University home > Unit and programme catalogues in 2020/21 > Programme catalogue > Faculty of Health Sciences > Bristol Dental School > Postgraduate Dental Studies (PG Cert) > Specification
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Programme code | 8ORDS002T |
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Programme type | Postgraduate Taught Degree |
Programme director(s) |
Ana Beatriz Gamboa
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Faculty | Faculty of Health Sciences |
School/department | Bristol Dental School |
Teaching institution | University of Bristol |
Awarding institution | University of Bristol |
Mode of study | Part Time |
Programme length | 2 years (part time) |
This programme aims to develop the student's interest in and knowledge and understanding of the fundamental areas of clinical dental practice.
This programme provides the opportunity for dentists working in primary dental care to study in depth a range of subjects via distance learning appropriate to their professional needs. The units teach students to be critical of research papers and to develop an in depth knowledge in the subjects studied. The units test the knowledge, skills and attitudes of the students.
The units offered are consistent with the Department of Health's specification for "Dentists with a Special Interest" and completion of the appropriate certificate would be evidence to support application for these contracts.
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
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Acquisition of knowledge through lectures, seminars, tutorials and directed reading with a strong emphasis on primary materials. Independent learning is achieved through written coursework and small research projects. Some units offer clinical and laboratory based learning. |
Methods of Assessment | |
All units offer assessment via written submissions based on material in the elements. All units have a summative assessment, these may take the form of presentations, case assessment or written assessments. |
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
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Intellectual skills are developed through seminars, tutorials, oral presentations and written assignments (both assessed essays/problems and research projects). All elements are structured in such a way that skills of analysis synthesis and evaluation are developed. Some modules focus on other intellectual skills (problem solving and research) and opportunities to develop these skills are offered in a number of modules. For some units there are supervised clinical placements, tutorial sessions and a need to develop personal and professional log books. |
Methods of Assessment | |
All assessment tasks (written examinations, assessed course work, clinical case presentation and diagnostic acumen) test powers of analysis synthesis and evaluation. Problem solving is assessed both by written examinations containing hypothetical problems and assessed clinical and laboratory work. Production of a research protocol which goes forward in the case of MSc students to form the basis of their research and eventually the production of the dissertation. |
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
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Seminars and tutorials are used to develop oral communication by requiring students to engage in class discussions, to make oral presentations and develop confidence in making clinical judgments. Written communication is developed through written assignments, assessed coursework and research projects. |
Methods of Assessment | |
Assessment is primarily through written assignments and presentations. The written assignments include in some units examinations, assessed coursework and research projects. |
Statement of expectations from the students at each level of the programme as it/they develop year on year.
Level M/7 - Postgraduate Certificate |
Completion of this stage of the programme will enable the student to demonstrate that he/she has successfully achieved the learning outcomes of three of the units on offer. A student completing the programme at this level will have achieved sufficient theoretical knowledge to be awarded a Certificate in Dental Postgraduate Studies. This may be evident in terms of either a breadth of knowledge over a range of subject areas or an increased depth of knowledge if modules that provide an enhanced depth of knowledge are taken. |
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Level M/7 - Postgraduate Diploma |
Students awarded the Diploma in Postgraduate Dental Studies will have completed six taught units. There are two models for progression:
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Level M/7 - Postgraduate Masters |
The Master's stage requires the student to have reached a stage of intellectual development in the subject to enable him/her to undertake produce a project report independently through a literature review in an area specifically relating to clinical dental practice. The topic of the review must be approved by the student's supervisor, who may advise the student on the structure and content of the dissertation up to and including first draft stage. The student will show evidence of Independent, analytical and critical thought in undertaking the literature review. The dissertation will show that the following skills have been acquired: - appropriate selection and analysis of materials to be reviewed - high level skills in presenting and organising evidence - clear communication of evidence in writing - a well structured dissertation, clearly written and with conclusions that demonstrate analytical ability |
The intended learning outcome mapping document shows which mandatory units contribute towards each programme intended learning outcome.
For information on the admissions requirements for this programme please see details in the postgraduate prospectus at http://www.bristol.ac.uk/prospectus/postgraduate/ or contact the relevant academic department.
Whilst the concept of BUOLD is to encourage flexibility and choice in the delivery of postgraduate education, it is not always possible to allow complete freedom of selection of units. The Surgical Skills units require the students to be proficient at local anaesthesia and thus completion of the Local Anaesthesia Unit is a prerequisite for entry. The Surgical Skills 2 unit requires satisfactory completion of the Surgical Skills 1, as it builds on the knowledge and skills acquired in that unit of the course.
Assignment lengths
The individual Units within BUOLD have different assignment lengths and requirements for in course summative and formative assessment. The reasons for the differences relate to the differing contents of the Units. There is a range between those that are non clinical such as the Law and Ethics where the student effort is largely self directed study and those such as Endodontology and Periodontology which include the evaluation and audit of clinical practice undertaken in the workplace where the student effort is divided between the clinical management of patients and the self directed study.
