Doctor of Dental Surgery

• Make a meaningful difference to people’s lives by improving their oral health and wellbeing
• Study at Australia’s top-ranked dental school with access to world-class teachers, technology, and clinical partnerships
• Learn alongside driven, supportive peers in a program designed to help you thrive

As a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) student at the University of Melbourne, you’ll be inspired to help individuals and communities achieve better oral health outcomes. Supported by expert educators, cutting-edge facilities, and a close-knit group of motivated peers, you’ll develop the skills, confidence, and experience needed to build a rewarding and impactful dental career.

Highlights of the Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) experience

The day-to-day experience

Throughout the four-year DDS program, you’ll gain the highest standard of academic knowledge and practical skills to help you reach your career goals. From your first year, you’ll have opportunities to work with advanced dental equipment and build hands-on skills. In second year, you’ll begin treating patients, gaining authentic experience earlier than many other programs allow.

Your studies are enriched by mentoring from respected academics and experts in the field, plus outstanding industry links that support evidence-based clinical training. You’ll also complete a two-year research project, helping you develop critical thinking skills and contribute to meaningful advances in oral health.

In your final year, you’ll work in a practice clinic connected to the university’s Parkville campus, seeing a broad range of dental cases, including emergency care. You’ll also benefit from the program’s popular rural placement and gaining valuable experience in community dentistry.

Learning mode

The  DDS is delivered through a multidisciplinary approach that combines lectures, research, and hands-on practice. Your learning is shaped around a career-focused framework to help you transition confidently into professional dental practice after graduation.

Opportunities

Studying the DDS at the University of Melbourne means you’ll have access to some of the best teaching and professional opportunities in the country. Graduates are encouraged to join the Australian Dental Association (ADA) and are well prepared for pathways to further study, including a Master of Philosophy, PhD, or a Doctor of Clinical Dentistry specialist training program.

Read about Daniel’s story in the Doctor of Dental Surgery