Dentistry (BDS 5yr) Undergraduate Prospectus

Preparing for Tomorrows Healthcare

2013

Dentistry Undergraduate Prospectus 2013

Contents
Welcome
Introduction from the Head of School Key Features of the Peninsula Experience Lifestyle

Page
5 7 9

The Course
Guiding Principles Curriculum Overview Years One and Two Years Three and Four Year Five

The Course
10 11 13 14 15

Life at the School

Supporting your Learning Campus Locations Accommodation

Life at
16 20 23

Application Process
Admissions Entry Requirements Student Interviews Student Conduct & Fitness to Practice Open Days 25 26 27 28 31

All information contained in this prospectus was correct at the time of going to print

Dentistry Undergraduate Prospectus 2013

Introduction from the Head of School

At Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry you will work and study in state-of-the-art facilities. Our exceptional staff share a common goal of graduating first-class dentists optimally prepared for the rapidly changing healthcare environment. The Schools ethos of quality, innovation and partnership are the foundations of a dental school which prepares you for a career that will be deeply satisfying, continually stimulating, and genuinely about creating health and serving patients. After initial training in our state-of-the-art Simulated Dental Learning Environment your clinical work takes place in four Dental Education Facilities with a total of 126 chairs. Our core academic staff are complemented by a dedicated team of the best dental practitioners in the South West whose role as Clinical Supervisors allows them to share their knowledge and experience with you. We believe in early clinical exposure and you will be interacting with patients from early in your course. The Plymouth University Peninsula School of Dentistry is deeply committed to equality, and treats all students as adult learners who enjoy the journey from novice to expert. Your academic tutor will support and advise you at regular meetings throughout the year. Our intake of 64 students means that you get to know the staff well and rapidly become an integral part of the team. We are a friendly community offering great support to all of our students. We believe we have a winning formula to provide the best possible experience for tomorrows practitioners. The South West of England is surrounded by breathtaking scenery ranging from the wild beauty of Dartmoor to some of the best surfing beaches in the country, a fantastic place to study, live and work. We look forward to receiving your application. Professor Christopher Tredwin BDS(Hons),BSc(Hons),MSc,PhD, MFDSRCS(Eng),FDS(RestDent)RCS,FHEA Professor of Restorative Dentistry & Director of Clinical Dentistry

Dentistry Undergraduate Prospectus 2013

Key Features of the Peninsula Experience

Student-Centred
The School is committed to placing student satisfaction at the heart of all our education activities. This is reflected by our consistently high rankings for medicine and now for dentistry in the National Student Survey. You are now being asked to make a significant investment in your future, in turn, we will make a significant investment in you. We will work with you in a partnership aimed at ensuring you have every opportunity to realise your potential to be a dentist who is fit to practise in the emerging national and international healthcare environments.

Preparedness for Clinical Practice

At the School, you will be exposed to the uniquely broad range of clinical environments across Devon and Cornwall. Dental students have the opportunity to treat patients in one of the Schools four Dental Education Facilities. These are NHS training clinics which provide treatment like an NHS general dental practice and, as they are all based in primary care, offer ideal preparation for future practice. This variety will ensure that you are provided with true depth and breadth of clinical experience and are therefore well-prepared for the challenges of clinical practice in the modern healthcare environment.

Small Groups and Contact Hours

At the School you will often be taught in small groups of currently no more than ten for non-clinical learning. While there will be a high expectation that you will be able to demonstrate the traits of a self-directed and independent learner, you will have regular face-to-face contact with expert small group facilitators, clinical teachers and non-clinical academic staff. You will also have access to dedicated academic and pastoral tutors able to provide tailored advice on your academic progress and matters relating to welfare and well-being.

Many of our graduates chose to work in the South West peninsula, indicating the very positive engagement that our students developed with the clinical community here in the South West. We will work closely with you throughout your time at the School to ensure that you are properly advised on career development and that your self-selected learning experiences reflect your ambitions. We will ensure that your learning experiences enable you to be competitive in any clinical employment market. As part of this commitment, we ensure that you are fully prepared for the Dental Foundation application process and the interview process for selection of posts. We also strive to ensure that there are opportunities for wider community engagement. For example dental students will be involved in a diverse range of community-based projects such as a homeless refuge and a project supporting vulnerable teenage parents, as well as involvement with community anchor organisations and the Public Health Development Unit. When taking the decision to embark on a career in dentistry it is advisable to consider the range of different careers within the professions, ranging from clinical practice, education, research, drug development and public policy.

Innovation, Expertise and Research

At the School, you will have access to one of the most innovative education programmes in the country. This includes state-of-the-art training in clinical and communication skills, science learning with a strong focus on technology-enhanced learning in areas such as anatomy and physiology, and a wide variety of studentselected learning experiences. You will be taught and assessed by acknowledged experts in their fields and in a research-rich educational environment. We will demonstrate to you how research informs the development and improvement of clinical practice and how those who are interested and able may best develop a career in clinical academic research.

