The University of Cambridge Postgraduate Certificate in Dental Education has been designed collaboratively by University of Cambridge Professional and Continuing Education (PACE) and the University of Cambridge, School of Clinical Medicine’s Clinical Deanery. The Postgraduate Certificate is a one-year, part-time Master’s-level programme resulting in 60 FHEQ Level-7 credits and the University of Cambridge award.
Applicants may wish to continue onto the linked Postgraduate Diploma in Dental Education (available from 2026-27) which provides a further 60 credits at FHEQ Level 7.
The course is delivered through face-to-face 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 Postgraduate Certificate is aimed at professionals with or aspiring to educational roles in dentistry, including clinical supervision (direct oversight of the day-to-day practice of a dental student or trainee), educational supervision (overview of the performance and development of one or more trainees), formal teaching in academic settings (undergraduate and postgraduate), specific educational leadership roles, such as those of training programme director, and other professionals allied to dentistry that have a role in teaching both undergraduates and postgraduates.
Course Dates
Course details
Tutors
Key Features
Aims of the course
The programme aims to develop individuals able to adopt an informed and critically reflective stance to their own and others practice as dental educators, whether working in academic or practice settings. This includes opportunities to develop their teaching practice (including approaches to the design, implementation and evaluation of teaching) and to develop a strong rationale for approaches they adopt, drawing on contemporary learning literatures, within and beyond dental education.
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
The course has been designed to reflect professional standards for dental educators, in particular COPDEND (2013) standards for dental educators and the Academy of Medical Educator (2021) Standards for Medical, Dental and Veterinary Educators.
Course content
The Postgraduate Certificate is aimed at professionals with or aspiring to educational roles in dentistry, including clinical supervision (direct oversight of the day-to-day practice of a dental student or trainee), educational supervision (overview of the performance and development of one or more trainees), formal teaching in academic settings (undergraduate and postgraduate), specific educational leadership roles, such as those of training programme director, and other professionals allied to dentistry that have a role in teaching both undergraduates and postgraduates.
Applicants may wish to continue onto the linked Postgraduate Diploma in Dental Education (available from 2026-27) which provides a further 60 credits at FHEQ Level 7.
Progression
Upon successful completion of the PG Certificate in Dental Education, students may apply to progress to:
- PG Diploma in Dental Education, 1 year, part-time.
- Upon successful completion of the PG Diploma, students can then apply to progress to the MSt in Dental Education, 1 year, part-time.
It is envisaged that the Diploma will be available from 2026-27. Updates will be provided on this website.
Other Courses
Enquirers may also be interested in viewing details of the PG Certificate in Medical Education.
Student support
Depending upon your needs, a variety of support opportunities are available to you including wellbeing support sessions, short-term counselling, and study skills support sessions. Find out more in our student support webpages.
Academic requirement
Applicants are normally expected to a hold a 2i degree or higher from a UK university or an equivalent from an overseas university.
If you wish to apply to join the programme you must:
- be a post-foundation-year dentist in primary, secondary or tertiary care, or a professional allied to dentistry who is involved in teaching students at undergraduate or postgraduate levels or who has a role in training and appraising dental healthcare 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 teacher prior to starting the programme
- be able to demonstrate proficiency in the English language; students whose first language is not English must be able to satisfy the requirements below
Language requirement
If English isn’t your first language, you will be required to submit evidence that you meet the University’s English language requirement before you are admitted.
Please see full details on the University Language Requirement webpage.
Language requirements for this course are below:
- IELTS Academic: Overall band score of 7.5 (with a minimum of 7.0 in each individual component)
- TOEFL Internet: Overall score of 110 (a minimum of 25 in each individual component)
- C1 Advanced: Grade A or B (with at least 193 in each individual element), plus a Language Centre assessment.
- C2 Proficiency: Grade A, B, or C (with at least 200, with no element lower than 185)
Please note that there are no exceptions to this requirement and, if you are offered a place on the course, it will be subject to you meeting this requirement.
Teaching
The Postgraduate Certificate comprises two modules and combines face-to-face and online study days with additional between-module reflection, study and assignment work. The two modules are detailed below.
Please note, all date information and teaching delivery are subject to confirmation potentially, between now and the course start:
Module 1: Core Skills in Dental Education
- 2 October 2025 (online)
- 3-4 December 2025 (face to face)
- 15 January 2026 (online)
Module 2: Supporting Dental Learning
- 19-20 March 2026 (face to face)
- 8 May 2026 (online)
A virtual learning environment will support students’ learning throughout the programme
The course requires a commitment to reading and pre-class preparation, including some specific reading between class sessions. There are also a number of written assignments:
Assignments
Each module will include both formative and summative assessments. Assessed topics will likely include: reflective accounts of teaching and teaching plans, and exploration of participants’ development as educators in relation to the educational models discussed during the course. The summative assessments total 11,000 words.
Fees
The fee for 2025-26 will be £5,169 per annum (Home) and £10,341 (Overseas).
Students will be expected to cover the application fee (£50 online) and any costs of travel, accommodation and subsistence incurred during teaching sessions in Cambridge.
Funding
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.
The application deadline has now been extended to the 30th May 2025 with applications dealt with in two batches; any applications received up to the 30th April 2025 will be considered in batch one, and any applications received between the 1st and 30th May 2025 in batch two. We may carry over applications received in the first batch over to the second batch. Interviews will be held approximately 3-4 weeks after each batch deadline. Should the course become full, we reserve the right to close for applications early. As a result, we would encourage applicants to apply as soon as possible.
Applicants will be required to either submit or provide details of the following as part of the application process:
- original qualification transcripts
- employer letter of support to confirm release of time to study.
- evidence of funding
- details of two academic referees
If applicable, appropriate visa to attend the course.
When completing your application, please note the University restrictions and risks of using AI tools.
