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Special Care Dentistry MSc

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Our Special Care Dentistry MSc will give you a theoretical foundation in the subject and develop your clinical skills so that you can help patients who need special care including patients with special educational needs, disabilities and genetic conditions. We put particular emphasis on the use of behaviour management techniques, analgesia, sedation and general anaesthesia.

 


Key benefits

  • Specialty-leading reputation for treating adults who are dentally anxious with both pharmacological methods and psychological treatments
  • Training and teaching in a range of settings, including hospital, community clinics and external specialist clinics
  • Encompasses all dental disciplines, giving you a holistic approach to patient care
  • Close contact with academics throughout the course due to our small teaching numbers.

Key information

Application status Open

Duration Two years, three days per week, September to September.

Study mode Full-time

Credit value UK 180/ECTS 90

Programme accreditations For selected candidates the two year MSc programme is recognised by the Specialist Advisory Committee for Special Care Dentistry as partially contributing towards the three year specialist training programme in Special Care Dentistry.

Course intake Please contact for details.

Course leaders

Dr Samalie Koburunga
Senior Specialist Clinical Teacher Programme Leader, MSc Special Care Dentistry

sam.koburunga@kcl.ac.uk

dental-postgraduate@kcl.ac.uk

Further details

Course contact for further information

dental-postgraduate@kcl.ac.uk

 

Course contact form Postgraduate admissions

Awarding institution King's College London

Faculty Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences

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Course detail

Description

Provides a theoretical foundation and develops appropriate clinical skills for the care of patients needing special care with particular emphasis on the use of behaviour management techniques, analgesia, sedation and general anaesthesia. It also covers training in research methods and their practical application. You will also undertake a research project. Research focus is on the management of individuals requiring special care and the impact of providing this service for the community.

Course purpose

For clinicians working in general practice, community, hospital and/or university departments who wish to become specialists and leaders in this area of dental care. To increase knowledge about dental care for individuals with special needs and the impact of providing this service for the community.

Course format and assessment

Teaching

The table below will give you an idea of what a typical week might look like as you progress through your studies.

The activities vary throughout the year, and for each student, depending on individual learning needs and availability.

Year

Lectures, seminars and feedback

Self-study

Supervised clinical practice

Year 1 

6-18 hours/week

0-3 hours/week 

6-18 hours/week

Year 2

0-6 hours/week

0-6 hours/week 

6-18 hours/week

Typically, one credit equates to 10 hours of work.

Assessment:

  • 2 x taught modules, covering the scientific and clinical basis of sedation and special care dentistry, assessed by written examination

  • Clinical module, involving supervised clinical practice and examined by a mixture of case studies on treated and unseen patients

  • Research module, involving the submission of a research project including a literature review, with an oral defence of the research

Extra information

Entry to the programme is strictly dependent upon occupational health clearance that you are able to conduct exposure prone procedures (EPPs) before you start clinical work. This will assess your hepatitis B surface antigen and hepatitis C antibody status, HIV and TB status following the completion of a health questionnaire and a further health check before or at enrolment.

If offered a place on the course, overseas students are advised to be tested locally and send the results of these checks with the questionnaire, prior to a separate full test in the UK at the College's Occupational Health Department before term begins. All offers of a place on a programme are made subject to a satisfactory criminal conviction disclosure. If you are from overseas or have never lived in the UK before, you should contact the relevant authorities in your home country to arrange for the equivalent check to be conducted and/or a certificate of good conduct to be issued.

Structure

Year 1

Courses are divided into modules. You will normally take modules totalling 180 credits.

Required modules

You are required to take:

  • Science of Sedation & Special Care Dentistry (30 credits)
  • Clinical Sedation & Special Care Dentistry (30 credits)
  • Clinical (60 credits)
  • Research (60 credits)

King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-to-date, innovative and relevant programmes of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for updates.

Required Modules

  • Science of Sedation & Special Care Dentistry

  • Clinical Sedation & Special Care Dentistry

  • Sedation & Special Care Dentistry Clinical

  • Sedation & Special Care Dentistry Research

continued in year two

Optional Modules
There are no optional modules

Year 2

Required Modules
continued from year one

  • Science of Sedation & Special Care Dentistry

  • Clinical Sedation & Special Care Dentistry

  • Sedation & Special Care Dentistry Clinical

  • Sedation & Special Care Dentistry Research

Optional Modules
There are no optional modules

Entry requirements & how to apply

Special Care Dentistry entry requirements
Minimum  requirements   A dental qualification plus at least two years post-qualification experience. EU applicants will normally need to satisfy any additional specialist training requirements and acquire an NTN before programme commences. For UK applicants FDS, MFDS or MJDF is desirable.
International requirements  

Visit our admissions webpages to view our additional International entry requirements.
English language requirements Band D Visit our admissions webpages to view our English language entry requirements.