Student Involvement
At the School, you will be given the opportunity to work with us to ensure that your programme is best suited to your needs. We actively encourage student feedback at all levels of the learning experience. We have established a unique Student Parliament, through which students have the opportunity to raise issues relating to their learning experience directly with members of the Schools senior team. In addition, there is student representation on the majority of our senior committees.

Improving Employability in a Changing Healthcare Environment

In 2012 our dental graduates were highly successful and competitive in finding vocational training posts within the NHS.

Dentistry Undergraduate Prospectus 2013

Lifestyle
Plymouth is the largest city in the South West, with a population of over 250,000 and offers all the attractions of city life: an outstanding selection of shops, restaurants, pubs, bars and nightclubs to suit every taste and pocket. Given the South West location, waterbased activities are extremely popular and well represented. Plymouth University is unique in having its own Diving and Marine Centre. Set in a prime waterfront location, the Mount Batten Water Sports Activities Centre, is the South Wests premier waterside venue specialising in sailing, power boating, kayaking and windsurfing. The centre has RYA recognition, is AALA approved and has been awarded the Learning Outside the Class Room quality badge. As far as possible Wednesday afternoons are kept free for recreation, encouraging you to join up and enjoy the opportunities available. The Students Union will help you make the most of your free time and offers much more than just good bars, nightclubs and live entertainment. It provides the perfect social complement to your academic life. The city has a rapidly developing music and comedy scene attracting many top productions and bands also hosting a wealth of up-and-coming local talent. Of the citys four theatres, the largest, is the Theatre Royal, which attracts and has produced many West End successes. Cinema ranges from a 15-screen multiplex to an arts centre concentrating on less mainstream movies. If you want to escape city life, a short stroll from the city centre is the Hoe, Plymouths waterfront, where you can enjoy superb views across some of Devon and Cornwalls finest coastlines or take a dip in Plymouths art deco lido. Follow the promenade and you will find yourself in the Barbican area, Plymouths historic heart, where narrow Elizabethan cobbled streets house quirky shops, galleries, pavement cafs, bars and nightclubs, as well as the National Marine Aquarium. Just north of Plymouth is Dartmoor National Park, the largest and wildest area of open country in southern England. To our south, east and west we are surrounded by the beautiful coastline of Devon and Cornwall. The lifestyle of the South West is perfect for relaxing: you can head for the beach, go to a country pub or take in the fresh air and sunshine in beauty spots on the moors. The peninsula is also a paradise for the outdoor enthusiast looking for a bit more of an adrenaline rush. The wild scenery of Dartmoor, Exmoor, Bodmin Moor and the amazing coastal footpaths provide an exciting challenge for hikers, climbers, horse riders, cyclists and other sports people; while the coast and rivers are perfect for sailors, swimmers, water-skiers, windsurfers, kite-surfers and sunbathers! Surfers can find some of the best surf in the country on the north Devon and Cornwall coasts and international surfing competitions are often held in Cornwall.

Dentistry Undergraduate Prospectus 2013

Guiding Principles
The five-year Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) programme* is a patient-centred programme delivered in a supportive and research-rich environment. You will work with many different patients, a wide range of oral conditions and become familiar with community and public health issues. Science and clinical skills are integrated in the curriculum and you will learn within a variety of dental teaching clinics. You will also work within both the educational and voluntary sectors and with hospital consultants. You will be prepared for your future role as a healthcare professional. You will become skilled at communicating with patients and colleagues, work well in a team, have the ability to make decisions, lead when appropriate and be effective under pressure. You will be well-prepared to approach clinical problems holistically, appreciating personal and social dimensions as well as the biomedical basis of oral disease. Assessment methods at the School encourage the development of clinical and communication skills side by side, as well as the acquisition of profound scientific knowledge, all of which you will need to underpin your future career. The primary aim of the School is to ensure you are able to perform your future clinical roles with confidence and competence, and have a sound foundation of scientific enquiry from which to engage in a lifetime of learning. The BDS programme has been mapped against the GDCs guidance Preparing For Practice (2012) to ensure that the programme meets all of the learning outcome required for dental graduates. The quality of your clinical supervision within the School is underpinned by a team of Consultants in Dentistry in each of our Dental Education Facilities. Consultant posts in Dental Public Health also underpin our community engagement and oral health promotion. In choosing to join us, we can promise you a modern dental education of the highest quality which incorporates the most well-researched educational techniques and ideas.

