Doctor of Dental Surgery (MC-DDENSUR)

The Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) is a professional graduate-entry degree of 4-years' duration. It is a full-time (400 credit point) program and will lead to registration as a general dental practitioner (dentist) with the Dental Practice Boards throughout Australia and New Zealand.

Dentists are independent health care professionals educated to manage oral health. The degree supports students in attaining the knowledge, skills, and attributes to deliver oral health care as independent dental practitioners. The program has been designed to enable students to develop their professional identity as dental practitioners, and the development of self-reflection and critical thinking. Graduates will practice evidence-based, person-centred, culturally safe dental care, and will be well versed in contemporary clinical dental practice.

The curriculum will be delivered using lectures, online learning modules, pre-clinical practical classes, and clinical patient treatments in all specialties of dentistry. During the first year, students participate in theoretical and pre-clinical learning activities. Clinical patient care begins in second year, and gradually increases to be the main learning activity in the final year of the program. Clinical placement occurs at the Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne and other metropolitan and rural sites. Part of the final year curriculum will incorporate the model of working in a private practice like setting. Students will conduct a research-based project as a required component of the degree.

The DDS is delivered outside of the standard university year, utilizing year-long extended subjects. This enables the pre-clinical and clinical components of the course to be appropriately incorporated.

Students will be required to purchase their own equipment for use throughout the course. Indicative costs are $6,000 AUD in the first year, with a further $2,000-$3,000 in second year. Further details of first year costs are provided with the letter of offer. Exact pricing will depend on suppliers' agreed prices at time of purchase.