The information on this page is accurate for students entering the programme from September 2025. For students who entered the programme before September 2025, you can find the details of your programme: BSc Dental Hygiene and Dental Therapy
The BSc (Hons) Dental Hygiene and Dental Therapy programme integrates clinical dentistry, science and professional development. There is a focus on developing students as well-equipped, insightful professional who are able to think critically and prepared to work independently. By the end of the programme, students will be able to demonstrate the knowledge, skills and behaviours needed to practice as a General Dental Council defined Safe Practitioner Dental Hygienist and Dental Therapist.
The first two years of the BSc (Hons) Dental Hygiene and Dental Therapy programme is co-taught with the first two years of the BChD Dental Surgery programme. This encourages a community of learning and will prepare you to work as a member of the dental team, sharing experiences and sharing the care of patients.
The programme is structured in curriculum themes:
- Clinical Skills and Practice
- Dental and Biomedical Science
- Personal and Professional Development
- Enquire
These themes build through the programme and are delivered in sequential modules. There is an integration of learning across themes, where appropriate. For example, when learning about environmental sustainability, there is consideration as to how this area relates to everyday clinical practice, the underpinning ethical principles, and the latest scientific research, as well as the wider societal responsibilities of a dental professional.
Clinical Skills and Practice
This theme focuses on the development of clinical knowledge, skills and behaviours. There is early exposure to the clinical environment, learning how to apply the latest evidence-based knowledge, operative skills and professional behaviours to real patient care. This will culminate in the opportunity to provide comprehensive care of your own patients, demonstrating the skills required of General Dental Council defined a Safe Practitioner.
Clinical operative skills will be developed throughout this theme, starting with sessions delivered in clinical skills classrooms with dental haptic simulator facilities using high fidelity simulation techniques. Students will experience the School's Medical Emergency simulation room where they will learn (with video feedback) and be assessed on the management of simulated dental emergencies.
Students will gain clinical reasoning capabilities allowing you to assess the dental treatment needs of both adult and child patients, leading to the formation of a detailed dental care plan for dental therapist and dental hygienist treatment. Students will develop understanding of the importance of patient education and preventive care. Students will experience the management of patients across a range of clinical areas (restorative dentistry, children's dentistry, and oral radiography & radiology), in a range of clinical settings including outreach placements. There will be opportunities to undertake the clinical management of a wide diversity of patients and patient needs across these centres.
The practice of professional behaviours is integral to this theme, and students will be expected to communicate with patients, practice leadership and work within the dental team effectively in the clinical environment. Student will develop their cultural competence, learning from a diverse population of patients. Students will also consider how the everyday practice of dentistry has an environmental sustainability impact and link this with their learning across the other three curriculum themes. Students will develop their skills as a reflective practitioner and be able to demonstrate insight into your own capabilities and development
needs.
Dental and Biomedical Science
This theme will focus on developing an understanding of the underpinning science and health factors which will inform clinical dental practice. Teaching will be led by scientists who specialise in oral biology, pathology and dental materials, and by specialist clinicians.
Learning will focus on underlying oral and systemic health and disease, including how the health of the mouth and body are interrelated. This will range from the molecular to whole organism level and will include cell biology, genetics, microbiology, infection and immunity and the structure and development of orofacial tissues culminating in an understanding of the pathology of the head and neck.
Students will be exposed to the latest scientific findings which are informing developments in areas such as disease mechanisms, antimicrobial resistance and materials science.
Personal and Professional Development
This theme will focus on development as an accountable professional who is able to understand the behaviours expected of a safe practitioner. This theme aims to prepare students as insightful and effective learners, not only as students but going forward into their later careers. Students will develop active learning approaches, reflecting on individual and team experiences and taking ownership of their ongoing development. Students will develop their self-management skills; being able to organise time and knowing how to manage resilience through wellbeing techniques and knowing when to seek support. Being an effective and supportive member of the dental team will focus on leadership and followership skills.
Students will develop their understanding of the standards expected of a dental professional, learning the underpinning ethical principles that these standards are built on. In doing this they will have the opportunity to engage in discussion of scenarios with both teacher clinicians and ethicists within the Interdisciplinary Ethics Applied Centre at the University of Leeds. Students will be encouraged to challenge their assumptions and thinking. Ethical principles encompass key societal and cultural transformation issues such as equality, diversity and inclusion, and environmental sustainability. Students will consider how these issues will inform their practice as a dental professional.
This theme will culminate in preparation for the next stage of professional development following University, and for registration with the General Dental Council as a Safe Practitioner.
Enquire
This theme will focus on developing the ability to explore wider population and societal aspects of dentistry, giving students the opportunity to develop enquiry and research skills.
Students will develop an understanding of their role and responsibilities as a dental professional in society, gaining insight into population scale dental health and the inequalities that exist locally, nationally, and internationally. The areas of psychology and sociology will be explored to understand how patient behaviours, and determinants of health inform effective population health improvement strategies.
Community engagement will be a core thread through the Enquire theme. Through organised activities, students will have the opportunity to actively connect with various community groups, such as care homes and schools. They will also reflect on how dental professionals can best engage with and support these communities.
Students will develop enquiry and research skills, being able to search for and identify high quality evidence, as well as producing a Capstone project in the final stages of this theme. Through this experience there will be opportunities to explore how research and service improvement advance our understanding of dental science and the improvement of patient care.
(For students entering September 2025 onwards)
[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable
Candidates will be required to study the following compulsory modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DSUR1251 | Clinical Skills and Practice 1 | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | PFP |
| DSUR1252 | Dental and Biomedical Sciences 1 | 60 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | PFP |
| DSUR1253 | Personal and Professional Development 1 | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | PFP |
| DSUR1254 | Enquire 1 | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | PFP |
(For students entering September 2025 onwards)
[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable
Diploma in Dental Hygiene
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DSUR2000 | Applied Dental Hygiene | 20 | Not running in 202627 | PFP |
| DSUR2010 | Clinical Skills | 20 | Not running in 202627 | PFP |
| DSUR2118 | Personal and Professional Development 2 | 20 | Not running in 202627 | PFP |
| DSUR2146 | Developing Clinical Practice 2 | 60 | Not running in 202627 | PFP |
| DSUR2251 | Dental and Biomedical Sciences 2 | 40 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | PFP |
| DSUR2253 | Personal and Professional Development 2 | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | PFP |
| DSUR2254 | Enquire 2 | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | PFP |
| DSUR2255 | Clinical Skills and Practice 2 BSc | 40 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | PFP |
Candidates will be required to study the following compulsory modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DSUR2000 | Applied Dental Hygiene | 20 | Not running in 202627 | PFP |
| DSUR2010 | Clinical Skills | 20 | Not running in 202627 | PFP |
| DSUR2118 | Personal and Professional Development 2 | 20 | Not running in 202627 | PFP |
| DSUR2146 | Developing Clinical Practice 2 | 60 | Not running in 202627 | PFP |
| DSUR2251 | Dental and Biomedical Sciences 2 | 40 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | PFP |
| DSUR2253 | Personal and Professional Development 2 | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | PFP |
| DSUR2254 | Enquire 2 | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | PFP |
| DSUR2255 | Clinical Skills and Practice 2 BSc | 40 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | PFP |
(For students entering September 2025 onwards)
[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable
Candidates will be required to study the following compulsory modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DSUR3256 | Clinical Skills and Practice 3 BSc | 60 | PFP | |
| DSUR3258 | Personal and Professional Development 3 BSc | 20 | PFP | |
| DSUR3259 | Enquire 3 BSc Capstone | 40 | PFP |
Last updated: 30/04/2026 15:55:27
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