MSc Digital Dental Technology
Course Overview
The University of Bolton's MSc in Digital Dental Technology offers you the opportunity to develop skills using digital dental systems to manufacture appliances in fixed prosthodontics, removable prosthodontics and orthodontics. It will support you to further your knowledge of how digital solutions can assist with advanced techniques, including dental implants. In addition, we'll help you build your business and transferable skills, ready to take on leadership and management roles or run your own commercial dental laboratory. Overall, this postgraduate degree is an ideal academic progression for dental technicians and clinical professionals who have suitable training and experience in dental technology.Studying this course will help to develop your understanding of how principles and techniques from different fields, such as engineering, materials science, and computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM), can be brought together to advance dental technology. We'll provide you with a sound background in research methodology and critical thinking that will support you if you choose a career in dental research and development.
Our industry-experienced team will guide you as you gain an in-depth knowledge of digital technology and manufacturing practices. Your training will offer plenty of hands-on experience as you learn to design and manufacture advanced dental appliances and implant restorations that are biomechanically acceptable.
Your studies will culminate in an independent and substantial piece of research that offers you the chance to demonstrate your mastery of an aspect of contemporary dental technology. In consultation with our team, you'll choose an area of interest to research (ideally through experiment) so you can mould your own master's-level learning. You'll be able to draw together concepts from across your learning as you develop your research methodology, collect and analyse data, interpret and justify your results, and draw your conclusions. This exciting process not only helps to develop your advanced dental research knowledge but supports you in gaining the critical analysis, problem-solving and lifelong learning skills you'll need to adapt to new challenges, techniques and procedures throughout your career.
Highlights
- As a dental technology postgraduate, you'll have access to industry-standard specialist equipment and advanced biomaterials in our purpose-built teaching laboratories in the Queen's Specialist Building, as well as high-specification research equipment in our dental materials research laboratory.
- We offer regular hands-on sessions to help develop your practical capabilities, preparing you to work independently on your dental appliance manufacturing, research case studies and research-based project.
- Our dedicated staff team, who possess a wide range of professional experience, industry knowledge, technical expertise and academic credentials, offers face-to-face sessions and one-to-one support.
- You'll benefit from our strong industry links with dental organisations across the UK, offering opportunities for industry masterclasses and lectures, joint projects and networking.
- Our approach to teaching and learning is student-centred, so we'll work with you on an individual basis, providing tailored help and support throughout your studies.
- When you successfully complete this course, you'll be awarded the MSc Digital Dental Technology by the University of Bolton.
Key Features
- Course materials are available online, allowing you to prepare work at home and make the most of the highly interactive in-class tuition.
- We offer opportunities for you to undertake advanced research into a variety of subjects. Whenever possible, we'll support you to focus on projects that are directly linked to your personal interests and career development needs.
- If the outcomes and standard of your major research project prove appropriate, we'll support you to reformat your project into an academic paper for submission to an academic journal, ready to seek publication.
- This course is based at the University of Bolton's campus in the North West of England.
- Opportunities for progression after completing this master's degree include dental technology PhD programmes.
Entry Requirements
- Normally, you should have at least an upper second class (2.1) honours degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject; for example, BSc (Hons) Dental Technology.
- If you have a lower second class (2.2) honours degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject, we'll consider your application, especially if you have good relevant industrial experience.
- We encourage you to apply if you're a Clinical Dental Technician with an appropriate Level 6 qualification.
- You may be required to attend an interview and/or provide a portfolio of work.
- We'll consider applications where appropriate work experience can be demonstrated in lieu of, or in addition to, the published academic qualifications in line with the University’s Recognition of Prior Experiential Learning (RPEL) procedures.
- If English isn’t your first language, you’ll also need IELTS 6.5 with normally no less than 6.0 in any band (or equivalent). We also accept a range of other English language qualifications – please visit our English Language Requirements web page for more details.
- Please note that this course is subject to the University of Bolton's Fitness to Practise procedure.
Where changes are made to material information contained in this course description or a decision is taken to suspend a course between the offer of admissions and enrolment, we will inform applicants at the earliest possible opportunity and will outline the various options available to the applicant.
Career Opportunities
Some of the career opportunities described below are subject to GDC registration status
The use of digital dental systems is now standard practice in many dental laboratories, but there are not enough graduates with digital skills to meet the needs of the industry. Dental technology departments in the National Health Service (NHS) report struggling to recruit individuals with the advanced skills needed to support their current and digital dental technology practices. This is also echoed in the commercial sector. As a graduate of our MSc Digital Dental Technology master's degree, you'll have the digital skills sought by employers, along with a range of leadership and transferable skills that will support you as you seek promotion or start your own commercial enterprise.
As a graduate of this course, you'll possess extensive skills in digital dental technology and a unique body of work demonstrating your abilities. Your thorough knowledge and understanding of digital dental workflow will enable you to critically analyse and assess individual cases and develop practical solutions. You'll have the confidence to act autonomously and use your initiative, problem-solving, communication and leadership skills to manage complex projects. You'll also have sought-after collaborative and team working skills, resilience and self-awareness.