*Subject to the approval of the General Dental Council

Curriculum Overview
The School draws on the strengths of its University and NHS partners to deliver what we believe to be the most exciting and innovative undergraduate dental degree programme available today. The degree programme is carefully structured to ensure that, as a dental graduate, you will possess the knowledge, skills and attitudes required for safe practice and entry into your first clinical job as a Dental Foundation Year 1 dentist. Whilst the majority of the five-year undergraduate BDS degree programme can be considered core and provides essential knowledge and skills, there are also Special Study Units which means that you are able to study, in depth, selected areas which may be of special interest to you. Effective teamwork is essential to the efficient delivery of dental care. Most of your learning will take place in small groups, which will prepare you for working in a team. Time for private study is built into the timetable, enabling you to take responsibility for your own learning by using the wide array of resources and learning support which is available. Three main teaching themes are vertically integrated across the programme. These are: Science for dentistry Clinical dentistry Personal and professional development

Student learning is supported by the use of study guides which develop knowledge of oral disease and its causes by working through a case scenario, identifying the knowledge, clinical reasoning and analytical skills needed to deal appropriately with the case. This enquirybased learning takes place in a highly supported, blended learning environment incorporating e-learning, tutorials, selfdirected learning and plenary sessions. Whether you are at the main teaching centre at Plymouth University or engaged in clinical practice at one of the Dental Education Facilities across the South West of the peninsula, there are extensive e-learning, library and other facilities which include videos, CDs, DVDs, books, publications, access to electronic journals and facilities for telematic conferencing. For further information please visit: www.plymouth.ac.uk/peninsula

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Dentistry Undergraduate Prospectus 2013

Years One and Two

During Years One and Two you will learn the core scientific foundations of dentistry in a clinical context. Year One covers aspects of normal structure, function and behaviour and the scientific basis of these. It also focuses on dental health, prevention of dental disease and the underlying principles of personal and professional development. You will be introduced to the clinic and the Simulated Dental Learning Environment (SDLE) at an early age. In Year One you will gain insight into the importance of team working in dentistry as you work as a dental nurse with senior students in clinic. By the end of Year 1 you will be familiar and comfortable with the clinical environment and SDLE. In Year Two, you build on your foundations with common dental problems, as well as disease mechanisms being considered in much greater depth. In term one, training intensifies in the SDLE and you are prepared for your first own patient contact. Term two sees the introduction of face-to-face contact with patients in clinics, where you will be able to develop your communication skills under the close supervision of dental practitioners, bringing to life experience and skills gained in the SDLE. In a typical week you may be expected to attend: Four theatre events known as Plenaries, where you will meet experts in various fields Clinical work in a healthcare setting in the community Three structured enquiry-based learning sessions Workshops and simulated dental experiences An interactive life sciences practical class You may also be expected to undertake skills training which may involve anything from Intra-muscular injection in the Clinical Skills Resource Centre, to practising a restorative technique in the SDLE. For further information please visit: www.plymouth.ac.uk/peninsula

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Dentistry Undergraduate Prospectus 2013

Years Three and Four

In Year Three the amount of time spent in clinics will increase to three days per week to continue your exposure to clinical material, to build upon existing skills and introduce additional topics where appropriate. One of the themes for Years Three and Four is to consolidate the learning of medically-related issues for the safe practise of dentistry. To that end, you will be given an opportunity to learn about dentally relevant medical issues in patientbased demonstrations, hospital outpatient clinics and accident and emergency departments. Clinical activity will expand to 4 days per week in Year Four. For senior students, the work will embrace all of the aspects of dental care provision expected of a qualified dentist and will give you experience in advanced restorative techniques. To facilitate learning, you will gain firsthand experience of the role and services provided by specialists in primary and secondary care, by spending time in specialist clinics such as restorative dentistry, oral surgery, oral diseases and orthodontics. We are also committed to enhancing your managerial and leadership qualities. To achieve this objective, senior students will delegate clinical work to junior students thereby sharing their knowledge of treatment planning. To complete the educational journey, senior students will also be instructed in the contemporary business aspects of running a dental practice within the current NHS structure. For further information please visit: www.plymouth.ac.uk/peninsula

Year Five
The emphasis in Year Five is on the practical implementation of what you have learnt in Years One to Four and is the final preparation for dental practice. You will also become much more confident with clinical situations, healthcare teams and the principal of practice both in the HNS and in private practice. During Year Five you will also supplement your learning with Case Presentations, which are patient presentations designed to demonstrate that you are capable and confident in diagnosing, treatment planning and carrying out all the procedures necessary to provide optimal oral health care for patients. Also in Year Five you will be provided with information and guidance on your Dental Foundation Year (DF1), your first year of dental practice in the NHS upon graduation. The School will support you through a series of careers events, guidance on the DF1 application process and interviews and plenaries on your preparation for registration with the General Dental Council. For further information please visit: www.plymouth.ac.uk/peninsula

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Dentistry Undergraduate Prospectus 2013

Supporting your Learning

The curriculum uses an Enquiry-Based Learning (EBL) approach whereby a clinical case is used to introduce students to the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to become first-class dentists.

Self-Directed Learning
Although you are given extensive support and direction, you are expected to take responsibility for your own learning. Selfdirected learning is especially important in dentistry as this approach will prepare you for a lifetime of learning in your career. You are, of course, supported by an Academic Tutor and other School staff throughout the programme.

