Dental Public Health/Community Dentistry PhD – (Ph.D.)

Research within dental public health centres around the Oral Health Unit (OHU) - an academically-independent national group set up to develop and deliver high quality applied dental research in primary care. Established within the National Primary Care Research and Development Centre (NPCRDC), the aim of the unit is to deliver research which will inform dental policy, service commissioning and clinical practice. PhD study within the School is a challenging yet rewarding experience. Flexibility is allowed within the parameters of the study to allow the research to evolve and instigate findings not envisaged at the outset of the work. This is complimented by a dedicated PhD training structure which provides critical skills training, personal development and progression milestones.

The PhD project will either be outlined by the academic supervisor offering the study or, alternatively, by an applicant seeking to work within a particular research area with a focused plan of research in mind. The supervisory team will assist the PhD applicant throughout the study, ensuring academic objectives are met and suitable training is provided in core skills fundamental to the research. Transferable skills training is provided by a dedicated Graduate Training Programme offered by the Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences, which provides training in research methodology, critical writing skills, intellectual property, research ethics etc.

All dentistry based MPhil/PhD researchers are required to successfully complete a course unit in Research Methods and to participate in the Graduate Training Programme. Students are encouraged to attend journal clubs and research meetings within the School and are provided a personal laptop computer for the duration of their studies.