Australian Dental Schools in Australia

University of Melbourne Dental School

Program Overview - Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS)

University and Faculty:	The University of Melbourne Faculty of Medicine, Denistry & Health Sciences
Program:	Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS)
University Location:	Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
City Population:	3.7 million
Student Population:	40,000
Campus Location:	Parkville (downtown Melbourne)
Program Duration:	Four years
Semester Intake:	February each year
Next Intake:	February 2013
Est. Annual Tuition:	$62,400 AUD (2012 fee)
Est. Total Tuition:	$268,952 AUD (2012 fee)

The University of Melbourne Dental School offers a four-year, graduate-entry, Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) program, which leads to the professional designation of Dentist upon the completion of the program.

Prior to 2011, the University of Melbourne Dental School offered a five-year bachelor's degree program, the Bachelor of Dental Science, which led to the professional designation of dentist.

The University of Melbourne Dental School's Doctor of Dental Surgery incorporates all aspects related to the provision of advanced general dental care to patients as well as teaches students to prepare, develop, execute and write for publication a small research project.

In the first three years, the course is structured around four eight-week teaching blocks. Teaching Blocks 1 and 2 are in the first half of the year (and include one week's vacation at Easter) and are followed by one week of revision and examination preparation, one week of assessment and two weeks of vacation/supplementary assessment. Teaching Blocks 3 and 4 are in the second half of the year with one week's vacation scheduled between the end of Teaching Block 3 and the commencement of Teaching Block 4. Teaching Block 4 is followed by one week of revision, one week of assessment then a period of vacation/supplementary assessment.

The course commences with the introduction of specialized oral health subjects to allow students to enter the clinic as quickly as possible to maximize the experience in all aspects and phases of clinical treatment.

The final year of the course is comprised of one year-long subject in which the students will spend 40 weeks in clinical settings including the planned University of Melbourne private dental clinic, community health centres and rural community clinics which will include provision of oral health care to the aboriginal community. In addition, students will learn how to run a private practice based on a small-business model.

University of Melbourne Dental School - Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) Course Outline

YEAR 1

• Oral Structure and Function 1 (Blocks 1& 2) and 2 (Blocks 3 & 4)
• Plaque-related Diseases 1 (Blocks 1 & 2) & 2 (Blocks 3 & 4)
• Introduction to Professional Dental Practice (Blocks 1& 2)
• Preclinical Dental Practice 1 (Blocks 1 & 2) & 2 (Blocks 3 & 4)
• Clinical Dental Practice 1 (Blocks 3 & 4)
• Dental Research Project 1 (Blocks 3 & 4)

YEAR 2

• Dental Medicine and Surgery 1 (Blocks 1 & 2) and 2 (Blocks 3 & 4)
• Preclinical Dental Practice 2 (Blocks 1 & 2) & 3 (Blocks 3 & 4)
• Clinical Dental Practice 2 (Blocks 1 & 2) and 3 (Blocks 3 & 4)
• Dental Research Project 2 (Blocks 1 & 2) and 3 (Blocks 3 & 4)
• Child and Adolescent Oral Health 1 (Blocks 3 & 4)

YEAR 3

• Child and Adolescent Oral Health 2 (Blocks 1 & 2) and 3 (Blocks 3 & 4)
• Clinical Dental Practice 4 (Blocks 1 & 2) and 5 (Blocks 3 & 4)
• Specialist Dental Practice 1 (Blocks 1 & 2) and 2 (Blocks 3 & 4)
• Oral Medicine and Special Needs Dentistry (Blocks 1 & 2)
• Oral Surgery and Special Needs Dentistry (Blocks 3 & 4)
• Dental Research Project 4 (Blocks 1 & 2)

YEAR 4

• Comprehensive Dental Practice (year-long of 40 weeks, comprised of general dental practice placements in urban community health centres (5 weeks), the planned University of Melbourne Dental Clinic (23 weeks), specialist practice/hospital clinics (5 weeks) and rural community health centres, including aboriginal oral health (7 weeks)

Scholarships

Every student who applies (and accepts) via OzTREKK and commences his/her studies at an OzTREKK Australian university will receive a $500 scholarship from OzTREKK.
Click here for more info about OzTREKK's Scholarships!

Admissions Criteria/Entry Requirements for Canadians

To be eligible to apply for the University of Melbourne Dental School's Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS), eligible applicants must have

• successfully completed an undergraduate degree in any discipline at a recognized international university within last 10 years;
• completed prerequisite second-year subjects (one semester each) in human anatomy, human physiology and biochemistry;
  
• completed an entrance examination: either the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), or US DAT, or Canadian DAT. Please note that the carving score will not be considered if you complete the Canadian DAT. Test scores will not be considered if the exam results are more than two years old.

For the admission prerequisites, subjects from overseas universities will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Please submit to OzTREKK detailed course outlines for your undergraduate subjects in human anatomy, physiology and biochemistry.

There is no minimum cutoff GPA or DAT score for this program; however, a high level of academic standard is required for entry.

Professional Certification/Accreditation Information

The University of Melbourne's Doctor of Dental Surgery degree is accredited by the Australian Dental Council. Additionally, the National Dental Examining Board of Canada (NDEB) recognizes the reciprocal agreement between the Australian Dental Council and the Commission of Dental Accreditation of Canada, which allows for accredited graduates of either body to practice dentistry in Australia or Canada. For Canadian students studying at the University of Melbourne, this means that they will return home and follow the same process as Canadian domestic graduates with licensure being granted after successfully sitting the National Dental Examination Board of Canada.

Total Number of Places in the Melbourne Doctor of Dental Surgery Program: 90

Total Number of Places for international students in the Melbourne Doctor of Dental Surgery: 40

Application Deadline for the 2013 Intake: June 22, 2012

OzTREKK Admissions Officer: Christine Chu