The Faculty of
Dentistry conducts a four-year dental course leading to the Bachelor of Dental
Surgery (B.D.S.) degree. The undergraduate programme comprises two pre-clinical
(first two years) and two clinical years.
In the pre-clinical
years, dental undergraduates share some common core subjects with medical
students. They also receive extensive pre-clinical training. Methods of
instruction include lectures, tutorials, seminars, laboratory sessions, and
working on simulators.
In
the clinical years, students manage and treat their own patients under supervision.
It is here that they apply theory and skills acquired previously in the various
disciplines. The programme is rigorous with comprehensive didactic and clinical
sessions. A multidisciplinary approach to solving problems is emphasised, thus
encouraging the undergraduate to integrate and fully understand management and
treatment modalities. Courses such as General Practice Management, Behavioural
Science, and Problem-based learning have been added to the curriculum to
prepare the student for the demands of clinical practice upon
graduation. Problem-based learning was introduced to equip the graduate
with process skills necessary for independent, life-long learning. In addition,
every student will participate in a compulsory continuing education programme
and a research module.
The competency-based
curriculum was implemented in 1997. This curriculum focuses on what is
important and necessary for the practice of general dentistry.
The objectives of the
undergraduate dental education are to produce graduates with:
- (1) A
thorough understanding of the biological and physical sciences to enable the
integration and correlation of these basic sciences with clinical practice
- (2) Competence
in diagnosing of oral and dental diseases, including an understanding of the
relationship between general and oral diseases
- (3) The
skills to perform the preventive and treatment services commonly required in
general practice; and
- (4) Motivation
towards continuing education and a sense of professional, ethical and social
responsibility.
3.1 Degree Offered
- Bachelor of Dental Surgery (B.D.S.)
3.2 Degree Requirements
In
addition to satisfying the general entry requirements set by the University,
candidates wishing to make a competitive application for admission to the Faculty
of Dentistry should meet the following requirements:
Qualifications
Presented |
Subject
Pre-requisites |
New
‘A’ level syllabus
(with
H1/H2 results) |
· Good H2 pass in Chemistry
· Good H2 pass in either Biology or Physics
· Good H2 pass in a third subject
· Good grades in the General Paper or in Knowledge &
Inquiry |
Old
‘A’ level syllabus
(with
‘A’/’AO’) |
· Good ‘A’ level pass or equivalent in
Chemistry
· Good ‘A’ level pass or equivalent in
Biology or Physics
· Good ‘A’ level pass in a third subject
· Good grades in the General Paper
and/or Project Work |
International
Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma |
· Good Higher Level (HL) pass in Chemistry
· Good HL pass in either Biology or Physics
· Good HL pass in a third subject
· Good grades in English |
International
and Other Students |
· Year 12 or good higher
level pass in Chemistry
· Good higher level pass in either Biology or Physics
· Good higher level pass in a third subject
· Good grades in English |
NUS
High School |
· Major CAP of at least 2.0 in Chemistry and either
Biology or Physics
· CAP of at least 1.0 in one other major and in English
Programme and Research Project |
Starting from 2007, polytechnic graduates may also be
considered for admission under the Exceptional Individual Scheme (EIS).
Applicants must present an acceptable diploma from a polytechnic in Singapore
for application to the dental course. Please visit the Office of Admissions
website for the list of acceptable polytechnic diplomas for Dentistry – http://www.nus.edu.sg/oam/.
Candidates short-listed for admission will be required
to take a manual dexterity test and appear for an interview by the relevant
Admissions Selection Committee.
In
accordance with Ministry of Health requirements, candidates who are Hepatitis B
(HBV) carriers are not eligible for admission to Dentistry. In addition, NUS requires all candidates to
demonstrate immunity to HBV. In the event that
they remain non-immune despite repeat vaccinations, it is in their interest to
reconsider their career choice as their future career options in healthcare may
be limited.
NUS reserves the right to retest any or all of its new
dental undergraduates for any or all markers of Hepatitis B virus, and exclude
any candidate tested positive for HBV from the Dental course.
Prospective dental
students must also furnish documentary evidence of immunity to, or immunity
for, Varicella Zoster Virus (Chickenpox) and Ruebella Virus.
Candidates admitted to the dental course at the
National University of Singapore, who are not in receipt of Public Service
Commission scholarships/bursaries, are required to serve the Government of
Singapore upon successful completion of the course according to the scheme in
the following table:
Singaporeans |
Non-Singaporeans |
4 years |
5 years |
Those
awarded Public Service Commission scholarships/bursaries will be bonded
according to the terms of their awards.
