Join a flexible MSc in Special Care Dentistry you can study online.
Learn to provide holistic dental care for patients with special care needs.
Join our Institute of Dentistry online to develop your theoretical knowledge, clinical expertise, and confidence in special care dentistry.
No need for a career break
This flexible online degree is designed to fit around your existing practice. Teaching is delivered part-time online, in combination with in-practice learning.
You’ll be encouraged to put your learning into practice immediately, effectively improving your way of working.
With our support, you’ll develop your skills and understanding in:
- special care dentistry
- the patient-centred approach to care
- a range of conditions and disabilities
- critical thinking, care planning and delivery from evidenced sources
- research and appraisal.
Outstanding expertise
In this robust and established degree, you’ll learn from professionals who are delivering special care dentistry services day-to-day, all highly experienced specialists in the field.
Grow your professional network
Peer learning and networking are central to this degree. You’ll have access to academic staff from the Institute of Dentistry, as well as the opportunity to learn from and share your experiences with other dental professionals on the programme.
Start with a postgraduate certificate or diploma in Special Care Dentistry
In this modular degree, busy dentists can choose to study for a one-year postgraduate certificate, two-year postgraduate diploma, or a full MSc in Special Care Dentistry.
You can work your way up through these qualifications at a flexible pace. You have six years to complete the full MSc programme, and can take breaks along the way.
Who can join this MSc in Special Care Dentistry?
This distance-learning degree is designed for qualified, registered dentists.
You need to be working in practice currently, as you’ll use your experiences in current practice as part of your learning.
By the end of this degree, you’ll be able to...
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Provide the highest quality of special care dentistry.
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Establish principles that promote self-criticism and monitoring.
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Assess the effectiveness and appropriateness of care.
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Apply an evidence-based approach to your clinical practice.
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Reflect critically on the relationships between theory and practice.
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Gather relevant data and literature from a range of sources.
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Carry out critical assessments of relevant literature.
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Evidence that you have contributed to professional development at both a personal and local level.
Choose the University of Aberdeen for online special care dentistry courses
Fits around full-time work
This degree fits around full-time work, with flexible hours and 24/7 study access.
Over 525 years of excellence
You’ll graduate from the fifth-oldest university in the English-speaking world, founded in 1495.
NHS and alumni discounts
NHS staff get 10% off this online degree. University of Aberdeen alumni get 20% off.
What you’ll study
You’ll study the following courses that make up the 180 credits of this Masters degree.
You can also choose to exit early, earning a:
- Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits), or
- Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits).
Try our degree scheduler
Choose your courses
See all the courses that are part of this degree and choose what you want to study.
Manage your study schedule
Control the pace and cost of your degree. Decide how much you want to study each term.
Save to your wishlist
Save your schedule to your wishlist so you can view and edit anytime.
How you’ll study
Online learning
This distance-learning special care dentistry degree is delivered flexibly, 100% online.
You can learn with us anywhere, no student visa required, and manage your study hours to suit you.
Your teaching
Teaching is delivered through MyAberdeen, our online Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). It holds all the materials, tools and support you’ll need in your studies. Take a look around MyAberdeen.
You can access your learning materials on computer, smartphone and laptop, 24 hours a day. You’ll find a range of online resources available, including:
- videos
- pre-recorded video lectures
- live online sessions
- workbooks
- reading materials
- discussion boards with your tutors and peers
- online access to our libraries, including the award-winning Sir Duncan Rice Library.
Live online sessions
You’ll have live online sessions, which are spaced throughout your studies. These sessions are a great place to meet and share experiences with fellow professionals, as well as academic staff.
They’ll feature breakout rooms, presentations and discussions. Attendance is mandatory, and some sessions will be recorded for later viewing.
In-practice learning
Through in-practice learning, you’ll build your clinical experience and put your online learning into practice. You’ll prepare reports based on clients you’ve seen and submit these as part of your studies. You’ll also carry out interviews with patients and carers.
Your tutors
This online degree is delivered by the Institute of Dentistry with our School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, including:
Dr Iain Bovaird
Iain is a Senior Lecturer in our Institute of Dentistry. He has been working in special care dentistry since 1994.
Iain works clinically with special care patients in Aberdeenshire and is the Clinical Lead for the NHS Grampian Managed Clinical Network for Oral and Dental Health.
View Iain’s profile
Dr Lois Gall
Lois is a Senior Clinical Lecturer based at the Institute of Dentistry. Lois also works as a Senior Dental Officer for NHS Grampian, specialising in Special Care Dentistry.
View Lois’ profileYour support team
Our friendly team are here to answer any queries you have before, during and after your studies.
Dr Iain Bovaird
Iain is the degree coordinator. He’ll be on hand to answer questions about degree content before you start and to help you throughout your studies.
Mithila Mohan
Mithila is part of the School’s postgraduate teaching support team. She’ll be there throughout your studies to answer any of your non-academic queries.
Get in touch
The online education team is here to answer any questions you have right now about this qualification, or about studying online.
Ask us a questionWhere this will take you
Your MSc Special Care Dentistry qualification
You’ll graduate with a respected MSc in Special Care Dentistry from the University of Aberdeen, one of the UK’s six ancient universities.
Your degree title will not mention online or distance learning.
Your MSc qualification will be recognised by employers and educational institutions around the world.
Careers in special care dentistry
Your qualification in Special Care Dentistry will help you move into or progress within a career in this growing area of dentistry.
The public dental service will often look for a postgraduate qualification when looking to appoint senior dental officers.
Through your studies, you’ll have grown your professional network, making career connections along the way.
And you’ll have developed your skills, knowledge and confidence in delivering a patient-centred approach to care.
Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
You’ll receive a table of your activity during each year of your studies, which will have all the appropriate data to enable it to be used as verifiable CPD for the General Dental Council
Other employers or professional institutes may also recognise this programme for CPD. Talk to your employer or institute to find out more.
Lifelong career support
Our career support doesn’t stop when you graduate.
You have access to our free careers service while you study, and beyond.
- 1:1 appointments
- CV checks
- Interview prep
- Job opportunities
Fees and funding
Master of Science
180 credits
£17,100
This indicative cost is based on 180 credits of study over three years, starting in September 2025.
The fee quoted above is based on you starting your studies with us in the 2025/26 academic year.
Our indicative cost includes a 5% fee rise each year.
Pay as you go
This is a pay-as-you-go qualification.
You do not have to pay the full tuition fee upfront.
You can spread the cost and pay as you go, term by term.
How it works
- You decide how many credits to study for each term.
- At the start of term, you pay only for the credits you’re taking that term.
- This gives you control over your costs and workload for each term of your qualification.
Your personalised cost breakdown
Use the degree scheduler to plan your studies and see your cost breakdown, term by term.
Choose the University of Aberdeen for flexible online dentistry courses
Earn as you learn
We fit around full-time work, so you can earn qualifications while you keep earning a salary.
You’re in expert hands
We’ve been delivering online and distance learning for decades.
Learn anywhere
On smartphone, desktop and laptop, with no need for a student visa.
Entry requirements
MSc, PgDip, PgCert
This degree is for qualified dentists with interest and experience of treating patients with a special care need.
To join us for this degree, you should:
- hold a BDS or equivalent dental degree
- have been qualified for at least four years
- be working in practice currently
- be registered by the General Dental Council (or equivalent in your country) and have appropriate clinical experience.
Apply for this programme
- Start month
- September
- INDICATIVE COST
- £17,100
This indicative cost is based on 180 credits of study over three years, starting in September 2025.
Apply via our Applicant Portal
