Advanced and Specialist Healthcare (Applied Dental Professional Practice) MSc is a flexible, part-time, work-related programme designed specifically for registered dental care professionals including dentists, therapists, hygienists and nurses who wish to develop their academic skills alongside their professional role.
This part-time, flexible, multi-professional Master's-level qualification is suitable for all dental care professionals and offers opportunities for Accreditation of Prior Experiential and /or Certificated Learning or Credit Transfer.
You are encouraged to convert prior learning achievements into University of Kent academic credit via Accreditation of Prior Experiential and/or Certificated Learning. To be eligible for accreditation, prior learning must be at the appropriate and relevant to the programme's learning outcomes. For further information,visit: https://www.kent.ac.uk/professional-practice/programmes/apecl
Taught by expert academics and clinicians, you broaden your expertise, deepen your knowledge and hone your research skills while gaining a recognised qualification to help progress your career. The programme is delivered through a variety of teaching methods, including taught sessions and work-based learning, self-study, case-study analysis, individual and group tutorials, projects and presentations. Online learning recourses are available on our virtual learning environment.
Teaching is structured around a series of extended taught weekends (on average four weekends a year at our Medway campus), Friday - Sunday, 9.00-17.00.
The programme has the following alternative exit awards, subject to credit numbers:
Studying within Kent's Global and Lifelong Learning provision, you will benefit from a work-related, multi-professional learning environment, access to University resources and specialist academic and clinical staff. The programmes are designed to enhance career progression and foster intellectual and professional development and practice.
Global and Lifelong Learning is founded on the belief that employers can benefit from the University of Kent’s academic and research excellence, quality teaching, design and development activities to create positive change and to forge new knowledge within their organisation.
We work with a wide range of external partners and employers to create distinct and original work-based and work-related developmental and educational solutions, which respond to the unique workforce challenges experienced by employees and organisations across the region and beyond.
Applicants should hold one of the following:
OR
All applicants are considered on an individual basis and additional qualifications, professional qualifications and relevant experience may also be taken into account when considering applications.
Please see our International Student website for entry requirements by country and other relevant information. Due to visa restrictions, students who require a student visa to study cannot study part-time unless undertaking a distance or blended-learning programme with no on-campus provision.
This course requires a Good level of English language, equivalent to B2 on CEFR.
Details on how to meet this requirement can be found on our English Language requirements webpage.
Examples:
IELTS 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each component
PTE Academic 63 with a minimum of 59 in each sub-test
A degree from a UK university
A degree from a Majority English Speaking Country
Please note that if you are required to meet an English language condition, we offer a number of pre-sessional courses in English for Academic Purposes through Kent International Pathways.
The following modules are indicative of those offered on this programme. This list is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year.
In Stage 1 - Year 1 (PG Certificate) you take the following core modules:
In Stage 2 - Year 2 (PG Diploma) you take the following core modules:
Optional modules (subject to student numbers):
In Stage 3 - Year 3 (MSc) you take the following core module:
Taught sessions are delivered in a welcoming, supportive and flexible academic environment, by an academic team with extensive professional practitioner experience. They are experienced in delivering work-related programmes and understand the constraints of balancing a career with the demands of higher education.
Duration: 3 years part-time
This part-time, work-based programme has been designed to encourage you to think more deeply about the challenges associated with your professional practice while enabling you to tailor your degree to your particular interests and career aspirations.
Teaching is structured around a series of extended taught weekends (on average four weekends a year at our Medway campus), 9.00-17.00.
You will be asked to undertake preparatory reading and tasks, carry out work-based investigations and participant-led presentations. All assessment tasks are designed to allow you to develop expertise in the application of dental professional practice within the context of your work and subject interest.
Assessment is through:
In addition, in Stage 3 you complete a dissertation of 10,000-12,000 words.
For course aims and learning outcomes please see the course specification.
We recognise and understand the individual needs of working professionals, who participate as non-traditional part-time learners, and the balance required between study and the specific areas within which they operate. Our flexible programmes of study provide inclusive and coherent educational and work-related opportunities, which provide you with the opportunity to study either individual modules or to work towards a postgraduate certificate, diploma or Master’s degree. Taught sessions are delivered in a welcoming, supportive and flexible academic environment, by an academic team with extensive professional practitioner experience.
Our staff have a wealth of experience and knowledge working in public, private, health and third sectors, providing valuable contributions to the design, development and delivery of current professional practice programmes. With strong links to local and national employers, we are able to ensure that its programmes are contemporary.
We are also responsible for developing and accrediting postgraduate training courses delivered by Health Education England Kent, Surrey and Sussex, Kent Community Health NHS Trust and the New Horizons Teaching School Alliance, with whom the University of Kent has close working relationships.
We offer a number of CPD courses in evidence-based practice, research skills, collaborative and interprofessional working. You can obtain further information about these programmes from us.
Staff publish regularly and widely in journals, conference proceedings and books, both nationally and internationally. Among others, they have recently contributed to: Primary Dental Care; Dental Nursing; British Dental Journal; Journal of Public Health and publications produced by the General Dental Council.
All students registered for a taught Master's programme are eligible to apply for a place on our Global Skills Award Programme. The programme is designed to broaden your understanding of global issues and current affairs as well as to develop personal skills which will enhance your employability.
Kent’s excellent performance in the most recent Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) confirmed our position as one of the UK’s leading universities: our 19 academic schools were found to be engaged in research of international and world-class standing. With programmes of study that are informed by research, our students are able to develop skills and knowledge relevant to contemporary issues.
Current research areas include:
A postgraduate degree in Applied Dental Professional Practice is a particularly valuable and flexible qualification that can open the door to exciting careers in many professions. Students are successfully using this programme to develop clinical, educational and policy making career pathways in the dental sector at local, regional and national levels.
Building on Kent's success as the region's leading institution for student employability, we offer many opportunities for you to develop the specific skills and aptitudes that employers will value.
I felt very supported from the registration process to my graduation.
My classmates kept me on track and I really enjoyed their company.
The 2025/26 annual tuition fees for this course are:
For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.
Tuition fees may be increased in the second and subsequent years of your course. Detailed information on possible future increases in tuition fees is contained in the Tuition Fees Increase Policy. If you are uncertain about your fee status please contact information@kent.ac.uk.
The University will assess your fee status as part of the application process. If you are uncertain about your fee status you may wish to seek advice from UKCISA before applying.
For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.
Tuition fees may be increased in the second and subsequent years of your course. Detailed information on possible future increases in tuition fees is contained in the Tuition Fees Increase Policy. If you are uncertain about your fee status please contact information@kent.ac.uk.
You'll need regular access to a desktop computer/laptop with an internet connection to use the University of Kent’s online resources and systems. We've listed some guidelines for the technology and software you'll need for your studies.
Find out more about accommodation and living costs, as well as general additional costs that you may pay when studying at Kent.
Search our scholarships finder for possible funding opportunities. You may find it helpful to look at both:
We have a range of subject-specific awards and scholarships for academic, sporting and musical achievement.
Next steps
Learn more about the application process or begin your application by clicking on a link below.
You will be able to choose your preferred year of entry once you have started your application. You can also save and return to your application at any time.
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