The University of Melbourne

Doctor of Dental Surgery

Graduate

Details

University Location Melbourne, Victoria
City Population 5.3 million
Student Population 54,000
Int'l Student Population 23,760
Main Campus Parkville (Melbourne)
Program Campus Parkville
Program Duration 4 years
Estimated Annual Tuition $97,536 AUD (2024 fees; subject to increase)
Semester Intake January
Next Available Intake 2025
Application Deadline July 26, 2024*
International Places 40 (98 total)

Overview

Located in the city of Melbourne, the University of Melbourne Dental School is an advanced learning environment at the forefront of oral health, state-of-the-art technologies and international collaborations.

The four-year Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) program is delivered by highly qualified academics with research experience from leading universities around the world. The program places emphasis on pre-clinical practical classes and clinical patient treatments in all specialties of dentistry and teaches you to prepare, develop, execute and write a small research project for publication.

As a Melbourne dentistry student, you’ll have access to state-of-the-art technologies and new learning infrastructure, including a 100-seat pre-clinical laboratory and the new Melbourne University Dental Clinic for advanced clinical teaching. The DDS leads to registration as a general dental practitioner with the Dental Practice Board in Australia and New Zealand.

Meet Deepak, a former OzTREKK student who’s now a Melbourne Dental School graduate!

Program

The program begins with the introduction of specialized oral health subjects to allow you to enter the clinic as quickly as possible to maximize your experience in all aspects and phases of clinical treatment.

The DDS incorporates all aspects related to the provision of advanced general dental care to patients as well as teaches you to prepare, develop, execute, and write for publication a small research project.

In the first 3 years, the course is structured around 8-week teaching blocks. Teaching Blocks 3 and 4 are in the second half of the year with 1 week’s vacation scheduled between the end of Teaching Block 3 and the commencement of Teaching Block 4. Teaching Block 4 is followed by 1 week of revision, 2 weeks of assessment then a period of vacation/supplementary assessment.

As part of the four-year, full-time degree, you will spend significant time in provision of patient care, and clinical methods, as well as undertake a two-year research project in oral health. In the final year, you will have the unique opportunity to experience working in a private practice setting, where you will learn how to run a small dental clinic.

Clinical Practice
You’ll participate in Comprehensive Dental Practice (a year-long subject of 40 weeks, comprised of general dental practice placements in urban community health centres (5 weeks), the University of Melbourne Dental Clinic (23 weeks), specialist practice/hospital clinics (5 weeks) and rural community health centres, including Aboriginal oral health (7 weeks).

Admission Requirements

1. Completed bachelor’s degree
You must have successfully completed an undergraduate degree in any discipline at a recognized international university within the past 10 years. GPA weightings will be applied by weighting the final year x2, third year x2, second year x1.

2. Prerequisites
Prerequisite second-year subjects (1 semester each) in human anatomy, human physiology, and biochemistry (approved by Melbourne) are required. For all three courses, the prerequisites must have been completed no more than 10 years prior to commencing. To see if your courses meet the prerequisites, please go to the University of Melbourne’s prerequisites page. Select the dropdown menu titled “List of assessed subjects” and click “International” to download the current list of subjects.

3. Admissions test
You must have completed either the Canadian DAT, US DAT (Melbourne does not list minimum score; however, competitive average is generally 20–21), or GAMSAT. Carving portion of the Canadian DAT is neither required nor considered. Exam results must be from within the last 4 years (January 1, 2021 to July 30, 2024). OzTREKK will not submit Melbourne DDS applications with scores below 16 overall and 16 in each section.

Admission Timeline

*While applications for the 2025 intake close July 26, 2024, you’re encouraged to apply as early as possible.

2025 Intake Application Timeline

Application deadline: July 26, 2024
Last date to submit prerequisite for assessment: July 11, 2024
Offers issued: Expected early October

1/12

“low to moderate stress level”

Likes: location, accessibility, transportation, adequate class size, low to moderate stress level. Dislikes: poor administration in some areas; lack of didactic course materials; rushed schedules.

Jonathan P
Doctor of Dental Surgery
The University of Melbourne, 2023

“I like the hands on aspect”

[I like the ] Campus, Program, People. I like the hands on aspect of [Dentistry]. As with all programs, the administrative/organizational side of things could definitely be improved.

