ABOUT
Oral health is a window into your health. In fact, researchers have discovered that an unhealthy mouth (especially the gums) may increase the risk of serious health problems such as heart disease, stroke, diabetic complications and preterm labour. Hence, the care that dentists provide greatly improves the quality of patients’ lives.
Dentistry Degree
Besides filling and pulling out teeth, the dentists’ tasks include restoring function to badly decayed, broken or infected teeth, replacing missing teeth with dentures, bridges or implant-supported prostheses, treatment of oral diseases such as inflammatory diseases of gum and supporting tissues, destructive diseases such as cancer of the oral tissues, and the aligning and straightening of teeth.
As our smiles are a reflection of our emotional wellbeing, dentists also serve to enhance patients’ confidence and self-esteem.
Dentistry is a challenging career choice. However, as dentists are generally not required to be on call or make house calls, dentists have an easier task of juggling career, family and personal priorities.
The IMU Dentistry programme offers a choice of 2 tracks. Students can opt to undertake the entire 5-year Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) degree in IMU or spend the initial years in IMU and then transfer to reputable universities abroad. For the latter option, students will receive the degree from the respective partner university.
Key Facts
Why Study Dentistry at IMU?
An Established Private Healthcare University
IMU is Malaysia’s first and most established private medical and healthcare university with over 30 years of dedicated focus in healthcare education. IMU achieved the SETARA-2018/2019 Tier 6 status (Outstanding) under the Mature University category.
Build Your Future Healthcare Professional Network
As IMU offers the widest range of healthcare programmes, our students are fully immersed in a vibrant community of students and practitioners from all healthcare fields. This allows for the development of strong friendship amongst peers that will be the foundation of an extensive healthcare professional network upon graduation.
Curriculum Benchmarked to International Standards
IMU’s Dental curriculum has been developed to meet high international standards and is accepted by international partner universities for credit transfer of the Phase 1 of their Dentistry programme.
Better Preparation for a Career as a Dentist
With early exposure to the clinical environment in Semester 1 and treatment of patients from Year 2, students are better prepared through student-centred learning activities and competency tests for patient care and compulsory service.
Taught by Well-Qualified Staff at World-Class Facilities
Students are taught by qualified, competent professionals with over 10 years of academic experience. Learning environments include the IMU Dental Skills Centre and Oral Health Centre, both of which are equipped with new technologies for interactive learning, skills development and patient education, promoting pleasant and safe patient care.
Programme Structure
Semester Contents
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 | Semester 3 |
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| Semester 4 | Semester 5 | Semester 6 |
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| Semester 7 | Semester 8 | Semester 9 |
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| Semester 10 | ||
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Entry Requirement
| Examinations | Requirements |
|---|---|
| A- Levels | BBB or ABC in ~Biology; and ~Chemistry; and ~Physics or Mathematics |
| STPM | BBB or ABC in ~Biology; and ~Chemistry; and ~Physics or Mathematics |
| Australian Matriculation | ATAR 80 including ~Biology; and ~Chemistry; and ~Physics or Mathematics AND attained 5Bs in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics / Additional Mathematics and another subject at SPM / O-Level or its equivalent |
| NCEA Level 3 | Average of 80% in ~Biology; and ~Chemistry; and ~Physics or Mathematics AND attained 5Bs in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics / Additional Mathematics and another subject at SPM / O-level or its equivalent |
