phd in dentistry uk

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PhD Clinical Dentistry / Overview

Year of entry: 2025

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We require applicants to hold, or be about to obtain, an Upper Second class Honours degree, or the equivalent qualification gained outside the UK, in a related subject area for entry to a PhD programme. A Lower Second class Honours degree may be considered if applicants also hold a Master's degree with a Merit classification.

Full entry requirements

Apply online

Before applying you must:

• Choose a programme or find a project you want to apply for and check you’re eligible.
• Speak to the listed supervisor about your suitability for their project or programme.
• Understand how your project is funded and, if it is self-funded, consider how you plan on funding it.
• Read our ‘How to apply’ page to find out more and ensure you include all required supporting documents at the time of submission.

Visit our Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health Postgraduate Research page to find out more.

Programme options

Programme overview.

• Undertake research in a field you’re passionate about and join a project addressing leading challenges in the area while working with some of Europe's leading researchers and academics.
• Choose to research at a university ranked and 6th in the UK (QS World University Rankings, 2025) and 2nd in the world for social and environmental impact (THE Impact Rankings, 2024), where 93% of research activity is ‘world leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’ (Research Impact Framework, 2021)
• Access some of the best research facilities in the world at the University, through our industry partners, and at hospitals around Greater Manchester.
• Benefit from dedicated support throughout your PhD journey, from pre-application to graduation and everything in between, through our Doctoral Academy
• Undergo training in transferable skills critical to developing early-stage researchers and professionals through the Doctoral Academy's training programme and progress into a career in research, academia or industry.

Visit our Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health Postgraduate Research page to find out about upcoming open days and events.

For entry in the academic year beginning September 2025, the tuition fees are as follows:

• PhD (full-time) UK students (per annum): £22,000 International, including EU, students (per annum): £47,000

Further information for EU students can be found on our dedicated EU page.

Contact details

Programmes in related subject areas.

Use the links below to view lists of programmes in related subject areas.

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Course type

Qualification, university name, phd degrees in dentistry.

23 degrees at 13 universities in the UK.

Customise your search

Select the start date, qualification, and how you want to study

Related subjects:

• PhD Dentistry
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• PhD Pathology
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• Course title (A-Z)
• Course title (Z-A)
• Price: high - low
• Price: low - high

Dentistry (Community Oral Health & Oral Sciences) PhD

University of glasgow.

The Glasgow Dental School Clinical Research Facility aims to improve oral and general health by advancing new and better ways of preventing Read more...

• 5 years Part time degree: £2,393 per year (UK)
• 3 years Full time degree: £4,786 per year (UK)
• 4 years Full time degree: £4,786 per year (UK)
• 3 years Full time degree

Dentistry and Dental Sciences MPhil, PhD

Newcastle university.

Newcastle University has a world-class reputation and renowned experts in the field of dentistry. With our new facilities, we are well Read more...

• 72 months Part time degree: £2,356 per year (UK)
• 36 months Full time degree: £4,712 per year (UK)

PhD Dental Studies

University of plymouth.

Peninsula Dental School (PDS) sits within the Faculty of Health at the University of Plymouth. By studying for an ResM, or PhD degree at Read more...

• 4 years Part time degree: £3,180 per year (UK)
• 2 years Full time degree: £4,786 per year (UK)

Eastman Dental Institute MPhil/PhD

Ucl (university college london).

UCL Eastman Dental Institute is a world-leading, academic centre for postgraduate dentistry and translational research based in central Read more...

• 5 years Part time degree: £3,490 per year (UK)
• 3 years Full time degree: £6,035 per year (UK)

Phd in Institute of Dentistry (Clinical)

Queen mary university of london.

The Institute of Dentistry at Queen Mary has a thriving PhD student community and we welcome applications for MPhil, PhD, MRD (MRES) Read more...

• 6 years Part time degree: £2,393 per year (UK)

Dental, Health and Care Professions PhDs and MPhils

University of portsmouth.

If you're looking to take your skills into postgraduate research, our research degree programmes can help you achieve your ambitions. Our Read more...

Dentistry - PhD

University of birmingham.

Our Dentistry PhD/MSc by Research will equip you with the skills you need to contribute to research that focuses on the scientific basis of Read more...

