Dental Surgery

Start your dental career at Sheffield. This five-year BDS Dental Surgery course combines dental theory and simulated learning with hands-on clinical practice from your first year.

Study dentistry at Sheffield and learn how to diagnose and treat dental diseases and injuries, promote good oral health, and support patients as part of a multidisciplinary team.

Our five-year BDS Dental Surgery programme has been redeveloped in line with the General Dental Council's (GDC) safe practitioner framework.

Throughout the course, you’ll develop the clinical skills, knowledge, and professional behaviours required to practice safely and effectively. You will be taught by a multidisciplinary team which includes experienced dental professionals, biomedical scientists and social scientists. Many of our staff are involved in world-leading research, so you'll learn the latest techniques and advances in the field of dentistry to help inform your future practice. In your third year, you’ll carry out a research project on a topic of interest.

Teaching in your first year and the first semester of your second year is shared with Dental Hygiene and Dental Therapy students. This means you’ll learn together, in preparation for your role as a member of the dental team.

You’ll benefit from early clinical exposure, combining simulated learning with real patient interactions from your first year. As you become more experienced, these interactions will progress - from observations of simple procedures through to treating and managing adult and paediatric patients, under the supervision of qualified dental professionals.

Accreditation

Our Dental Surgery programme is accredited for our current students to register with the General Dental Council upon graduation. We are making some changes to the structure of our Dental Surgery programme for 2027 entry and are working with the General Dental Council to maintain our accreditation.

Why study this course?

• Top 10 in the UK for Dentistry - The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026.

• State-of-the-art training facilities - Undertake rigorous clinical skills training, including the use of ‘phantom heads’ and virtual reality, to develop your clinical confidence and competence.

• Outreach placements - Treat patients of all ages and backgrounds in a range of settings, allowing you to hone your skills in a real-world environment.

• Learn as part of a team - We believe in training the dental team together. You’ll learn alongside Dental Hygiene and Dental Therapy students in a way that prepares you for the realities of working in a dental team.