You will: Experience oral healthcare as it is delivered in general practice Learn from patients about the breadth of diseases and health problems in a community and the effect of social and environmental factors on oral disease Understand through experience the wide ranging impact and importance of the dental team Learn alongside, and from, experts in the healthcare community including doctors, nurses, social workers, hygienists, therapists, technicians and other healthcare professionals

Enquiry-Based Learning
Students will work through a series of clinical cases in groups of eight guided by a trained facilitator, each case lasting a number of weeks. The cases follow the human life cycle. Each group meets on a regular basis; for example, in Year One you will meet six times during a fortnight to discuss the case, define the learning objectives and share knowledge and information by reporting back what you have learned individually. Between meetings, you are expected to enquire into all aspects of the case including biomedical, public health, human science and professional aspects. This self-directed learning is supported by an intensively structured learning environment. Activities in the Life Sciences Resource Centre, the Simulated Dental Learning Environment, the Clinical Skills Resource Centre and clinics will relate to the EBL case you are studying. In this way you learn about the science and art of dentistry in a clinical context and all of your learning is contextualised into your chosen vocation.

Clinical & Communication Skills

Students learn clinical competencies and skills in the Simulated Dental Learning Environment. Throughout the programme competence in clinical procedures will be developed prior to employing these skills on patients. You will learn to gather information, take patient medical histories and carry out a detailed clinical examination. Depending on the stage of the programme, the procedures you learn will range from basic dentistry to more complicated procedures, such as crowns, bridges and endodontic work. Simultaneously, you will develop the ability to interact with patients in a variety of situations. Learning about the social context of health and disease, as well as developing your communication skills will enable you to understand the needs of individual patients and ensure that you are able to provide appropriate treatment in a truly holistic manner.

Academic Tutor
At the School, you will be allocated an Academic Tutor who oversees your academic progress and personal and professional development. Your tutor is the first point of contact for academic support for the duration of the programme. You will meet with your tutor to review your progress in clinical skills, personal development and academic learning on a regular basis. You are allocated a new tutor each year.

Plenary Sessions
The year group is brought together regularly for large group teaching sessions. Plenary lectures focus on specific subjects relevant to the case you are studying and often involve external experts. Telematic links allow interaction between the sites and with speakers. These signposting sessions are platforms for learning and will provide an invaluable opportunity for students to meet together, along with an acknowledged expert. You are expected to interact with the speaker, and develop your learning by exploring their views and expertise.

Clinical Practice Experience

As you progress through your degree programme your clinical exposure will increase. Extensive exposure to patients, who will display a variety of oral diseases, as well as systemic conditions, will underpin the development of your clinical skills. This experience will develop your ability to think and perform like an expert in the clinical environment.

Assessment
Assessment will be both formative and summative and based on current best practice in clinical education. You will progress between modules and years of the course only after demonstrating that you have gained requisite knowledge, competencies, and clinical experience. Assessment is an important part of study, serving the learning process in a number of key ways. The assessment process determines the standard you are working towards and demonstrates that you are achieving it. Importantly, regular assessment enables you to view your progression and development objectively. We want to create a learning environment in which all of our students can successfully complete the programme. The assessment process is a key tool in quickly detecting any issues that you may have with your learning. It can provide a clear signpost that you may need help.

Applied Dental Knowledge

The Applied Dental Knowledge Progress Test (ADK) is one of the features of the Schools approach to assessment. The ADK, which is delivered in a multiplechoice question format is designed to assess long-term and functional knowledge rather than detailed and easily

forgotten facts. It allows you and the School to monitor your progress and to compare this with your colleagues as you move through the programme. As the chart below shows you will receive a line graph that plots your progress over the duration of the BDS programme.

60 55 50 45

Mapping Progress in the Applied Dental Knowledge Test

Percentage score

40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0

Your progress on the programme 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Progress Test is assessed in relation to your Student score Cohort Mean knowledge, professional development and your work in clinical practice Assessment formats include knowledge-based multiplechoice tests, structured clinical Sample Applied Dental Knowledge (Progress Test) Question examinations, portfolios, scientific report writing and B. There is an increased pore volume One of your regular patients brings her competency tests 7 year old daughter for her first dental of enamel You will receive continuous check-up. The child is interested and C. This reflects a drop in pH to pH 6.5 at feedback and support as you the enamel surface co-operative and you are able to carry out move through the programme D. There is permanent damage to the a full examination. Initially you do not see tooth anything untoward, but, on using the 3 E. The observed clinical features are in 1 air spray, you notice a small area of masked by air drying chalky whiteness adjacent to an occlusal fissure of a newly erupted upper first To find the correct answer to this molar tooth. question please go to page 32. Which of the following statements best explains this observation? A. This is indicative of bacterial invasion of enamel

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Dentistry Undergraduate Prospectus 2013

The Dental Education Facility, Tamar Science Park

Special Study Units

Special Study Units (SSUs) involve working with providers from the NHS, University staff and the community and voluntary sectors, in a wide range of settings. SSUs provide a challenging and stimulating way to develop your critical thinking, as well as your scientific and analytical skills. During Year One, the SSU takes place over a two or three week period and involves placements within the community. This will give you the unique experience of working with key organisations within the community who help and support people in a variety of settings, such as primary, secondary and further education institutions as well as in community access centres, youth clubs, rough sleepers refuge and care homes. You will be expected to undertake research into your allocated organisation, conduct an informal interview to discover how the client group access health and well-being services, and the factors that impact onto the dental and oral well-being of the beneficiaries. This will provide you with a wealth of information which will help to develop understanding and awareness of how different groups and communities of interest respond to dental health services. This may include deeper understanding of issues or factors that restrict or impact the accessibility of dental services. You will submit a written report and reflective summary of your visit, findings and impression of the influencing factors.

