MSc Digital Dental Technology

• Normally, you should have at least an upper second class (2.1) honours degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject; for example BSc (Hons) Dental Technology.
• If you have a lower second class (2.2) honours degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject, we’ll consider your application, especially if you have good relevant industrial experience.
• If you’re a Clinical Dental Technician with an appropriate Level 6 qualification, then we encourage you to apply.
• You may be required to attend an interview and/or provide a portfolio of work.
• We'll consider applications where appropriate work experience can be demonstrated in lieu of, or in addition to, the published academic qualifications in line with the University’s Recognition of Prior Experiential Learning (RPEL) procedures.
• 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 use of digital dental systems is now standard practice in many dental laboratories but there are not enough graduates with digital skills to meet the needs of industry. Dental technology departments in the National Health Service (NHS) report that they are struggling to recruit individuals with the advanced skills needed to support their current and digital dental technology practices. This is also echoed in the commercial sector. As a graduate of our MSc Digital Dental Technology master’s degree, you’ll have the digital skills that are sought by employers, along with a range of leadership and transferable skills that will support you as you seek promotion or start your own commercial enterprise.

As a graduate of this course, you’ll possess extensive skills in digital dental technology and a unique body of work that demonstrates your abilities. Your thorough knowledge and understanding of digital dental workflow will enable you to critically analyse and assess individual cases, and develop practical solutions. You’ll have the confidence to act autonomously, and use your initiative, problem-solving, communication and leadership skills to manage complex projects. You’ll also have sought-after skills in collaborative and team working, resilience and self-awareness.

What can I do with this qualification?

Career opportunities are available in the NHS, commercial laboratories, private practices, dental manufacturing companies and dental schools. As a graduate of our MSc in Digital Dental Technology, you’ll possess advanced skills that will enhance your practise in the commercial environment and support your career progression into dental laboratory managerial roles. You may also choose to start your own dental technology company.

Additionally, you’ll be well prepared to adapt as the industry changes and new technologies and techniques become available. Your research experience, critical thinking and problem-solving skills will future-proof your career, supporting you to keep up-to-date with advances. Alternatively, you may prefer to drive advances in the dental technology field by pursuing a PhD leading to an academic or research and development career.

Alternative career options

You could train as a healthcare scientist, specialising in reconstructive sciences like maxillofacial prosthetics through the NHS Scientist Training Programme (STP). Graduates may also use the qualification to enter a range of other careers – for some of these roles, both relevant experience and/or postgraduate study may be required. Career options include:

• Dentistry
• Clinical dental technology
• Dental hygiene and therapy
• Teaching and education
• Research and development
• Sales

Home students starting this course in the first year will be required to pay a Home fee of £9,250 for the academic year 2023/24.

Overseas students starting this course in the first year will be required to pay a Overseas fee of £13,550 for the academic year 2023/24.

Important note regarding tuition fees for the 2022-2023 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.

Bursaries

Click here for more information on our Master's Bursaries.

Our team of academic and professional staff will use a variety of teaching and learning strategies to help you gain and develop appropriate concepts, knowledge and skills. You can expect practical development sessions, self-directed study, lectures, seminars, tutorials, presentations and independent laboratory time.

It’s important to realise that the time spent with a tutor during formally scheduled activities is only a small part of the learning time identified for a module. You’ll also be expected to spend a significant amount of time in guided independent study, such as general background reading, preparing for seminar activities and working on assignments. We are committed to supporting you throughout your learning journey. Over time, our guidance will purposefully become less structured and prescriptive. This will encourage you to develop confidence and independence in your studies and take responsibility for managing your own learning time as you increase in autonomy.

The assessment strategy for the programme is designed to help you achieve the overall aims of the curriculum, as well as the learning outcomes for individual modules. As well as assessing your achievement, it helps to organise and develop your learning. Assessment feedback can help you develop your skills and an understanding of your strengths and weaknesses.

The types of assessment you’ll be required to complete fall into two general categories: formative and summative. Formative assessments help in learning and developing knowledge and skills. Summative assessments, on which grades are allocated, reflect the quality of the learning that has been achieved. Formative assessment will take place via tutorial discussion, group workshops including peer and tutor review, and guidance on work in progress. Formative feedback will be provided face-to-face via discussion, online or in written form. Summative assessments consist of both practical and applied theoretical work. These will include a range of assessments including portfolios of practice, technical reports, self-reflections and oral assessments.

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 Research Project
• Digital Dental Technology in Practice
• Dental Material Science
• Research Methodology
• Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine
• Advanced Engineering Modelling and Analysis
• Leadership and Management

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.