Graduate Certificate in Oral Health Science
Advance your career in oral health
Our adult population’s oral health needs are many and varied. We need trusted experts who know how to keep dental patients healthy, now and into the future.
This certificate provides oral health therapists with the specialised knowledge and skills needed to contribute further. The qualification will allow you to deliver adult therapy as part of your clinical practice, opening doors to advanced career opportunities.
What will you do?
Our unique combination of intensive contact time and distance learning lets you maintain a healthy work-life balance while studying. You will:
- complete 18 weeks of flexible full-time study
- learn from industry experts across a range of innovative online, face-to-face, simulation and clinical environments
- gain key skills for oral health assessments, treatments, management and prevention in adult patients
- have the opportunity to build a close professional relationship with a clinical mentor.
^QS World University Ranking by Subject, 2022
Entry Requirements
Choose your applicant type to view the relevant admissions
information for this program.
I am a:
Before applying make sure you understand the eligibility and entry requirements for your chosen degree.
Look out for any prerequisites or assumed knowledge subjects. Some degrees also have additional entry requirements like interviews and auditions.
Domestic applicants
| SATAC Code | 3GC078 |
|---|---|
| Deferment | Yes - 2 year |
| Intake | July |
| Additional Entry Requirements | The Graduate Certificate in Oral Health Science has a limited number of places. The program is open to registered dental and oral health therapists.
Applicants must upload all required additional information (listed below) into their SATAC application.
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Selection Criteria
| Higher Education Study | Eligible qualifications include:
Qualifications must lead to registration as a dental therapist or oral health therapist and must include dental therapy restorative skills as part of the curriculum. |
|---|
Fees and Scholarships
Choose your applicant type to view the relevant fees and scholarships information for this program.
I am a:
Domestic applicants
| Indicative annual tuition fees |
Australian Full-fee place: $25,000
|
Where the standard duration of the program is less than one year the full cost of the program is displayed.
FEE-HELP
This is an Australian full-fee program. As a domestic student you may be eligible to:
- receive a zero interest government assistance package to cover your course fees and
- use over $100,000 in HELP assistance over your lifetime
Scholarships
Scholarships are not only for high achievers—they are also available to provide students with an equal opportunity to study at university, no matter where they live or what their financial situation might be.
Scholarships are available to both new and continuing students. We encourage students to apply for any scholarships for which they may be eligible.
To browse scholarships offered by the University, visit: University Scholarships
To explore scholarships offered by organisations external to the University, visit: External Scholarships
Careers
Career Readiness
The University of Adelaide Careers Service prepares, inspires and empowers students to achieve successful career transitions and connect with industry.
Graduate Attributes
The objective of this program is to produce graduates with specific attributes as outlined in University of Adelaide Graduate Attributes.- Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth
- Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving
- Teamwork and communication skills
- Professionalism and leadership readiness
- Intercultural and ethical competency
- Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural competency
- Digital capabilities
- Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
Industry Placement
In order to be accepted into the degree, applicants must have identified a clinic mentor who has agreed to provide mentorship during the clinical placement, and have organised approval from a clinic location to undertake their observation and clinical placement. The clinic mentor will be required to attend a workshop session to assist them in the clinical mentor role.
Potential careers
Graduates of this program have gone on to roles such as:
Dental Therapist; Oral Health Practitioner; Oral Health Therapist; Dental Practitioner
Degree Structure
The program comprises two 6-unit courses. The scientific components of this program (Dental & Health Science IVOH) will underpin and integrate with the clinical components of the program (Clinical Practice IVOH). The instructional approach is a blended learning approach and will consist of a variety of case-based integrated learning activities complemented by other learning activities including class meetings, tutorial, on-line learning modules, workshops, small group discovery, clinical and simulated clinic sessions. The academic program aims to provide an overview and development of comprehensive oral health examination, treatment planning, prevention and restorative care for adults.
Dental & Health Science (Adult Therapy) IV OH (6 units)
This course will involve an interdisciplinary approach to management of the ageing dentition. In addition to a cardiology and root caries update, students will learn to identify and understand the nature of the forms of non-carious loss of tooth structure including erosion, attrition and abrasion. The principles of examination, diagnosis and treatment planning for periodontal disease are also covered. The course will focus on how to clinically assess patients, identify their risk factors and plan short and long-term management.
Clinical Practice (Adult Therapy) IV OH (6 units)
The topics in this course cover both the theory and practice of restorative dentistry. They explore new and existing techniques, case selection and treatment planning. Dental materials important to this discipline are also covered. Topics covered include aesthetic dentistry, adhesive materials, bonding systems, mechanisms of adhesion of materials to teeth, simple direct restorations, and reasons for success and failure of adhesive and metallic restorations. A variety of current operative/restorative techniques will be explored.
Clinical Placement
The time commitment required in this graduate certificate approaches 40 hours per week, including contact and non-contact preparation time.
During the program, students will work in a clinic area as members of a dental team. There will be 4 weeks where there is 1 session of clinical observation and reflection and 8 weeks of clinical placements for two days per week in addition to completing on-line learning and assessments. Integration of clinical experiences and academic learning is fostered through the input and interaction with academic staff and clinical mentors.
Before attending clinical placement, students must have certification in the areas listed below:
1. Prescribed communicable infections (PCI) screening
2. Current immunisation history
3. Tuberculosis (TB) screening
4. Criminal history.
Placements are compulsory for successful completion of the Graduate Certificate. All costs associated with clinical placement including but not limited to uniform, travel and clearances, are the responsibility of the student.
In order to be accepted into the degree, applicants must have identified a clinic mentor who has agreed to provide mentorship during the clinical placement, and have organised approval from a clinic location to undertake their observation and clinical placement. The clinic mentor will be required to attend a workshop session to assist them in the clinical mentor role.
Students will be required to purchase a set of replacement teeth for practical activities. The cost will include a Bond fee (reimbursed at completion provided no loss or damage beyond normal wear and tear) and a non-refundable hire fee.
Academic Program Rules
The Calendar is a comprehensive handbook of the University's academic program rules.
Example Study Plan
| Semester 1 | ORALHLTH 5000 Dental & Health Science (Adult Therapy) IV OH |
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| Semester 2 | ORALHLTH 5001 Clinical Practice (Adult Therapy) IV OH |
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Assessment
All assessment tasks are designed to enable students to develop and demonstrate their understanding of core concepts and principles related to managing the adult dental patient within the oral health therapists’ scope of practice. Student assessment, both formative and summative, will be closely matched to the integrated learning and teaching activities and to the clearly defined outcomes and objectives. An emphasis will be placed on the development of self-assessment skills.
Related Degrees
Testimonial
The degree offers a range of placements, so you can explore a number of areas - including ones that you may not have realised you have an interest in previously.
The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.
Last updated: Thursday, 12 Sep 2024
