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Overview
This one-year distance learning MSc in Advanced Aesthetic and Restorative Dentistry is tailor-made to boost your clinical career. Distance learning lets you minimise the time you spend away from family and practice, as you top-up your existing PgDip (or equivalent) to a full Master’s qualification. We work in partnership with the Academy of Dental Excellence to validate a PgDip in Advanced Aesthetic and Restorative Dentistry – meaning you'll have the necessary qualification to progress onto this Master's top-up degree course.
This is a comprehensive way to deepen your knowledge of aesthetic and restorative dentistry. You’ll evaluate studies and technological innovations, and produce a unique piece of research linked to your own practice.
Advanced knowledge and clinical skills will give you a new professional edge. Reflecting on your practice will make you a particularly insightful and perceptive specialist.
Along the way, you’ll get expert guidance from researchers and clinicians at a University that is helping to shape the dental industry’s future.
The combination of clinical rigour and research innovation aligned to your interests means this MSc can open up a range of rewarding career possibilities. You'll gain credentials as an advanced practitioner, everywhere UK qualifications are recognised.
The mode of delivery of the diploma and master's is a distance learning format. Applicants are advised to check with their local dental councils and employers regarding the validity of distance learning in their country of residence/practice prior to submitting their application.
90% of our allied health professions research was rated as world-leading or internationally excellent. 100% of Impact Case Studies were classed as having very considerable reach and significance. (Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021)
Eligibility
This course accepts UK, EU, and International students.
Course highlights
- Gain the skills and confidence to treat more complex cases
- Learn professional research methods and apply them to a clinical area of your choice, to deepen your knowledge and specialist capabilities
- Build your confidence in practice and research with support and guidance from dedicated supervisors
- Enrich your expertise by exchanging ideas with a global team of clinicians and researchers in dental public health, dental education and clinical innovation
- Make an original contribution to knowledge in the field of aesthetic and restorative dentistry through your dissertation project, adding your voice to the conversation on dental practice advancement
- Explore options for career progression by networking with experienced registered clinicians
- Save time and money: study in your own time, from anywhere in the world, at a course cost that is highly competitive
Contact information
Contact AdmissionsEntry requirements
March 2025 start
- This course is available to applicants with current registration with the Dental Council, or equivalent professional body, to practice dentistry clinically. Students who have previously achieved the PgDip in Advanced Aesthetic and Restorative Dentistry are able to apply to the MSc to complete the final research year.
Equivalent professional experience and/or qualifications will also be considered, such as previous study, employment, voluntary work and training courses, including courses and qualifications you didn't complete. Learn more about our Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
If you're applying as an international student with a non-UK degree, you’ll need to show you meet the UK entry requirements listed above.
To find out if your non-UK degree or other qualification is accepted, please visit our page for your country and view the UK equivalent of your qualification.
- English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5 (or equivalent) with no component score below 6.0.
You do not need an IELTS or equivalent certification if:
- you have a UK degree
- you have a degree from a majority English speaking country (not taught by Distance Learning)
- you are a national of a majority English speaking country
Degrees taught solely in English from non-majority English speaking countries will be considered on a case by case basis. Find out more about our English language requirements.
If you do not meet the English language requirements yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.
September 2025 / March 2026 start
- This course is available to Applicants with current registration with the Dental Council, or equivalent Professional body to practice dentistry clinically. Students who have previously achieved the PgDip in Advanced Aesthetic and Restorative Dentistry are able to apply to the MSc to complete the final research year.
Equivalent professional experience and/or qualifications will also be considered, such as previous study, employment, voluntary work and training courses, including courses and qualifications you didn't complete. Learn more about our Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
If you're applying as an international student with a non-UK degree, you’ll need to show you meet the UK entry requirements listed above.
To find out if your non-UK degree or other qualification is accepted, please visit our page for your country and view the UK equivalent of your qualification.
- English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5 with no component score below 6.0.
You do not need an IELTS or equivalent certification if:
- you have a UK degree
- you have a degree from a majority English speaking country (not taught by Distance Learning)
- you are a national of a majority English speaking country
Degrees taught solely in English from non-majority English speaking countries will be considered on a case by case basis. Find out more about our English language requirements.
If you do not meet the English language requirements yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.