Desmond F
Doctor of Dental Surgery
The University of Melbourne, 2023

“Class size is good, course material is relevant”

Good staff, early hands on experience and pre clinical hours, no open lab hours/clinic hours. Class size is good, course material is relevant, teaching methods are okay all lectures are mainly pre recorded and some of them are bad quality. But flexibility to complete content on your own time helps with having a job.

Stephanie N
Doctor of Dental Surgery
The University of Melbourne, 2022

“Teachers are top tier.”

Teachers are top tier. Teaching Facilities are good. There are so many place to eat around campus. There are always activities going on to connect students out side the classroom. Expectations are higher than you may be used to in an undergraduate. Dental school is tough. Class size is good at around 90ish. Mix of caring and awful teachers. Mostly caring and great but the ones that are not great stand out. LOTS of material to cover and little time to do even some of the recommended reading. 1st year is all base knowledge.

Travis L
Doctor of Dental Surgery
The University of Melbourne, 2022

“It has an amazing hands-on program with great professors.”

I love it! It has an amazing hands-on program with great professors. The University campus is also very beautiful.

Sydney S
Doctor of Dental Surgery
The University of Melbourne, 2019

“Professors are great and highly knowledgeable… very approachable and supportive”

University of Melbourne is amazing. It's very comprehensive and have most of specializations. Professors are great and highly knowledgeable, experienced and helpful! The school has access to a dental hospital which makes it even more desirable to study dentistry here as you get such more in-depth experience during your clinical sessions. The program is amazing! they recently made it full-year terms instead of semesters. This is very good as it allows students to connect and bet... Read More

Ali E
Doctor of Dental Surgery
The University of Melbourne, 2019

“…they emphasize clinical work, and really want us to push ourselves to be the best clinicians possible”

I like it because they emphasize clinical work, and really want us to push ourselves to be the best clinicians possible. Educating students is one thing, but to inspire students to reach a certain level of clinical excellence is a whole new ball game. I'm living the dream every single day that I wake up. How many people can say that!

Kunal M
Doctor of Dental Surgery
The University of Melbourne, 2019

“We are very advanced in terms of exposure to patients and simulation clinic”

I really love UniMelb, the campus is gorgeous and the atmosphere is great. It's a world renowned university and I am proud to be a student here. Only downfall is that there is not a lot of student spaces in the Dental Hospital for us to study or relax, since it is shared with all other staff working in the hospital. I am enjoying my program a lot, it's intense but manageable in my opinion. I love the mix of hands-on labs/simulation clinic, and the education side learning about ... Read More

Brittany T
Doctor of Dental Surgery
The University of Melbourne, 2019

“This university definitely sets students up for returning back to Canada…”

I like that UoM focuses a lot on clinical practice. But they also focus a lot on theoretical knowledge in order for us to become knowledgeable and practical clinicians. This university definitely sets students up for returning back to Canada such as my colleague.

Kaho H.
Doctor of Dental Surgery
The University of Melbourne, 2018

“There are also plenty of Canadians to ease the potential struggle of being away from home.”

My experience at the Dentistry program at the University of Melbourne has been wonderful so far. The cohort is relatively small at around 100 students so you get to know most of the people in your program. There are also plenty of Canadians to ease the potential struggle of being away from home. The program while demanding, does afford you the time to enjoy what Melbourne has to offer. It has a nice balance of theory mixed in with practical application of dentistry skills.

Ramiz A.
Doctor of Dental Surgery
The University of Melbourne, 2018

“Professors are approachable and care about student progress and learning.”

The program has been a really smooth transition from undergrad. The pre-clinical experience has been challenging but great and the facilities are top notch. Exams are fair and I really feel like I am learning a lot. Professors are approachable and care about student progress and learning.

Alannah Anita-marie C.
Doctor of Dental Surgery
The University of Melbourne, 2018

“The highlight of my degree was when I… began seeing my first patients”

Studying at the University of Melbourne gave me an opportunity to travel to another continent and experience a different culture without having to take a break from school. The highlight of my degree was when I entered my second year and began seeing my first patients. It was daunting at first to be seeing real patients, but it was also exciting to be able to use what we have been learning for the past year.

Dominique L
Doctor of Dental Surgery
The University of Melbourne, 2018