Implantology (MSc) (full time) (1 year)

Why study this course

This course is an academic and clinical programme leading to the award of an MSc in Implantology. In this programme, students treat patients provided for them under expert supervision. Students have the opportunity to participate in the full spectrum of contemporary implant practice where all forms of bone and soft-tissue grafting are undertaken.

Varied clinical experiences

You’ll participate in the full spectrum of contemporary implant practice where all forms of bone and soft-tissue grafting are undertaken.

Hands-on practical skills

You’ll have direct management of patients requiring fixed and removable implant retained prostheses with expert supervision in a friendly environment.

Join a top 3 Dental School

We are ranked in the Top 3 for Dentistry by the Complete University Guide 2020 based on student satisfaction, research quality and graduate prospects.

Only Dental Hospital in Wales

Situated in the University Dental Hospital, where there are approximately 100,000 patient contacts per year. The School also benefits from being located next to 100 acres of parkland and playing fields and being a walkable two-mile distance to the city centre.

Close links with NHS

Our close links with the National Health Service expedites access to a wide range of patients whose clinical care needs are suitable for undertaking specialist and advanced clinical teaching.

Close-knit community

We offer a close-knit dental community with a postgraduate population of about 50 registered students. We have a dedicated postgraduate study suite available for all our students to enjoy. We also have a dedicated postgraduate team that support you and make sure you feel at home from day one.

This one-year, full-time modular programme is designed to provide students from a professional dental background with an extensive understanding of the science and clinical practice of implantology.

You’ll study the scientific background of implantology and progress through restorative treatment planning into implant surgery. Having direct management of patients requiring fixed and removable implant-retained prostheses and will start seeing your own patients in the first month of the programme. The course will facilitate your professional and personal growth through a wide range of educational and direct clinical experiences, designed to be the most suitable combination of skills for the practice of dental implantology.

This is a modular programme consisting of four taught core modules (Part One) and a dissertation (Part Two). In Part One, each module is credit-rated at 30 M-level credits. The modules are Research Methodologies, Cellular and Molecular Biology, Restorative Dentistry and Implantology, delivered concurrently over a 26-week period.

Following satisfactory completion of the assessed course work and examinations in Part One, you will go on to Part Two of the course; the dissertation. You will be required to complete and submit a clinically or laboratory-based research project (60 credits) to obtain a Master’s degree in Implantology. To be eligible for the award of the Postgraduate Certificate in Restorative Dental Practice, you must have completed modules one and three of the course, which will give you the knowledge, intellectual, practical and transferable skills appropriate to a qualification in Restorative Dental Practice and its practical application.

The modules that are studied will be taught through lectures, seminars and project-based learning, as well as extensive clinical teaching. Clinical, practical and academic skills will be assessed throughout this course using both summative and formative assessments. Summative or more formal examinations will be taken at the end of Part One of the programme before proceeding to the dissertation element.

Our teaching is at the forefront of dental education, clinical training and research, and you will have the opportunity to work with and learn from leaders in their respective fields. You’ll have access to some of the finest clinical, educational and research facilities of the top UK Dental School in the 2014 Research Excellence Framework (REF).

All of this takes place within a friendly, supportive and professional environment within the University Dental Hospital and School in Cardiff, where we do everything we can to ensure you have the very best experience and achieve your academic and clinical goals.

Accreditations

General Dental Council (GDC)

Where you'll study

School of Dentistry

We are the only dental school in Wales, providing unique and important leadership in dental research, teaching and patient care.

Get in touch
+44 (0)29 2074 2544/8797
Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XY

Admissions criteria

Academic requirements

Typically, you will need to have a primary dental qualification (BDS/DDS or equivalent).

English language requirements

You must supply evidence that you meet the English language requirements at the point you submit your application.

The English language requirement for this programme is set by the regulatory body, the General Dental Council (GDC). In line with GDC guidelines, acceptable English language evidence includes:

IELTS 7.0 with 6.5 in each subskill no more than 2 years prior to the start of the programme, or
Evidence of a primary dental qualification that has been taught and examined in English achieved no more than 2 years prior to the start of the programme, or
Evidence of a pass in a language test for registration with a regulatory authority in a country where the first language is English 2 years prior to the start of the programme, Or
Evidence of 2 years’ experience of practising in a country where the first language is English.

If you provide evidence other than those listed above, they must meet the criteria we have set out by the GDC i.e. the evidence must be robust, recent and readily verifiable by the GDC.

Other essential requirements

You will also need to provide:

an up-to-date CV
evidence that you have a minimum of two years' post-qualification clinical experience, and
one academic and one clinical reference.

You must also meet the Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust requirements to hold an Honorary Clinical Contract: Occupational Health clearance including Exposure Prone Procedures (EPP).

Application deadline

You must submit a fully completed application by 31 December 2020 to be considered for September 2021 entry.

Selection process

We will review your application and if you meet the entry requirements, we will invite you to an interview.

Find out more about English language requirements.

Applicants who require a Student visa to study in the UK must present an acceptable English language qualification in order to meet UKVI (UK Visas and Immigration) requirements.

Criminal convictions

You will be required to complete a DBS (Disclosure Barring Service) check if your application is successful. If you are applying from certain countries overseas, a Certificate of Good Conduct may be required.

