PhD with a Clinical Component
Whatever your dental subdiscipline, this four-year PhD with a Clinical Component is an ideal opportunity to engage in exciting research programmes that will grow your research capability, whilst developing your clinical skills in your chosen discipline.
You will spend four days each week conducting research, and one day enhancing your clinical skills via didactic teaching, attendance at specialist clinics, and the supervised care of patients. Here you will be working with, and supervised by, experienced and specialist clinical mentors as trainers and teachers.
Your training will be tailored to ensure you achieve your personal and professional goals, and the programme is available in the following clinical disciplines:
- Dental implantology
- Periodontology
- Restorative dentistry (Fixed & Removable prosthodontics)
- Oral medicine
- Oral & maxillofacial surgery
- Paediatric dentistry
Programme aims
The programme aims to develop you, the future leaders of clinical dentistry, for your academic and clinical careers.
Key facts
| Mode of study | Full-time |
|---|---|
| Qualification | PhD |
| Full-time duration | 4 years |
| Start dates | January, April, July, October |
The clinical themes will all include clinical exposure from Year 1 and will vary by discipline, but all will involve hands on training in the diagnosis, management and rehabilitation of patients in your clinical discipline.
Your research topic will be influenced by your clinical interests, aligned with the School’s research themes, and designed in collaboration with our experienced PhD supervisors to whom you will be allocated.
If your application is successful, your induction and research studies will start with a one day/week course on the analysis of data and laboratory skills.
During your collection of data over the four-year programme, you will be fully supported by your supervisors and receive dedicated statistical support.
UK government postgraduate doctoral loans
Candidates for the Professional Doctorate programme may be eligible to apply for a UK government postgraduate doctoral loan.
Find out more about UK government postgraduate doctoral loansFunding
See our latest PhD studentships and projects and find out more about other funding opportunities.
Tuition fees
Find the fees for our postgraduate research courses.
Students from the UK
Get the latest information on postgraduate fees.
Students from the EU, EEA and Switzerland
Get the latest information on postgraduate fees.
Students from the rest of the world (international)
As part of your application, you will need to provide the following:
- a letter of application and CV demonstrating your educational and clinical achievements/experience
- evidence of being a registered dental practitioner
- one academic reference
- one clinical reference
- evidence that you meet the English language requirements
Informal enquiries and expressions of interest are welcome, and can be made by sending a copy of your CV and a covering letter to dentalpgadmissions@cardiff.ac.uk or Professor David Thomas (Programme Director) at Thomasdw2@cardiff.ac.uk.
If your formal application meets the requirements, you will be invited to an interview where you will:
- demonstrate your knowledge and interest in research via a 10-minute presentation
- discuss with your clinical/research supervisors the research project and the training opportunities available
You must have been awarded a primary dental qualification.
English language requirements
IELTS 7.0 with 6.5 in each subskill taken within the past 2 years, or equivalent.
Please read our English language requirements for more details.
