Master of Science in Periodontology
About This Programme
Periodontology is the dental specialty focused on preventing, diagnosing and managing the diseases and conditions that affect the hard and soft tissues supporting or surrounding the teeth. MBRU's Master of Science in Periodontology at the Hamdan Bin Mohammed College of Dental Medicine is a 36-month didactic, clinical and research programme that trains students to diagnose, manage or prevent diseases and abnormalities of the tissues supporting teeth and dental implants, under the supervision of experienced clinicians and researchers in periodontology and implant dentistry. Clinical training covers conventional non-surgical and surgical periodontal treatment, including regenerative, functional and aesthetic surgical procedures, and basic and advanced implant surgery using a wide range of implant systems. In the first year, simulation exercises on dental models and animal cadavers cover procedures from scaling and root planing to advanced periodontal surgery, while clinic sessions concentrate on examination, treatment planning and scaling. Students start placing implants and treating interdisciplinary cases in the second year, and take on mucogingival procedures and more complex implant cases in the third. The research component encourages students to take part in basic or clinical research within the college and to present their findings at national and international professional meetings, and each student completes a dissertation with an oral defence before internal and external examiners. The final consolidation course prepares students for the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh Membership in Periodontology examination.
Course Highlights
- 36-month, full-time programme combining didactic, clinical and research training
- 77 credit hours of specialty clinical training, periodontology and implant courses, literature seminars, shared dental science courses and a research dissertation
- First-year simulation exercises on dental models and animal cadavers
- Implant training from placing implants in Year 2 to more complex implant cases in Year 3
- Graduates who pass the conjoint examination and obtain UAE specialist registration can apply for MRACDS (Periodontics) without further examination
What You'll Study
The MSc runs full time over three years and six semesters and requires 77 credit hours, with a minimum cGPA of 3.0 and a minimum grade of C in every course. Alongside specialty clinical training, every semester includes specialty courses and a scientific literature course, and every semester from the second includes the research dissertation, while common courses in applied basic sciences, research methodology, clinical governance, oral epidemiology, radiology and molecular biology run across the college's programmes. Teaching combines lectures, small-group tutorials, clinical case-based discussions and student-led critical appraisal of the literature, and many courses use a flipped classroom approach.
Year 1, Semester 1
Specialty Clinical Training is a continuing course: it runs across both semesters of the year and is graded at the end of Semester 2.
- CC510 Applied Basic Sciences I2 credits
- PE260 Advanced Biological Science Relevant to Periodontology1 credit
- PE243 Diagnosis and Treatment Planning in Periodontology1 credit
- PE237 Specialty Clinical Training (Clinic)3.5 credits
- CC503 Clinical Governance, Legislation and Ethics1 credit
- CC502 Research Methodology and Biostatistics2 credits
- PE221 Scientific Literature2 credits
Year 1, Semester 2
- PE222 Scientific Literature2 credits
- PE244 Non-Surgical Periodontal Treatment1 credit
- PE249 Periodontal Surgery1 credit
- PR351 Basic Implant Surgical and Restorative Techniques1 credit
- PE237 Specialty Clinical Training (Clinic)3.8 credits
- PE212 Research Dissertation1 credit
- CC511 Applied Basic Sciences II1 credit
- CC509 Radiology and Imaging1 credit
- CC508 Oral Epidemiology1 credit
Year 2, Semester 1
Specialty Clinical Training is a continuing course: it runs across both semesters of the year and is graded at the end of Semester 2.
- PE246 Interdisciplinary Interfaces1 credit
- PE213 Research Dissertation1 credit
- PR352 Advanced Implant Surgical and Restorative Techniques2 credits
- PE223 Scientific Literature2 credits
- PE238 Specialty Clinical Training (Clinic)7 credits
Year 2, Semester 2
- PE256 Oral Pathology and Oral Medicine1 credit
- PE214 Research Dissertation2 credits
- PE224 Scientific Literature2 credits
- PE250 Mucogingival Surgery and Regenerative Techniques1 credit
- PE238 Specialty Clinical Training (Clinic)6.2 credits
- CC504 Molecular Biology1 credit
Year 3, Semester 1
Specialty Clinical Training is a continuing course: it runs across both semesters of the year and is graded at the end of Semester 2.
