Oral and Dental Sciences
- PhD
- MSc by research
Overview
The school combines laboratory-based and clinically-applied research and fosters a high level of collaboration between research groups in University. The research programme is funded by internal and external grants from charities, research councils, NIHR, UoB, industry and government.
Our postgraduate students belong to broad research communities in the Faculty of Health Sciences and the Bristol Doctoral College, and benefit from the wide training opportunities in addition to their specific subjects.
Entry requirements
An upper second class honours degree (or international equivalent) or a master's degree with a lower second class honours degree (or international equivalent) in a relevant subject.
See international equivalent qualifications on the International Office website.
Read the programme admissions statement for important information on entry requirements, the application process and supporting documents required.
Go to admissions statementIf English is not your first language, you will need to reach the requirements outlined in our profile level E.
Further information about English language requirements and profile levels.
Fees and funding
- UK: full-time
- £4,758 per year
- UK: part-time
- £2,379 per year
- Overseas: full-time
- £26,000 per year
Fees are subject to an annual review. For programmes that last longer than one year, please budget for up to an 8% increase in fees each year.
More about tuition fees, living costs and financial support.
Bench fees
For postgraduate research students who are not funded by UK Research Councils or (specific) UK charities, it is usual to charge a bench fee. A bench fee covers the costs of laboratory consumables, specialist equipment and other relevant costs (such as training) for the duration of the programme. The bench fee charged can vary considerably depending on the nature of the programme being undertaken. Details of specific bench fee charges can be provided on request and will be made clear in the offer letter sent to applicants.
Alumni discount
University of Bristol students and graduates can benefit from a 25% reduction in tuition fees for postgraduate study. Check your eligibility for an alumni discount.
Funding for 2024/25
Please contact Bristol Dental School for information about funding.
Further information on funding for prospective UK and international postgraduate students.
Career prospects
After completing this course, career opportunities include post-doctoral research, academia and research in industry.
Meet our supervisors
The following list shows potential supervisors for this programme. Visit their profiles for details of their research and expertise.
Research groups
The School hosts two overarching research themes:
- Microbiology and Materials (MM)
- Epidemiology and Health Services Research (EHSR).
The MM research theme focuses on the priority areas of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), novel healthcare technologies and healthy ageing via three principal research streams: AMR and antimicrobial materials; next-generation materials; oral microbe - systemic disease link.
- The Biomaterials Engineering group works on the design of cell-instructive surfaces for implant materials, exploiting surface topography and mechanical stiffness to modulate human and bacterial cell behaviour, light-powered antimicrobial surfaces, and biomimetic and bio-inspired ceramics and ceramic composites for dental, orthopaedic, and engineering applications.
- The Oral Microbiology group conducts studies into the colonisation and pathogenesis mechanisms of oral microorganisms (bacteria and fungi) in the context of both oral and systemic disease, and into the interactions that occur in the development of polymicrobial communities (biofilms) and their impact on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) development.
- The Clinical Trials Unit conducts both clinical and laboratory studies in oral healthcare, methodology and product evaluation, clinical guideline development, and into the associations between periodontal disease and dentine hypersensitivity, tooth wear and Alzheimer's disease.
The EHSR theme delivers high-quality research programmes in epidemiology and health services research with links to oral health. Key resources include cohort studies focused on head and neck cancer and on cleft lip and palate, and genetic epidemiology studies investigating gene-lifestyle interactions in dental endpoints. There are also strong links with the Bristol Biomedical Research Centre themes of 'Nutrition, diet and lifestyle' and 'Surgical innovation'.
Each theme comprises clinical and basic scientists to promote interdisciplinary and translational research.
Contact us
- Contact
Liz Hemmings, Postgraduate Admissions Administrator
- Phone
- +44 (0) 117 4557759
- fohs-pgadmissions@bristol.ac.uk
- Contact
- Professor Bo Su, Postgraduate Research Director
- Phone
- +44 (0) 117 342 9493
- b.su@bristol.ac.uk
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