Education
Qualifications & Educational Programmes
There are several ways to qualify as a Dental Hygienist / Dental Therapist:
- Diploma in Dental Hygiene – two year full time course
- Diploma in Dental Hygiene & Therapy – 27 month full time course
- BSc in Oral Health Science – three year full time course
- BSc (Hons) (Edinburgh) – four year course.
Along with Diploma in Dental Hygiene, the University of Essex also offer a Foundation Degree in Oral Health Science (2 year course).
The entry requirements for these courses vary and you are advised to contact the school of your choice directly for a prospectus.
To have worked in a dental environment and obtained a dental nurse qualification, would be advantageous.
All training is based on the curricula determined by the General Dental Council. A further General Dental Council document confirms your scope of practice.
Useful links to University Course Guides for information on suitable courses:
- WhatUni? website for information on Dental Hygiene Degree Courses
- The UniGuide
- NHS Health Education England – ‘Health Careers‘ Course Finder


Education Centres
There are 19 training schools in the UK that offer training to become a Dental Hygienist or Dental Therapist. The majority of training courses lead to a joint qualification, so you can register as both a Dental Hygienist and or a Dental Therapist upon completion of your programme with the GDC.
For further details of the programmes available, please review the online information which should include details about the course structure, qualifications at the end of the training, length of the training course, entry requirements, when the course starts and how to apply. Many training providers will also have Open Days throughout the year, which enables you to meet the staff and see the campus and facilities and are highly recommended.
University of Birmingham
University of Bristol
Cardiff University
University of Dundee
University of Edinburgh
University of Essex
Glasgow Caledonian University
University of the Highlands & Islands
University of Leeds
King's College Hospital London
Queen Mary University of London
London Southbank University & Eastman Dental Hospital
University of Manchester
Newcastle University
Plymouth University Peninsula Schools Medicine Dentistry
University of Central Lancashire - Preston (UCLAN)
University of Portsmouth
University of Sheffield
Teesside University
UCAS is the central organisation that processes applications for full-time undergraduate courses at UK universities and colleges. Many of the above education providers use the UCAS route for applications to their programmes.
For further information please follow this link: www.ucas.ac.uk or telephone: 01242 227788.
Training programmes for Dental Hygienists who qualified outside of the UK to register with the GDC
The Dental Hygienist Adaptation Module is suitable if you are a dental hygienist with an existing qualification from outside of the UK who has undertaken the GDC Dental Care Professional assessment of your existing qualification. It will help achieve the GDC required learning outcomes for registration as a Dental Hygienist in the UK.
If you are a UK Hygienist returning to practice, the Dental Hygienist Adaptation Module is an ideal refresher course that can offer you required CPD hours for re-registration with the GDC.
For further information, please contact The School of Health and Human Sciences, The University of Essex, Southend Campus, Elmer Approach, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, SS1 1LW.
T: 01702 328375 / E: emnorris@essex.ac.ukW: https://www.essex.ac.uk/courses/ug00320/2/bsc-oral-health-science
Clinical postgraduate programmes for Dental Hygienists
University of Bristol
Postgraduate Dental Studies (Cert, Diploma or MSc)
Email: buold-office@bristol.ac.uk Tel: 0117 342 9645
University of Essex
Kings College London
MSc in Advanced Minimum Intervention Dentistry at Kings College London.
When requesting information, please inform KCL that you found the information on the BSDHT website
University College London
Email: edi.dh@ucl.ac.uk Tel: 0203 456 1022
Clinical postgraduate programmes for Dental Therapists
University of Bristol
University of Essex
Kings College London
MSc in Advanced Minimum Intervention Dentistry at Kings College London.
When requesting information, please inform KCL that you found the information on the BSDHT website
University of Central Lancashire (Preston)
Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh
University of the Highlands and Islands
Coming to work in the UK with an EU or overseas qualification in dental hygiene
By law a Dental Hygienist / Hygienist Therapist must be registered with the General Dental Council (GDC) to practise in the United Kingdom.
Please contact the General Dental Council for help and advice on how to register, to enable you to work in the UK – www.gdc-uk.org / telephone: 0207 887 3800.
Advice sheet for overseas qualified DCPs.pdf
Links to GDC:
Guidance for Adaptation Period
For information on Dental Hygienist Adaptation Module at University of Essex Click Here