• 6 years Part time degree: £2,389 per year (UK)
• 3 years Full time degree: £4,778 per year (UK)

Dentistry (Community Oral Health & Oral Sciences) iPhD

• 5 years Full time degree: £4,786 per year (UK)
• 5 years Full time degree

Eastman Dental Institute (Clinical Experience) MPhil/PhD

• 4 years Full time degree: £6,035 per year (UK)
• 4 years Full time degree

Phd in Institute of Dentistry (Non-Clinical)

Dental, health and care professions phd (distance learning).

• 6 years Distance without attendance degree: £2,393 per year (UK)
• 3 years Distance without attendance degree: £2,393 per year (UK)

PhD Clinical Dentistry

University of manchester.

Programme description Our PhD Clinical Dentistry programme enables you to undertake a research project that will improve understanding of Read more...

• 4 years Full time degree: £22,500 per year (UK)

Dentistry (PhD/MPhil)

Cardiff university.

Our primary objective is to provide internationally competitive research projects, producing highly skilled and competitive postgraduates Read more...

Oral and Dental Sciences PhD

University of bristol.

The school combines laboratory-based and clinically-applied research and fosters a high level of collaboration between research groups in Read more...

• 8 years Part time degree: £2,425 per year (UK)
• 4 years Full time degree: £4,850 per year (UK)

Dental & Health Sciences Research MPhil/PhD

King's college london.

Excellent facilities, cutting edge technology and international collaborations underpin our research which focuses on four key areas Read more...

• 6 years Part time degree: £3,468 per year (UK)
• 3 years Full time degree: £6,936 per year (UK)

Dentistry PhD

University of edinburgh.

Who is this programme for There are opportunities for both full-time and part-time research. In addition to our formal research degrees, Read more...

University of Aberdeen

At the Institute of Dentistry, we offer postgraduate research degrees under the supervision of experts in the fields of Clinical & Read more...

PhD/MPhil Prosthodontics

Programme description Our PhD/MPhil Prosthodontics programme enables you to undertake a research project that will improve understanding Read more...

• 6 years Part time degree: £11,250 per year (UK)
• 3 years Full time degree: £22,500 per year (UK)

PhD/MPhil Orthodontics

Programme description Our PhD/MPhil Orthodontics programme enables you to undertake a research project that will improve understanding of Read more...

PhD/MPhil Endodontics

Programme description Our PhD/MPhil Endodontics programme enables you to undertake a research project that will improve understanding of Read more...

1-20 of 23 courses

Course type:

• Distance learning PhD
• Full time PhD
• Part time PhD

Qualification:

Related subjects:.

Eastman Dental Institute (Clinical Experience) MPhil/PhD

London, Bloomsbury

This is the programme information for 2025 entry

If you require details of the previous year's programme, Eastman Dental Institute (Clinical Experience) MPhil/PhD (2024), click here

This four-year, full-time clinical experience MPhil/PhD is suitable for clinicians from all fields of dentistry. Hosted at the world-leading Eastman Dental Institute, this programme will enable you to develop and refine your clinical skills whilst deepening your scientific knowledge and participating in translational research.

UK tuition fees (2025/26)

Overseas tuition fees (2025/26), programme starts, applications accepted.

• Entry requirements

A minimum of an upper second-class UK Bachelor’s degree in an appropriate subject, or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard, or a recognised MRes or Master’s degree. Applicants are also expected to satisfy UCLH NHS Foundation Trust requirements for engagement in clinical practice. Entry is extremely competitive and places will only be offered to exceptional candidates. In addition to choosing a research project, applicants must decide on the clinical discipline within which they wish to gain experience. All applicants must meet UCL's general entry requirements for MPhil/PhD.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 3

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level.

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website .

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree

This PhD programme provides you with the opportunity to carry out doctoral research in the field of oral health, microbial diseases, or biomaterials tissue engineering.

Your laboratory or clinically based research-intensive programme will be led by international specialists who will supervise your research.

You will also be linked with a clinical unit relevant to your dental or oral health specialisation and offered the opportunity to sustain limited clinical activity within the hospital setting, depending on the demands of your hosting unit.