A
dental graduate can choose the following career options:
• A dental
private practitioner practicing general or specialised dentistry
• A dental
officer in the Government dental service
• An
academic engaged mainly in teaching and research
• An
officer in the military service
Subjects and Examinations
Courses
include didactic, laboratory and clinical work. Examinations are held annually.
At all professional examinations, continuous assessment makes up to 40% of the
total marks. A candidate who fails to pass at the main examination may be
allowed to take a supplementary examination. Students are normally not allowed
to proceed to the next stage of the course until they have passed the annual
examination. A candidate who fails both
the main and supplementary examinations may be permitted to repeat the year of
study, but the 4-year dental course must be completed within 5 years.
In
the first year, a student who fails in not more than one subject in the
supplementary examination may, at the discretion of the Faculty of Dentistry,
after considering the recommendation of the Board of Examiners concerned, be
permitted to take the examination again (once only) at the next period of
examination. A student who fails the supplementary examination in more than one
subject will not be permitted to take the examination again and will be refused
re-admission to the Faculty of Dentistry unless, in the opinion of the Faculty,
there are extenuating circumstances to account for his failure.
Clinical
competencies are skills essential to beginning the practice of dentistry. A
student who does not complete the required clinical competencies may not be
eligible to sit for the Final Professional examination.
First Year |
Anatomy |
Examinable
papers in the 1st Professional B.D.S. Examination |
Biochemistry |
Oral
Biology |
Physiology |
Cariology |
|
Occlusion |
Pre-clinical
Operative Dentistry |
First
Professional Examination |
Second Year |
Dental
Materials |
Examinable
papers in the 2nd Professional B.D.S. Examination |
Microbiology |
Pathology |
Pharmacology |
Oral
Radiology |
|
Occlusion |
Pre-clinical
Endodontics |
Pre-clinical
Operative Dentistry |
Pre-clinical
Fixed Prosthodontics |
Pre-clinical
Removable Prosthodontics |
Pre-clinical
Periodontology |
Preventive
Dentistry |
Behavioural
Science |
Second
Professional Examination |
Third Year |
Medicine |
Examinable
papers in the 3rd Professional B.D.S. Examination |
Oral
Pathology |
Surgery |
Anaesthesia |
|
Occlusion |
Oral
Radiology |
Preventive
Dentistry |
Dental
Public Health |
Endodontics |
Operative
Dentistry |
Oral
& Maxillofacial Surgery |
Orthodontics |
Paediatric
Dentistry |
Fixed
Prosthodontics |
Removable
Prosthodontics |
Periodontology |
Behavioural
Science |
Ethics |
Third
Professional Examination |
Fourth Year |
Oral
& Maxillofacial Surgery |
Examinable
papers in the Final Professional B.D.S. Examination |
Preventive
Dentistry & Dental Public Health |
Periodontology |
Orthodontics |
Paediatric
Dentistry |
Prosthodontics |
Operative Dentistry |
Endodontics |
Clinical
Dentistry |
General
Practice Management |
|
Behavioural
Science |
Final
Professional Examination |
Starting
from AY2007/08, the maximum candidature for the 4-year Bachelor of Dental
Surgery course is 5 years.
The conferment of the degree of Bachelor of Dental
Surgery entitles the recipient to immediate registration by the Singapore
Dental Council.
3.3 Special Programmes
The Overseas Enrichment Programme (OEP) was introduced to broaden our students’
experience by exposing them to other cultures and different learning
environment. All Year 3 and 4 students
have the opportunity to spend 2 weeks in an overseas university in the United
States, United Kingdom, Europe, Canada, Japan, China or Australia.
Undergraduate Research
Opportunities Programme (UROP)
Research is for
everyone, not just the professors and graduate students. Every undergraduate is given the opportunity
to participate in a research project through the UROP during year 3 of their
course. Students in small groups work on
a research project supervised by staff. At the end of the final year, their work is presented to the Faculty on
Faculty UROP Day. Students also submit
their projects for local, regional and international research
competitions. Many of the projects have
been published in international publications
3.4 Financial Assistance and Awards
• The
Faculty offers various Faculty–Level bursary awards to needy students.
• The list
of University-Level awards based on academic performance which are available to
dentistry students are as follows:
Administrative Policies
Responsibility for Notices/Circulars 