- PE215 Research Dissertation2 credits
- PE225 Scientific Literature2 credits
- PE239 Specialty Clinical Training (Clinic)8 credits
Year 3, Semester 2
- PE216 Research Dissertation3 credits
- PE226 Scientific Literature2 credits
- PE259 Consolidation of Periodontic Training1 credit
- PE239 Specialty Clinical Training (Clinic)7.5 credits
What You'll Learn
Knowledge and understanding
- A systematic appraisal of periodontology, including normal and abnormal intraoral structures, their relationship with systemic factors, and the interpretation of investigations within a holistic approach
- A comprehensive interpretation of the relevant biology, anatomy, physiology, pathology and microbiology, including appropriate antimicrobial prescription where necessary
- Original application of clinical and scientific knowledge, with a practical understanding of how established research techniques create and interpret knowledge in periodontology
Intellectual and practical skills
- Critically appraise and interpret the scientific literature and keep up to date with current and best practice in periodontology
- Examine and diagnose patients with routine and complex periodontal treatment needs
- Develop outcome-based treatment strategies and health promotion for patients with routine and complex periodontal treatment needs
- Competently provide non-surgical, surgical and periodontal plastic surgery management for routine and complex periodontal cases
- Competently provide dental implant surgery and manage peri-implant disease, independently or as part of a multidisciplinary team
- Competently manage periodontitis as a manifestation of systemic diseases
- Appraise the importance and implications of the relationship between periodontics and other clinical disciplines
- Be prepared for future roles in clinical research, with the critical and inquiring attitude needed to advance practice, research and teaching in periodontology
Attitudes
- Maintain a high ethical standard and work in harmony with peers, support staff and faculty, with a view to becoming a team leader
- Value knowledge sharing, self-development, lifelong learning and research in the evidence-based practice of periodontology
- Establish practice management skills and accountability for critical decisions and governance
- Manage and work within the context of a healthcare system
Entry Requirements
Shortlisted applicants are invited to the programme interview and Multiple Mini Interviews (MMI) as applicable, and may also have a practical hands-on assessment. Applicants whose degree was awarded outside the UAE need an Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) General with Grade Average evaluation. Dubai Health employees must also submit a letter of support from the Chair of Oral Health, specific to the specialty. MBRU describes additional qualifications, such as the MFDS from one of the UK Royal Colleges or another postgraduate dental degree, as desirable.
Careers
The college's master's programmes are designed to prepare dentists for a career at specialist level. MBRU states that all of them satisfy the eligibility criteria to sit the specialty membership examinations of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd) and the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland (RCSI). For this programme it adds that graduates who pass the conjoint examination and obtain specialist registration in the UAE are eligible to apply for Membership of the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons (MRACDS) in Periodontics without further examination.
Accreditation & Professional Recognition
Accredited by the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research through the Commission for Academic Accreditation, whose register lists the degree as Active; MBRU's catalog dates the accreditation to August 2013.
Programme Details
Award
Master of Science (MSc) in Periodontology
Start Date
August (2026-27 classes started on 30 August 2026)
Typical Offer
Dentistry degree (BDS, DDS or DMD) with a cGPA of 3.00, a one-year internship and an EDREE or SDLE pass
Duration
3 years (36 months), full time
Qualification
MSc
Subject Area
Health Sciences
Campus
Dubai Healthcare City
Study Pattern
Full-time
Tuition Fee
AED 185,000/yr
Applications open on 12 October 2026 and close on 25 January 2027, which is also the deadline for English test results. MBRU's timeline then sets 15 February 2027 for interview notifications, 24 to 28 February 2027 for interviews and MMI, and 31 March 2027 for admission offers. Annual tuition is AED 185,000 for international applicants and AED 160,000 for UAE and GCC nationals. The application fee is AED 1,000 plus AED 50 VAT, and the non-refundable AED 10,000 seat reservation fee is deducted from the first-semester instalment for students who enrol. The needs-based Jood Scholarship offers up to 50% of annual tuition to UAE students, but only to continuing dental students with a monthly income below AED 20,000 and an annual GPA above the minimum for progression.