DPDS in Dental Postgraduate Studies

This distance-learning programme is a unique form of dental postgraduate education, designed to be attractive to busy dental practitioners.

From a choice of seven four-month units, you must successfully complete three units to achieve the Postgraduate Certificate (CPDS) or six units to achieve the Postgraduate Diploma (DPDS). Each unit provides a structured programme involving reading, writing and educational participation, totalling 200 hours' academic work, including study days and assessment.

This method of study is not led by teachers in a classroom but is supported by tutors and administration at a distance, offering the flexibility to suit your personal needs. The units are specially written for the programme and are designed to be interactive, giving you the opportunity to think and learn for yourself. Following successful completion of the DPDS, you may carry out a research project and prepare a dissertation to achieve the MSc.

Programme material is either posted as modules via the internet in an Online Learning Environment. There are between one and four elements per unit and they contain assignments to be completed by the student. The units normally available are:

• Anxiety Managment
• Business Management Skills
• Law and Ethics
• Local Anaesthesia
• Endodontics
• Periodontics
• Surgical Skills 1

There are normally three compulsory study days per unit, usually held at weekends. These cover areas that do not lend themselves well to distant study, such as 'hands-on' sessions.