The University of Dundee's Masters in Dental Public Health (MDPH) will prepare you for a career in promoting and improving oral health at a population level.
Overview
Dundee's MDPH course can lead to a practical or academic career supporting the development of Dental Public Health and reducing dental health inequality in the world of Community Dentistry.
This course is unique to Scotland, and is a joint venture between the internationally renowned Dental Health Services Research Unit (DHSRU) at the School of Dentistry and the School of Medicine, University of Dundee.
Using the World Health Organisation (WHO) Oral Health Programme strapline 'think global act local', the course will provide you with the necessary knowledge, understanding and skills to develop a career in government-based and national Dental Public Health programmes.
This Community Dentistry course also focuses on evidence-based dentistry, with input from Derek Richards, Director for the Centre of Evidence-Based Dentistry, and Professor Jan Clarkson, Coordinating Editor of the Cochrane Oral Health Group.
Flexible Degrees
The table below shows the flexibility of the degrees offered:
| Degree | Length of study | |
| Full time | Part time | |
| MDPH | 12 months |
24 months |
| PGDip | 9 months | 18 months |
| PGCert | N/A | 9 months |
Who should study this course?
A Masters in Dental Public Health (MDPH) is the ideal course of study for those who are passionate about reducing oral health inequality.
It is designed for dental practitioners, dental health professionals and academics with an interest in Dental Public Health.
In particular, there is support for those who undertake this course while training to become specialists or consultants in Dental Public Health in Tayside and elsewhere.
I applied to many universities across the globe and was accepted to most, but the tie breaker was Dundee's rankings, being No.1 for students' experience and amongst the world's top 100 universities founded in the last 50 years. From travelling abroad to meeting dental health professionals from around the world and our discussions in class, I enjoy everything about studying in Dundee.
Yusra Masood
MDPH Dental Public Health
MDPH Dental Public Health graduates
Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
The University of Dundee has been given a Gold award – the highest possible rating – in the 2017 Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF).
Teaching & Assessment
How you will be taught
A variety of teaching methods will be used including lectures, tutorials, discussion groups, self-directed learning including the use of internet based resources and supervised research.
The programme of studies will provide structured support sessions for students who encounter difficulties. In addition, students are encouraged to contact lecturers to raise specific questions.
How you will be assessed
Performance is monitored by continuous assessment throughout the programme. Written and oral examinations are held in December and March. Examinations are graded pass (A to D) or fail.
Students must pass in all written and oral examinations in order to progress from the Diploma onto the Masters.
What you will study
If you're studying for a MDPH you will undertake research and write a dissertation.
Semester 1
10 credits
The aim of the Health Promotion module is to enable students to acquire a comprehensive and critical understanding of the techniques applicable to develop and implement health promotion programmes.
Indicative content:
- Ottawa charter for health promotion
- Communication for health promotion
- Planning and evaluating health promotion
- Needs assessment
- Tackling inequalities
- Empowerment and health behaviour change
- Health promoting health board
- Targeting and tailoring community interventions
Number of credits: 15
In this module you will learn the terminology and concepts of basic statistics – such as central tendency, variability, normal distribution, frequency and probability. This will enable you to apply and interpret the results of descriptive and inferential statistics.
Number of credits:15
This module will introduce you to the foundational principles of epidemiology, including concepts such as mortality, morbidity, and disease distribution, as well as the major research designs used to collect data and approaches to the analysis and interpretation of data.
Number of credits: 20
This module will provide an introduction to the history, development and current importance of public health in our societies; highlighting major public health issues in a local, national and global context, and to identify techniques and strategies for addressing them.
Number of credits: 10
This module will develop your understanding of the theories, methodologies, and techniques commonly used in behavioural and social science, and their application to wider public health issues.
Semester 2
15 credits
The Dental Public Health Module comprises of Dental Public Health, Behavioural Sciences for Dental Public Health and Oral Health Promotion. It aims to introduce students to the techniques applicable to the practice of Dental Public Health; critical evaluation of current practice and new methods; critical examination of behavioural sciences and oral health promotion as they related to public health policy and strategy.
Indicative topics:
- Evaluation of national and local oral health care policies, national health care systems.
- The principles of evidence-based dentistry.
- The determinants of oral health-directed and oral health-related behaviours.
- Introduction to behaviour change models and their application to health promotion.
- Planning and executing an evidence-based oral health strategy using WHO oral health and health policies for national country.
- Using appropriate methods to devise an oral health strategy road map.
10 credits
The aim of the oral epidemiology module is to provide students with the critical understanding and systematic knowledge to acquire a full appreciation of oral health needs assessment, critical awareness and new insights in oral epidemiology and to use this knowledge and skills to plan, execute and interpret oral health surveys.
