Queens University Belfast

History of the University

Queen’s University Belfast has a record of academic achievement which stretches back more than 150 years.

Founded by Queen Victoria, the Queen’s University in Ireland was designed to be a non-denominational alternative to Trinity College Dublin which was controlled by the Anglican Church. The University was made up of three Queen’s Colleges – in Cork, Galway and Belfast. Although it was the first University in the north of Ireland, Queen’s drew on a tradition of learning which goes back to 1810 and the foundation of the Belfast Academical Institution. Its collegiate department, which provided University-style education, closed with the establishment of Queen’s and four of its professors and many of its students transferred to the new college.

Founded in in 1845, Queen’s opened in 1849 when the first students entered the magnificent new college building. Today the University estate has grown to more than 300 buildings – many of them listed for their architectural importance.

In 1908, the three Queen’s Colleges in Ireland were dissolved. As an independent institution, Queen University Belfast flourished. Increasing student numbers and new staff were accommodated in a number of new buildings and the academic program increased in range. Today, Queen’s is one of the leading universities in the UK and Ireland, providing world-class education underpinned by world-class research. With more than 17,000 students and 3,500 staff, it is a dynamic institution, a magnet for inward investment, a patron of the arts and a global player in areas ranging from cancer studies to sustainability, and from pharmaceuticals to creative writing.

About The Dental School

The Centre for Dental Education is responsible for the organization, management and delivery of the Dental course at Queen’s.

The School of Dentistry has been responsible for delivering dental education in Northern Ireland since 1920. It has been situated at its current site since 1965 and underwent a significant expansion in 1994. A full refurbishment in 2010 ensured that the School of Dentistry has one of the most modern clinical facilities of any dental school in the British Isles.

The Dental Course at Queen’s lasts five years and is taught in the School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences. On completion of the course, the degree of Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) is awarded. The five year undergraduate course in Dentistry has an intake of 45 students per year.

During the first and second years dental students are attached to dental clinics and also undertake modules which teach the biomedical and behavioral sciences foundations of clinical practice as well as the principles of dental patient management, dental health promotion and core dental clinical skills.

The third year introduces a greater clinical component within the various dental clinical specialties and teaching in medicine and surgery, pathology, microbiology and pharmacology relevant to dentistry. In the fourth and fifth years the emphasis is on teaching advanced dental clinical skills within the range of clinical specialties in dentistry. Dental students carry out the full range of dental treatment for their own adult and child patients. Most of the pediatric dentistry course is carried out in National Health Service (NHS) outreach clinics. The School of Dentistry has a close relationship with all aspects of the NHS and the local community it serves.

Entry Requirements

The following are eligible to apply:

Candidates with Bachelor’s Degrees or completing their Bachelor’s Degree. Your degree program should include a significant science component including courses in Chemistry and Biology.
Students completing High School or students with one or more years of college/university who have completed Grade 12 and/or College Level courses in a.) biology, b.) chemistry and c.) either physics or mathematics.
Students presenting International Baccalaureate (IB) or A Levels. Chemistry is a required subject and at least one other laboratory science course or mathematics.

Queen’s University Belfast require submission of a grade 9-12 high school transcript, regardless of your level of education.

Candidates are strongly advised to present some dental practical/shadowing experience on their CV/Resume and preferably a Letter of Recommendation from a practicing dentist.

Note: Queen’s University Belfast is not a participant in the reciprocity agreement between the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada (CDAC) and the Dental Council of Ireland.