Postgraduate Diploma - Dental Materials Science

This programme provides a foundation in key materials science principles and training skills for successful research and publication, towards the development of the next generation of materials and processes.

There are very few aspects of dentistry that do not rely on materials, and the science of dental materials is arguably the most important subject that a dental practitioner, allied teacher or researcher should learn.

The one-year full-time programme welcomes students from a variety of backgrounds from clinical practitioners and dental technicians who are required to teach the subject, to those pursuing a career in a related research field, whether having a clinical or non-clinical undergraduate education, and whether from the UK or abroad.

The programme: • will provide mechanical, physical and chemical properties of materials as structured systems, including bulk and surface properties at the molecular, micro-, and macroscopic level and interaction of materials with the biological environment. • will help you develop a critical understanding of factors that determine the successful clinical application of dental materials and contribute to state-of-the-art and emerging dental material technologies, including digital dentistry and manufacturing and the future of dental materials and related tools. • is focused on a research-led educational programme where theoretical concepts of materials science delivered by a range of teaching methods are reinforced by gaining insight and deeper understanding within a laboratory setting. • is based on practical exploration of concepts, generating ideas and assembling and testing explanations, ultimately providing a strong foundation for the final 12-week research project and developing career research skills beyond. • is based on the format and delivery of existing and successful MSc programmes in Dental Materials Science established by Professor Brian Darvell (University of Hong Kong, University of Kuwait, and now University of Birmingham) and is led by Professor William Palin (University of Birmingham).