Clinical Dental Technology

Entry requirements

• Admission to the programme shall be subject to the approval of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Health Sciences) on the advice of the Faculty of Dentistry.
• Every applicant shall present evidence of ability for advanced level study (Diploma/Bachelor of Dental Technology)

If your first language is not English you need to meet our English language requirements by obtaining IELTS score of 7.5 with no band below 7.0 or Internet-based TOEFL of 102 or better with a minimum of 24 in each section; or Paper-based TOEFL of 600 or better with a TWE (Test of Written English) of 5.0 or better. Due to COVID-19, we currently accept Duolingo English Test (DET), IELTS Indicator Test, and TOEFL iBT Special home Edition.

Don’t meet the English language requirements? The University of Otago Language Centre "English for Otago" programme offers a pathway for Undergraduate and Postgraduate students to meet the English language requirements for undergraduate and postgraduate study.

Months of entry

February

Course content

The Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Dental Technology (PGDipCDTech) involves formal education, teaching and clinical practice in a course that is one year full-time. The full-time programme is held at the Faculty of Dentistry in Dunedin. The programme, which includes three papers (DTEC 401 Complete Denture Prosthodontics, DTEC 402Partial Denture Prosthodontics, and DTEC 403 Dental Health), is for dental technicians who wish to obtain training in Clinical Dental Technology and is designed to enable graduates to practise clinical procedures safely and restore the dentition using either complete or removable dentures.

Dental Technology is a global profession. Throughout the world there is a high demand for skilled dental technicians.

In New Zealand and Australia, dental technicians are employed by commercial dental laboratories which provide the bulk of the work for the private dental industry, the defence forces, hospitals and state health dental services. The ratio of employer to employee is approximately 1:3 and many dental technicians ultimately set up business for themselves. There are no barriers to becoming self-employed.

Structure of the Programme

The programme of study shall comprise the following papers:

• DTEC 401 Complete Denture Prosthodontics (45 points)
• DTEC 402 Partial Denture Prosthodontics (45 points)
• DTEC 403 Dental Health (30 points)

Information for international students

Otago offers students an unrivalled campus experience and a vibrant, social student culture. The majority of Otago’s 21,000 students live, work and play in Dunedin - New Zealand’s only true university city. Otago is home to over 3,000 students, from over 100 countries.

Fees and funding