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.

Note.

1. The Doctor of Dental Surgery has a quota of 91 places available per year.

2. 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 3 below). Offers will be made on the basis of a combined ranked list where rank by GPA and rank by GAMSAT, DAT or BMAT score are given equal weighting. 

3. Except for (i) applicants eligible under the Guaranteed Pathway and (ii) as explicitly provided for under clause 6 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 2.

Please note that results for 2020 subjects completed before the COVID-19 pandemic will be included in GPA calculations. Results for honours completed in 2020 will be included in GPA calculations for 2022 and all future intakes. All other 2020 subject results will be excluded from GPA calculations for 2022 and all future intakes.

If an applicant completed their final year of undergraduate study in 2020, weightings will be applied by weighting the first year of the final three years by 1, the second year by 2 and the final year subjects completed before the pandemic by 2.

If an applicant completed their penultimate year of undergraduate study in 2020, weightings will be applied by weighting the first year of the final three years by 1, the second year subjects completed before the pandemic by 2 and the final year by 2.

If an applicant completed their first year (of the final three years) of undergraduate study in 2020, weightings will be applied by weighting the first year subjects completed before the pandemic by 1, the second year by 2 and the final year by 2.

4. 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.

5. Students applying for the Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Physiotherapy, or Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of Melbourne degrees of Bachelor of Agriculture, Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Biomedicine, Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Environments, Bachelor of Oral Health, Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Design, 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.

6. 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.

Graduate Degree Package for School Leavers 

The University of Melbourne offers Graduate Degree Packages to high achieving school leavers, allowing them to secure places (Commonwealth Supported Places for domestic students or International fee places) in the Doctor of Dental Surgery provided that they meet certain requirements. 

For a Commonwealth Supported Place or an International Fee Place, the applicant must: 

• complete an Australian Year 12 or the International Baccalaureate (IB) in 2018 or later either:

— in Australia; or

— outside Australia and be an Australian citizen;

• achieve an ATAR (or notional ATAR) of 99.85; 

• apply for a University of Melbourne Graduate Degree Package for commencement in the year following completion of Year 12 or IB via VTAC;

• enrol immediately or be granted deferral in the year following Year 12;

• successfully complete a Bachelor of Biomedicine or Science at the University of Melbourne including all the specified prerequisite subjects; 

• achieve a minimum weighted average mark of H1 (80%) in their undergraduate degree; 

• pass on the first attempt any subject course prerequisites taken at the University of Melbourne; and 

• commence the Doctor of Dental Surgery within 18 months of completing the undergraduate degree.

Applicants eligible for entry via a Graduate Degree Package will not be required to complete the GAMSAT.

Applicants should refer to the University handbook for the additional entry requirements for the undergraduate degrees in the Graduate Degree Package. 

Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)

Students must comply with Fitness to Practice Rules, which are accessible from Schedule 1 of the Student Fitness to Practice Policy (MPF1345). 

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, and display professional behaviour at all times.

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. A student must display professional behaviour at all times and develop 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) and be examined in return in teaching settings and patients (of all genders) in clinics.

The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details 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 independent practice.

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 Student Equity and Disability Support any issues related to his or her ability to successfully meet all the course and subsequent registration 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.

Last updated: 12 November 2022