What can I do with this qualification?
Additionally, you'll be well prepared to adapt as the industry changes and new technologies and techniques become available. Your research experience, critical thinking and problem-solving skills will future-proof your career, supporting you to keep up-to-date with advances. Alternatively, you may prefer to drive advances in the dental technology field by pursuing a PhD leading to an academic or research and development career.
Alternative career options
You could train as a healthcare scientist, specialising in reconstructive sciences like maxillofacial prosthetics through the NHS Scientist Training Programme (STP). Graduates may also use the qualification to enter a range of other careers. Some of these roles may require relevant experience and/or postgraduate study. Career options include:
- Dentistry
- Clinical dental technology
- Dental hygiene and therapy
- Teaching and education
- Research and development
- Sales
Fees & Funding
Home/EU Fees
No fee information is currently available, please contact the University of Bolton’s Academic Fees team by emailing AcademicFees@bolton.ac.uk for more information.
International Fees
No fee information is currently available, please contact the University of Bolton’s Academic Fees team by emailing AcademicFees@bolton.ac.uk for more information.
Bursaries
Click here for more information on our Master's Bursaries.
Important note regarding tuition fees for the 2025-26 academic year: EU nationals who meet residency requirements (have settled or pre-settled status) may be eligible for 'Home' fee status. If you do not meet these residency requirements, overseas fees will apply. Irish citizens living in the UK or Ireland will be eligible for 'Home' fee status under the Common Travel Area arrangement. Please read the student finance for EU students web page on www.gov.uk for information.
The fees for a student's course of study will be set for the normal duration of that course subject only to inflationary increases – measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) recorded in March each year to take effect for subsequent start dates.
How to apply
Home Applicants
Please contact Admissions by telephone on 01204 903903 or email enquiries@bolton.ac.uk
Admissions
University of Bolton
Deane Road
Bolton, BL3 5AB
United Kingdom
Tel: 01204 903903
Email: enquiries@bolton.ac.uk
International Applicants
International applications are not possible for this course
As an international student you are not allowed to study this course because of the restrictions on your visa.
We offer a wide range of full-time courses in lots of different subjects, many of our courses start in September and January. If you would like to see what courses are available please visit our Course Search.
Teaching & Assessment
Our team of academic and professional staff will use a variety of teaching and learning strategies to help you gain and develop appropriate concepts, knowledge and skills. You can expect practical development sessions, self-directed study, lectures, seminars, tutorials, presentations and independent laboratory time.
It's important to realise that the time spent with a tutor during formally scheduled activities is only a small part of the learning time identified for a module. We'll also expect you to spend significant time in guided independent study, such as general background reading, preparing for seminar activities and working on assignments. We're committed to supporting you throughout your learning journey. Over time, our guidance will purposefully become less structured and prescriptive. This will encourage you to develop confidence and independence in your studies and take responsibility for managing your own learning time as you increase in autonomy.
The assessment strategy for the programme is designed to help you achieve the overall aims of the curriculum, as well as the learning outcomes for individual modules. As well as assessing your achievement, it helps to organise and develop your learning. Assessment feedback can help you build your skills and an understanding of your strengths and weaknesses.
The types of assessment you'll be required to complete fall into two general categories: formative and summative. Formative assessments help in learning and developing knowledge and skills. Summative assessments, on which grades are allocated, reflect the quality of the learning that has been achieved. Formative assessment will take place via tutorial discussion, group workshops including peer and tutor review, and guidance on work in progress. Formative feedback will be provided face-to-face via discussion, online or in written form. Summative assessments consist of both practical and applied theoretical work. These will include a range of assessments, including practical case studies, reports, self-reflections, oral assessments and practical examinations.
Modules
The modules listed below may be a mixture of compulsory and optional. You may not have the opportunity to study all the modules shown as part of the course.
- Dental Materials Science
- Digital Dental Technology in Practice (Fixed Prosthodontics)
- Leadership and Innovation
- Digital Dental Technology in Practice (Removable Prosthodontics / Orthodontics / Fundamental Procedures)
- Digital Dental Technology in Practice (Implant Prosthodontics / Advanced Techniques)
- Research Methodology
- Dental Research Project
Assessment methods
| Level | Assessment method |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | Coursework 93% Practical exams 7% |
Learning Activities
| Level | Activity |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | Guided independent study 81% Scheduled learning and teaching activities 19% |
The university will use all reasonable endeavours to deliver your course as described in its published material and the programme specification for the academic year in which you begin your course. The university considers changes to courses very carefully and the university will minimise any changes. Please be aware that our courses are subject to review on an ongoing basis and changes may be necessary due to legitimate staffing, financial, regulatory and academic reasons. The content of course modules and mode of associated assessments may be updated on an annual basis. This is to ensure that all modules are up-to-date and responsive to employment and sector needs. The published course material and the programme specification contain indicative ‘optional modules’ that may be subject to change due to circumstances outside of our control. For this reason, we cannot guarantee to run any specific optional module.
