Dental Hygiene and Dental Therapy Higher Education Diploma

Course description

This course allows you to gain professional accreditation as a dental hygienist and dental therapist after only 27 months of full-time study, starting in April.

World-class, multidisciplinary research

You will be taught by a team of experienced dental professionals and biomedical and social scientists who work together to help you become an excellent clinician. Many of our staff are involved in world-leading research, so you'll learn about the latest techniques and advances in the field of dentistry.

We recognise the importance of training the dental team together, so you’ll learn alongside dental surgery students in a way that prepares you for the realities of working in a dental practice. We place great emphasis on helping you become a caring, competent and confident member of the dental team.

What you’ll study

After an introduction to essential anatomy and physiology, you’ll begin clinical skills training so you can treat patients. This includes sessions in our state-of-the-art simulation suite, where you can practise dentistry in a virtual reality environment, and use "phantom heads" in our clinical skills learning environment. You’ll also visit and assist in clinics to help build your confidence and communication skills in a clinical environment. 

Starting in your second year, you’ll benefit from our outreach training programme; one of the most rigorous placement programmes in the UK. Treating patients of all ages and backgrounds in real work environments will allow you to sharpen your skills and get you a headstart in your chosen career.

By the time you reach the third year and the last few months of the course, you will have acquired a vast range of knowledge, skills and experience. Our teaching will inform you of the important issues you will confront in the workplace and help ensure you leave the University as a well-rounded professional.

Modules

Title: Dental Hygiene and Dental Therapy Higher Education Diploma
UCAS code: DENU103
Years: 2022, 2023, 2025

First year Second year Third year

First year

At the beginning of the first year, you’ll develop your understanding of the anatomy and physiology relevant to dentistry. You’ll also be introduced to a range of study skills to help you thrive at University.

After the first month, you’ll begin clinical skills training so you can treat patients. You’ll be introduced to the concept of putting patients’ needs first, as well as careful and thorough instrumentation. Alongside this you’ll visit and assist at clinics to help build your confidence and communication skills in a clinical environment – we place great emphasis on helping you become a caring, competent and confident member of the dental team.

Throughout the first year, you’ll also develop your knowledge and understanding in other subject areas including law, ethics and professionalism, health promotion and education and oral disease. Our course is very dynamic and within no time you’ll be treating patients under close supervision in the Dental Hospital.

Highlights

Virtual reality operative dentistry

During your first year, you'll benefit from our simulation suite, where you can practise dentistry in a virtual reality environment. This state-of-the-art, innovative technology provides real-life visual, auditory and tactile sensory feedback and will enable you to learn, develop and improve your operative dentistry skills. This fun learning and teaching opportunity is a unique feature of our programme and complements the ‘traditional’ training you will undertake in the clinical skills learning environment on ‘phantom heads’.

Integrated learning and teaching

At Sheffield, we recognise the importance of training the dental team together. During your first year, you’ll complete some of your clinical skills training alongside our dentistry students. You’ll also attend a series of integrated lectures. This integrated teaching approach will help prepare you better for practice.

Themes

Currently, our first-year learning and teaching is divided into the following themes:

• Study Skills and Personal Development
• Dental Foundation
• The Human Body in Health and Disease
• Law, Ethics and Professionalism
• Pre-Clinical Skills I
• Health Promotion and Education I
• Clinical Practice
• Oral Disease I
• Pre-Clinical Skills II
• Pre-Clinical Skills III
• Health Promotion and Education II
• Dental Radiography

Learning and assessment

Many of our staff are internationally respected for their research. Some are general dental practitioners with years of clinical experience.

Assessment

Throughout the course, you will be assessed by a variety of methods including written and practical examinations, assignments and an extensive project. As part of your final examination you will present a patient for whom you have provided an extensive range of treatments.

You'll also have to demonstrate you clinical competence in a range of key clinical skills expected of a qualified dental hygienist and dental therapist. Through our broad range of assessment methods you will develop a wide collection of transferable skills.

Entry requirements

These are the minimum requirements for our April 2025 intake that must be met by the deadline for receipt of applications. Pending qualifications, due after the deadline for receipt of applications, will not be taken into consideration.

• 5 GCSE at grade C / grade 4 to include Mathematics, English Language and Science.

Plus one of the following options:

• Level 3/4 Dental Nurse Qualification plus 1 A Level in a relevant Science subject (preferably Biology) at grade C.

Post-qualification certificates in Dental Nursing can strengthen an application but cannot be used to meet the minimum requirements.

• Level 5/6 Dental Nurse Qualification.
• 2 A Levels to include one in a relevant Science subject (preferably Biology) at grade CC.
• Access to Higher Education Diploma (60 credits with 45 at Level 3 at grade Merit) including 36 Level 3 credits in relevant Science units (preferably Biology) at grade Merit. 

