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University of Otago

Bachelor of Oral Health (BOH)

  • Bachelor

The Bachelor of Oral Health (BOH) programme is an exciting new three-year degree at New Zealand's only School of Dentistry, delivering an excellent innovative education in oral health.

Key details

Degree Type
Bachelor
Course Code
BOH

About this course

The Bachelor of Oral Health (BOH) programme is an exciting new three-year degree at New Zealand's only School of Dentistry, delivering an excellent innovative education in oral health.

Oral Health degree students will be working in a team with undergraduate and postgraduate dental and dental technology students, and with constant access to highly qualified specialist staff. Graduates will be leaders in the field, as the programme ensures that its teaching and research are continually refined and improved to keep in step with oral health best-practice.

Entry requirements

  1. The number of domestic students admitted to the Bachelor of Oral Health programme is limited to the number determined by the Council annually on the basis of available resources. Some additional places may be available to International students.
  2. Applications for admission by domestic students may be made by those eligible under the following categories:
    1. Secondary School (see 1(i))
    2. One Year of University Study (see 1(l))
    3. Two or More Years of University Study (see 1(o))
    4. Graduate (see 1(r))
    5. Alternative (see 1(u))
  3. Applications must be made by the due dates specified for each category as part of the Guidelines for Admission into the Health Sciences Professional Programmes published at www.otago.ac.nz/healthsciences ("the Guidelines").
  4. Selection of eligible students for admission to the programme shall be made by the Oral Health Admissions Committee ("the Committee") whose terms of reference shall be established by the Division of Health Sciences and approved by the Senate.
  5. Subject to these regulations and the Selection Criteria established by the Committee and approved by the Senate from time to time and published as part of the Guidelines, selection for admission shall be in the discretion of the Committee.
  6. Without limitation, the Selection Criteria may include:
    1. academic performance;
    2. demonstration of appropriate attributes for admission into the programme.
  7. The Division of Health Sciences' Te Kauae Paraoa policy promotes and facilitates equity for Maori students and students from other under-represented groups. In accordance with this policy, the Selection Criteria may provide for applicants in the following equity groups to be given preference for selection:
    • Maori
    • Resident Indigenous Pacific
    • Rural
    • Socioeconomic Equity
    • Refugee Background
  8. Recognition for inclusion in the Maori and Resident Indigenous Pacific equity groups shall be through demonstration of ancestry in accordance with the University's Ancestry Verification Procedures for Maori and Pacific Students and any other criteria the Senate may determine. Criteria for inclusion in the Rural, Socioeconomic Equity and Refugee Background equity groups shall be established by the Academic Board of the Division of Health Sciences and approved by the Senate. Criteria approved by the Senate shall be published as part of the Guidelines.

    9. Secondary School Category

  9. To be eligible for selection for admission under the Secondary School category, an applicant must have attained the National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) Level 3 Biology (or equivalent), and must have not commenced university study.
  10. Applicants must have completed (or be completing) NCEA Level 3 subjects (or equivalent) within the last five years.
  11. An applicant may be required to attend an interview.

    12. One Year of University Study

  12. To be eligible for selection for admission under the One Year of University Study category applicants must have completed within the last five years one year of relevant university study in New Zealand, to a standard determined by the Committee and published as part of the Selection Criteria.
  13. An applicant may be required to attend an interview.
  14. Applicants offered a place under the One Year of University Study category may be required to pass prescribed papers, to a standard determined by the Committee, before being admitted to the programme.

    15. Two or More Years of University Study

  15. To be eligible for selection for admission under the Two or More Years of University Study category applicants must not be a finalist, but must have completed within the last five years two or more years of relevant university study in New Zealand, comprising at least three papers at 200-level, to a standard determined by the Committee.
  16. An applicant may be required to attend an interview.
  17. Applicants offered a place under the Two or More Years of University Study category may be required to pass prescribed papers, to a standard determined by the Committee, before being admitted to the programme.

    18. Graduate Category

  18. To be eligible for selection for admission under the Graduate category, an applicant must have completed as their first degree, within three years prior to the date of application, and in the minimum academic time, at least one of the following qualifications awarded by a university in New Zealand:
    1. a bachelor's degree; or
    2. undergraduate bachelor's honours degree; or
    3. bachelor's degree, followed without break in study by a postgraduate diploma or postgraduate honours year.
  19. An applicant may be required to attend an interview.
  20. Applicants offered a place under the Graduate category may be required to pass prescribed papers, to a standard determined by the Committee, before being admitted to the programme.

    21. Alternative Category

  21. To be eligible to be considered for admission under the Alternative category, an applicant must not be eligible for any other admission category and:
    1. hold a degree from a New Zealand university; or
    2. have completed a degree at an overseas university at a standard of at least NZQF Level 7; or
    3. hold a master's or doctoral degree; or
    4. demonstrate health-related professional experience in a relevant field to a standard acceptable to the Committee; or
    5. have completed relevant study acceptable to the Committee.
  22. An applicant may be required to attend an interview.
  23. Applicants offered a place under the Alternative category may be required to pass prescribed papers, to a standard determined by the Committee, before being admitted to the programme.

    24. International Admissions

  24. The Committee may offer a limited number of places in the programme to international students who meet all the requirements determined by the Committee.

    25. Exceptional Circumstances

  25. Notwithstanding any of the above provisions, the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Health Sciences) shall have discretion to approve a recommendation from the Committee concerning any applicant who, not having satisfied these regulations in a particular aspect, in the Committee's view warrants admission to the programme for exceptional reasons.

    26. Declining of Admission

  26. Any applicant who
    1. is, or who has been, the subject of criminal charges; or
    2. is, or who has been, subject to disciplinary proceedings of a tertiary institution or professional body; or
    3. has been found to have an issue (whether in connection with their mental or physical health, or their professional attributes or conduct, or otherwise) that compromises or is likely to compromise their fitness to practise; or
    4. is found to have failed to declare a matter covered by (z)(i)-(iii),

    may be declined admission to the programme by the Committee on the recommendation of the Health and Conduct Review Group. Any offer of admission made before responses to medical tests or requests for information regarding an applicant's health status or past conduct have been received is conditional on the information received confirming the applicant's suitability for admission.

Study locations

Dunedin

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