For both the Year One and Year Two Special Study Units you can access a range of resources from the Community Development Team who have a wealth of experience in community development activities as a result of citywide links and partnerships. The Community Development Team support academic and clinical staff in the development and organisation of the Years One and Two Special Study Units and help to make this an interesting and appropriate element of the curriculum. In Year Two, the SSU period offers you an opportunity to become more involved with various sectors of the community, where you will actually be able to provide advice on issues ranging from oral health and fluoride application, to the provision of safety advice and mouth guards to local sports clubs. In Year Three, SSUs involve investigation of a clinical topic of personal interest to you and critical analysis of the literature.

Staff and student communication across the School is facilitated and enhanced using telematics technology which can link all the Schools sites together. Plenary lectures, for example, are recorded and made available on-line for further private study and revision. Resources such as electronic journals, encyclopaedias, interactive on-line learning materials, formative on-line computer-aided assessments and discussion forums, whether they are open, private, academic or social, are all available to students at any time through the web via EMILY.

Life Sciences Resource Centre

The LSRC introduces you to, and develops your knowledge of the structure and function of the human body. Your understanding of life sciences will develop using medical imaging, including radiographic and magnetic resonance imaging, coupled with the study of models, living anatomy and e-based technology. Other life sciences learning, in physiology, biochemistry and pharmacology will be supported in a similar fashion.

e-Learning
At all stages of the curriculum, your learning is supported with on-line systems, activities and materials including state-ofthe-art multimedia. EMILY is the Schools web-based Managed Learning Environment (M.L.E.=EMILY) which provides access to both your personal space (emails, timetable, assessment results etc) and supporting course information, learning materials and library access.

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Dentistry Undergraduate Prospectus 2013

Campus Locations
Where will I be Based?
Years One and Two of the Bachelor of Dental Surgery programme are delivered primarily at Portland Square, situated on the Plymouth University campus and at the clinical facilities at Exeter and Plymouth Devonport. The full range of Plymouth University facilities are available to dental students, including the University Library, Students Union and Student Medical Centre. The Clinical Dentistry modules within the programme will be delivered at the clinical facilities in Truro, Plymouth Derriford, Plymouth Devonport and Exeter. These facilities have been designed and built specifically to meet the needs of dental students and are integrated with local NHS dental care provision to allow students to gain experience of both routine and specialist dental care.

Plymouth Derriford
The Dental Education Facility is located on the Tamar Science Park adjacent to Derriford Hospital. Opened in September 2011, the Dental Education Facility provides a progressive clinical space in which to undertake your clinical duties. During clinical sessions you are supervised by highly experienced general dental practitioners, dental hygienist/therapist tutors as well as clinical academic staff. You will provide a wide range of appropriate advice, assessment and treatment to members of the public of all ages who book appointments at the facility.

Education Facility provides a progressive clinical space in which to undertake your clinical duties. During clinical sessions you are supervised by highly experienced general dental practitioners, clinical academic staff, dental hygienist/therapist tutors. You will provide a wide range of appropriate advice, assessment and treatment to members of the public of all ages who book appointments at the facility. The facility has state-of-the-art dental equipment, an on-site decontamination unit and a dental technical laboratory. Student facilities include a large IT suite, seminar room and student common room.

Plymouth Devonport
Situated close to the city centre and adjacent to the Tamar Estuary, the Dental Education Facility at Plymouth Devonport has 40 student chairs and integrated teaching facilities. The Dental Education Facility is located on the Devonport Health Campus which incorporates a GP surgery, minor injuries unit, sports centre, childrens centre and nursery. Opened in June 2009 the Dental

Exeter
A short walk from Exeter city centre, the Royal Devon & Exeter Heavitree Hospital houses a Dental Education Facility with 16 student chairs and integrated teaching facilities. At the start of March, in Year One, students examine, diagnose and develop a treatment plan and then provide all hygiene treatment necessary for patients under the supervision of both dental practitioners and hygienist tutors.

Plymouth Portland Square

Situated on the Plymouth University campus, a five minute walk from Plymouth city centre and the sea, Portland Square is the main focus for teaching throughout the programme. It provides excellent library services, a Life Sciences Resource Centre, telematic lecture facilities and a 32 pod Simulated Dental Learning Environment (SDLE). The state-of-the-art SDLE enables students to learn and experience all aspects of providing dental care in a safe, controlled environment where phantom heads allow you to practice and achieve the highest skill levels before treating patients in the clinical environment.