An Access to Higher Education Diploma can also be used in lieu of two GCSEs. However, you must still have GCSE Grade C/Level 4 in Mathematics, English Language and Science.

• BTEC National Diploma at grade MM including 90 credits or 540 GLH of relevant Science subjects (preferably Biology) at grade Merit.
• 2:2 degree in a relevant scientific subject.

We will consider other national and international qualifications on an individual basis. If your qualifications aren’t listed here, please contact us to discuss your application.

Applicants with international qualifications are also encouraged to submit a certificate of comparability from UK NARIC with their application form.

Proof of all qualifications will be required.

Clinical requirements

Our School also has a series of clinical requirements for clinical students. Before accepting an offer of a place, you must confirm you will comply these requirements.

Personal qualities and career exploration

You must possess a high level of manual dexterity and demonstrate attention to detail. You must also demonstrate excellent verbal and written communication skills, and have the ability to work as a team, think logically and respond positively to feedback. You must have a genuine interest in the care and treatment of patients, be empathetic and act without discrimination.

You should be able to demonstrate that you are making an informed choice to study dental hygiene and dental therapy. To do this, you should be able to demonstrate knowledge of the profession and explain what has attracted you to this career. You should be clear about the possible career opportunities and how these compare to other healthcare professions.

If possible, you should have experience working in or observing healthcare settings, ideally within general dental practice. You could also talk to dental care professionals to gain insights into the profession.

The school runs insight days where you can learn more about what it's like to be a dentistry student.

It also runs an online Discover Dentistry course through Future Learn. This course can offer a glimpse into the world of dentistry, but it's not essential. You do not need to pay any fees to access all of this course.

There are many other ways to gain insights into the profession, such as reading articles from the British Dental Journal Open website or visiting the General Dental Council's website. 

We also seek to select dental students with values and behaviours which align with the values of the NHS constitution.

These are:

• Working together for patients
• Commitment to quality of care
• Improving lives
• Respect and dignity
• Compassion
• Everyone counts

 The NHS core values form part of the NHS constitution. You are advised to take a look at the NHS constitution before you apply.

Graduate careers

Our graduates can register with the General Dental Council and work as dental hygienists and dental therapists in local NHS and private dental practices as well as hospital services, community dental services or even the armed forces via the Ministry of Defence. Others go on to research and teaching roles within universities or hospital trusts.

There are also opportunities to work within multinational organisations specialising in healthcare and pharmaceutical products. You may even consider topping up your qualification to a degree, studying for a postgraduate qualification, or studying to become a dentist.

School of Clinical Dentistry

Our teaching is driven by world-class research. You'll learn about the new techniques and advances that are rapidly taking place in the field of dentistry.

We believe in training the whole team together. Our dentistry and dental hygiene and therapy students learn alongside each other in a way that helps to prepare them for practice. Our combination of integrated teaching and practical experience produces caring, confident professionals.

Our students find that our courses provide them with opportunities to explore ideas, apply what they have learnt and achieve their best. This is reflected in the National Student Survey where we consistently achieve high scores for overall student satisfaction.

We're committed to delivering an exceptional student experience. Our staff are involved in the quality assurance of teaching in Sheffield and other universities. Many have been recognised for their outstanding contributions to learning and teaching and commitment to professional development through professional bodies such as the Association for Dental Education in Europe and the Higher Education Academy (HEA) and some have gained national recognition, such as the ADEE Excellence in Dental Education Award, Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and National Teaching Fellow. 

Many of our staff are also internationally respected for their research. Some are general dental practitioners with years of clinical experience.

Our placement programme for students is outstanding. You'll learn the value of evidence-based dentistry and how to apply it to clinical practice.

We also have links with the Medical School and the local community.

Our placement programme for students is outstanding. You'll learn the value of evidence-based dentistry and how to apply it to clinical practice.

Dentistry students are based at the School of Clinical Dentistry, situated within the University campus to the west of Sheffield. The school has a very close working relationship with the adjacent Charles Clifford Dental Hospital, a specialist facility offering dental services to people in Sheffield and surrounding areas. This is where most of our teaching takes place.

Facilities

We aim to provide a stimulating interdisciplinary environment, with access to some excellent facilities. In our virtual simulation suite you can practice dentistry in a virtual reality environment.

We have dedicated research facilities and laboratories for tissue culture, molecular biology, materials science, histology-microscopy and electrophysiology, all with dedicated technical support.

We continually seek to improve our range of facilities to meet the needs of our student and research community.

School of Clinical Dentistry

University rankings

Student profiles

Fees and funding

Fees

Additional funding

All eligible home students can apply for additional funding support from the NHS Learning Support Fund (NHS LSF). This includes a training grant of £5,000 per academic year.

