Dental Therapy and Hygiene

UCAS code: A920

Here's what Queen Mary University of London says about its Dental Therapy and Hygiene course.

Become an independent dental professional at a top school with world-class facilities and access to London’s diverse population.

The Dental Therapy and Hygiene BSc (previously called Oral Health BSc) qualifies you to become a registered dental therapist or hygienist, working independently within dental teams to provide preventative and clinical treatments.

You’ll study at Queen Mary University of London's Institute of Dentistry, alongside trainee dentists. Through laboratory, clinical and classroom teaching, you’ll develop the necessary knowledge, skills and attitudes to play an important role within an oral health care team. We have a long tradition of training dental therapists and hygienists, starting in 1983 with the Diploma in Dental Hygiene and Dental Therapy, which has now become the BSc Dental Therapy and Hygiene degree.

We are a small dental school, providing exceptional pastoral support throughout the programme and as you move into employment. Our lecturers have a national profile, putting you at the forefront of dental education and excellent patient care. And our unique location between the City of London and Docklands means you’ll meet patients from all cultures and social backgrounds.

You’ll put what you learn into practice at our outreach centres, helping us to provide vital dental care for local communities.

Our undergraduate dental curriculum incorporates the General Dental Council’s (GDC) Safe Practitioner framework of behaviours and outcomes for dental professional education which is effective from 2025. The dental curriculum has been reviewed and co-created with students with the aim of ‘Opening the doors of opportunity to serve our patients by producing outstanding Dentists, Therapists and Dental Care professionals of the future’. The curriculum embodies what is expected by the GDC with the domains listed below running through each year of the course:

• Clinical knowledge and skills. • Interpersonal skills. • Professionalism. • Self management.

Interview dates for 2026 entry will be held in March 2026.

On completing the programme, you’ll be able to register with the General Dental Council as a dental therapist and as a dental hygienist.

YEAR 1 Fundamentals of clinical practice

We will introduce you to basic biological principles and help you to develop the study skills you will need throughout the programme and your professional career.

You will cover:

• Oral biology and the normal biological structure and function of cells.

• The main organs and body systems.

• The effects of illness on people and their families.

• Development of clinical skills using haptics, clinical skills laboratories and the dental clinics. This increases the exposure of students to clinical dentistry in the first year.

• Critical thinking.

• Dental materials and their application.

• The impact of environmental and social factors on health.

• The impact of systemic health and medication on oral health.

Your progress will be assessed throughout the programme, using:

• Continuous assessment – including in-course examinations, independent projects and success in student-selected components.

• Longitudinal assessments to evaluate the development of clinical competence, interpersonal skills and professionalism throughout all years.

• Examinations – where you’ll demonstrate the knowledge, skills and attitudes you’ve developed throughout the programme.

• Formative assessments, which do not count towards your final marks but allow us to identify whether you need additional help with your studies.

• Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) to assess your clinical and communication skills. You will be assessed on your ability to interact with clinical simulations, accomplish tasks and communicate or interact with both real and simulated patients.

• Clinical case studies.

• Feedback is provided to support student learning and the development of insight as well as facilitate reflective practice.