You basically get a very nice, relaxed entry into what is a stressful profession at times

What made you want to work in healthcare, and why dentistry specifically?

“I’d say it’s a culmination of all my skill sets from when I was younger. I was always into art, I played the piano; I really liked the manual dexterity side of things. And then from a patient communication side of things I felt like I was really open and sociable. I looked into healthcare and I was like ‘wow, that just brings my skill set together’. And for dentistry, I liked that you get to see your patients over a long period of time and build a rapport with them. It felt very rewarding for me.”

What drew you to the University of Sheffield?

“From the very first Open Day, everyone at Sheffield was so friendly. The staff were wonderful and supportive. And then I walked around the city and for me - I’m really into nature - having the Peak District just around the corner is amazing. Sheffield really feels like the best of both worlds; it’s not too big to be overwhelming but it’s not too small to be isolated either.”

What have you enjoyed most about the course so far?

“The way the course is structured, especially with how anatomy is taught in first year, is very useful. You can put that lecture knowledge into practice and you can physically see the models in the anatomy lab.

“We also get super early clinical experience. In second year we got put into dental nursing, which is a really good introduction to dentistry because you’re not having the pressure of doing treatment straight away but you get to learn how the systems work behind it. You basically get a very nice, relaxed entry into what is a stressful profession at times. That kind of clinical experience is a major, major plus and isn’t something you see at most dental schools.

“Because we’re attached to the dental hospital we also get to experience different dental specialties like radiography, paediatrics and orthodontics."

 I really like emergency clinics; you get to diagnose your patient, send them off for whatever they need, and follow that patient through their whole treatment plan on the same day. It’s very satisfying as a clinician.

Randeep Singh

BDS Dental Surgery

How is the course helping you prepare for a career in dentistry?

“Having that early, and varied, clinical exposure allows you to feel better prepared for your future career. Sheffield gives you the opportunity to practice across multiple departments so that by the time you’re in your fourth and fifth year you’re not worrying about how to speak to a patient properly or do a filling, you’re thinking about hone the skills you already have.”

What advice would you give to someone thinking about studying dentistry?

“Make sure it’s the right career for you, because it does get stressful and the workload can be high at times. If you have a system in place and people you can share downtime with, that's great. But make sure dentistry is the right profession, because when you apply your personal statement and interviews will come naturally to you.”