The UCL Eastman Dental Institute is the largest postgraduate dental school in Europe and has a reputation as one of the world's leading academic centres for dentistry. The institute's strategy is to undertake high-quality research that advances knowledge of the causes, treatment, and prevention of orofacial and related disease, and to translate such findings into improved care and policy.

We enjoy many long-standing research collaborations with international universities, industrial sponsors, other UCL research groups and NHS hospitals in close vicinity to the university.

This programme equips you with the research skills and experience needed for a career as a leading clinical specialist, consultant, academic or post-doctoral researcher.

Who this course is for

The programme is well suited to clinicians from all fields of dentistry who enjoy the challenge of combining clinical work and scientific research. Opportunities are available in a range of topics, including oral health-related clinical research and bioinformatics. You can also focus on microbial diseases, biomaterials tissue engineering or translational research. We welcome applicants from the UK and around the world who are keen to complement a clinical/academic career with experience of, and a focus on, research.

What this course will give you

This programme offers you the following benefits and opportunities.

• The opportunity to pursue novel scientific or clinical research under the guidance of experienced supervisors.
• The chance to contribute to studies that improve, and make a positive impact upon, oral and systemic health through innovative, translational, and high-quality research.
• The resources and support of a world-class research centre dedicated to basic, applied, and translational research allied to dentistry and oral health.
• The opportunity to develop and refine your research skills and confidence by working directly with established academics in your chosen field of research.
• The chance to work on projects clinically applicable to your future career and the future wellbeing of your patients.
• A highly collaborative research department.
• The chance to become involved in research groups in allied departments as well as with outside partners in other universities worldwide, and potentially with industrial SME and large multinational companies.
• Advice on future career paths from academics with a broad range of experience.

The foundation of your career

This doctorate programme will prepare you for the challenges of modern clinical life, through the integration of clinical knowledge and research experience. A PhD from UCL Eastman Dental Institute will make you an attractive candidate for roles in research, academia or industry particularly  pharmaceutical companies. Due to the reputation of the institute, graduates are sought after in the field of dentistry worldwide.

According to the HESA Graduate Outcomes survey (2018-2022), around 87% of Eastman PhD graduates reported being in work (77%) or further study (10%), with the majority in highly skilled roles.

Research at UCL Eastman is very motivating and exciting. The environment, the location and the laboratories are all very conducive for me to pursue my PhD research. Nur Asyura Binti Nor Amdan Eastman Dental Institute (Microbial Diseases), PhD Student testimonial: Nur Asyura Binti Nor Amdan

Employability

Following this programme, graduates return to clinical service with the added advantage of being able to pursue postdoctoral research or a combined academic and clinical career. An in-depth knowledge of research will expand your academic horizons and place you at the forefront of evidence-based clinical practice and clinical academia.

You will be equipped to secure specialist clinical posts or enter managerial or research positions in the health service, government, or industry, in the UK or overseas. Many graduates continue onto further research or take up academic positions at leading universities around the world.

According to the HESA survey, Eastman PhD graduates go on to work for a range of employers. These include:

• Universities (both UK and overseas)
• Governmental bodies (Ministry of Health, Malaysia; NSTDA Biotec, Thailand)
• Cancer research organisations (Institute of Cancer Research)
• Healthcare consultants (Kx Advisors).

Many work in university clinical academia teaching or research posts. Others work within dentistry, biochemistry or biomedical sciences, whilst some are management consultants or research and development (R&D) managers.

Throughout your programme, you are encouraged to attend and contribute to conferences in the UK and internationally.

Each year, the institute allocates a sum of money for supporting those who want to travel to a conference or comparable event, either in the UK or overseas, to present a paper or poster based on their work. The institute also hosts a variety of speakers throughout the year, and you will be encouraged to attend these talks and network with your peers.

At the institutes annual PhD Research Symposium, you will have the chance to highlight your research projects through oral and poster presentations.

Teaching and learning

Most of your research will be carried out independently. There will also be a series of training requirements that you will be required to complete in the early stages of the programme. UCL Doctoral School also provides a wide range of useful courses you may wish to participate in, including thesis writing, presentation skills and statistical analysis.

