Postgraduate MSc/PgDip

Dental Implantology

Attendance

Part-time

Course

Three year

Next enrolment

September 2025

Introduction

In a nutshell

This MSc in Dental Implantology programme at the University of Salford has been developed in partnership with ICE Postgraduate Dental Institute and Hospital. This partnership will allow you as a student to gain hands-on supervised learning in a highly technical clinical setting. 

The course is aimed at dental practitioners who hold a GDC registrable dental degree and 2 years post-qualification experience in hospital service or general dental practice within the UK.

This course is delivered in partnership with the ICE Postgraduate Dental Institute and Hospital

All prospective students:

MSc: Three years, part-time 

PgDip: 18 months - two years, part-time 

You can watch a video here of Professor Simon Wright explaining the benefits of the master's programme. 

To book a place on the next Open Evening at the ICE facilities in Salford Quays, email: enquiries@icedental.institute or call: 0161 413 8336. 

You will:

  • Develop core knowledge, skills and clinical competencies to assess, manage and treat patients with tooth loss to a high standard, efficiently and safely.
  • Gain the ability to evaluate and demonstrate evidenced-based practice.
  • Gain knowledge and a critical awareness of current issues in the field of Dentistry.
  • Obtain a comprehensive understanding of the principles of research enquiry.
  • Learn transferable skills in communicating with a range of audiences, decision making and problem solving.

This is for you if...

1.

You want to feel supported throughout your training and can focus on developing your skills.

2.

You want to learn in a unique state of the art environment at the ICE implant hospital.

3.

You value evidence-based teaching making the course transferable to your clinic.

4.

You want access to cutting edge digital dentistry equipment at the ICE National Reference Centre for Digital Dentistry.

5.

You want to progress your career in implant dentistry.

6.

You want to develop your knowledge and critical awareness of current issues in the field of dentistry.

Course details

All about the course

Postgraduate Diploma: 120 postgraduate credits in your chosen pathway of study

MSc: 180 postgraduate credits in your chosen pathway of study to include the Dissertation module

ICE Postgraduate Dental Institute & Hospital and the University of Salford run this MSc/PGDip programme jointly. As a learning centre, ICE consists of fully equipped teaching clinics, including one operating theatre with a live AV link to the lecture theatre for live surgery. This programme will allow you to gain hands-on supervised study in a clinical setting.

STRUCTURE

This MSc/PgDip in Dental Implantology Programme is aimed to equip you with core clinical skills and competency in both the restorative and surgical aspects of implant dentistry, through a combination of clinical support and academic teaching in accordance with the GDP/FGDP Training Standards in Implant Dentistry.

The course has been specifically designed to take the stress away from finding patients and provide a mentor to help you complete your first few cases with confidence. You will treat a minimum of 4 patients and learn to use multiple-implant systems. Your supervised learning will take place within the ICE purpose-built facilities and you will gain practical skills and competency in patient assessment, diagnosis, and treatment.

By covering the whole implant process in depth from treatment planning and implant placement to restoration, this course provides a strong foundation for you to progress your career in Implant Dentistry.

This is a 3-year part-time MSc Course, with the opportunity to step off with a Postgraduate Diploma (PgDip) after 2 years. Across the first two years, you will study 4 modules, as shown below.

 

Year one

Patient Assessment and Treatment Planning

This module aims to enable you to assess and manage patients with tooth loss. Some of the Intended Learning Outcomes of this module include:

  • Understand the basic principles of restorative implant treatment
  • Demonstrate the ability to write evidence based-treatment plans
  • Critically evaluate risk factors in implant success rates.

Implant Surgery

This module aims to enable you to apply surgical and imaging principles in the management of patients with tooth loss. Some of the Intended Learning Outcomes for this module include:

  • Synthesize and apply the principles of radiation protection, clinical photography and imaging software.
  • Demonstrate critical awareness of the impact of oral health and periodontitis for surgical procedures.
  • Demonstrate a critical awareness of cross infection risks during surgical procedures.
Year two

Restorative Treatment and Maintenance

The aims of this module are

  • To equip you with the skills and knowledge to manage and treat patients requiring restorative dental implant therapy
  • To provide you with an understanding of the principles of research inquiry

Dental Implant Procedures and Complex Cases

This module aims to enable you to demonstrate knowledge of dental implant procedures and complex cases. Some of the Intended Learning Outcomes for this module include:

  • Critically evaluate risks and complications of surgical and implant procedures while providing highlight effective patient care
  • Critically analyse indications for high risk and complex cases and demonstrate knowledge and understanding of when to refer on cases.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of advanced surgical techniques and complications.
Year three

Dissertation (Dental Implantology) (Year three, Semesters All)

This module builds on your understanding of research inquiry developed through modules 1-4. You will use one or more methods of inquiry (qualitative, quantitative, or systematic reviews) to develop transferable skills and a critical evidence-based approach to research.

You will work with a supervisory team to either:

  • Conduct a systematised literature review or
  • Conduct a research project in Dental Implantology

Please note that it may not be possible to deliver the full list of options every year as this will depend on factors such as how many students choose a particular option. Exact modules may also vary in order to keep content current. When accepting your offer of a place to study on this programme, you should be aware that not all optional modules will be running each year. Your tutor will be able to advise you as to the available options on or before the start of the programme. Whilst the University tries to ensure that you are able to undertake your preferred options, it cannot guarantee this.

What will I be doing?

