member, another dental academic and a dental student from the 4th or 5th year of BChD who will each independently score the applicant before agreeing an overall score of the candidate.
Candidates who scored highly at the interviews will be offered either a conditional or unconditional offer. Applicants who fail to meet the requirements of a conditional offer may still be considered for a place depending on the availability of places and the grades achieved, however priority will be given to applicants who received an offer from Leeds Dental Institute which was firmly accepted.
Applications from candidates who failed to achieve the academic entry requirements and are undertaking re-sits are considered in exceptional circumstances with well-supported evidence of any extenuating circumstances. The grade requirements are normally higher in such cases, for example AAA at A-level. However no guarantee can be given that an offer will be made if the candidate previously held an offer on the programme.
Applications are not normally considered from candidates undertaking a third attempt at an academic entry qualifications.
Candidates who failed to obtain a place on the BChD programme at the Leeds Dental Institute but who have achieved the required grades at first attempt will be considered in competition with all other applications.
Learning & Teaching Office
Leeds Dental Institute
Clarendon Way
Leeds
LS2 9LU
Email: dentistry@leeds.ac.uk
Telephone: +44 (0)113 343 6199
http://www.leeds.ac.uk/dental/prospective_students/bchd/bchd.html