Your first milestone will be to upgrade from MPhil to the PhD postgraduate research degree status. For this, you will need to submit and present a research report together with an interview known as a viva examination. In your final year, you submit a complete thesis covering your research and a formal discussion of your research is held at a viva examination.

Most of your time will be spent conducting independent research, alongside regular meetings with your supervisory team and completing your training requirements. We also encourage you to attend relevant research events at UCL and elsewhere.

Contact hours and hours of self-study are agreed between the student and the supervisor at the beginning of their research degree and should be reviewed on a regular basis. Full-time postgraduate research students are expected to work a minimum of 36.5 hours per week on their project. With agreement of the supervisors, contact time can be on-site or remote working, depending upon the nature and stage of the project. Postgraduate research students can access UCL facilities 'out of hours' including weekends and holidays during their period of registration. Students will have research meetings with their supervisors at least once per month.

Research areas and structure

This is a full-time, four-year programme which offers the opportunity to work on a science or clinically relevant project under the guidance of a supervisor. However, students will be linked with a clinical unit depending on their trained specialisation. Students will be offered the chance to sustain limited clinical activity during the programme depending on the demands of the hosting division in order to maintain her/his clinical expertise. UCL Eastman Institute seeks to improve and make a positive impact upon oral and systemic health through innovative and high-quality research. The institute has a global reputation in the key area of Clinical Research .

Research environment

The UCL Eastman Dental Institute is the largest postgraduate dental school in Europe and has a reputation as one of the world’s leading academic centres for dentistry. You will join a community of 80-100 research students enrolled within the UCL Eastman Centre for Postgraduate Research (UCL ECPgR), a virtual body for research students within the UCL Eastman Dental Institute.

With a focus on biomaterials and tissue engineering, clinical research, oral health and society and microbial diseases, the institute seeks to improve and make a positive impact upon oral and systemic health through innovative, translational, and high-quality research.

The institute’s ambitious clinical research programme focuses on translational (experimental) medicine, including clinical trials of repurposed drugs, novel diagnostics, novel drugs and devices, and improvements in treatment selection and evaluation of response. Eastman achieved a good outcome in the UK Research Excellence Framework (REF) and has one of the strongest NIHR-funded translational portfolios in dentistry with world-leading publications.

Our researchers are experts in early first-in-human clinical studies and large multicentre phase III trials, including Clinical Trials of Investigational Medicinal Products (CTIMPs) and non-CTIMPs studies. Our researchers are leaders in their fields, with many having pivotal roles in other organisations such as the Longitude Prize, EPSRC, NIHR and IADR as well as being editors of prominent journals. Our grant success is derived from numerous sponsors, such as ERC, NIHR and EPSRC, which reflects the wide range of our research activities.

Several NHS hospitals are located nearby for collaborative research. University College Hospital London (UCLH) NHS Foundation Trust, Royal National ENT, and Eastman Dental Hospital, Macmillan Cancer Centre, Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital, National Hospital of Neurology and Neurosurgery and Royal London Hospital of Integrated Medicine are all within walking distance of the campus.

When you accept your place on the programme, you will initially register for an MPhil.

During your first term, you will receive an induction to the research environment, with the chance to attend optional research methods modules designed to develop your skills as an academic researcher.

Within three months of joining the programme, you will be expected to agree the basic structure of your research project with your supervisor, along with the appropriate research methods and a realistic plan of your work. The project can be defined either by you or your academic supervisor, depending on availability and funding.

You will then need to submit a detailed outline of your proposed research for comments and feedback before you are ready to undertake the project as part of your supervisor’s research team.

You will be eligible to upgrade to PhD student status between 9-18 months into the programme. Upgrade decisions are based on an evaluation of an upgrade report, which you will draft with the support of your primary and subsidiary supervisors, as well as a viva examination. You also present your research to an audience of UCL Eastman academic and clinical staff and fellow PhD students.

Once upgraded, you will continue to explore your research hypothesis, complete your data collection and analysis, and to prepare your thesis.

In your second year, you will be encouraged to produce a poster presentation of your research project, followed by a verbal presentation in your third year. You will also be encouraged to write and submit manuscripts for peer-reviewed journals and present your research findings at local, national, and international conferences.

