FdSc Dental Technology (Integrated Higher Apprenticeship)

This apprenticeship is for dental laboratory staff who want to upskill and become a dental technician. You'll gain on-the-job experience and develop your knowledge, understanding, and intellectual skills. You'll benefit from the course's flexible delivery, in a way that suits you and your employer.

A dentist practicing their polishing skills on a set of false teeth

Start date/study mode:

Course codeCID1619

Duration2 years

Course summary

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

We've developed this apprenticeship to address significant workforce challenges. With the number of GDC-registered dental technicians continuing to decline, there's an urgent need to train and develop new talent to meet increasing demand for dental technology services in the UK.

The course is a two-year accelerated degree. This supports the need for registered technicians in the workplace. You'll develop the specialist technical skills required to produce high-quality:

Dental devices
Restorations
Prostheses.

You'll use both traditional and modern techniques to help improve patient outcomes and service delivery.

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 technicians in their team. This will strengthen lab capacity and improve quality and turnaround time. It will also support business growth and competitiveness.

The Dental Technology apprenticeship delivers the learning outcomes and content specified by the Level 5 apprenticeship standard and the GDC Dental Technician 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 practical bench skills in our bespoke dental laboratory. 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 experts and guest speakers from leading UK dental laboratories. 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 56 UCAS points from a relevant Level 3 qualification. This could include:

A Levels
BTEC qualifications
T Levels.

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.