NHS funding

Visit

Offer holder days

If you've made an application to study with us, we may invite you for an interview. If you are then successful in receiving an offer, we'll invite you to one of our applicant days. These applicant days have a strong department focus and give you the chance to really explore student life here, even if you've visited us before.

Apply

Applications for April 2025 entry have closed.

You can register your interest and receive email updates about applying for our next intake.

To apply for a place on our Higher Education Diploma in Dental Hygiene and Therapy course, you'll need to complete and submit an online application for Alternative Routes and Programmes at the University of Sheffield. Applications are not made through UCAS.

It is in your best interests to submit your application as early as possible. This will enable us to clarify any details necessary to assess your application fully.

You will have 10 working days after the published deadline to provide any additional information or documents required to process your application. This includes additional information or documents to confirm you meet the minimum entry requirements and the receipt of a satisfactory reference. After this date, if your application is incomplete it will be unsuccessful.

Read the following carefully to find out more about the application process:

Step 1: Apply online

Read the following guidelines before you fill out your online application. If you don’t read this guide, you may jeopardise the success of your application.

You should only apply if you meet the minimum entry requirements by the deadline for receipt of applications.

Pending qualifications which are due after the deadline for receipt of applications will not be taken into consideration.

Your application will be automatically rejected if you don’t meet the minimum entry requirements by the deadline for receipt of applications.

---

Create an application account

You’ll need to set up an application account online. You'll need an email address in order to do this.

You'll have the option to save and return to your online application as many times as you like. Once you’ve filled in all the mandatory sections you’ll be able to submit your application.

---

Review and submit your application

It's important you carefully fill in all the mandatory sections on the online application and supply the necessary documents. Most sections contain brief instructions on what information is required.

---

Additional questions

Supporting statements

You’ll be asked to write two supporting statements. These are very important and you need to spend some time working on the content and structure of your answers. This is your chance to demonstrate your enthusiasm for the profession and your potential to thrive in a professional healthcare environment. Your answers should be personal to you and provide us with more details about your experiences and interests.

Your statements can be the difference between being invited to a selection day or not. Particular attention should be paid to your spelling, punctuation and grammar. Attention to detail will be taken into consideration when assessing your application.

Education

You must include details of all your qualifications (including final grades/scores) to demonstrate you meet the minimum entry requirements. You should not apply if you don’t meet the minimum entry requirements. For BTECs, Access Courses, Foundation Years, Foundation Degrees, Degrees and International Qualifications, you must upload a copy of your transcript with a breakdown of modules and grades.

If you have International Qualifications you are encouraged to submit a certificate of comparability from UK NARIC. If any of your certificates or transcripts have been issued in a language other than English, you should include official, authenticated English translations.

You will have 10 working days after the published deadline to provide any additional information required to confirm you meet the minimum entry requirements. Without this information, your application may be incomplete and may be unsuccessful.

References

You need to supply one reference to support your application. This should be supplied by academic staff where you’ve previously studied or a current employer if employed in the healthcare sector. Referees should not be close friends or related to you. Your referee should provide their personal opinion about your suitability to undertake the course, including previous academic or clinical achievements and any distinct strengths and weaknesses.

References should be supplied as scanned copies of signed letters on official letterhead paper and/or sent from an official email address of the organisation where the referee works. You will have 10 working days after the published deadline to provide a satisfactory reference. The School does not chase referees on your behalf. Without a reference, your application is incomplete and will be unsuccessful.

Step 2: Attend our selection day

If your application is shortlisted, you’ll be invited to attend a selection day.

During the selection day, you will have a structured interview and take part in an interpersonal skills test.

Your interview will be conducted by two members of staff and will last approximately 15 minutes. All applicants will be asked the same questions.

The questions may cover

• motivation for the course
• motivation for the profession and knowledge of current issues
• evidence of independent thought
• evidence of ability to apply knowledge
• relevant experience, commitment and values

The interpersonal skills test will involve a group task.

During our selection day you will also have the opportunity to find out more about the innovative aspects of our course, tour the school and its first-class facilities, and meet some of our current students. Further information will be provided nearer the time.

When all applicants have attended a selection day, a selection panel will meet to discuss each application in detail. The selection panel will take into account the observations made from the structured interview and the interpersonal skills test. The selection panel may also refer back to your personal statements and qualifications.

Our assessment methods are fair, valid, and applied consistently.

Step 3: Receive an offer

Once you have attended our selection day we will work quickly to let you know if your application has been successful. We will write to you with details of an offer.

All offers are initially conditional and will require the receipt of a satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check and health clearance. Academic conditions may also be applied to your offer.

Once you have accepted our offer of a place we will be in touch with details on how to prepare for the start of our course. There will also be the opportunity to attend an offer holder open day where you can get to know your new classmates.

Contact us

Telephone

+44 114 215 9384

Email

dhdtadmissions@sheffield.ac.uk

School of Clinical Dentistry