Once you have completed your fourth year of registration, you may transfer to what is termed 'completing research status' (CRS) for one year to complete your thesis writing and final viva examination.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble . Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services team .

Fees and funding

Fees for this course.

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Where the programme is offered on a flexible/modular basis, fees are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees .

Additional costs

Research students may incur an additional fee element (AFE) per year of study, which ranges from £1,000 to £10,000 (exceptionally over £10,000). This fee covers consumables, laboratory costs and costs associated with running the project. The exact amount will depend on the needs of the individual research project and will be discussed with you at the time of application.

Other costs might include:

• The purchase of a personal computer / laptop, although UCL computers are always available to use on campus.
• Some students like to print copies of research papers. Payable printing facilities are available on campus.
• Students may wish to attend external local, national, and international conferences separate to the doctoral programme. These events usually offer a student discount. The exact cost will depend on the location, prevailing exchange rates and the price of travel and accommodation.

This programme requires a completed DBS check for some compulsory modules. You will receive more information from UCL on how to complete the check once you have firmly accepted an unconditional offer for the programme. A charge for Post Office ID verification (£15.00) needed for an application to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) is payable by the student. The cost of the DBS check itself is paid for by UCL.

If you have lived, worked, studied or travelled in any single country outside of the UK for six continuous months or more, in the last five years, you will be required to obtain a Certificate of Good Conduct/Police Check from the relevant country/countries. The cost of this check varies by country and is payable by the student. More information on how to obtain these can be found on gov.uk .

For more information about the DBS application process, please contact the UCL Graduate Admissions team .

UCL’s main teaching locations are in zones 1 (Bloomsbury) and zones 2/3 (UCL East). The cost of a monthly 18+ Oyster travel card for zones 1-2 is £114.50. This price was published by TfL in 2024. For more information on additional costs for prospective students and the cost of living in London, please view our estimated cost of essential expenditure at UCL's cost of living guide .

Funding your studies

Some projects offered for PhD are already funded and studentships will be advertised on both the UCL Eastman Dental Institute's Research page and the UCL jobs website. Due to the competitive nature of this research programme, it is anticipated that the applicant will usually secure his or her own funding prior to the start of their studies.

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website .

Some of our applicants wish to submit their own research proposal. If you wish to do so, please make sure that first you identify a suitable supervisor with the correct expertise.

All prospective applicants should find, make contact and have an agreement from a supervisor before applying. To source a supervisor please visit the Eastman website . If you are unsure, please contact our Research Student Administrator ( [email protected] ).

Submission of applications should be at least 2-3 months prior to the start date.

At the UCL Eastman Dental Institute Centre for Postgraduate Research, start dates will be normally at three points in the year: October (Autumn term), February (Spring term) and May (Summer term). Exceptions may be made depending on the funding requirements.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate programmes (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.

Year of entry: 2025-2026

Year of entry: 2024-2025, got questions get in touch.

Eastman Dental Institute

[email protected]

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Dental Sciences PhD / MPhil

• Part time available: yes

Studying in:

• School of Dentistry
• Faculty of Health and Life Sciences

The School of Dentistry's broad range of research interests provides for world-class research in dental science including clinical and dental education research. We have developed a strategy with the aim of developing high-quality research to improve health outcomes in the local population, and to help face global health challenges.

Why study with us?

The collaborative atmosphere within the Institute which has enabled me to benefit not only from the knowledge and guidance of my supervisors, but also from the wider research community. James Hyde - Dental Science PhD student

academic members of staff

registered postgraduate research students

Situated within one of the UK’s larger Schools of Dentistry, undertaking a PhD in Dental Sciences at Liverpool gives PhD candidates a unique opportunity to work alongside an engaged and committed cohort of Dental Students all of whom are encouraged to take an interest in research and the development of medical education, for the improvement of systems and processes for future generations of students.

The University of Liverpool’s School of Dentistry is one of the largest Dental education providers in the UK. We train and develop clinicians throughout their careers, enabling them to use the latest advances to provide exceptional care to their patients.

We deliver teaching and training for both undergraduate and postgraduate students, as well as continuous professional development for clinical practitioners. Joining our department involves you in this vibrant medical education community.