If you have a relevant criminal conviction, this will be stated in the check and may affect your ability to enrol on the course. Applicants who are on the barred list should be aware that applying to this course is likely to be considered a criminal offence.

Course structure

The modules shown are an example of the typical curriculum and will be reviewed prior to the 2021/22 academic year. The final modules will be published by September 2021.

Core modules for year one

Module title	Module code	Credits
Concepts in Restorative Dentistry and their Applications to Dental Implantology	DET004	30 credits
Implantology	DET005	30 credits
Cellular and Molecular Biology	DET028	30 credits
Research Methods	DET031	30 credits
Dissertation Implantology	DET029	60 credits

The University is committed to providing a wide range of module options where possible, but please be aware that whilst every effort is made to offer choice this may be limited in certain circumstances. This is due to the fact that some modules have limited numbers of places available, which are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, while others have minimum student numbers required before they will run, to ensure that an appropriate quality of education can be delivered; some modules require students to have already taken particular subjects, and others are core or required on the programme you are taking. Modules may also be limited due to timetable clashes, and although the University works to minimise disruption to choice, we advise you to seek advice from the relevant School on the module choices available.

Learning and assessment

How will I be taught?

A diverse range of teaching and learning styles are used throughout the MSc in Implantology. You will attend lectures, and participate in seminars, tutorials, and a clinical attachment. You will also be taught by visiting experts in the field.

All taught modules are compulsory and you will also undertake a laboratory-based or clinical research project and independent study to enable you to complete your dissertation.

How will I be assessed?

The four taught modules are assessed through the following in-course assessments:

Extended essays.
Grant writing assignments.
Oral presentations.
Poster presentations.
Statistical assignments.
Clinical workplace-based assessments in the key clinical surgical and restorative skills necessary to practice implantology.
Library and information skills assignments.

How will I be supported?

All modules make extensive use of Cardiff University’s Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), Learning Central, on which you will find course materials and links to related materials. You will be supervised when undertaking your dissertation, and your supervisor will schedule regular meetings to discuss progress, provide advice and guidance, and give written feedback on a draft.

Opportunities to reflect on abilities and performance are made available through the Learning Central ‘Personal Development Planning’ module and through scheduled meetings with personal tutors.

Feedback

You will receive written feedback on all assessments, in addition to oral feedback on assessed oral/poster presentations.

What skills will I practise and develop?

By fully engaging with this course, you should acquire and develop a range of valuable skills – those which are specific to implantology, as well as more generic ‘employability skills’ – including the ability to:

Demonstrate systematic understanding of the multi-disciplinary nature of implantology and the need for integration of knowledge from different fields.
Demonstrate an understanding of the cellular/tissue alterations which occur during various disease states and ageing in humans.
Demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge of the core principles of implantology and the supporting disciplines.
Demonstrate an understanding of the physical and biochemical techniques available for the assessment and development of tissue-engineered products for clinical use.
Critically evaluate knowledge at the forefront of a range of disciplines, such as stem cell biology, biomaterials, tissue/organ engineering and innovation.
Utilise knowledge and scientific evidence-based methods in the assessment and solution of challenges in the field of implantology.
Undertake and accurately perform various clinical and laboratory-based methodologies relevant to research into implantology.
Collect, evaluate, synthesise and interpret qualitative and quantitative data in a variety of ways, and identify means to gather new data where required.

Studying in Cardiff University for a year was an amazing experience. I had a chance to be guided by the most talented supervisors and helped by the most friendly colleagues. In addition, I took very interesting courses all relating to the Dental Implantology, Prosthodontic and also valuable laboratory and clinical skills. I was also able to operate in surgery and learn from all the supervisors. It was very lucky for me to have this splendid year.

Wenya, Implantology (MSc)

Tuition fees

Students from the UK

Tuition fee (2021/22)	Deposit
£39,200	£5,000

Students from the EU, EEA and Switzerland

EU, EEA and Swiss nationals starting in 2020/21 will pay the same tuition fee as UK students for the duration of their course.

If you are an EU/EEA/Swiss national, unless you qualify for UK fee status, tuition fees for 2021/22 will be in line with the fees charged for international students. UKCISA have provided information about Brexit and tuition fees.

Students from the rest of the world (international)

Tuition fee (2021/22)	Deposit
£39,200	£5,000

More information about tuition fees and deposits, including for part-time and continuing students.

Financial support

Financial support may be available to individuals who meet certain criteria. For more information visit our funding section. Please note that these sources of financial support are limited and therefore not everyone who meets the criteria are guaranteed to receive the support.

Additional costs

Will I need any specific equipment to study this course/programme?

No specific equipment required

Living costs

We’re based in one of the UK’s most affordable cities. Find out more about living costs in Cardiff.

Career prospects

The Courses, the accredited CPD, the documented clinical skills and the scientific training (and skills acquired) will all support the development of the career of the individuals in hospital, specialist or family dental practices.

The qualification will also support the individual in future career in the University sector.

Funding

Master's Excellence Scholarships

An award open to students with a home fee status intending to study one of our taught master’s degrees.

UK Government master’s funding

If you are starting your master’s degree in September 2021 or later, you may be able to apply for UK Government postgraduate funding to support your study at Cardiff University.

Implantology (MSc)