Dental Materials ScienceMSc / PGDip / PGCert

The dental materials market is a rapidly evolving industry. Further education in dental materials science enriches daily clinical practice, enhancing employability in both dental practice and postgraduate research pursuits.

Course Structure

• Focused on a research-led educational programme.
• Develop a critical understanding of factors that determine the successful clinical application of dental materials and contribute to the development of emerging dental material technologies.
• A research-led programme where theoretical concepts of materials science delivered by a range of teaching methods are reinforced by gaining deeper understanding within the laboratory.

You’ll take three modules in each term, followed by a research project and dissertation. You can typically expect six to nine hours of classroom time per week, which is accompanied by laboratory practical assignments in most modules. We adopt a blended learning approach including weekly seminars, lectures and tutorials.

• Weekly seminars; “flipped classroom”
• An established virtual learning environment
• Research-led; putting theory into practise
• Robust critical analysis and research techniques
• Critical understanding of factors that determine clinical success
• Emerging technologies and the future of dental materials

For each core module, a practical component will provide you with full training on a wide range of state-of-the-art research equipment fostering robust critical analysis and techniques for scientific research. Each of the six 20-credit and one 60-credit modules will run separately and consecutively to allow for part-time study, and also to provide logical progression and development of interrelated concepts and research skills.

Year: 1
2025/26 Session

The following must be taken:

English language requirements

If you are an international student, you will need to demonstrate you have a suitable level of English proficiency, usually through the form of an IELTS or equivalent qualification.

For this course we require IELTS 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in any band, which is equivalent to:

• TOEFL: 88 overall with no less than 21 in Reading, 20 Listening, 22 Speaking and 21 in Writing
• Pearson Test of English (PTE): Academic 67 with no less than 64 in all four skills
• Cambridge English: C1 Advanced - minimum overall score of 176, with no less than 169 in any component
• LanguageCert ESOL SELT (UKVI): B2 'Communicator' with no less than 33 in each skill

English Presessional Programmes

Improve your knowledge of spoken and written English in preparation for studying at Birmingham with our pre-sessional English courses. If you have a conditional offer, you can take one of these courses as an alternative to retaking IELTS or other similar qualifications.

Postgraduate Masters Loan

To help with the cost of studies, this loan is available to all UK students. You can use this loan towards fees, maintenance or other costs at your own discretion. It’s available for all full-time, part-time and distance learning Masters programmes, as long as you don’t already have a Masters qualification (or equivalent).If you’re a student from Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, you can apply for Masters loans from your country’s government.

Scholarships

To help you afford your studies, we’ve put more than £33 million into student support and scholarships. We also offer a range of advice on searching for funding and managing your finances.

Birmingham Masters Scholarships

We want to welcome the brightest talent to our postgraduate community. That’s why our Birmingham Masters Scholarships award £3,000 to more than 300 students each year.