Indicative topics:
- Identification of the principles of oral epidemiology using oral health indices, inter and intra examiner reliability measures and oral health trend trajectories.
- Assessment indices used in oral health needs assessment and interpretation of oral health survey data.
- Governance and ethics issues.
- Design of oral health survey and evaluation of value and limitations
5 credits
This module will enable students to undertake preparatory work for their dissertation.
Indicative content:
- Develop a research question which can be answered within the limits of a dissertation.
- Develop the protocol for the dissertation.
- Produce a Gantt chart detailing the progression of the dissertation from conception to submission.
60 credits
The Dissertation is a sixty-credit core module in which students develop and undertake an independent piece of research. It involves critical evaluation of current research and advanced scholarship in Dental Public Health. This allows students to gain an understanding of the ethical and professional challenges of research in Dental Public Health and to evidence approaches to deal with these within the submission.
Students will receive individual supervision and will work closely with their supervisor throughout the duration of the dissertation project. Formative feedback will be given through regular contact with the supervisor.
Number of credits: 10
In this module you will develop your skills in understanding statistical issues in clinical trials during the design and process of the trial, and to analyse, report and appropriately implement the results.
Number of credits: 10
In this module you will learn the relevant skills necessary to design a research study, culminating in the creation of a model grant application relevant to population health research.
Careers
MDPH graduates pursue careers in health service planning, government offices, national and international health agencies, and in academia.
Additionally, this programme will enhance current dental careers with research skills and knowledge, and give a broad base of dental health knowledge applicable in other dental healthcare fields.
Roquiyah Alsomali graduated from our Dental Public Health course in 2015. She is working with the UNFPA (United National Populations Fund) in Somalia as a Trainer for the Somali Health Demographic Survey.
I love this programme because we have a very close group of people in the class and one to one interactions with the professors which is amazing. Secondly we have a Dental Public Health research unit that works with the WHO so there are amazing collaborations going on all of the time.
So if you want to work to help improve the quality of the community then this is the place and this is the course to be in!
Zainab Kidwai
Current student
Entry Requirements
Applicants are normally required to hold a first class or upper second class degree in a health related topic and/or in subjects including dentistry, dental therapy/hygiene, the social sciences, and medical science. Applications will also be considered from others who, although not graduates, are exceptionally well qualified in terms of seniority and experience.
EU and International qualifications
English Language Requirement
| IELTS Overall | 6.5 |
|---|---|
| Listening | 5.5 |
| Reading | 5.5 |
| Writing | 6.0 |
| Speaking | 5.5 |
Equivalent grades from other test providers
English Language Programmes
We offer Pre-Sessional and Foundation Programme(s) throughout the year. These are designed to prepare you for university study in the UK when you have not yet met the language requirements for direct entry onto a degree programme.
Discover our English Language Programmes
Fees & Funding
The fees you pay will depend on your fee status. Your fee status is determined by us using the information you provide on your application.
Find out more about fee status
| Fee status | Fees for students starting academic year 2019-20 |
|---|---|
| Scottish and EU students | £8,350 per year of study See our scholarships for UK/EU applicants |
| Rest of UK students | £8,350 per year of study See our scholarships for UK/EU applicants |
| Overseas students (non-EU) | £20,950 per year of study See our scholarships for International applicants |
Additional costs
You may incur additional costs in the course of your education at the University over and above tuition fees in an academic year.
Examples of additional costs:
| One off cost | Ongoing cost | Incidental cost |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation fee | Studio fee | Field trips |
*these are examples only and are not exhaustive.
Additional costs:
- may be mandatory or optional expenses
- may be one off, ongoing or incidental charges and certain costs may be payable annually for each year of your programme of study
- vary depending on your programme of study
- are payable by you and are non-refundable and non-transferable
Unfortunately, failure to pay additional costs may result in limitations on your student experience.
For additional costs specific to your course please speak to our Enquiry Team.
Your Application
You apply for this course via the UCAS Postgraduate website which is free of charge. You can check the progress of your application online and you can also make multiple applications.
You'll need to upload relevant documents as part of your application. Please read the how to apply page before you apply to find out about what you'll need.
| Degree | Course code | |
|---|---|---|
| Apply now | Dental Public Health MDPH | P052121 |
Course Contact
Dr Sucharita Nanjappa
Dentistry
MDPH-Dental-Public-Health@dundee.ac.uk
+44 (0)1382 381713
The best way for you to get a real feel for the University before you apply. Everyone is welcome to attend, including parents, partners, teachers and careers advisors.
While we encourage everyone to come to one of our organised visits, we recognise that this is not always possible. Individual Visits take place almost every month.
Our International Team regularly visits a number of countries across the world, and attends British Council Fairs and events in individual schools, colleges and universities.
