BSc (Hons) Dental Hygiene (Integrated Degree Apprenticeship)

This apprenticeship is for clinical dental staff who want to upskill and become a dental hygienist. You'll gain on-the-job experience to become a capable member of the clinical team. You'll benefit from the course's flexible delivery, in a way that suits you and your employer.

A student speaking with a patient and taking their patient history

Start date/study mode:

Course codeCID1618

Duration2 years

Course summary

This course enables NHS and private clinical dental staff to become dental hygienists. You'll increase your knowledge, clinical skills, and professional competence. On completion, you'll have a qualification that supports eligibility for General Dental Council (GDC) registration as a Dental Hygienist.

The course is a two-year accelerated degree, combining university and workplace training under supervision of a qualified practitioner.

You'll develop your practical and clinical skills in our new Dental Academy. This features bespoke clinical and technical facilities designed to reflect modern dental practice. In these specialist training environments, you'll build your confidence and professional competence.

Employers will benefit from having a larger pool of qualified, registered dental hygienists in their team. This will improve patient flow, increase appointment availability, and enhance the provision of preventative oral healthcare. In turn, this supports therapists and dentists to work at their best, improving practice efficiency and patient management.

The Dental Hygiene apprenticeship delivers the learning outcomes and content specified by the Level 6 apprenticeship standard and the GDC Dental Hygiene Safe Practitioner Framework.

This course is subject to approval from the GDC.

Why Sunderland for higher and degree apprenticeships

What you'll study*

*Our dental education modules are subject to approval.

How you'll learn

Most of your learning will be online, so can be accessed remotely. You'll also come on campus to develop your clinical skills at our bespoke Dental Academy. You'll learn in our clinical skills lab, haptic simulation suite, and patient clinic. These sessions will complement the training you're doing in your workplace. They'll take place at the beginning and end of each semester in condensed week blocks.

You'll access your learning materials through our online Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), Canvas. Here, you'll work through weekly learning packages.

You'll learn from academic and clinical experts. Every three weeks, your academic lead will support and guide you through a one hour webinar. In these sessions, you'll get the chance to check your understanding, ask questions, and discuss current topics with other learners.

You’ll complete an e-portfolio throughout the course, supported by your workplace mentor. This will showcase and evidence your work and progression. You’ll complete assessments both online and on-campus. Your on-campus assessments will be practical.

Entry requirements

This apprenticeship is work based and is subject to you being employed by an organisation throughout the duration of the course. The employer must confirm you comply with the apprentice eligibility criteria including funding requirements.

Our typical offer is 112-120 UCAS points from relevant Level 3 qualifications. These could include:

A Levels
BTEC qualifications
T Levels.

You must have at least one A Level or BTEC qualification in a science subject. We'll accept BTEC Dental Nursing (or equivalent) instead of science, at 40 points. General Studies AS or A Level aren't accepted.

If you're studying an Access to Higher Education course, this must be accredited by the Quality Assurance Agency.

You'll also need to have GCSEs in mathematics, English language, and science at grade C (numerical grade 4) or above. We'll accept Functional Skills Level 2 in maths and English language.

We'll consider non-standard entry for those with significant relevant work experience, supported by your employer.

You'll be invited to interview to complete a skills assessment to determine your suitability on course.

DBS and occupational health requirements will be requested in line with your employers's requirements.

Fees and finance support

Apprentices don't pay tuition fees. Apprenticeship training is funded through the employing organisation’s apprenticeship levy and/or government funding, depending on the organisation’s eligibility.

Funding arrangements and employer incentives may vary. We can provide guidance on the funding options available and any incentives that may help support you or your organisation.

For a discussion around your specific requirements please call 0191 515 3361(opens in new tab) or email apprenticeships@sunderland.ac.uk(opens in new tab).

Apply now

Start date/study mode:

To apply for a higher or degree apprenticeship, you must have an employer in place to support you on the course. If you're interested in applying and have an employer in place, please email apprenticeships@sunderland.ac.uk(opens in new tab) and we'll send you the relevant application link.

To search for apprenticeships offered by employers in your area go to: gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship(opens in new tab).

For a discussion around your specific requirements, or if you're an employer interested in creating a vacancy, please call us on 0191 515 3361(opens in new tab) or email apprenticeships@sunderland.ac.uk(opens in new tab).

Disclaimer

We want to make sure you have clear and accurate information about our courses. Our website always shows the latest updates. If you’ve applied and you're offered a place, we’ll contact you in writing if anything important changes.

For more information, view our programme specifications. These include course content, learning outcomes, and the skills you'll gain.