Teaching

A range of teaching methods will be used throughout the duration of the course. These include but are not limited to:

  • Lectures
  • Tutorials
  • Hands-on workshops
  • Seminars
  • Self-directed study

Assessment

Academic and Clinical Skills are assessed by a range of formative and summative assessment techniques including:

  • e-Portfolio of Clinical Learning
  • Reflective Essays
  • Case Discussions
  • Essays
  • Poster Presentations
  • Oral Presentations
  • Supervisory Meetings
  • Dissertation

Online learning opportunities via our Virtual Learning Environment (Blackboard)

ICE School of Dentistry

The facilities at ICE consists of: 

  • Fully equipped teaching clinics
  • An operating theatre that is enabled to digitally transmit live surgery
  • High-quality video conference and webinar facilities
  • Boardroom
  • Breakout rooms
  • Cone Beam Computed Tomography

Programme tutors

Professor Simon Wright

(MSc, PGDip Implant Dentistry, BDS, PGCTLCP, FHEA)
GDC number: 77941

Prof. Wright completed the Trafford One Year Implant Course in 2004 before completing his Diploma in Implant Dentistry and his MSc in Dental Implantology. He is a Senior Lecturer in Implantology at the University of Salford and an Honorary Lecturer at the University of Manchester. He also lectures nationally and internationally for Astra Tech, Straumann, the ITI, Mersey Deanery and on the MSc courses at Manchester, Cardiff and Sheffield. He has a keen interest in teaching dentistry and is a trainer for young foundation dentists and nurses. He has written many courses for nurses and dentists and gained a Fellowship to the Higher Education Academy.

Professor Cemal Ucer

(Specialist Oral Surgeon BDS, MSc, PhD, FDTFEd)
GDC number: 57048

Cemal’s current clinical and research interests include immediate implant placement, reconstructive bone surgery, Zygomatic Implants for the rehabilitation of the severely atrophic jaws, nerve damage and the effect of bone density on the success of implant treatment. Academically, he has gained European recognition for his work on the development of a new framework for teaching and assessment of clinical competence in implantology. He is a co-author of the consensus paper produced by the Association for Dental Education in Europe (ADEE) following the first pan-European collaboration between EU universities to establish common training and assessment standards in dental implantology. He is an invited member of the working group convened by the FGDP (UK) and the General Dental Council (GDC) to update the Training Standards in Implant Dentistry (TSID) guidelines in 2012 and 2016.

Cemal is a Fellow of the Dental Trainers Faculty of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd), Fellow of the British Association of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons, a Fellow of the International Team for Implantology (ITI) and a member of Megagen’s MINTEC UK & I Board for education and clinical research. He is a member of the editorial board of JOMR (Journal of Oral & Maxillofacial Research) and the chair of the editorial advisory board of Implant Dentistry Today.

Cemal is Professor and Academic Lead of the MSc programme in Dental Implantology at the University of Salford, and a member of the Faculty of Examiners of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh’s Diploma in Implant Dentistry. He is a past president and Honorary life member of the Association of Dental Implantology (ADI) (2011-2013).

Employment and stats

What about after uni?

Implant dentistry is widely recognised as an increasingly important aspect of career choice for the dental clinician. This is partly driven by patient demand, and partly due to technological developments in the field of digital dentistry.

Training in implant dentistry is not part of the undergraduate curriculum. Therefore, dentists who wish to provide implant treatment are required by GDC standards in the UK to complete formal education and training at the postgraduate level.

Further career prospects also include Research and Teaching. Previous students that graduated from the MSc in Dental Implantology have become mentors for the course and teach to Dental Nurses at ICE.

Career Links

ICE Postgraduate Dental Institute and Hospital and the University of Salford run this MSc/PGDip programme jointly. As a learning centre, ICE consists of fully equipped teaching clinics, an operating theatre that is enabled to digitally transmit live surgery. This programme will allow you to gain hands-on supervised study in a clinical setting. 

Requirements

What you need to know

Applicant profile

Dental practitioners who fulfil the following criteria will be eligible for acceptance into the programme:

  • Currently working as a Dentist in the UK with full GDC registration
  • Evidence of full indemnity insurance
  • Evidence of a relevant degree
  • Evidence of post-qualification experience in general dental practice or hospital service
  • IELTS of 6.5
  • Evidence of completion of recent CPD

English language requirements

Students whose first language is not English must possess a current qualification deemed acceptable by the University as evidence of proficiency in the English Language. This qualification must equate to a minimum average score of 6.5 or above (and for each component 6.0 or above) from the Cambridge/British Council English Language Testing Service (IELTS) or alternative examinations as recognised by the University.

Please note, you will need to include the following with your application in order for it to be assessed:  

  • CV
  • Personal Statement
  • References
  • Passport
  • ILS Certificate
  • Qualifications
  • GDC Registration
  • Indemnity Insurance
  • DBS
  • IELTS
  • Transcript of results (if transferring)
Standard entry requirements

Undergraduate degree

This programme is aimed at dental practitioners currently working within the UK who hold a GDC registrable dental degree and post-qualification experience in hospital service or general dental practice. 

Alternative entry requirements

Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL)

We welcome applications from students who may not have formal/traditional entry criteria but who have relevant experience or the ability to pursue the course successfully.

The Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) process could help you to make your work and life experience count. The APL process can be used for entry onto courses or to give you exemptions from parts of your course.

Two forms of APL may be used for entry: the Accreditation of Prior Certificated Learning (APCL) or the Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL).

How much?

Type of study Year Fees
Part-time 2025/26 £10,300 year 1, or £5,150 per 30 credits

Additional costs

You should also consider further costs which may include books, stationery, printing, binding and general subsistence on trips and visits.

Apply now

All set? Let's apply

Start Date(s): September

Duration:

- MSc (three years part-time)

- PgDip (18 months to two years part-time)

Enrolment dates

September 2025