Dental Education Facility, Plymouth Devonport

Truro
The Truro Dental Education Facility is located in the Knowledge Spa, a substantial joint educational facility with Plymouth Universitys Faculty of Health Education and Society, situated in the grounds of the Royal Cornwall Hospital. The Dental Education Facility houses 32 student chairs and a dental technical laboratory. There are also appropriate teaching facilities including both Clinical Skills and Life Sciences Resource Centres and a Simulated Dental Learning Environment for use by students and the local dental profession. During the third year of study, students carry out their clinical work in Truro for half of the academic year and live in residential accommodation provided by Plymouth University. Students are expected to make appropriate arrangements for any existing domestic responsibilities for this compulsory element of the programme delivered in Truro. Working in the Truro clinical facility enables students to further develop skills using more complicated dental techniques. Students will also experience a wide range of medicine in dentistry opportunities in the Royal Cornwall Hospital with NHS colleagues.

PCTs in the South West peninsula include NHS Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, NHS Devon, NHS Plymouth and Torbay Care Trust. From 2013 the Government is proposing changes to the NHS which will see groups of GPs and clinicians playing a greater role in future commissioning. This means that from 2013 PCTs will be abolished and replaced by Clinical Commissioning Groups and the NHS National Commissioning Board. For more information on these changes please visit the NHS Devon website: www.devonpct.nhs.uk or the Department of Health www.dh.gov.uk

Plymouth Portland Square

Primary Care Trusts

Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) are the local branch of the National Health Service (NHS) and currently the lead organisation in their health community. One of their core roles is to assess the health needs of people. They then provide clear guidance and direction to other health providers, such as acute hospitals or partners, about what the needs are and what services they plan to commission to meet these. They work closely with GPs and clinicians on this. Equally important is their role in helping people to stay healthy by, for example, promoting stop smoking services.

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Dentistry Undergraduate Prospectus 2013

Plymouth University Halls of Residence

Accommodation
In Year One, whilst based at Plymouth University, you have access to student accommodation, which is available to all students of the University. You will be prioritised on the list for a place in a University hall of residence or University approved residence, if your application is received by the due date. Plymouth Universitys Accommodation Office also operates an approved accommodation scheme for those students seeking privately rented accommodation. Plymouth University has a number of purpose-built self-catering halls of residence close to the city centre and offers a comprehensive accommodation service for all students. There are study bedrooms suitable for students with disabilities. In Year Three you will spend half of the academic year based at the Schools Cornwall facility in Truro. While there, accommodation is available at one of Plymouth Universitys Truro residences. At all other times we help as much as possible in locating suitable accommodation. This may be hospital or university-based or in privately-owned approved premises. We want you to feel at home with us. We understand how important it is for you to live in good-quality, conveniently-located accommodation throughout your studies. Our Student Accommodation Office offers a wide range of places to stay, all within 20 minutes walk of the campus and city centre. The properties we offer have been visited by our staff and meet our standards for safety and suitability. We will be happy to answer your questions and help you find a place thats right for you. www.plymouth.ac.uk/accommodation

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Dentistry Undergraduate Prospectus 2013

Admissions
There are 62 places available for Home/ EU students to study dentistry at the School and an additional 2 places for international students in 2013. All applications must be made through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). All applications for clinical programmes, must reach UCAS between 1 September 2012 and 15 October 2012. Applicants should apply to no more than four clinical degree programmes. The remaining choices on the UCAS form may be used for any alternative course. The UCAS code for Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry is P60 PLYM. Course code: BDS A206 5 yrs If you need help or advice on using the Apply on-line system you should contact the UCAS Customer Service unit on: 0871 468 0468 Website: www.ucas.com

Deferred Entry
Applicants for deferred entry are welcome. However, this must be indicated at the time of application. Deferment is normally permitted for a maximum of one year only.

Fees and Finance

For current information please go to: www.plymouth.ac.uk/fees

2011 Cohort of Dental Students

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Dentistry Undergraduate Prospectus 2013

Entry Requirements
Direct School Leavers The entry requirements set out in this section apply to you if you completed your GCE A Levels, or equivalent qualifications, within two years of the start of the 2012 application cycle, e.g. qualifications completed since 2010. If you intend to enrol onto the second year of another degree programme, you will need to discuss this with the Admissions Team. All of the typical offers listed below are not necessarily the threshold for selection for interview. The School reserves the right to use all information on the UCAS form including evidence of social engagement and insight into dentistry in the selection process for interview. GCE A Level The typical offer is AAA at GCE A Level which must include Chemistry and Biology. A fourth subject must be achieved at a minimum of grade C at AS Level. General Studies at A/AS level is not included within any offer. GCSEs Students are required to achieve seven GCSE passes at grades A-C which must include English Language, Mathmatics, and either GCSE Single and Additional Science or GSCE Biology. International Baccalaureate The typical offer is 36-38 points overall including 6 in both Chemistry and Biology at the Higher Level. Applicants offering other qualifications including Scottish qualifications, the Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Diploma or the Cambridge Pre-University Diploma are advised to contact the Admissions Team. Non Direct School Leavers If it is more than two years since you completed your GCE A Levels or equivalent qualifications, if you are a graduate or if you have enrolled onto the second year of an existing degree programme at the time of application, then you should discuss the entry requirements with the Admissions Team. All decisions on admissions are subject to confirmation by the Selection and Admissions Panel, which is chaired by the Head of School or his nominee. All applicants must satisfy both the academic and non-academic conditions of their offer. The Head of School reserves the right to refuse admission to any applicant who fails to sign The Peninsula Dental School Student Agreement or who fails to meet the GDC guidelines on student Fitness to Practise. For further information please visit: www.plymouth.ac.uk/peninsula

