Dentistry - Doctorate of Clinical Dentistry - Orthodontics

The Doctor of Clinical Dentistry is a full-time programme running for 36 months from the date of first registration for the programme. It is run on a cyclical basis with an intake of students in October 2027 with four students maximum per intake on a three year cycle. The Programme has a modular format and covers all aspects of contemporary clinical and theoretical Orthodontics. There is also a research component.



Candidates meeting the entry requirements will enter a specific training pathway (Orthodontics or Oral Surgery or Prosthodontics or Periodontology).



Candidates will be required to complete a three year programme and accumulate 270 credits. The candidate's research must be carried out, and the thesis for the degree must be prepared, under the direction of the Supervisor. The Supervisor should assess the progress of the candidate and, if he/she arrives at the view that the candidate is unlikely to achieve the degree for which he/she is registered, this should be notified to the Head of Department who, following consultation with the Departmental Graduate Studies Committee, should communicate with the candidate without delay. Upon successful completion of the prescribed modules (including a research thesis completed under supervision of a staff member of the Dental School), students will be awarded a DClinDent.



Students on this DClinDent programme will be unsalaried and will be required to pay full programme fees (including Bench fees).



The DClinDent (Orthodontics) is a three-year full-time programme, combining taught modules with clinical training and research. Students complete 270 credits over three years, culminating in a thesis assessed at the end of Year 3. The course delivered in the Postgraduate Orthodontic Unit at the Cork University Dental School & Hospital.



The training program has received approval from the Irish Committee for Specialist Training in Dentistry. Upon successful completion of the program, the trainee will be awarded a Doctorate in Clinical Dentistry (Oral Surgery) by the National University of Ireland and will be eligible for registration as an Oral Surgeon in the Register of Dental Specialists maintained by the Dental Council of Ireland.



Candidate selection will consider the breadth and depth of relevant experience.

Year 1 (90 credits)



Core Modules (10 credits)

OH7016 Research Methods in Dentistry I (5 credits)

PG6009 Graduate Information Literacy (5 credits)



Specialty Modules (40 credits)

OH7000 Basic Orthodontic Subjects (10 credits)

OH7017 General Biological, Health and Medical Subjects (10 credits)

OH7018 General Orthodontic Subjects and Basic Orthodontic Techniques (20 credits)



Research (40 credits)

Thesis work (assessed at the end of Year 3)



Year 2 (90 credits)



Core Modules (5 credits)

OH7009 Research Methods in Dentistry II (5 credits)



Specialty Modules (45 credits)

OH7004 Clinical Orthodontic Subjects (20 credits)

OH7005 Multidisciplinary Orthodontic Treatment Procedures (5 credits)

OH7007 Specific Orthodontic Treatment Procedures (10 credits)

OH7014 Orthodontic Techniques (10 credits)



Research (40 credits)

Continued thesis work (assessed at the end of Year 3)



Year 3 (90 credits)



Core Modules (50 credits)

OH7010 Advanced Orthodontic Technique (20 credits)

OH7011 Advanced Multidisciplinary Orthodontics (20 credits)

OH7015 Advanced Specific Treatment Procedures (10 credits)



Research (40 credits)

Completion of thesis (120 credits total, examined at the end of Year 3)

Applicants must have:



Have a primary honours Dental degree (NFQ, Level 8) which can be registered with the Irish Dental Council;



Have a minimum of two years postgraduate experience in Dentistry in a range of clinical and educational settings;



Possess MFDS/MFD or equivalent



For Applicants with Qualifications Completed Outside of Ireland



Applicants must meet the required entry academic grade, equivalent to Irish requirements. For more information see our Qualification Comparison page.



International/Non-EU Applicants

For full details of the non-EU application procedure visit our how to apply pages for international students.



In UCC, we use the term programme and course interchangeably to describe what a person has registered to study in UCC and its constituent colleges, schools, and departments.

Note that not all courses are open to international/non-EU applicants, please check the fact file above. For more information contact the International Office.



English Language Requirements

Applicants who are non-native speakers of the English language must meet the university-approved English language requirements. Visit our PG English Language Requirements page for more information.

Closing Date March/April 2027

3 years (Full time 36 month course)

Start Date October 2027