| Canadian Grade 12/13 | Average of 80% in 3 subjects ~Biology; and ~Chemistry; and ~Physics or Mathematics) AND attained 5Bs in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics / Additional Mathematics and another subject at SPM / O-level or its equivalent |
| Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) | B4 in 5 subjects: Biology; and Chemistry; and Physics; and Advanced Mathematics I; and Advanced Mathematics II |
| Australian University Foundation Programmes | Pass with an average of 80% in 3 subjects ~Biology; and ~Chemistry;and ~Physics or Mathematics) AND attained 5Bs in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics / Additional Mathematics and another subject at SPM / O-level or its equivalent |
| Indian Pre-University | An average of 70% in ~Biology; and ~Chemistry; and ~Physics or Mathematics) AND attained 5Bs in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics / Additional Mathematics and another subject at SPM / O-level or its equivalent |
| Ministry of Education Matriculation # | cGPA 3.00 (out of 4.00) in Biology; and Chemistry; and Physics or Mathematics] AND attained 5Bs in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics/ Additional Mathematics and another subject at SPM/O-Level |
| International Baccalaureate (IB) | 30 points with a minimum score of 5 each in 3 of the following subjects ~Biology; and ~Chemistry; and ~Physics/Mathematics with a minimum of 2 subjects at Higher Level (HL) and one subject at Standard Level (SL) AND attained 5Bs in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics/Additional Mathematics and Malay/English at SPM / O-Level or its equivalent |
| American High School Diploma with Advanced Placement (AP) | – |
| Foundation Studies # | IMU Foundation in Science A cGPA of 3.00 in Biology; and Chemistry; and Mathematics/Physics AND attained 5Bs in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics/ Additional Mathematics and English at SPM/O-Level or its equivalent.*Foundation in Science or equivalent from other institutions will be subjected to the Dean’s approval on a case by case basis* |
| Degree | BSc in related field: cGPA 3.00 |
| Diploma | Diploma in Health Sciences – cGPA 3.50 AND provided duration is not less than 5 semesters or 2.5 years in the same accredited institution AND attained 2Bs each in Biology, Chemistry or Physics, and 3Cs in English, Mathematics or Additional Mathematics and another subject at SPM / O-level |
# The duration of this programme must be a minimum of 1 year in the same accredited institution and foundation in other disciplines are accepted.
English Language Requirement
| MUET* | Band score of 4; or (For Malaysian students) |
| IELTS | Overall band score of 6.5 (Not less than 6.0 for individual bands); or |
| Cambridge English : Advanced (CAE)* | Overall score of 176; or |
| Cambridge English : Proficiency (CPE)* | Overall score of 176; or |
| Cambridge Linguaskill* | Overall score of 180; or |
| Pearson Test of English (PTE)* | Overall score of 63; or |
| Credit Transfer | IELTS Overall band score of 7.0 (Not less than 6.0 for individual bands) |
* ONLY applicable for those who are completing the entire degree at IMU, Malaysia
Note
Please note that achieving the minimum Entry and English requirements as stated does not guarantee you admission into any of IMU’s programmes.
Please refer to our Student Admissions Policy for more information.
Dental graduates intending to seek employment in the public sector must fulfill the criteria set by the Public Services Commission of Malaysia (SPA).
Application and Registration Fees
| Fee | Malaysian Student (RM) | International Student (RM) |
|---|---|---|
| Application Fee | 300 | 950 |
| Registration Fee | 1300 | 3,400 |
| Refundable Caution Deposit | 3,000 | 3,000 |
Fee Structure
malaysian student
| Total Duration (years) | Years | Total Semesters | Tuition Fee Per Semester (RM) | Transfer Fee Per Semester (RM) | Tuition Fee Per Year (RM) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) | ||||||
| At IMU University | ||||||
| Phase 1 & Phase 2 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 67,400 | – | 134,800 |
| Equipment Cost