 

Application procedure

Applications must be made online using King’s online application portal apply.kcl.ac.uk and a non-refundable application fee of £70 applies.

Completed applications normally consist of an online application form, two references, a transcript of previous degrees and a CV.

Applications will be initially considered by two academic members of staff. It is expected that applicants will be required to attend an interview.

 

Personal statement and supporting information

You will be asked to submit the following documents in order for your application to be considered:

Special Care dentistry checklist
Personal Statement Yes

A personal statement is required. This can be entered directly into the online application form (maximum 4,000 characters) or uploaded as an attachment to the online application form (maximum 2 pages). Applicants should demonstrate a focused interest in special care dentistry and/or conscious sedation.
Previous Academic Study Yes A copy (or copies) of your official academic transcript(s), showing the subjects studied and marks obtained. If you have already completed your degree, copies of your official degree certificate will also be required. Applicants with academic documents issued in a language other than English, will need to submit both the original and official translation of their documents.
References Yes One academic reference is required. A professional reference will be accepted if you have completed your qualifications over five years ago.
Other Yes Please submit a separate CV in addition to the application form.

 

Application closing date

We recommend that you submit your application as soon as possible. Our first application deadline is 31 March 2020. After this date, applications will remain open if places are available, but programmes will be closed as soon as they are full. 

Please note you will not be eligible for an application fee refund if you apply after the first application deadline and places are filled before the final deadlines above and we are unable to process more offers.

Help and support

If you don't have a suitable qualification for direct entry to a UK university, or if English isn't your first language, our academic preparation courses can help you get ready for study in the UK.

Preparation courses

Fees and funding

  • Full time Home/EU fees: £15,300 per year (2020/21)
  • Full time overseas fees: £26,550 per year (2020/21)
  • Part time Home/EU fees: TBC
  • Part time overseas fees: TBC

Students starting their programme in 2020/21 who are eligible to pay EU fees will pay the same rate of tuition fees as UK students. This will apply for the duration of their programme, but may be subject to change by the UK Government for subsequent cohorts from 2021/22.

These tuition fees may be subject to additional increases in subsequent years of study, in line with King’s terms and conditions.

Deposit

When you receive an offer for this course you will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit to secure your place. The deposit will be credited towards your total fee payment.

The UK/EU deposit is £500.

The INTERNATIONAL deposit is £2,000. 

  • If you receive an offer before 1 June 2020, payment is due by 30 June 2020.

     

  • If you receive an offer between 1 June 2020 and 30 June 2020, payment is due within one month of receiving the offer.

     

  • If you receive an offer between 1 July 2020 and 31 July 2020, payment is due within two weeks of receiving the offer.

     

  • If you receive an offer on or after 1 August 2020, payment is due within one week of receiving the offer.

     

  • If you receive an offer in late August, payment is due within 2 days of receiving the offer.

If you are a current King’s student in receipt of the King's Living Bursary you are not required to pay a deposit to secure your place on the programme. Please note, this will not change the total fees payable for your chosen programme.

Additional costs/expenses

In addition to your tuition fees, you can also expect to pay for: 

  • Clinical tunics: One is provided; additional if required at approximately £15
  • Costs for local occupational health checks for overseas students prior to course commencement
  • DBS checks or equivalent criminal conviction disclosure checks
  • Books if you choose to buy your own copies 
  • Library fees and fines 
  • Personal photocopies 
  • Printing course handouts 
  • Society membership fees 
  • Conference attendance (optional)
  • Stationery 
  • Travel costs around London and between campuses 
  • Graduation costs

Please visit our web pages on fees and funding for more information.

Financial help and support

Visit the fees and funding webpages to find out more about bursaries, scholarships, grants, tuition fees, living expenses, student loans and other financial help available at King's.

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I chose King's College London because I wanted to study at a top university. It offers a world-class education as you are taught by renowned teachers in fantastic facilities and this explains its international reputation.

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