We work collaboratively; across professions, institutions and departments. We have strong links with health partners across the region . Our PhD students could be based across a wide range of providers (e.g. Alder Hey Children Hospital, Primary Care Dental Practices).

Research themes

Biomedical and Clinical Research

• Primary prevention
• Health Service research
• Oral Health Inequalities
• Common Risk Factors
• Oral Health Promotion and Education
• Digital innovation
• Non-invasive clinical techniques
• Hard tissue and soft tissue research
• Advanced functional materials
• Biotic and abiotic model systems
• Mechanisms and novel therapies in chronic pain and inflammation

Medical/Dental Education

• Programmatic approaches; validity
• Innovative uses of technology to enhance learning
• Student: staff partnerships
• Psychosocial development and transitions

We have state of the art, dedicated research facilities within the School of Dentistry.

We have bright, open-plan laboratories, containing state-of-the-art equipment for tissue culture, imaging technologies, microscopy, and other disciplines.

We also have strong connections with the Liverpool Head & Neck Centre, utilising their facilities to bolster our research capability.

Study options and fees

The fees below reflect one year of study during the 2024/25 academic year

The fees stated in the table above exclude potential research support fees also known as ‘bench fees’. You will be notified of any fee which may apply in your offer letter.

* Please note that if you are undertaking a PhD within the Faculty of Science and Engineering the fee you pay, Band A or Band B, will reflect the nature of your research project. Some research projects incur a higher fee than others e.g. if you are required to undertake laboratory work. You will be informed of the fee for your programme in your offer letter.

^ Self-funded, full-time international students studying a PhD programme classified as Band A will receive a £2,000 reduction in their fees for the first year only.

Entry requirements

A good (2:1 or above) honours first degree or a master's degree in an appropriate scence subject, preferably relevant to the area of interest, is required.

English language requirements

How to apply.

Research degree applications can be made online.  You'll also need to ensure that you have funding to cover all fees.

Applications are  open all year round .

More about applying for research degrees

Apply online

Before you apply, we recommend that you identify a supervisor and develop a research proposal

Find a supervisor

Professor Sondos Albadri  - Oral Health

Professor Fadi Jarad  - Dental Innovation

Professor Luke Dawson  - Dental Education

Need help finding a supervisor? Contact us

Related studentships: self-funded and funded phd projects, find a scholarship.

We offer a range of scholarships to help you meet the costs of studying a research degree.

See scholarships

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Dentistry PhD / MSc (Res)

Start date Research degrees may start at any time of the year

Duration PhD: 3 years full-time, 6 years part-time, MSc by Research: 1 year full-time, 2 years part-time

Award Doctorate / MSc by Research

Entry requirements 2:1 Honours degree in a relevant subject area Full requirements

Fees £4,921 (full-time) / £2,461 (part-time) Fee details

Page contents

Course overview.

Cultivate the skills needed to contribute to research that focuses on the scientific basis of oral and dental disease, providing innovative solutions to important problems significantly impacting the population and helping to deliver a vision for improving oral and general health.

Work amongst renowned researchers to produce original and world-leading research, striving to provide novel diagnostic and therapeutic solutions to the most common oral and general health problems.

Course structure

This PhD programme can be undertaken full-time (minimum 36 months) or part-time (minimum 72 months). Applications are accepted all year round and there is flexibility on the start date with the largest intakes normally in October and April. Following completion of your minimum period of study, you’ll normally transfer to a thesis awaited status (maximum 12 months). To successfully progress into each year you’ll need to pass an Annual Progress Review (APR).

You’ll be required to submit a progress review form plus a project report based on the first year of research. You’ll also be asked to review your Development Needs Analysis form. The APR meeting will take place with two academics, with one being an internal expert.

Course highlights

By pursuing our PhD/MSc by Research you’ll gain high quality research training that will enable you to conduct independent investigative research with confidence and expertise. You can choose from a range of research areas within Dentistry in the following themes:

• Clinical and experimental oral sciences
• Oral regeneration rehabilitation sciences

By studying this programme you’ll become part of the Graduate School within the College of Medicine and Health giving you access to:

• Supervision from leading academics to support you through your research programme including research techniques and training.
• Training and development courses to enable you to gain research and transferable training skills.
• Opportunities to attend and take part in Research Poster festivals and other postgraduate activities to boost your academic and networking skills.
• An allocated academic mentor so you can access pastoral support.
• State-of-the art facilities to support a range of teaching, learning and research activity with access to dedicated write up rooms, libraries, and computer facilities.

