Dental Hygiene

Bristol Dental School has a long and impressive track record for successfully training dental hygienists and therapists. Many are attracted by our expert training and state-of-the-art clinical facilities. Our courses are ranked 2nd in the UK by the Guardian University Guide 2026.

We've recently reviewed our previous BSc Dental Hygiene and Therapy course to strengthen the integration between dental hygiene and therapy, and dentistry. The result is that you can now choose between applying for:

• Bachelor of Dental Hygiene

or

• Bachelor of Dental Therapy.

Please note that you can only apply for one of these courses, not both.

The newly named Bachelor in Dental Hygiene (BDH) course has its first intake of students in September 2026. This full-time, three-year programme is designed to equip you with the knowledge, skills and confidence to practise safely as a registered dental hygienist.

The course blends flexible, asynchronous material with in-person lectures, small-group tutorials, seminars and practical classes. You'll also be offered dedicated pastoral support from your own personal tutor. Together, you'll meet regularly to discuss your progress and help shape your personal development plan (PDP). If you ever need extra support, a Senior Tutor is available to step in and give extra guidance.

You'll be based at our Dental School, right in the heart of the city centre and just a short walk from Bristol Temple Meads station. Here, you'll train with cutting-edge technology, alongside experienced dental professionals, in a world-class, purpose-built facility.

The curriculum is integrated with BDS Dentistry students, so you'll benefit from team training at the start of year one. Your teaching and learning journey is further enhanced by:

• early introduction to clinical activity

• integrated academic and clinical teaching, combining theory with practice

• opportunities for community engagement, enabling you to take your skills out to where they are needed most.

Teaching and assessment are delivered through a variety of evidence-based methods, including:

• interactive lectures

• flipped classroom

• small-group learning and tutorials

• discussion groups

• clinical simulations in the Clinical Skills Laboratory

• chairside clinical teaching in a variety of locations and disciplines.

The ways in which you'll be assessed include:

• e-assessment

• short answer questions (SAQs)

• single best answer

• multiple short answers (MSAs)

• case presentations.

If you successfully complete the programme, you'll be able to register as a dental hygienist with the General Dental Council.