Doctor of Dental Surgery (MC-DDENSUR) // Entry and participation requirements

Entry requirements

1. In order to be considered for entry, applicants must have completed:
• either
— an undergraduate degree in any discipline, with studies to have been completed within 10 years of commencing the Doctor of Dental Surgery, or
— for applicants whose most recently completed undergraduate degree was completed 10 or more years before 1 January of the year in which the applicant intends to commence the Doctor of Dental Surgery, a Graduate Diploma, Master or PhD degree or equivalent completed within 10 years before 1 January of the year in which the applicant intends to commence the Doctor of Dental Surgery;
and
• prerequisite studies in anatomy, physiology and biochemistry at second-year level or equivalent, with prerequisite subjects to have been completed within 10 years of commencing the Doctor of Dental Surgery; and
• the Graduate Australian Medical Schools Admission Test (GAMSAT) or, for international students residing overseas, the United States DAT (Dental Admission Test) or the Canadian DAT (Dental Aptitude Test) or the UK GAMSAT (the Graduate Medical School Admissions Test) or the UK BMAT (Biomedical Admissions Test).
Meeting these requirements does not guarantee selection.

2. In ranking applications, the Selection Committee will consider:
• prior academic performance; and
• the GAMSAT, US DAT, Canadian DAT, UK GAMSAT or UKBMAT score.

3. The Selection Committee may seek further information to clarify any aspect of an application in accordance with the Academic Board rules on the use of selection instruments.

4. Applicants are required to satisfy the university’s English language requirements for postgraduate courses. For those applicants seeking to meet these requirements by one of the standard tests approved by the Academic Board, performance band 7 is required.

Additional notes for the Handbook

1. The performance of applicants in their previous studies will be assessed using a Grade Point Average (GPA) computed in a manner approved by the Academic Board for the Doctor of Dental Surgery (see note 2 below). Offers will be made on the basis of a combined ranked list where ranks by GPA and ranks by GAMSAT, DAT or BMAT score are given equal weighting. All sections in the GAMSAT will be weighted equally to determine the GAMSAT score.

2. Except for (i) applicants eligible under the Guaranteed Pathway and (ii) as explicitly provided for under clause 5 below, the Grade Point Average (GPA) used to rank applicants on academic merit based on their tertiary previous studies will be computed in the following way. The most recent bachelor degree results (including Honours) will be used for the purposes of calculating the Grade Point Average (GPA) regardless of any subsequent graduate studies completed. The Grade Point Average (GPA) will be measured by considering the last three years of the applicant's undergraduate coursework studies (including Honours). Weightings will be applied by weighting the first of the final three years by 1, the second year by 2 and the final year by 3.

3. In considering students under special entry schemes the Selection Committee will consider aspects of disadvantage as set out from time to time in the University of Melbourne Graduate Access policy, evidence of rurality for rural applicants, and confirmation of aboriginality for indigenous applicants.

4. Students applying for the Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Physiotherapy, or Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of Melbourne degrees of Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Biomedicine, Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Environments, Bachelor of Music, or Bachelor of Science who meet entry and course requirements for a guaranteed place are admitted subject only to meeting any minimum grade point average as prescribed by the Academic Board; satisfactory performance at an interview to demonstrate adequate communication skills (Doctor of Medicine and Doctor of Physiotherapy only); and completion of relevant pre-requisite subjects.

5. The Selection Committee may re-rank applicants with a high level of performance in postgraduate studies in a cognate area subject to the following:
• postgraduate study must have been completed within ten years of commencement of the
Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Dental Surgery or Doctor of Physiotherapy;
• postgraduate study must be the equivalent of at least a one year full time program;
• postgraduate study must be in a discipline that builds upon studies completed at the undergraduate level;
• postgraduate study must be in a health related or biological sciences discipline.
The quotas of places available for selection of applicants re-ranked on the basis of postgraduate study as prescribed below are set initially as follows:
(a) Doctor of Medicine — up to 10 places,
(b) Doctor of Dental Surgery — up to 2 places,
(c) Doctor of Physiotherapy — up to 3 places.
Re-ranked applicants not selected on this basis, who otherwise satisfy the selection criteria, will be considered on the basis of their undergraduate results. The Selection Committee is not required to fill the quotas and any unused places will be allocated as normal.

Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for the DOCTOR OF DENTAL SURGERY are articulated in the Course Description, Course Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.

 

The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Student Equity and Disability Support website:

http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

 

The Melbourne Dental School policy outlining requirements in relation to student disability for entry to and progression within the DOCTOR OF DENTAL SURGERY are outlined below.