Students will be required to purchase equipment in order to carry out the required training exercises of the course. The sum is estimated at approximately RM10,000. |
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| Degree from Partner University | ||||||
| Phase 1 at IMU University | ||||||
| 2½ | 2½ | 5 | 67,400 | 6,000* | 134,800 | |
| Phase 2 at Partner Dental School (PDS) | ||||||
| University | Total Duration (years) | Average Years | Total Semesters | Tuition Fee Per Year * | ||
| University of Adelaide | 5½ | 3 | 6 | AUD102,060 | ||
| University of Dalhousie | 5½ | 3 | 6 | CAD88,918 | ||
| University of Otago | 5 | 2½ | 5 | NZD111,479 | ||
| University of Dundee | 5½ | 3 | 6 | GBP52,645 | ||
| University of Glasgow | 5½ | 3 | 6 | GBP55,050 | ||
| University of Liverpool | 5½ | 3 | 6 | GBP48,550 | ||
International student
| Total Duration (years) | Years | Total Semesters | Tuition Fee Per Semester (RM) | Transfer Fee Per Semester (RM) | Tuition Fee Per Year (RM) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) | ||||||
| At IMU University | ||||||
| Phase 1 & Phase 2 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 71,700 | – | 143,400 |
| Equipment Cost
Students will be required to purchase equipment in order to carry out the required training exercises of the course. The sum is estimated at approximately RM10,000. |
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| Degree from Partner University | ||||||
| Phase 1 at IMU University | ||||||
| 2½ | 2½ | 5 | 67,400 | 6,000* | 143,400 | |
| Phase 2 at Partner Dental School (PDS) | ||||||
| University | Total Duration (years) | Average Years | Total Semesters | Tuition Fee Per Year * | ||
| University of Adelaide | 5½ | 3 | 6 | AUD102,060 | ||
| University of Dalhousie | 5½ | 3 | 6 | CAD88,918 | ||
| University of Otago | 5 | 2½ | 5 | NZD111,479 | ||
| University of Dundee | 5½ | 3 | 6 | GBP52,645 | ||
| University of Glasgow | 5½ | 3 | 6 | GBP55,050 | ||
| University of Liverpool | 5½ | 3 | 6 | GBP48,550 | ||
| Country | Estimated Living Costs (Per Year) |
Exchange Rate (As of Dec 2023) |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Estimated Living Cost (Per Year) | Australia | AUD 21,000 – AUD 30,000 ≈ RM 65,900 – RM 94,200 | AUD 1 ≈ RM3.14 |
| Canada | CAD 28,000 ≈ RM 98,000 | CAD 1 ≈ RM3.50 | |
| China | RMB 85,000 ≈ RM 56,100 | RMB 1 ≈ RM0.66 | |
| Ireland | EUR 12,000 ≈ RM 62,000 | EUR 1 ≈ RM5.17 | |
| New Zealand | NZD 22,000 – NZD 26,000 ≈ RM 64,500 – RM 76,200 | NZD 1 ≈ RM2.93 | |
| United Kingdom | GBP 10,000 – 22,700 ≈ RM60,000 – RM 136,200 | GBP 1 ≈ RM6.00 | |
| United States of America | USD 16,000 ≈ RM 75,800 | USD 1 ≈ RM4.74 | |
| Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | RM36,000 | RM36,000 |
Course Duration
| DURATION OF DENTISTRY PROGRAMME | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full duration of study: 5 to 5½ years (depending on the University) | |||
| Phase 1 (IMU) | Phase 2 (IMU) | Total | |
| MALAYSIA | |||
| International Medical University | 2½ years | 2½ years | 5 years |
| AUSTRALIA | |||
| University of Adelaide, Australia | 2½ years | 3 years | 5½ years |
| CANADA | |||
| Dalhousie University, Canada | 2½ years | 3 years | 5½ years |
| NEW ZEALAND | |||
| University of Otago, New Zealand | 2½ years | 2½ years | 5 years |
| UNITED KINGDOM | |||
| University of Dundee, Scotland | 2½ years | 3 years | 5½ years |
| University of Glasgow, Scotland | 2½ years | 3 years | 5½ years |
| University of Liverpool, England | 2½ years | 3 years | 5½ years |
Students with citizenship and permanent resident status in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and United Kingdom are advised to check with the Department of Admission & Student Affairs on their eligibility to apply.
* The list of Partner Dental Schools is subject to change from time to time.
Partner Universities
As an assurance of a total commitment towards quality education in dentistry, the IMU maintains its relationship with many partner universities in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and United Kingdom. Eligible graduates from IMU’s dentistry programme can enrol into King’s MSc in MedTech Innovation & Entrepreneurship at King’s College London, United Kingdom.