The formative assessments are designed to use the most appropriate tools to evaluate the learning outcomes of the individual Units. In some cases such as Anxiety Management and Endodontology it is more appropriate to have assessments that cover more than one element. The majority of multiple Element Units assess each Element individually during the in course assessment, but have a final examination which addresses learning outcomes from all elements within the Unit.
Nigel Robb
BUOLD-Office@bristol.ac.uk
web: www.bristol.ac.uk/dentalpg/buold/
The Postgraduate Dental Studies certificate is open to dentists and dental hygienists and therapists. While all units on the programme are available to dentists, a more limited range of options offered to dental hygienists and therapists.
Students initially register onto the Postgraduate Certificate and must pass sixty credit points before progressing to the Postgraduate Diploma. Dental Hygienists and therapists are not currently able to progress to the Postgraduate Diploma.
The Certificate is taken over two years part-time.
All units in this programme are must pass. For the definition of a must pass unit please see the Glossary of Terms from Annex 1 to the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes at http://www.bristol.ac.uk/esu/assessment/annex/glossary.html
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | |
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Over two years Dentists should choose 60 credit points from the list below | ||||
Over two years students choose 60cp from the following: | ||||
Anxiety Management | ORDSM0028 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Surgical Skills 1 | ORDSM0030 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Local Anaesthesia | ORDSM0031 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Periodontology | ORDSM0032 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Law and Ethics | ORDSM0033 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Endodontology | ORDSM0034 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Surgical Skills 2 | ORDSM0035 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Complete Denture Prosthetics | ORDSM0049 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Dental Injuries in Children and Young Adults | ORDSM0027 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Over two years Dental hygienists and therapists should choose 60 credit points from the following list: | ||||
Anxiety Management | ORDSM0028 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Local Anaesthesia | ORDSM0031 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Periodontology | ORDSM0032 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
30 |
The Postgraduate Dental Studies certificate is open to dentists and dental hygienists and therapists. While all units on the programme are available to dentists, a more limited range of options offered to dental hygienists and therapists.
Students initially register onto the Postgraduate Certificate and must pass sixty credit points before progressing to the Postgraduate Diploma.
The Certificate is taken over two years part-time .
All units in this programme are must pass. For the definition of a must pass unit please see the Glossary of Terms from Annex 1 to the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes at http://www.bristol.ac.uk/esu/assessment/annex/glossary.html
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Over two years Dentists should choose 60 credit points from the list below | ||||
Over two years students choose 60cp from the following: | ||||
Anxiety Management | ORDSM0028 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Surgical Skills 1 | ORDSM0030 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Local Anaesthesia | ORDSM0031 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Periodontology | ORDSM0032 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Law and Ethics | ORDSM0033 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Endodontology | ORDSM0034 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Surgical Skills 2 | ORDSM0035 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Complete Denture Prosthetics | ORDSM0049 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Dental Injuries in Children and Young Adults | ORDSM0027 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Over two years Dental hygienists and therapists should choose 60 credit points from the list below: | ||||
Anxiety Management | ORDSM0028 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Local Anaesthesia | ORDSM0031 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Periodontology | ORDSM0032 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
PG Certificate in Postgraduate Dental Studies | 60 |
The pass mark set by the University for any level 7(M) unit is 50 out of 100.
For detailed rules on progression please see the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes and the relevant faculty handbook.
All taught masters programmes, unless exempted by Senate, must allow the opportunity for students to exit from the programme with a postgraduate diploma or certificate.
To be awarded a postgraduate diploma, students must have successfully completed 120 credit points, of which 90 must be at level M/7.
To be awarded a postgraduate certificate, students must have successfully completed 60 credit points, of which 40 must be at level M/7.
An award with Merit or Distinction is permitted for postgraduate taught masters, diplomas and certificates, where these are specifically named entry-level qualifications. An award with Merit or Distinction is not permitted for exit awards where students are required to exit the programme on academic grounds. An exit award with Merit or Distinction may be permitted where students are prevented by exceptional circumstances from completing the intended award.
The classification of the award in relation to the final programme mark is as follows:
Award with Distinction*: at least 65 out of 100 for the taught component overall and, for masters awards, at least 70 out of 100 for the dissertation. **Faculties retain discretion to increase these thresholds.
Award with Merit*: at least 60 out of 100 for the taught component overall and, for masters awards, at least 60 out of 100 for the dissertation. Faculties retain discretion to increase these thresholds.
* The MA in Law has separate regulations for awarding distinction and merit.
** For the award of Distinction, the Faculty of Engineering requires at least 70 out of 100 for the taught component overall and, for masters awards, at least 70 out of 100 for the dissertation.
All taught masters programmes, unless exempted by Senate, must allow the opportunity for students to choose, or be required, to leave at the postgraduate diploma or certificate stage.
To be awarded a postgraduate diploma, students must have successfully completed 120 credit points, of which 90 must be at level M/7.
To be awarded a postgraduate certificate, students must have successfully completed 60 credit points, of which 40 must be at level M/7.
Please note: This specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme and the learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate if he/she takes full advantage of the learning opportunities that are provided.
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