Postgraduate Certificate in Dental Education

As the role of the dental educator continues to evolve in response to advances in clinical practice, educational theory, and healthcare delivery, there is an increasing need for practitioners who can effectively support learning, foster professional development, and contribute to educational excellence. 

This programme provides a strong foundation in the principles of teaching, learning, assessment, curriculum design, and educational leadership within dental healthcare settings. By integrating evidence-based educational theory with practical application, participants are encouraged to critically evaluate their teaching practices and develop innovative approaches to learner engagement and assessment. 

Through engagement with academic scholarship, reflective practice, and collaborative learning, the course enables dental professionals to enhance their effectiveness as educators while contributing to the advancement of dental education. The programme also supports the development of lifelong learning skills, empowering participants to respond to emerging educational challenges and to promote high standards of teaching and learning across undergraduate, postgraduate, and continuing professional education environments. 

Ultimately, the Postgraduate Certificate in Dental Education aims to cultivate reflective, knowledgeable, and skilled dental educators who are equipped to inspire future generations of oral healthcare professionals and to lead educational innovation within their respective fields.

For more information, watch our most recent Dental Education Pathway 'Ask-Me-Anything' AMA event recording. 

Who is the course designed for? 

The Postgraduate Certificate in Dental Education is aimed at professionals who are involved in dental education, including: 

• clinical or educational supervisors 
• clinical mentors 
• educators in academic settings (undergraduate or postgraduate)  
• Continuing Professional Development (CPD) educators 
• educators in leadership roles, such as those of training programme directors 

Aims of the programme

The programme aims to develop:  

• an individual's ability to adopt an informed and critically reflective stance to their own and to others’ practice as dental educators, whether working in academic or practice settings 
• an individual's own teaching practice (including approaches to the design, implementation and evaluation of teaching) 
• a strong rationale for approaches they adopt, drawing on contemporary learning literatures, within and beyond dental education

Learning outcomes 

By the end of the programme, students will be able to demonstrate the following:  

• exercise sound judgement, adopting a learner-centred approach when designing and facilitating the education and training of dental care professionals 
• demonstrate personal responsibility and accountability in the ways they seek and respond to feedback on their teaching and/or supervision, whether through peer review and/or learner/stakeholder evaluation 
• demonstrate scholarship by drawing upon learning and assessment theory to offer a rationale for current and/or planned approaches to practice as a dental educator   
• work in conditions of uncertainty, reflecting upon their own practice and identify the ways in which they may further develop their practice  
• adopt an informed and critically reflective stance to the practice of dental education, with a clear rationale for practices adopted and/ or proposed   

Progression 

Upon successful completion of the Postgraduate Certificate in Dental Education, students may apply to progress to:   

• our Postgraduate Diploma in Dental Education, 1 year, part-time 
• our MSt in Dental Education (upon successful completion of the postgraduate diploma), 1 year, part-time  

We welcome applications from dental professionals with a variety of backgrounds and experiences, including dentists, dental hygienists, dental therapists and clinical dental technicians. As part of our admissions process, you will need to meet certain requirements and confirm that you are able to attend all the teaching sessions. 

Standard entry requirements 

Typically, we expect a good UK undergraduate degree, such as a 2.1, or international equivalent.  

If your degree is not from the UK, check international qualifications on the University’s postgraduate site to find the equivalent in your country. 

If you wish to apply to join the programme you must also:   

• be a post-foundation-year dentist in primary, secondary or tertiary care, or a Dental Care Professional (DCP), who is involved in teaching or mentoring at undergraduate or postgraduate levels, or who has a role in training and appraising Dental Care Professionals. 
• hold a Dental or Dental Care Professional (DCP) qualification or another relevant healthcare profession qualification 
• have had at least one year of experience as a mentor prior to starting the programme   

English language requirements 

Our courses are taught in English and require a good level of fluency. If English is not your first language, you'll need to prove you have sufficient fluency before admission. If we offer you a place, it will be subject to you meeting this requirement. For more information, visit Postgraduate and Master's admissions and the University’s English language requirements. 

Visa information

We welcome applications from international students. If you’re coming from overseas, you would attend the in-person teaching sessions for this course with visitor immigration permission. 

It's important to be aware that entering the UK as a visitor for study purposes comes with certain expectations and restrictions. To make sure you understand the requirements, we advise you to read the in-depth information on the University’s International Students website.

The course is delivered through in-person and online teaching sessions requiring attendance in Cambridge, self-directed and peer learning, and synchronous and asynchronous approaches provided via the course Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). The course requires a commitment to reading and pre-class preparation. 

Below are the expected teaching dates for this course. If they change, we'll update offer-holders in line with the University's terms of admission. Exact teaching dates will be added to this page in due course.  

The Postgraduate Certificate comprises 2 modules and combines in-person and online study days with additional between-module reflection, study and assignment work.    

Module 1: Core Skills in Dental Education 

• October 2027 (two in-person teaching days) 
• November 2027 (online session) 
• December 2027 (two in-person teaching days) 
• January 2028 (online session) 

Module 2: Supporting Dental Learning 

• February 2028 (two in-person teaching days) 
• April 2028 (online session) 
•  May 2028 (two in-person teaching days) 

Assessment  

The programme includes both formative and summative assessments. Assessed topics will include reflective accounts of synchronous and asynchronous teaching and teaching plans, and exploration of participants’ development as educators in relation to the educational models discussed during the course. Assessment will be through a range of formats which include coursework, presentations and projects. The summative assessments total 9,000 to 11,000 words.  

Post-nominals

Upon completing your award, the permitted post-nominals are: PGCert (Dent Ed).

Fees

The total fees for this course are shown above in 'Course details'.

To understand which fee status applies to you, whether as a home or overseas student, visit the University’s fee status page.  

To help you manage your finances more comfortably, you can pay the fee in instalments.  See how to pay for more.  

There are also some additional costs you’ll need to cover as part of this course. These are usually: 

• an application fee of £85, unless you're eligible for a fee waiver, payable online
• any travel, accommodation and subsistence costs for the residential teaching sessions held in Cambridge

Funding

We're dedicated to reducing and removing financial barriers to learning. Visit financial support ahead of the application deadline to find out what options may be available to help you in your studies. You can explore external funding and stay up to date on our concessions and bursaries.

Please note that places on the Postgraduate Certificate in Dental Education are offered on merit rather than funding. We recommend that you explore any potential funding well in advance of the application deadline. 

Considering applying? We look forward to receiving your application. Should the course become full, we reserve the right to close for applications early. We encourage applicants to apply as soon as possible. 

Key timings for your application

• The application deadline is 27 May 2027. 
• Applications will be considered on a rolling basis with interviews taking place from March 2027. 
• If you're shortlisted, we'll contact you in the weeks before interviews to arrange a time and format for yours.  

How to apply and what you'll need 

The ‘Apply now’ button will take you to the Applicant Portal. There, you can:  

• create, save, and submit your application 
• upload your supporting documents   
• submit and manage your references 
• pay your application fee 
• track your application 

Supporting documents

When you submit your application, you’ll need to provide supporting information.

Qualifications and transcripts   

Upload details of degree-level courses you have completed or are studying.  

Employer letter of support 

Upload a letter from your employer confirming release of time to study. 

Evidence of funding 

Upload details for any funding you have secured for this course.  

References  

Submit contact details for 2 academic referees, who we will contact on your behalf.  

For more information on applying and admissions, see Postgraduate and Master's admissions. 

We're committed to supporting you in your learning journey, and we offer a variety of support opportunities to meet individual needs. Visit student support to find out more about how we can help.