BSc (Hons) Dental Hygiene Full-time

Complete your degree in two years and join the dental profession as a qualified dental hygienist. This course combines on-campus learning with clinical placements, providing you with the skills you'll need to deliver excellent patient care.

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Practitioner using dental equipment on model teeth

Start date/study mode:

UCAS codeB750

Duration2 years

Fee (UK)£10,050

LocationOn campus

Course summary

This course provides an accelerated route for you to become a qualified dental hygienist. You'll develop the specialist clinical knowledge, practical skills, and professional behaviours needed for this profession. On completion, you'll have a qualification that supports eligibility for General Dental Council (GDC)(opens in new tab) registration as a Dental Hygienist.

Over two years, you'll combine university-based learning with clinical placement experience. This will allow you to meet the requirements of the GDC Safe Practitioner Framework and prepare for you for modern dental practice.

You'll develop the precision, accuracy, and clinical competence needed for delivering high-quality patient care. Working in our purpose-built clinical facility, you'll gain valuable hands-on experience treating patients. This will develop your confidence in performing a range of preventive and therapeutic procedures while working as part of a wider dental team.

Throughout the course, there'll be a focus on your personal and professional development. We'll help you recognise and build upon your existing transferable skills, including:

Communication
Teamwork
Problem-solving
Professionalism.

Following completion of the course, you'll be able to enter practice as a confident, competent, and valued member of the dental care team.

This course is subject to approval from the GDC.

Why Sunderland for Dental Education

What you'll study*

*Our dental education modules are subject to approval.

How you'll learn

Teaching is through a blended model, delivered over extended semesters. You'll learn in our bespoke Dental Academy, developing both your academic knowledge and clinical skills. You'll benefit from access to:

A dedicated clinical skills lab
An advanced haptic simulation suite
Immersive simulation suite
A patient treatment clinic
Our Centre for Anatomy.

In these outstanding learning environments, you'll:

Safely develop your clinical skills
Strengthen your understanding of biomedical sciences, anatomy, and physiology in relation to dental practice
Enhance your decision-making abilities
Prepare for the realities of professional practice in a supportive and innovative educational setting.

Your sessions will be guided by a team of academic and clinical experts.

You’ll complete an e-portfolio throughout the course, supported by your personal tutor. This will showcase and evidence your work and progression. You’ll complete online and in-person assessments, as well as practical assessments and observations on campus.

Entry 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 and include relevant module subjects (science).

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.

Your application will be reviewed by the admissions tutor and if successful, you'll be invited to interview.

Fitness to practise

Medical assessments of your mental and physical health and disclosure of criminal convictions apply to dental hygiene and therapy courses and are based on current GDC requirements. Dental Hygienists and Therapists are registered Dental Care Professionals (DCPs) and the ability to practise safely, effectively, and professionally is essential, so all applicants are required to follow our fitness to practise procedures. This means you're required to complete the following:

A health declaration form. Here, you must demonstrate that you're of good health, good character, and can satisfactorily pass occupational health screening. In addition, you'll be required to attend an Occupational Health Assessment with an NHS Trust. The University will, taking into account current GDC regulations, make any reasonable adjustments if required
A self-declaration form about your conduct
Obtain an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. The cost of the DBS check is covered by the University.

Instructions on how you complete these checks will be sent to you once you hold a conditional firm offer with us. These forms are then reviewed alongside your application, and you must meet both the academic and fitness to practise requirements before you'll be given an unconditional offer. If you're successful, you'll also need to complete an annual declaration form to confirm you're fit and there are no changes to your DBS.

Fees and finance support

UK£10,050

Undergraduate fees are set according to rules from Government in line with forecast inflation. If you're a Home fee-paying student, the fee for your first year of study for 2027/28 will be £10,050. You'll pay tuition fees for every year of study. Fees may increase every year based on the Retail Price Index.

Check your fee status(opens in new tab).

You'll be expected to travel daily or stay in local accommodation for the duration of your placement, and you'll be responsible for any associated costs, including travel and accommodation.

As you may be expected to travel long distances, start your shift in the early hours, or finish your shift late at night, you could be entitled to Travel and Dual Accommodation Expenses (TDAE). This allows you to make a retrospective claim for excess travel costs and/or expenses for temporary accommodation near to the location of your placement. Find out more about the NHS Learning Support Fund(opens in new tab). Please note, students who already hold a degree won't qualify for this fund.

See all course tuition fees.

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Start date/study mode:

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.

BSc (Hons) Dental Hygiene Full-time

Key course information

Course summary

What you'll study*

How you'll learn

Entry requirements

Fitness to practise

Fees and finance support

Apply now

Disclaimer