BSc (Hons) Dental Technology

• 96 UCAS points. We accept a full range of qualifications that carry UCAS points, including A-levels, BTECs and T levels. Please see our guide to the UCAS Tariff for examples of how to achieve these points. For most courses, we are also able to consider non-tariffable qualifications.
• Your Level 3 subjects must include a science subject; for instance, A-level Biology or BTEC Extended Diploma in Dental Technology.
• You should also have five GCSEs at grade C or above or grade 4 to 9 (or equivalent) including English, Mathematics and Science.
• You’ll be required to attend an interview and undertake a manual dexterity test as part of the application process.
• If you have experience of working in other dental team roles, we’ll be happy to consider your application, providing you can present evidence of satisfactory level 3 qualifications.
• Some work placements involved in this course involve unsupervised access to children and/or vulnerable adults, also known as regulated activity. If you’ll be undertaking a placement that involves regulated activity you’ll have to get an Enhanced Disclosure certificate from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) beforehand. Charges are payable to cover the cost of the DBS Enhanced Disclosure application and annual registration with the online Update Service.
• If English isn’t your first language, you’ll also need IELTS 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in any band (or equivalent). We also accept a range of other English language qualifications – please visit our English Language Requirements web page for more details.
• Please note that this course is subject to the University of Bolton's Fitness to Practise procedure.

Where changes are made to material information contained in this course description or a decision is taken to suspend a course between the offer of admissions and enrolment, we will inform applicants at the earliest possible opportunity and will outline the various options available to the applicant.

The University of Bolton's BSc (Hons) in Dental Technology offers you the opportunity to learn the fundamental aspects of oral anatomy and physiology and its influence on dental appliance design. We emphasise practical skills development as this is a crucial element in the training of a dental technician, alongside learning relevant theory. This course challenges you to critically analyse theoretical principles to make informed choices on the methods and materials used to produce a range of biomechanically sound appliances.

This course is ideal if you want to work in the field of dental technology or dental biomaterials and seek a career in academia, research or industry.

What can I do with this qualification?

Graduate career opportunities are available in the NHS, commercial laboratories, private practices, dental manufacturing companies and dental schools. The NHS offers a clear management structure for career advancement, while in the commercial sector, there are options for becoming a laboratory owner or manager with several years of experience.

Dental science has a rich history of academic development. As a graduate, you may progress to MSc postgraduate courses and PhD research. Possible postgraduate study options can support progression into clinical dentistry, research or teaching.

Alternatively, you could train as a healthcare scientist, specialising in reconstructive sciences like maxillofacial prosthetics through the NHS Scientist Training Programme (STP).

Alternative career options

Graduates can also use the qualification as a stepping-stone into a range of other careers. Some of these roles may require relevant experience and/or postgraduate study. Examples of possible careers include:

• Dental implantology
• Clinical dental technology
• Dental therapy
• Teaching and education
• Research and development
• Nursing
• Sales

Important note regarding tuition fees for the 2024-2025 academic year: EU nationals who meet residency requirements (have settled or pre-settled status) may be eligible for 'Home' fee status. If you do not meet these residency requirements, overseas fees will apply. Irish citizens living in the UK or Ireland will be eligible for 'Home' fee status under the Common Travel Area arrangement. Please read the student finance for EU students web page on www.gov.uk for information.

The fees for a student's course of study will be set for the normal duration of that course subject only to inflationary increases – measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) recorded in March each year to take effect for subsequent start dates.

For 2024-2025 entry, the maximum government approved undergraduate tuition fee for UK students is £9,250 per year. The University is able to charge this fee subject to an approved Access and Participation Plan for 2024-2025 and its current rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework.

Bursaries

Click here for more information about the scholarships and bursaries available to University of Bolton students.

PLEASE NOTE: To meet the requirements of the General Dental Council, all modules are compulsory on this course.

Our BSc (Hons) course in Dental Technology is delivered through the blended methods of face-to-face tuition and online learning. Lectures are held to introduce specific subjects and areas of study, reinforced by tutorials, workshops and practical classes where this theory can be applied.

Class sizes are small to maximise contact with tutors and support is provided via regular feedback and advice on your progress and developmental needs. Electronic learning materials are provided through the virtual learning environment, enabling self-directed study on or off campus.

Assessment takes various forms, including examinations, essays, reports, employment journals, oral presentations, practical tasks and assessment of your practical manufacturing portfolio. In your final year of study your skills will also be assessed through a dissertation.

Modules

The modules listed below may be a mixture of compulsory and optional. You may not have the opportunity to study all the modules shown as part of the course.

• Dental Technology Dissertation Project
• Principles of Dental Aesthetics and Occlusion
• Specialised Dental Technology Discipline
• Advanced Oral Biomedical Science
• Dental Technology Techniques for Orthodontics
• Dental Technology Techniques for Removable Prosthodontics
• Dental Technology Techniques for Fixed Prosthodontics
• Employment Practice B
• Research Methodology
• Introductory Dental Biomaterials Science
• Employment Practice A
• Basic Dental Technology Techniques
• Oral Anatomy and Physiology and Basic Dental Appliance Design
• Preparing for Practice and Study Skills

Assessment methods

Learning activities

Disclaimer

The university will use all reasonable endeavours to deliver your course as described in its published material and the programme specification for the academic year in which you begin your course. The university considers changes to courses very carefully and the university will minimise any changes. Please be aware that our courses are subject to review on an ongoing basis and changes may be necessary due to legitimate staffing, financial, regulatory and academic reasons. The content of course modules and mode of associated assessments may be updated on an annual basis. This is to ensure that all modules are up-to-date and responsive to employment and sector needs. The published course material and the programme specification contain indicative ‘optional modules’ that may be subject to change due to circumstances outside of our control. For this reason, we cannot guarantee to run any specific optional module.