They are allocated a number of adult and child patients and are responsible for their dental care throughout the clinical course. During the final year students spend a substantial proportion of their time in the multidisciplinary Restorative Dentistry clinic where they undertake all the treatment necessary for their patients. An increasing number of students are electing to go abroad in their 4th year summer vacation to pursue their study further and the School has some money at its disposal for this purpose for which students can compete. During the fourth year students are resident for two weeks in a regional general hospital. They are attached to the dental department but also gain experience of other facts of a general hospital, for example, accident and emergency work, general and ENT surgery.
Examinations are of two kinds, degree and class, and take place regularly throughout the course.
Continuous assessment is used and students have to pass certain qualifying class examinations before they may sit the final examination. White coats are provided for use on clinics. These are available in a range of subjects which involve an additional year of study either at the end of the second or third year depending on the course selected.