Course summary

This MSc aims to provide detailed academic insight into understanding the structure and biology of oral tissues and dental diseases. Oral and Dental disease is a world-wide problem, often leading to loss of quality of life. We aim to provide you with the knowledge and understanding in this critical area to help contribute to the future of oral health in society. Oral biology is a broad scientific discipline that encompasses a range of basic and applied sciences. Its teaching has significant value in translational and commercial research as applied to treating dental and oral diseases; diseases that remain prevalent in both developed and developing countries. Our one-year, full-time course at Cardiff University has a strong focus for educating current biological understanding relevant to microbiology, connective tissue biology, inflammatory diseases, cancer and developmental and repair processes. The programme is both lecture and laboratory based; benefiting from taught modules that cover areas such as Cellular & Molecular Biology and Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine and culminating in a hands-on 5-month research project. Based at The University Hospital of Wales (the 3rd largest university hospital in the UK), you will develop technical laboratory skills and you will experience a positive and interactive teaching environment. You will be taught by research academics with international standing and 3* and 4* publications identified within the recent Research Excellence Framework (REF 2014), placing us as one of the top-ranked institutions in the UK. Teaching will be predominately academic-led, small group, seminar-based teaching, with opportunity for critical discussion and student-centred tasks. You will acquire a number of specific skills, such as the ability to collect, analyse and interpret a range of complex quantitative and qualitative data. You will also develop a number of valuable laboratory research-based skills, through the completion of a 5-month research project of your choice, matching the academic expertise of the School. Graduates from this programme will have a broad spectrum of knowledge and a variety of skills, making them highly attractive both to potential employers and research establishments in this important sector. This course offers basic research training now often expected for entering a PhD programme of study. Subject to fee status you may apply for the MSc in Oral Biology as a 1+3 year programme of study, continuing into a PhD programme within the School upon obtaining a Masters degree qualification.