Australia
canada
new zealand
united kingdom
Industrial Partners
The curriculum structure is constantly updated to meet the ever-changing industries’ needs and includes research-led teaching to deliver evidence-based knowledge and practice in the industry. Students will have the opportunity to undergo industrial training in the related sectors in their final semester. They will also be able to collaborate with industry or/and researcher in related project in their final year. The organisations involved in these internships are:
Our Alumni
Our alumni today have embarked on diverse and promising career paths across various industries. They are a true testament to the versatility of their education, as they continue to excel in a wide range of professional healthcare fields.
Views from Our Community
Looi Shyn Yin
Alumna, Dentistry
If I could say anything about the School of Dentistry, I must say it is a very well organised with a holistic team catering to what is necessary in the development of a student's progress in their dental career. They are constantly listening to the needs of their students through feedback improvement and engagement with us. Personally a favourite liner of mine whenever people ask about my dental journey in IMU was "11/10 of my lecturers are absolutely fantastic. Not only are they good and compassionate clinicians, a rarity nowadays; but the way they deliver knowledge and shape our understanding and experience is admirable!
Tan Jun Hong
Alumnus, Dentistry
First and foremost is that the facilities provided by School of Dentistry (SOD) are are quite complete. I have been to several overseas universities such as China and Taiwan for my elective postings. Through these exchange programmes and communication with the students over there, I found that our School does indeed have the facilities that are good enough to compete on the international stage.
Kweh Ting Jing
Alumnus, Dentistry
IMU School of Dentistry did an excellent job in providing a conducive environment for maximum learning experience. The state-of-the-art facilities such as the Oral Health Centre, Dental Skills Centre and learning resources ranging from library online databases to e-learning laboratories enhance learning opportunities; not to mention the well qualified academic staff who promote continuous learning. The School provides its alumni with the support for postgraduate programmes as well, and I am grateful to be one of the benefactors. The comprehensive training from the School produces professionals who will always strive for excellence.
Chong Jun Ai
Alumna, Dentistry
I was part of the pioneer batch in year 2008 and if one is to compare the times back then and now, many things have changed. The School of Dentistry has grown and matured into a strong team of educationists, clinicians and researchers by producing well sought after dental practitioners, treating high-volume of patients in our state of the art Oral Health Centre and publishing high impact publications annually. I am grateful to be given the opportunity to be part of the faculty under the IMU scholarship programme as the opportunities to learn and grow are limitless at IMU.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why choose this programme?
The dental programme focused on excellence committed to meeting international standards. The education programme is planned to provide a choice of 2 tracks for the dental student. The first track is implemented jointly by the IMU, 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. On successful completion, the students will receive the degree from the respective Partner University. The second track 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, role play, self-directed learning and community-based education.
What is the structure of the programme?
Semester contents are available in the programme brochure [Download Brochure]
What is the duration of the programme?
Please refer to Partner Dental Schools (PDS) Enrolment.
What are the semester contents?
Semester contents are available in the programme brochure [Download Brochure]
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 and will start treating patients from Year 2 after passing some defined competency tests.
How do students select a Partner Dental School (PDS) 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.
What sort of jobs/careers can be undertaken with this degree?
What personality traits are best suited for a career in dentistry?
Dentists should have good health, manual dexterity, a methodical and scientific approach, ability to establish easy relationships quickly with people of all ages, ability to infuse confidence in nervous patients, especially children, organising ability and ability to work in a team.
When do I attend a student interview?
All students applying for the dental programme and have pre-university qualifications that meet IMU’s minimum requirements have to attend an interview. The interview is to gauge the students’ aptitude and motivation for pursuing a career in Dentistry as well as communication skills in English. Students will be informed of the date and time of interview after the application form and all other necessary documents are received by the IMU.
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A Word from the Dean
PROF SEOW LIANG LIN
Dean, School of Dentistry
BDS (Mal), MSc (London), FDSRCS (England), PhD (Mal)
“The Dental programme in IMU is innovatively designed to provide early clinical exposure and various forms of learning activities to promote critical reasoning, develop professionalism and lifelong learning skills.”