Bachelor of Dental Surgery (IMU), Dentistry Degrees from Partner Dental Schools
Duration	5 - 5½ years
Intake	February

Dentistry is a dynamic health profession that provides a rewarding career especially since currently there are insufficient dentists available in Malaysia to provide adequate oral healthcare to its population. Dentistry is concerned with taking care of all health and aesthetic problems pertaining to the mouth, teeth, gums and other hard and soft tissues of the oral cavity and the upper and lower jaws. Dentists are both artists as well as scientists as not only are they required to have the scientific knowledge and technology available to diagnose, prevent and treat oral diseases and various oro-facial anomalies but also need to be skilful in handling the wide variety of materials, instruments and equipment to execute treatment.

Dentists’ work is not confined to filling and pulling out teeth. The care that dentists are trained to provide greatly improves the quality of their patients’ lives. Oral diseases like tooth decay, gum diseases and oral cancer, malocclusion (when teeth in the upper and lower jaws do not fit properly), genetic deformities and anomalies affecting the oro-facial complex, and other oral problems can cause a great deal of discomfort, pain and adversely affect oral functions such as chewing food, talking or playing of musical instruments. A patient’s appearance, self esteem and confidence can also be greatly enhanced through various types of dental procedures.

Dentists are usually not required to be on call at night nor to make house calls. Thus it is easier for dentists to achieve a perfect balance between their professional and personal lives.

Why choose this programme?
The dental programme in IMU is focused on excellence committed to meeting international standards. The education programme is planned to provide a choice of 2 pathways for the dental student. The first path is implemented jointly by the International Medical University, Malaysia, in collaboration with English speaking overseas universities (Partner Universities), with the students spending the first phase (5 semesters) in Malaysia and the later years in the partner universities. The second path is the student will spend the full 5 years of the undergraduate programme in IMU and receive the Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) degree from IMU. A student-centred approach is adopted in which the needs of the individual students are met, and they are supported by the use of study guides. Active learning methods are used including problem-based learning, e-learning, self-directed learning and community-based education.

What is the structure of the programme?
The IMU dental programme is structured in two phases. In Phase I (2½ years), the programme focuses on the basic biological, behavioural, dental and medical sciences required for the practice of dentistry. There is also an introduction to the basic clinical skills required for the practice of dentistry and the skill required of the practising dentist in managing the health of the family and the community.

In Phase II (2½ years), the clinical experience will be further increased for the students to develop a patient-centred approach in the management of comprehensive primary dental care for patients of all ages. Students will not only have clinical experience of treating patients at the IMU dental facilities located in the Bukit Jalil campus but will also be exposed to the government dental clinics and centres, private dental clinics, mobile and other dental clinics for a wide experience to develop their ability in improving the oral health of the individuals, families and community.

What are the aims and key features of the programme?
The aim of the dental programme in the International Medical University is to produce graduates with appropriate knowledge, skills and attitudes for competent dental practice. The key features are:-

What is the duration of the programme?
The duration of Phase I of the dental programme in IMU is 2½ years. The total period of study is dependent on the university selected for completion of Phase II as provided in following table.

University	Phase I	Phase II	Total Period of study
IMU	2½ years	2½ years	5 Years
University of Adelaide	2½ years	3 Years	5½ Years
University of Queensland	2½ years	3 Years	5½ Years
University of Sdyney	2½ years	2½ years	5 Years
University of Western Australia	2½ years	3 Years	5½ Years
University of Otago	2½ years	2½ years	5 Years

What are the teaching-learning approaches used?
A wide variety of teaching-learning approaches are employed in the dental programme to provide a stimulating environment for learning. These include lectures, problem-based learning (PBL), practical classes, patient simulation practicals, clinical skills sessions, e-learning, independent learning, clinical dental treatment of patients and postings to various hospitals and clinics. The students will be learning together with the medical students for common subjects such as Foundation and Medical Science courses which will promote interprofessional understanding and working relationships.

When do students get clinical exposure?
The students will have early exposure to the clinical environment right from Year 1 (Semester 1 & 2) and will start treating patients from Year 2 (Semester 3).

What are the semester contents?
Semester 1 Foundation Dental Sciences 1 Community and Oral Health 1 Behavioural Science Professional & Personal Development	Semester 2 Foundation Medical Sciences Community and Oral Health 1 Dental Practice 1 Dental Sciences 1 Behavioural Science Professional & Personal Development
Semester 3 Medical Sciences Community and Oral Health 1 Dental Sciences 2 Dental Practice 1 Behavioural Science Professional & Personal Development Elective	Semester 4 Medical Sciences Community and Oral Health 1 Dental Sciences 2 Dental Practice 1 Behavioural Science Professional & Personal Development Selective
Semester 5 Medical Sciences Community & Oral Health 1 Dental Practice 1 Professional & Personal Development	Semester 6 Dental Practice 2 Restorative Dentistry Children’s Dentistry Oral Diagnostic Sciences 1 Community and Oral Health 2 Professional & Personal Development (PPD)
Semester 7 Dental Practice 2 Restorative Dentistry Children’s Dentistry & Orthodontics Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Human Disease Oral Diagnostic Sciences 1 Community and Oral Health 2 Professional & Personal Development (PPD)	Semester 8 Restorative Dentistry Children’s Dentistry & Orthodontics Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Oral Diagnostic Sciences 2 Community and Oral Health 2 Outreach Posting Professional & Personal Development (PPD) Special Study Module
Semester 9 Restorative Dentistry Children’s Dentistry & Orthodontics Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Oral Diagnostic Sciences 2 Community and Oral Health 2 Outreach Posting Professional & Personal Development (PPD)	Semester 10 Restorative Dentistry Children’s Dentistry & Orthodontics Outreach Posting Professional & Personal Development (PPD)

How do students select a Partner Dental School and when is the selection made?
At the beginning of Semester 5, students will provide their choices of dental schools in order of preference. A matching exercise will be carried out through a computer matching programme specially designed to take into primary consideration the students’ choices as well as requirements set by the PDS to provide the closest match to the students’ choice of PDS.

What is the medium of instruction?
The medium of instruction is English. Students who come from a system of education in which the medium of instruction is not English are strongly recommended to improve their proficiency in English by making their own arrangements to attend additional English Language classes before entering the IMU.

Who will award the degree?
The Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) degree is awarded by IMU to students who have successfully completed the full dental programme of 5 years in IMU.

The Partner Dental Schools will award their respective degrees to students who transfer to their schools. Degrees from these schools are recognised internationally as well as locally by the Malaysian Dental Council for full registration.