Course costs and funding
Tuition fees (March 2025 start)
- Part-time: £8,350 per year
(including Transition Scholarship)
- Part-time: £8,350 per year
- Part-time: £8,350 per year
Tuition fees (September 2025 / March 2026 start)
- Part-time: £8,800 per year
(including Transition Scholarship)
- Part-time: £8,800 per year
- Part-time: £8,800 per year
University of Portsmouth graduates may receive a 20% alumni tuition fee discount.
Fees are subject to annual increase. Read our tuition fees terms and conditions.
You'll be able to pay your fees in instalments. Find out how to pay your tuition fees.
Funding your studies
Explore how to fund your studies, including available scholarships and bursaries.
If you're a UK student, you may be eligible for a Government Postgraduate Master's Loan, which you can use to help with course fees and living costs.
Loans, scholarships and bursaries
Browse funding such as the Government Postgraduate Loan, our scholarships for new and returning students, and subject specific loans.
Funding for international students
Learn more about sponsorships, scholarships and loans for students applying from outside of the UK.
Fees and funding for Master's courses
Explore Master's funding options, including loans, scholarships, bursaries and more.
Additional costs
These course-related costs aren't included in the tuition fees, so you'll need to budget for them when you plan your spending. Additional costs could include:
- Accommodation: Accommodation options and costs can be found on our accommodation pages.
- Recommended reading: You can borrow key texts from the library and if you choose to purchase these texts they may cost up to £60 each.
- General costs: Such as photocopying, memory sticks, printing charges, binding and specialist printing. We suggest budgeting £75 per year.
- Final project transport or accommodation: where necessary, which related to your research activities. The amount will depend on the project you choose.
Read more about tuition fees and living costs, including what your tuition fees cover.
Modules
You'll be responsible for determining your own learning needs on this course.
You'll spend most of your time:
- Outlining the full background of your chosen project
- Submitting an ethics proposal
- Writing a comprehensive literature review supporting your research
- Investigating approaches to research design and processes, and data collection and analysis
- Collecting data and analysing results
What you'll study
The module will provide you with an introduction to research, including qualitative and quantitative paradigms, methodology, validity and reliability and support you to design and carry out a research project in your chosen area of dental practice. You will develop your project through independent research, supported by a distance learning programme of seminars and supervision with your allocated supervisor.
Changes to course content
We use the best and most current research and professional practice alongside feedback from our students to make sure course content is relevant to your future career or further studies.
Therefore, course content is revised and regularly reviewed. This may result in changes being made in order to reflect developments in research, learning from practice and changes in policy at both national and local levels.
How you'll spend your time
We recognise that you'll probably be juggling more demands when you do your Master's degree, as you may be working or you may have family responsibilities.
We'll give you as much indication here as we can of how much time you'll need to be on campus and how many hours you can expect to spend in self-directed study, but please note that these indications are always subject to change. You should receive your full timetable several weeks before you start with us.
Course structure
This Master’s degree will take:
- 1 year part time by distance learning
Each week you’ll spend:
- 10 hours studying, on average, depending on the phase of the course
During the academic year, you can expect 28 hours of contact, approximately:
- 6 hours of tutorial support
- 10 hours of project supervision
- 12 hours of virtual lecture-based activity
Teaching
While you'll take responsibility for your own learning on this course, it will also include:
- Online tutorials
- Online lectures
- Project supervision
You'll get feedback throughout and get one-on-one support from your personal tutor.
Assessment
You'll be assessed through your dissertation – a project proposal submission and a substantial written thesis of your research project.
Term dates
September start
The Master's academic year runs from September with assessment in the following May. There are breaks at Christmas and Easter.
March start
Courses that start in March have the same amount of teaching as September-start courses, but they normally run over a longer time period.
If you start in March, your course will run until the following February. There are breaks at Christmas and in the summer, when you’ll start writing your dissertation.
Joining us as an international student
You'll feel at home in our international community and our diverse city. You'll be joining over 5,000 international students from more than 150 countries who are studying with us.
Learn more about international student life and how we can help you with visas, applications, arrival and settling in.
Career development
Careers this Master’s prepares you for
As a graduate of this course, you’ll have the skills and expertise to develop your career in a range of rewarding directions.
You’ll demonstrate the ability to critically assess scientific and technological innovations in dentistry. As well as improving individuals’ oral health, you’ll be able to enhance collective knowledge across the field of aesthetic and restorative dentistry.
What’s more, you'll have developed skills that are valued beyond the clinical environment – from communication and teamwork, to project management and critical thinking.
