MSc Oral Medicine and Pathology

This is a one-year, full-time degree programme aimed at qualified dental clinicians looking to develop competency in clinical oral medicine, clinical and diagnostic oral pathology, and laboratory medicine. This programme takes a holistic approach and presents a unique opportunity for integrated clinical and laboratory teaching within these linked dental specialities. 

The programme focuses on the recognition, investigation, diagnosis and management of patients presenting with common oral and maxillofacial diseases and will provide a sound grounding in the fundamental principles of UK specialist practice. It also considers and incorporates the basic principles of research that are relevant to clinical and modern translational practice.

Contemporary educational methods will be used to determine and monitor knowledge base, as well as using workplace-based assessments for clinical competency. Students will be supervised by clinical, laboratory and academic staff within an established and integrated specialist clinical training and educational environment. There will be continuous verbal feedback and support to help develop skills for individual reflection and self-assessment. Students will undertake one of the following: a relevant laboratory-based research, clinical service review or literature or data analysis project leading to the submission of a dissertation. 

After completing an initial mandatory basic unit, there is the option of focusing on just one of the two specialties. Anyone opting for this route will be awarded either an MSc Oral Medicine or MSc Oral Pathology.

Programme structure

The programmes are designed to provide significant time on clinic and in pathology laboratories, including pathway options to focus on one of the disciplines or to take a generic pathway across the two disciplines. The programmes will offer closely supervised clinical experience in oral medicine and/or oral pathology, along with a dissertation unit.