Become part of a supportive community of postgraduate research students and staff, allowing you to flourish and achieve to the highest standards.

Take part in departmental and university events and attend conferences to showcase your work and network with the wider scientific community.

You’ll become part of the wider University of Birmingham postgraduate research community located at Westmere House where you have access to training and skills development, careers and employability advice, wellbeing and counselling services as well as welcome activities and events.

Course delivery

As a postgraduate research student, we'll support your development in a variety of ways.

• Supervision – you'll be supported by supervisors in your research area.
• Research support - access to dedicated write up rooms, libraries, and computer facilities.
• Publishing works – build your reputation and make your research public, by working with your supervisors to publish articles.

The School of Dentistry is housed in the Birmingham Dental Hospital. We host state-of-the-art laboratories for physical and biological sciences. We have access to many of the vital pieces of equipment need for dental research including on site histology, microscopy (fluorescent and scanning electron), microbiology, tissue culture, biomaterials and materials testing. Our proximity to the clinics of the hospital makes translational and primary studies very amenable, whilst even more possibilities are available via labs and collaborations at the main campus site a short walk away.

Research projects

At Birmingham, you can apply for an advertised PhD or propose your own research. An advertised PhD is typically part of an established research project and is usually funded by the University or another funding body.

If you want to pursue your own research project, you can apply to our research programmes to propose this. This is self-funded although scholarships are available.

Find a supervisor

If you’d rather propose your own research, the first step is to find your supervisor. We encourage you to browse the biographies of faculty members to familiarise yourself with the research going on in your preferred areas. Each of these contains detailed information on research interests, current projects and recent publications.

When you apply, you can suggest one or two potential supervisors, who you think might be a good fit for you. However, this is not essential. If you know what you want to work on, but are unsure on supervisors, you can indicate this in your application and the PhD programme co-directors will study your proposal in detail, and judge who is best suited to be your supervisory team.

Find an Advertised PhD

Find a PhD project that suits your interests by using our FindAPhD tool.

Research proposal

If you are proposing your own research topic, you will need to submit a research proposal. It’s a key part of your application, so take your time. Your potential supervisors will use it to decide if your research is something they can support.

Your proposal should be a clear and concise summary of your research. It generally consists of an outline of your proposed research project, including your main research questions and the methods you intend to use.

You should also comment on the potential impact and importance of your intended research and on how your work would interact with current trends in your academic field. It should illustrate the relevance of your topic to the research interests and expertise of the staff within your chosen department.

Find a Supervisor

Before applying we encourage you to browse the biographies of faculty members, to familiarise yourself with the research going on in your preferred areas. Each of these contains detailed information on research interests, current projects and recent publications. 

Once you've identified the subject area you wish to research, you will need to find a supervisor for your project. All Doctoral Researchers are provided with a lead supervisor, who will act as the main source of academic supervisory support and research mentoring during your time as a Doctoral Researcher at the University.

Search for supervisors below to see who you think may be a great fit for your research area. Once you have identified a supervisor they're able to offer appropriate supervisory support, you can start to reach out to staff using the contact details provided on their profile.

Research themes

The School of Dentistry focuses on two major research themes.

Clinical and Experimental Oral Sciences

This research identifies and develops new and improved diagnostics and preventative dental treatments for patient benefit. The following research groups contribute to this aim:

• Periodontal Research Group – This group investigates fundamental mechanisms of how gum diseases develop and their links to general health and diseases, such as diabetes, kidney disease, rheumatoid arthritis and other diseases of aging. Using knowledge from their discovery science, the PRG translate their work into new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.
• Oral Diseases - The Oral Diseases group investigates the causes, diagnostic markers, pathogenesis and potential treatments of a variety of pathological conditions that affect the oral tissues.
• Ultrasound and Nanotechnology - The group is researching into the use of ultrasonics in dentistry. The two areas of research are the release of antimicrobials triggered by ultrasound and the development of a novel ultrasonic surgical scalpel controlled by robots.
• Clinical Epidemiology and Dental Public Health - The Clinical Epidemiology and Dental Public Health group investigates trends and patterns of oral disease and conditions and their determinants at population level and the efficacy of interventions, services and public health interventions.
• Phototherapy - Harnessing the power of light at specific wavelengths and dose has profound stimulatory or inhibitory effects on cellular behaviour and bacterial growth and viability. These characteristics can be harnessed to provide non-invasive therapeutic interventions important in modulating inflammation, infection, maintaining cell viability, analgesia and promotion of wound healing.

Oral Regeneration Rehabilitation Sciences

This research utilises cutting-edge, multidisciplinary approaches to develop new therapies for repairing and rebuilding the human body, which has become damaged due to disease or trauma. This research is conducted by the following research groups:

• Dental and Biomaterials Science – This multidisciplinary group consists of materials scientists, chemists, cell and molecular biologists and clinical academics that work collectively to develop novel restorative and regenerative biomaterials.
• Dental and Craniofacial Stem Cell Biology – This longstanding research programme in pulp biology and regenerative endodontics which seeks to exploit the innate repair ability of the dentine-pulp complex.

Entry requirements

In a relevant subject area

International students can satisfy our English language requirements in two ways:

• by holding an English language qualification to the right level
• by taking and successfully completing one of our English courses for international students

Please note IELTS requirements for Postgraduate Research programmes in the College of Medicine and Health are 6.5 overall with no less than 6.0 in any band.

Fees and scholarships

Funding options, apply for a phd that already has funding attached.

These are most common in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Medicine) subjects, but they can sometimes be available for pre-defined research projects in the arts, humanities or social sciences. These may be advertised as fully funded (with fees and a stipend) or competition funded, meaning the projects compete against other projects at each institution.

Self-fund, or search for funding or a studentship once you have an offer

You devise your own PhD topic, find a supervisor, write a research proposal and apply to the relevant programme. If you’re offered a place at Birmingham, you can then apply for studentships or funding from various sources. Our Postgraduate Scholarships and Funding database lists all available funding.

A limited number of scholarships and studentships may be available to outstanding applicants. For further information, please explore our scholarships and funding database.

Application process

To apply for a postgraduate research programme, you will need to submit your application and supporting documents online.

If you are applying to an ‘advertised PhD’, please check the details of the specific research project for application deadlines.

If you are submitting your own research proposal, applications are accepted all year round. However, if you wish to start in September, we would encourage you to apply by 1 June. Whilst you are still welcome to apply after this date, it is important to allow time for us to review your application.

If you are seeking funding, please be aware that the majority of funding opportunities have deadlines in early spring so we would encourage you to apply as early as possible.

We have put together some helpful information on the research programme application process and supporting documents on our how to apply page. Please read this information carefully before completing your application.

Career opportunities

A PhD is the highest level of academic achievement available and vital for the continued professional development of scientists.

Completing a PhD at Birmingham will extend your knowledge base in your chosen subject, as well as enhancing your problem solving and analytical, communication and teaching, and leadership and management skills – all of which are valued across the academic and private sectors. It’ll also provide you with the opportunity to develop your network of peers, collaborators and colleagues to support your onward career.

Many of our postgraduate research students go onto roles such as Research fellow/postdoctoral researcher, medical writer, scientist/research scientist in the pharmaceutical industry, and clinical trial coordinator.

Employers include the NHS Trusts, Cancer Research UK, pharma and biotech companies (including AstraZeneca, Covance, Binding Site, Immunocore, Johnson and Johnson), Medical Communications agencies (e.g. Fishawack, Insight Medical Writing), the Armed Forces and the University of Birmingham.

Careers Network

Whatever you plan to do after your degree, the Careers Network offers a range of events and support services including networking opportunities, career coaching, one to one guidance, careers fairs and links with leading graduate recruiters.

As a postgraduate researcher, you’ll benefit from tailored support to prepare you for a career in academia or set you up for a wide range of other professions.

We also offer subject specific careers consultants and a dedicated careers website for international students.