Getting Started in Dentistry
Welcome to the School of Dental Science!
This page is designed to give you information to help you get started in your undergraduate course.
There are two undergraduate courses in the School of Dental Science:
Academic Advice Day 1 is on 21 January 2008.
This day is for local students made a VTAC Round One offer. Attendance at Academic Advice Day 1 is optional.
Academic Advice Day 2 is on 21 February 2008.
This day is for international students and later round offer local students. International students will be assisted to enroll on-line on this day. Attendance at Academic Advice Day 2 is optional for local students but compulsory for international students.
Staff of the School of Dental Science will be available on 21 January from 10.00 to 12.00 and on 21 February from 11.00 to 12.00 in the Jean Falkner Tahija Lecture Theatre in the School of Dental Science building (720 Swanston Street – the Royal Dental Hospital Melbourne) to answer any questions that you may have about the course you have been offered.
Special Entry Requirements
There are certain requirements in regard to health status, first aid certification, police and working with children checks with which all students entering dentistry courses must comply.
Clinical Placements
Clinical practice is a key element of both the undergraduate courses. All students must undertake placements at metropolitan community health centres and at rural centres during their course. For metropolitan placements you must be prepared to travel some distance from your home each day to reach these placements. For rural placements you will be expected to live for 4 weeks in a rural community in shared accommodation with other students. Students in dentistry courses are expected to treat patients without discrimination. If clinical placements, patient treatment or any of the other course requirements may cause cultural or other issues for you please ensure you have discussed this and sought a solution with a staff member prior to enrolling in the course.
Enrolling in your course
If you are a local student (Australian or New Zealand citizen) and have been made an offer in the VTAC First Round on 15 January 2008, you must complete your online enrolment before 25 January 2008
If you are a current University of Melbourne student and have been made an internal transfer offer on 15 January you must also complete your change of enrolment before 25 January 2008.
Both undergraduate courses in the School of Dental Science are fixed-plan courses so you cannot select subjects. As a new student enrolling on-line you will find that the subjects have already been selected for you in each of the courses.
For help with online enrolment
The University will send you information about how to enrol on-line in your course when you receive your enrolment pack. If you find you have problems with the online enrolment process, please contact one of the people below from the School of Dental Science or speak to University staff in the Enrolment Support Centre.
- Antonietta Anello T: 9341 1508 E: aanello@unimelb.edu.au
- Annette Bird T: 9341 1505 E: albird@unimelb.edu.au
- Rosie Pingitore T: 9341 1500 E: rosariop@unimelb.edu.au.
After you have completed your enrolment, you will need to visit the Enrolment Support Centre to collect your student card, student diary and public transport concession form. The Enrolment Support Centre is located in Wilson Hall (Building 151) and will be open from 18 Feb– 6 Mar from 9am to 5pm.
Deferrals may only be granted in absolutely exceptional circumstances. Generally course deferrals are not accepted in the School of Dental Science.
Once you have enrolled in your course you cannot defer, you must take Leave of Absence. Leave of Absence is generally only granted once in any one year of a course so you need to be sure of what you want to do before you actually enroll.
SUBJECT CREDIT
Enrolled students with other tertiary studies may be considered for credit exemptions for subjects in the Bachelor of Dental Science or the Bachelor of Oral Health. To qualify for such exemptions the subject(s) and course(s) undertaken must be considered equivalent in content, method of instruction and assessment to those for which credit is being sought and a high academic performance attained. Both the Bachelor of Dental Science and the Bachelor of Oral Health are highly integrated courses and previous studies may not be directly comparable. Therefore, in some instances, credit may not be granted for the whole subject but for components of a subject only.
Applying for Subject Credit: policy document (PDF 17 Kb)
See the Student Forms page for a Credit Exemption application form.
Dean’s Welcome and Academic Orientation Day
Orientation for dentistry courses will be held in the School of Dental Science, Jean Falkner Tahija Lecture Theatre, 720 Swanston Street, commencing at 9.00 am on Wednesday 27 February 2008.
Orientation is the official start of the university year, so it is important that you come along. The Head of the School of Dental Science, Professor Eric Reynolds AO will welcome you to the School and you will meet the dental lecturers, dental admin staff and other new students on this day. It is essential that you attend as you will find out more about the School of Dental Science and be provided with the handbook, lecture timetable and other important information on the day. You will also be photographed on the day for a separate ID card which you must wear when you are in the Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne/School building.
- General University of Melbourne Information for commencing students can be accessed at: http://www.unimelb.edu.au/student/firstyear.html
- The main University of Melbourne Getting Started site is at http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/Getting_Started/
- Starting at university can be confusing and sometimes emotional. The university’s Transition Program is designed to offer you advice and support during this early transition phase.
- Other assistance is available as well. Check out the Guide to Services for Students.
- Staff in the School of Dental Science are also available to help as well. If you need assistance, call into the School Office located on the 4th Floor, 720 Swanston Street. Opening hours are 9.00 am to 5.00 pm weekdays.
- The IT Guide for Students provides a list of IT services and support including activating your email account, downloading anti-virus software, and getting help.
When do I start my course?
The teaching year is divided into 2 semesters of approximately 12 weeks each. These are the academic dates for first year in both of the undergraduate dentistry courses:
Semester 1
- Monday 3 March 2008 - Friday 23 May 2008
- Examination period: 2 June to 27 June
- Results released: 11 July
- Supplementary Examinations: 17 July to 25 July (students who have not passed the original examination may be offered a supplementary examination during this period. It is important that you be prepared to be in Melbourne at this time if you are offered a supplementary examination.)
Semester 2
- Monday 21 July 2008 - Friday 24 October 2008
- Examination period: 3 November to 28 November
- Results released: 12 December
- Supplementary Examinations: 26 January 2009 to 6 February 2009 (students who have not passed the original examination may be offered a supplementary examination during this period. It is important that you be prepared to be in Melbourne at this time if you are offered a supplementary examination.)
Additional timetable and other information can be found at: http://www.dent.unimelb.edu.au/dsweb/current_students/info_undergrad.html
Purchase of Dental Instruments and other costs
Students are required to purchase dental equipment approved by the School for use in the laboratories and clinics throughout the course. Some of the equipment will become part of your professional equipment after graduation.
A detailed list for all year levels will be provided at the Dean’s Welcome and Academic Orientation day or you can access this information now from the School’s website at: http://www.dent.unimelb.edu.au/forms/SDS_Course_extra_costs_08.pdf.
As a rough guide, the cost for 1st year students in 2008 will be about $200 for BDSc students and $3,000 for BOH students. The cost for BDSc students increases in 2nd and 3rd years. Students should be prepared to purchase equipment in the first week of the semester. Purchasing is organized by the School at very competitive prices from dental suppliers.
Undergraduate Course Information for Health Sciences 2008
See the 2008 undergraduate Health Sciences Course guide for information on dental and other health science courses. (PDF 2MB)