This Programme fulfils the need for dental practitioners to have access to a higher dental degree which provides specialist clinical training in Orthodontics.
The Professional Doctorate is a research qualification that contains Professional Skills Training. In addition, the Doctorate prepares candidates for the examinations of surgical Royal College leading to the award of Membership in Orthodontics or further orthodontic qualifications. You should have already passed the FDS/MFDS examination or an equivalent.
This Programme is designed for those who are already a Graduate of Dental Surgery and wish to specialise. This is a 3-year full time Doctorate programme comprising 540 credits. The programme has 120 credits at Level 7 and 60 credits at Level 8 in year one and 360 credits at level 8 in years two and three, totalling 540 credits, therefore making the DDSc a higher degree than a Masters degree. The programme consists of 5 core modules common for all pathways and 5 specialty modules.
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.
| Compulsory modules | Credits |
|---|---|
| GROWTH MODIFICATION AND ANCHORAGE (CDEN301) | 30 |
| CLINICAL PRACTICE (CDEN303) | 60 |
Programme details and modules listed are illustrative only and subject to change.
Compulsory modules
| Compulsory modules | Credits |
|---|---|
| MULTIDISCIPLINARY ORTHODONTICS (CDEN302) | 30 |
| CLINICAL PRACTICE (CDEN303) | 60 |
Programme details and modules listed are illustrative only and subject to change.
The DDSc Orthodontics Programme is a clinical programme. Candidates are expected to be on clinic for 60% of their time. Clinical teaching is delivered through blended learning, including seminars, work-based discussions as well as face to face and online lectures. The course includes both taught clinical components.
In the first year of the programme, students are trained as specialists in Orthodontics in theory-based and clinical taught modules and begin to assess and treat patients. There will be a large amount of clinical contact with patients and consultants which, due to the small ratio of students to consultants, will be approximately 1 hour clinical time: 1 hour contact.
For the second and third years, the taught elements of the Orthodontic pathway are based in two clinical modules.
The assessment strategy for the programme adopts a varied approach with individual modules tailoring the assessment to the specific skills and learning outcomes to be tested.
For clinical work, students are assessed through specifically designed continuous assessments to evaluate the competency of the student in the clinical setting and so are graded pass/fail. Consultants assess the clinical competency of students and the Internal and External Examiners review the clinical logbook portfolios at the end of the respective modules. This continuous clinical assessment approach enables students to monitor their own progress and performance and take the necessary measures to ensure that they improve their learning and performance. The format of the continuous assessment and expected competencies are different from year one to years two and three to reflect the level 7 and level 8 learning outcomes.
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 DDSc orthodontics is a professional doctorate programme with heavy emphasis on clinical skills.
The Orthodontics pathway prepares students for the Royal Colleges of Surgeons (RCS) examinations (MOrth) and has a research component required to become a specialist. The MOrth curriculum is embedded into the programme. The RCS set out the learning outcomes expected of an MOrth graduate. These, combined with the learning outcomes expected of a Doctoral student form the Learning Outcomes of the DDSc programme.
The Professional Doctorate is a research qualification that contains Professional Skills Training. The Doctorate prepares candidates for the examinations of surgical Royal Colleges leading to the award of Membership in Orthodontics or further orthodontic qualifications.
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The DDSc orthodontic programme prepares students to become specialists in their field.
We accommodate many specialist dentistry interests through our partnership with the Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust.
Together we’ve created state-of-the-art facilities for specialist dentistry resThe Clinical Research Support Costs help towards supporting students research and will cover the cost of consumable materials used during the course. This includes dental-materials, dental nurse support for clinical practice, research lab support & consumables and digital design suite support, consumables and service. This is a compulsory payment required each year.earch and education, including the management of clinical trials to a high level of clinical governance.
Likely career destinations for graduates include:
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.
The Clinical Research Support Costs help to support student research. They will cover the cost of consumable materials used during the course. This includes dental materials, dental nurse support for clinical practice, research lab support, digital design suite support, consumables and service. This is a compulsory payment required each year.
You can find information on the general and subject-specific costs you could expect to incur on our study costs webpage.
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.
Entry requirements are essential. Applicants who do not meet the entry requirements will be rejected.
| 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. The programme is intended for graduates of BDS/BChD programmes or equivalent, with some vocational experience. Candidates for whom English is not their first language need to provide documentary evidence of their competency in English. The English Language Requirement for this programme is 7.0 in IELTS (minimum of 6.5 in each of the subtests) or equivalent. Please see the English Language Unit website for further information (http://www.liv.ac.uk/elu/index.htm). |
| International qualifications |
To be a Graduate of Dental Surgery, have at least 2 years post qualification experience, have MFDS/MJDF qualification or equivalent, have achieved at least a 7.0 IELTS with no lower than 6.5 in any individual category. |
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.
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For course-specific enquiries, please contact the programme team.
Last updated 28 April 2026 / / Programme terms and conditions