In developing your career, you might choose to:
- broaden your clinical offer to include advanced aesthetic and restorative dentistry
- build an advanced practice as a professional dedicated to advanced aesthetic and restorative dentistry
- become a professional dental researcher, for example at a product manufacturer or government agency
- pursue further study and research, such as MPhil or PhD
- enter academia and educate future generations of dental professionals
- use your new knowledge in an expert role with an accreditation agency, insurance company or healthcare service provider
Supporting you
Types of support
Your personal tutor helps you make the transition to postgraduate study and gives you academic and personal support throughout your course.
As well as regular scheduled meetings with your personal tutor, they're also available at set times during the week if you want to chat with them about anything that can't wait until your next meeting.
You'll have help from a team of faculty learning support tutors. They can help you improve and develop your academic skills and support you in any area of your study.
They can help with:
- improving your academic writing (for example, essays, reports, dissertations)
- understanding and using assignment feedback
- managing your time and workload
- revision and exam techniques
All our labs and practical spaces are staffed by qualified laboratory support staff. They’ll support you in scheduled lab sessions and can give you one-to-one help when you do practical research projects.
During term time, Faculty Academic Skills Tutors (AST) are available for bookable 1-to-1 sessions, small group sessions and online sessions. These sessions are tailored to your needs.
Support is available for skills including:
- University study
- Getting into the right study mindset
- Note-taking and note-making skills
- Referencing
- Presentation skills
- Time management, planning, and goal setting
- Critical thinking
- Avoiding plagiarism
If you have a disability or need extra support, the Additional Support and Disability Centre (ASDAC) will give you help, support and advice.
Our online Learning Well mini-course will help you plan for managing the challenges of learning and student life, so you can fulfil your potential and have a great student experience.
You can get personal, emotional and mental health support from our Student Wellbeing Service, in person and online. This includes 1–2–1 support as well as courses and workshops that help you better manage stress, anxiety or depression.
If you require extra support because of a disability or additional learning need our specialist team can help you.
They'll help you to
- discuss and agree on reasonable adjustments
- liaise with other University services and facilities, such as the library
- access specialist study skills and strategies tutors, and assistive technology tutors, on a 1-to-1 basis or in groups
- liaise with external services
Library staff are available in person or by email, phone, or online chat to help you make the most of the University’s library resources. You can also request one-to-one appointments and get support from a librarian who specialises in your subject area.
The library is open 24 hours a day, every day, in term time.
The Maths Cafe offers advice and assistance with mathematical skills in a friendly, informal environment. You can come to our daily drop-in sessions, develop your mathematics skills at a workshop or use our online resources.
If English isn't your first language, you can do one of our English language courses to improve your written and spoken English language skills before starting your degree. Once you're here, you can take part in our free In-Sessional English (ISE) programme to improve your English further.
How to apply
Unlike undergraduate applications, which go through UCAS, applications for this Master's course are made directly to us.
There's no deadline for applications to this course. We accept applications right up until the start dates in September and March, as long as there are places available. If you wait until your start month to apply, you may find that the course is full.
If you're applying as an international student, remember that you'll need to leave plenty of time to get your visa organised.
You can find more advice about applying in our Master's application checklist. International students and current students and recent graduates of the University of Portsmouth also have some different application options, which are detailed below.
Extra information for international students
If you're an international student, you can apply directly to us using the same application form as UK students.
You could also get an agent to help with your application. Check your country page for details of agents in your region. To find out what to include in your application, head to the how to apply page of our international students section.
If you don’t meet the English language requirements for this course yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.
Ready to apply?
Start this course in March 2025
I'm a current Portsmouth student, or a recent Portsmouth graduate
If you're currently in your final year of study at Portsmouth, or you graduated since July 2024, you're eligible to make a fast track application. You'll have:
- a shorter application form to complete
- access to the 20% Alumni fee discount
- a guaranteed conditional offer, for most Master's courses
After you apply
Once we receive your application, we may ask you for further information. We will then either make you an offer or suggest alternatives if your application is unsuccessful.
You'll usually get a decision within 10 working days, so you shouldn't have to wait too long. Some courses have an interview stage – we'll let you know if you need to prepare for one.
Learn more about how we assess your application.
Admissions terms and conditions
When you accept an offer to study at the University of Portsmouth, you also agree to abide by our Student Contract (which includes the University's relevant policies, rules and regulations). You should read and consider these before you apply.