This programme fulfils the need for dental practitioners to have access to a higher dental degree which provides specialist clinical training in Paediatric Dentistry.
The Professional Doctorate is a research qualification that contains Professional Skills Training. Students who successfully complete the DDSc programme in Paediatric Dentistry will be awarded the DDSc (Paediatric Dentistry) from the University of Liverpool and will be eligible to sit the Tri-collegiate Diploma of Membership in Paediatric Dentistry (MPaedDent) specialty membership examination from the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) of Edinburgh, Royal College of Surgeons of England and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow.
Both the UK Specialist Curriculum in Paediatric Dentistry and the Tri-collegiate Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh blueprints in Paediatric Dentistry are embedded into the programme.
Funded specialist trainee appointments are competitively available to appropriately qualified candidates on this programme with application through the national recruitment process.
This course is for graduates who already have a degree in Dental Surgery who are looking to specialise in Paediatric Dentistry.
Discover what you'll learn, what you'll study, and how you'll be taught and assessed.
The DDSc is a 3-year full time Doctorate programme comprising 540 credits. The programme has 180 credits in year one mostly at master’s level and 360 credits in years two and three at doctorate level.
All modules are mandatory (i.e. must be passed, and make up the taught, clinical and research components of the programme).
The programme consists of 5 core modules and 4 speciality specific modules.
Programme details and modules listed are illustrative only and subject to change.
The programme has 360 credits in years two and three at doctorate level.
Compulsory modules:
Programme details and modules listed are illustrative only and subject to change.
In Year three you will undertake your Doctoral thesis.
Compulsory modules:
| Compulsory modules | Credits |
|---|---|
| DENTAL MANAGEMENT OF CHILDREN WITH COMPLEX MEDICAL AND DENTAL NEEDS (CDEN361) | 60 |
| MULTIDISCIPLINARY PAEDIATRIC DENTISTRY (CDEN362) | 60 |
Programme details and modules listed are illustrative only and subject to change.
The Professional Doctorate is a qualification that contains professional skills training through research skills development directly alongside clinical skills training to the level of UK specialist.
Teaching is based on the latest research developments and seminars are delivered by experts in that field. You will attend timetabled teaching seminars, lectures and workshops in small friendly groups. Advanced practical skills teaching is delivered through hands on simulated sessions progressing onto direct patient care.
The use of technology enhanced learning enables you to access further resources at a time to suit you through the use of a virtual learning environment.
It is expected students will spend approximately 15 hours per week outside of the clinical component on independent study and research.
There is continuous assessment throughout the course from work based assessments on the clinic to end of year assessments involving written papers and clinical case oral examinations. The research component requires completion of a dissertation and viva voce.
At Liverpool, we take a distinctive approach to education through the Liverpool Learning Framework. This means teaching that is engaging, inclusive and designed to help you succeed during your studies and beyond.
You’ll develop specialist subject knowledge alongside the skills employers value most, including:
Our curriculum is characterised by the three Liverpool Hallmarks:
We also embed key priorities across our curriculum, including AI literacy, employability, and sustainability, helping you prepare for the future and make a positive impact in the world.
We’re committed to creating a supportive and inclusive learning environment where every student can thrive.
The School of Dentistry recently saw a £6m investment programme, which has dramatically upgraded our teaching and research facilities and created additional postgraduate places.
The Paediatric Dentistry department in Liverpool is a well-known referral centre in the region for specialist paediatric dentistry. We have a dedicated area to deliver inhalation and intravenous sedation in addition to an in-house general anaesthetic suite.
As a well-recognised national dental trauma centre, we have fully equipped endodontic units with a dental microscope and advanced endodontic equipment, to facilitate endodontic treatment in children. We have strong links with the dental department and Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in medical and surgical specialties. We also have close working relationships with other dental specialties within the Royal Liverpool Dental Hospital.
The Professional Doctorate is a research qualification that contains professional skills training. Students who successfully complete the DDSc programme in Paediatric Dentistry will be awarded a DDSc (Paediatric Dentistry).