Student Interviews
Prior to receiving an offer of a place on the BDS programme, you will be invited to attend an interview. The interview attempts to identify whether a candidate has the personal attributes required to become a dentist of tomorrow. We place great value in the following qualities and we are looking for you to demonstrate these at your interview. Integrity Veracity and honesty Flexibility Motivation and commitment Empathy and being non-judgmental Communication skills Potential for leadership Insight into the roles and responsibilities of a dentist The ability to be a team player The ability to deal with stress appropriately Problem solving skills Students who know their limitations, their strengths and weaknesses Reflectiveness Students who demonstrate a suitable approach to life and to people 20 minutes. It is not a test of dental or scientific knowledge, but aims to explore your attitudes, outlook and way of thinking. Candidates with specific access requirements that have not previously been disclosed on the UCAS form are encouraged to discuss these with the Admissions Team prior to the interview. Please note that candidates are responsible for the cost of travel to the interview. All students attending an interview must bring current photographic evidence of their identity, normally a valid passport or a UK Issued Driving Licence with photo card. If candidates are not able to provide this, their interview may be cancelled and we cannot guarantee that it will be re-scheduled. In this case we will not reimburse the candidate for the cost of their travel to the cancelled interview.

Feedback
Feedback is only given directly to unsuccessful applicants who request it in writing by letter or by email. Normally, the feedback provided includes the numerical score from the interview and the position of this score in the overall ranking which determines which students received a conditional offer of a place of study on your chosen programme. Please contact the Admission Team should you wish to receive feedback on your application. Email: meddent-admissions@plymouth.ac.uk Telephone: +44 (0) 1752 437333

On the day of your interview you will attend an introductory talk about the interview selection process. You will then be asked to complete a written questionnaire, which aims to investigate your commitment and motivation to study dentistry. After this, you will be given three alternative scenarios to consider, each of which centres upon a contemporary ethical issue related to your chosen programme. You should select one of these as the basis for your interview. The interviews follow a structured and formal process in order to ensure that every student applying to a particular programme, is asked the same questions and receives the same prompts. The interview should take approximately

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Dentistry Undergraduate Prospectus 2013

Student Conduct & Fitness to Practise

Practising as a dentist requires the highest standards and we take seriously our commitment to enrol and teach only those students with the professional qualities required by the General Dental Council. www.gdc-uk.org The School seeks to ensure that all students admitted onto the BDS programme are fit to practise dentistry. We will not admit onto the BDS degree programme any individual who, at the time of entry, is not deemed to be fit to practise under the terms of the GDC guidance, or who cannot fulfil any other health or non-academic entry requirements. Graduates are entitled to provisional registration with the GDC with a licence to practise, subject to demonstrating to the GDC that their fitness to practise is not impaired.

Fitness to Practise and Behaviour

The School seeks to admit onto the BDS programme students who will show exemplary behaviour and courtesy toward patients, teaching staff, other members of the healthcare team and the wider community. To become a dentist, it is essential that you do nothing to diminish the trust that these groups place in you. Further information may be found in the GDCs publication entitled Maintaining Standards and in its guidance on undergraduate dental education contained in The First Five Years. Both are available from the GDC website: www.gdc-uk.org

context of fitness to practise, may be considered a fitness to practise issue by the School. This may lead to the student concerned being referred to the Schools Fitness to Practise Committee and possibly to a requirement that the student concerned withdraw from the programme of study.

Criminal Records Bureau Enhanced Disclosure (CRB)

All offers are conditional upon applicants completing an enhanced disclosure check via the Criminal Records Bureau. We will review all significant reports of candidates convictions, cautions and verbal warnings and decide on a candidates suitability to enter the BDS degree programme. In addition, failure to declare a conviction may result in the student being referred to the Schools Fitness to Practise Committee, and possibly, a requirement that the student concerned withdraw from the programme of study.