 

Melbourne Dental School Policy in Relation to Students with Disabilities

 

The curriculum of the DOCTOR OF DENTAL SURGERY has been developed using 64 graduate attribute statements in six domains (professionalism, scientific knowledge, patient care, dental profession, systems of health care and the society). Students entering the Melbourne DOCTOR OF DENTAL SURGERY must therefore have the aptitude to achieve these attributes during the course in readiness for progression to the prevocational year (internship).

 

Compassion, integrity, concern for others, interpersonal skills, interest, insight into the effects of their own behaviour, and motivation are all personal qualities that will be assessed during the admissions and education processes.

 

The Melbourne Dental School welcomes applications from students with disabilities. It is University and Faculty policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study. Appropriate adjustments will be made to enhance the participation of students with a disability in the dental course. A prospective student with a disability is advised to discuss with the staff in the student service centre issues related to his or her ability to successfully meet all the course requirements.

 

All students of the DOCTOR OF DENTAL SURGERY must possess the intellectual, ethical, physical and emotional capabilities required to participate in the full curriculum and to achieve the levels of competence at graduation required by the faculty and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation agency.

 

A student with a disability may be asked to provide independent medical or other clinical assessments of the disability and its possible impact on the ability of the student to successfully complete the course, before being accepted into the course. This statement would be treated in confidence with only those on the admissions committee and the Student Equity and Disability Support having access to the document.

 

Deliberate misinformation about the student’s ability to successfully complete the course will be regarded as unprofessional practice and treated as such.

 

While the Melbourne Dental School will make reasonable adjustments to minimise the impact of a disability, all students must be able to participate in the program in an independent manner. It is not reasonable for students to use an intermediary as an adjustment to compensate for a disability impacting on any of the five categories. In the clinical environment there is a primary duty of care to the patients and the needs of students cannot compromise this. It is expected that all students will be able to participate fully in all classroom based learning activities and to successfully fulfil the self-study requirements of the course. The presence of a disability will not automatically entitle the student to preferential treatment in clinical place allocation.

 

A candidate for the Melbourne DOCTOR OF DENTAL SURGERY must have abilities and skills in the following five categories:

• observation;

• communication;

• motor;

• conceptual, integrative, and quantitative;

• behavioural and social.

 

 

I. Observation:

Practical Classes

The student must be able to observe mandatory demonstrations and experiments in the designated subjects.

 

Clinical Work

The student must be able to observe a patient accurately at a distance and close at hand. Observation necessitates the functional use of the senses of vision, hearing and somatic sensation. It is enhanced by the functional use of the sense of smell.

 

II. Communication:

Practical Classes

The student must be able to hear and comprehend instructions in laboratories and practical sessions and be able to clearly and independently communicate knowledge and application of the principles and practices of the subject during assessment tasks.

 

Clinical Work

A student must be able to hear, to speak, and to observe patients in order to elicit information, describe changes in mood, activity, and posture and perceive nonverbal communications. A student must be able to communicate effectively and sensitively with patients in both oral and written modalities. The student must also be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in both oral and written modes with all members of the health care team, including using telephones and computers.

 

III. Motor:

Practical Classes

A student must be able to undertake the motor requirements for any mandatory practical sessions. Such actions require coordination of both gross and fine muscular movements, equilibrium, and functional use of the senses of touch and vision.

 

Clinical Work

Students should have good motor function to elicit information from patients by physical examination; for example palpation, percussion, and other diagnostic manoeuvres. Students should possess sufficient manual dexterity to be able to perform procedures required as a dental practitioner. The student should be able to execute motor movements reasonably required to provide general dental care and emergency treatment to patients. Such actions require coordination of both gross and fine muscular movements, equilibrium, hand eye coordination and functional use of the senses of touch and vision.

 

IV. Intellectual-Conceptual, Integrative and Quantitative Abilities:

Practical Classes

The student is expected to have the ability to develop problem-solving skills and demonstrate this ability in practical sessions. These abilities include measurement, calculation, reasoning, analysis, and synthesis. Problem solving requires all of these intellectual abilities.

 

Clinical Work

The student is expected to have the ability to develop problem-solving skills and demonstrate the ability to establish oral health care plans and priorities. These abilities include measurement, calculation, reasoning, analysis, and synthesis. Problem solving requires all of these intellectual abilities.

 

V. Behavioural and Social Attributes:

Practical Classes

A student must possess the emotional health required for full utilization of his/her intellectual abilities, the exercise of good judgement, the prompt completion of all required tasks.

 

Clinical Work

A student must possess the emotional health required for full utilization of his/her intellectual abilities, the exercise of good judgement, the prompt completion of all responsibilities attendant to the diagnosis and care of patients, and the development of mature, sensitive, and effective relationships with patients and colleagues.

 

It is a requirement of the course that students will be expected to physically examine their peers (of all genders) in classroom settings and patients (of all genders) in clinics.

Last updated: 18 December 2020