From arrival to alumni, we’re with you all the way:
Want to find out more about student life?
Chat with our student ambassadors and ask any questions you have.
Potential career pathways include, but are not limited to, the roles of:
Graduates from this course have gone on to work in specialist private practices, as clinical academics or a combination of both.
Our campus Career Studio is a space for students and graduates to drop into and talk to a career coach. Career coaches are highly trained to help no matter what stage you are at in your career planning. You can access support to find and apply for full-time and part-time roles, placements, internships and graduate schemes. You will also find the help you need if you have a start-up idea or want to create a business plan. You can explore the world of work, prepare for job interviews, and access careers events and workshops. The Career Studio is open Monday to Friday from 10am-5pm, simply drop in at a time that works for you.
We develop our programmes with employers in mind. You will be supported to enhance your long-term employment prospects as you learn. We do this by exposing you to professionals, a variety of sectors and supporting you to work collaboratively with others to develop transferable skills. You are equipped with a clearer view of what to focus on in your area of interest, and to reflect on your studies. Our digital employability tools give you a tech-enhanced curriculum experience and make it easy for you to prepare for the world of work. You can use tools like the Handshake platform to connect with employers and message the Career Studio 24/7.
You can start building good professional networks by attending events and employability activities. Our events are designed to develop your skills and expose you to many different employers, as well as to help you make contacts in your field. We help you improve your confidence when speaking to employers and give you access to unique opportunities. Our networking events also boost your understanding of the competencies and skills that employers are looking for in their recruitment process, giving you a competitive edge.
Your tuition fees, funding your studies, and other costs to consider.
Full-time place, per year - £5,238
Full-time place, per year - £32,200
Fees stated are for the academic year 2026/27. Please note that a research support fee of £19,225 also applies to this course. This cost is indicative and may be subject to change.
Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching and assessment, operating facilities such as libraries, IT equipment, and access to academic and personal support.
You can pay your tuition fees in instalments.
All or part of your tuition fees can be funded by external sponsorship.
International applicants who accept an offer of a place will need to pay a tuition fee deposit.
If you're a UK national, or have settled status in the UK, you may be eligible to apply for a Postgraduate Loan worth up to £12,858 to help with course fees and living costs. Learn more about paying for your studies.
We understand that budgeting for your time at university is important, and we want to make sure you understand any course-related costs that are not covered by your tuition fee. This could include buying a laptop, books, or stationery.
Find out more about the additional study costs that may apply to this course.
We offer a range of scholarships and bursaries that could help pay your tuition and living expenses.
The scholarship will be open to two UK students in the 2026/27 academic year and is worth £5,000. Students must be studying a postgraduate course at the University of Liverpool. Those on data science or coding courses may be given priority.
If you’re a UK student, either born in or with strong family connections to Merseyside, you could be eligible to apply for a fee discount of up to £4,500. You’ll need to demonstrate an active interest in global, community and environmental issues to be considered.
Apply to receive tailored training support to enhance your sporting performance. Our athlete support package includes a range of benefits, from bespoke strength and conditioning training to physiotherapy sessions and one-to-one nutritional advice.
The qualifications and exam results you'll need to apply for this course.