Fitness to Practise and Health

The School seeks to admit students onto the BDS programme who are physically and mentally capable of meeting the demands placed upon them by a degree in clinical dentistry and by the professional duties of a qualified dental practitioner. We will try, where possible, to put in place reasonable adjustments to assist students who have specific health requirements and challenges, although the final determination of admission will be based on an occupational health assessment. There may, on occasion, be cases where the School feels it is unable to offer a place to a student because of significant health issues that impact on his or her fitness to practise dentistry. Before your place on the BDS programme can be confirmed, you must satisfactorily complete the Fitness to Practise assessment, which involves completion of a pre-course health screening form which must be signed by your GP. This may also include a meeting or medical with the Schools Health and Well-Being service. Non-disclosure of a mental or physical health problem at the admissions stage that proves to be significant within the

Dental School Student Agreement

All students are required to sign a Dental School Student Agreement as part of the offer of a place on the BDS programme. The Student Agreement is a code of conduct that derives from the General Dental Councils statements on the duties of a dentist as outlined in Standards for Dental Professionals (2005) and the needs of a dental student as outlined in the General Dental Councils The First Five Years. www.gdc-uk.org The agreement forms a contract between the School and its students and states clearly the level of behaviour expected by the School of its students. Noncompliance with the Student Agreement may constitute a fitness to practise issue and may put at risk a students continued enrolment on the BDS programme. A copy of the Dental School Student Agreement is available as a download from the Schools website: www.plymouth.ac.uk/peninsula

Blood Borne Viral Infections Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV

All prospective dental students are required to provide evidence that they are free of infection from Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV before enrolment on to the BDS programme. This is necessary to protect both dental students and their patients against the risk of transmission of infection in the healthcare setting. We will make arrangements for mandatory blood tests to be taken for all students in receipt of a conditional offer of a place on the BDS programme, in order to demonstrate freedom from infection from Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV. These mandatory blood tests form part of the conditional offer for all applicants. Screening for tuberculosis will be addressed separately upon enrolment on the BDS programme. We will also require all students to be immunised against Hepatitis B prior to commencing work with patients. Students will NOT be able to progress to clinical

work with patients until they have completed their Hepatitis B immunisation programme. Our approach to health screening is informed by Best Practice Guidance (2007) from the Department of Health and is consistent with professional obligations placed on dental practitioners by the General Dental Council. www.gdc-uk.org

adjustments to such students programmes of study. If you would like to discuss this further or would like general advice and information about the support for students with a disability, or a specific learning need, please contact:

Disability Assist
(Plymouth University) www.plymouth.ac.uk/disability Telephone: +44 (0) 1752 587676

Disability
The School is committed to meeting the needs of students with disabilities and recognises that they are an integral part of the academic community, which we strive to make as inclusive as possible. The School will need to consider the impact of a disability on an applicants fitness to practise dentistry because it has a special responsibility to ensure that all students admitted to the BDS course will be eligible for registration by the General Dental Council on graduation. We are committed to ensuring that all applicants who are judged to be academically suitable are neither treated less favourably nor placed at a substantial disadvantage on the grounds of their disability. If you consider that you have a disability, you should tick the relevant box on the UCAS form. Disclosing a disability on your UCAS application form will not affect the screening of your application or indeed influence the decision to invite you to interview. If an offer is made, the School will seek advice from the Universitys Disability Assist and the Health & Well-Being Service, so that the type of assistance needed to enable you to successfully follow the BDS programme can be assessed in more detail. There are rare occasions when, following professional assessment of a disability, a students suitability for admission may be affected. The School takes a positive view and tries to meet the needs of students with disabilities by making, where possible, reasonable

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Dentistry Undergraduate Prospectus 2013

Open Days
The best way of finding out whether you would like to study at Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry is to attend one of our Open Days. We will be running an Open Day on 8th September 2012. 2013 2013 Open Days will be held on Saturday 20th April and Saturday 1st June. Further details and how to apply can be found on our website www.plymouth. ac.uk/peninsula At the Open Days you will have the opportunity to visit the Plymouth University campus, meet the staff of the School and find out more about the Bachelor of Dental Surgery degree programme. You have the opportunity to get involved in interactive activities with Simulated Dental Learning Environment and Life Science Resource Centre staff as well as a demonstration of Enquiry Based Learning. To reserve a place at one of the Schools Open Days, contact the Admissions Team by phone, on-line or by post. Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry The John Bull Building Tamar Science Park Research Way Plymouth PL6 8BU Reserve your place on-line at: http://openday.pcmd.ac.uk Telephone: 01752 437333 Fax: 01752 517842 Email: meddent-admissions@plymouth.ac.uk

University Open Days

In addition Plymouth University holds general Open Days where the School is represented. At the University Open Days, you will have the opportunity to talk to Admissions staff. However there are no interactive elements at these events. The University Open Day will take place on: Saturday 19 October 2012

*The answer to the Sample Applied Dental Knowledge (Progress Test) question is: B

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Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry The John Bull Building Tamar Science Park Research Way Plymouth PL6 8BU

Email: meddent-admissions@plymouth.ac.uk Telephone: +44 (0) 1752 437333 Fax: +44 (0) 1752 517842 Website: www.plymouth.ac.uk/peninsula

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