CertHE Dental Nursing
2026 entry
Course summary
Bristol Dental School has been a successful training provider for the dental team for many years, attracting significant interest from applicants wishing to train in state-of-the-art clinical facilities. We have now developed a new Dental Nursing programme which sits alongside these established programmes and provides a comprehensive and robust training leading to registration as a Dental Nurse with the General Dental Council. The Dental School is able to offer sponsorship for up to twenty students annually to complete this programme. The sponsorship will cover the tuition fees associated with this training.
The Cert HE Dental Nursing is a full-time intensive 1-year programme which equips students to work safely as a registered Dental Nurse. Students are taught through a combination of asynchronous material, supported by in-person lectures, small-group tutorials, seminars and chairside teaching. Students are offered pastoral support from their individual personal tutor.
Please note that this is a 12-month intensive programme and as such term dates do not mirror standard University term dates.
Based in the new Dental School, which is in the city centre and located close to excellent transport links, you will benefit from elements of teaching alongside other dentistry students; the concept of team training starts from term one. Our Undergraduate courses are ranked 2nd in the Guardian subject rankings 2026. Teaching and Learning are enhanced by early introduction of clinical activity and integrated academic and clinical teaching.
Teaching is delivered through a variety of evidence-based methods and includes the following:
- interactive lectures
- flipped classroom
- small group learning and tutorials
- chairside clinical teaching in a variety of locations and disciplines.
We assess students using a variety of assessments, which include:
- single best assessment
- multiple short answers assessment
- objective structured clinical examination (OSCE)
- portfolio of experience.
As is standard for all new GDC registerable programmes, GDC approval will be confirmed after a successful inspection of the first cohort who join the programme in September 2026.
Students will be eligible for guaranteed interview for Bachelor of Dental Hygiene for up to two years post-completion.Applications are made directly to the University. You can find information about making an application on our how to apply page. If you have questions about the foundation year or the application process, please contact choosebristol-ug@bristol.ac.uk
Course structure
The Cert HE Dental Nursing is an intensive 12-month programme, running from September to August. This start date allows provision of initial training and skills development ahead a clinical placement that starts later in September. The consistent clinical placement, supporting undergraduate dental and dental therapy clinics, allows students to develop their clinical skills at a good pace, alongside regular didactic teaching content, formative assessment and feedback each week. To provide sufficient clinical experience, the teaching terms for Dental Nursing students will be longer than terms for other undergraduate programmes in the School.
An introductory unit starts aims to prepare students for professional practice as a Dental Nurse within the clinical setting. This ensures that students are competent in essential procedures and able to work ethically and safely within the clinical placement that is at the heart of this programme. Two longitudinal units also start at the beginning of the programme and continue throughout the academic year; Clinical and Technical Practice and Development of Self and the Team. Time and experience on the clinical placement will allow students to meet clinical and professional learning outcomes as well as developing interpersonal and self-management skills. The final unit begins in January when students will have already developed an understanding of many aspects of dental nursing, meaning students will be able to integrate new knowledge of Oral Sciences into fully understanding the processes and treatments they support.
Entry requirements
We accept a wide variety of qualifications and welcome applications from students of all backgrounds. Below is a guide to the typical offers for this course.
There are no formal entry requirements for this course. Each application will be judged on its own merits. We are looking for applicants who are highly motivated to study on the Cert HE Dental Nursing course and who have the potential to succeed in university study and beyond.
If we receive a high number of applications, priority may be given to applicants without prior experience of higher education and/or who do not hold a qualification at QCA-level 3 (for example A-Levels or an Access to HE Diploma) and/or to applicants from one or more of the University’s widening participation categories.
Selection process
- Regulations and codes of conduct we abide by to create a positive environment for learning and achievement are found in the University admissions policies and procedures.
- If applying with extenuating circumstances please see our policy.
- Full information about our selection processes for Dental Nursing can be found in the Admissions Statement:
Admissions statement