| Qualification | Details | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Postgraduate entry requirements | We accept a 2:2 honours degree from a UK university, or an equivalent academic qualification from a similar non-UK institution. It is expected that applicants should be one of the following:
Other Requirements
International qualificationsApplications from international students are welcome. International qualifications will be evaluated in line with the National Recognition Information Centre (NARIC) guidelines. English language qualificationsThe School’s programmes are linguistically very demanding, and it is essential that all candidates have a very high level of both spoken and written English. Qualifications accepted by the Faculty include: GCSE English; GCE O level English; AS Level English; IELTS; TOEFL; Cambridge Proficiency. Candidates for whom English is not their first language need to provide documentary evidence of their competency in English. The Faculty of Health and Life Sciences English Language Requirement is IELTS band E. We have simplified our IELTS requirements to an A-F band equivalent. View our IELTS academic requirements key here for equivalents. Please see the English Language Unit website for further information
Please be advised that TOEFL is no longer classified by UK Visas and Immigration as a Secure English Language Test (SELT). However, at the current time the university is continuing to accept TOEFL, at the required level, for entry on to Undergraduate and Postgraduate academic programmes. |
||||||||||||
| International qualifications |
If you hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent, but don’t meet our entry requirements, a Pre-Master’s can help you gain a place. This specialist preparation course for postgraduate study is offered on campus at the University of Liverpool International College, in partnership with Kaplan International Pathways. Although there’s no direct Pre-Master’s route to this DDSc, completing a Pre-Master’s pathway can guarantee you a place on many other postgraduate courses at The University of Liverpool. |
You'll need to demonstrate competence in the use of English language, unless you’re from a majority English speaking country.
We accept a variety of international language tests and country-specific qualifications.
International applicants who do not meet the minimum required standard of English language can complete one of our Pre-Sessional English courses to achieve the required level.
| Qualification | Details |
|---|---|
| IELTS | 7.0 overall, with no component below 6.5 |
| TOEFL iBT | If you took a TOEFL test on or before 20 January 2026, you’ll need 100 overall, with minimum scores of listening 21, writing 21, reading 21 and speaking 23. If you took a TOEFL test from 21 January 2026 onwards, when a new scoring system was introduced, you’ll need 5 overall, with 4.5 or above in all components. TOEFL Home Edition not accepted. |
| Duolingo English Test | 135 overall, with writing not less than 140, speaking and reading not less than 125, and listening not below 120. For academic year 2025/26 only, we will also accept the production, literacy, comprehension and conversation score set: 130 overall, with no component below 120. |
| Pearson PTE Academic | 69 overall, with no component below 61 |
| LanguageCert Academic | 75 overall, with no skill below 70 |
| PSI Skills for English | C1 Pass in all bands |
| INDIA Standard XII | National Curriculum (CBSE/ISC) - 75% and above in English. Accepted State Boards - 80% and above in English. |
| WAEC | C6 or above |
Do you need to complete a Pre-sessional English course to meet the English language requirements for this course?
The length of Pre-sessional English course you’ll need to take depends on your current level of English language ability.
If you don’t meet our English language requirements, we can use your most recent IELTS score, or the equivalent score in selected other English language tests, to determine the length of Pre-sessional English course you require.
Use the table below to check the course length you're likely to require for your current English language ability and see whether the course is available on campus or online.
| Your most recent IELTS score | Pre-sessional English course length | On campus or online |
|---|---|---|
| 6.5 overall, with no component below 6.0 | 6 weeks | On campus or online |
| 6.0 overall, with writing at 6.0 and no component below 5.5 | 10 weeks | On campus or online |
| 6.0 overall, with no component below 5.5 | 12 weeks | Online |
| 5.5 overall, with no component below 5.5 | 20 weeks | On campus |
| 5.5 overall, with no component below 5.0 | 30 weeks | On campus |
| 5.0 overall, with no more than one component at 4.5 | 40 weeks | On campus |
If you’ve completed an alternative English language test to IELTS, we may be able to use this to assess your English language ability and determine the Pre-sessional English course length you require.
Please see our guide to Pre-sessional English entry requirements for IELTS 7.0 overall, with no component below 6.5, for further details.
Discover more about the city and University.
Liverpool bursts with diversity and creativity which makes it ideal for you to undertake your postgraduate studies and access various opportunities for you and your family.
To fully immerse yourself in the university experience, living in halls will keep you close to campus where you can always meet new people. Find your home away from home.
Discover what expenses are covered by the cost of your tuition fees and other finance-related information you may need regarding your studies at Liverpool.
Have a question about this course or studying with us? Our dedicated enquiries team can help.
Miss Janine Bailey
Last updated 28 April 2026 / / Programme terms and conditions