UWA Handbook 2025

Note: This course is only available to re-enrolling students.

Applicability of the Student Rules, policies and procedures

1.(1) The Student Rules apply to students in this course.

(2) The policy, policy statements and guidance documents and student procedures apply, except as otherwise indicated in the rules for this course.

Academic Conduct Essentials and Communication and Research Skills modules

2.(1) A student who enrols in this course for the first time irrespective of whether they have previously been enrolled in another course of the University, must undertake the Academic Conduct Essentials module (the ACE module) and the Communication and Research Skills module (the CARS module).

(2) A student must successfully complete the ACE module within the first teaching period of their enrolment. Failure to complete the module within this timeframe will result in the student's unit results from this teaching period being withheld. These results will continue to be withheld until students avail themselves of a subsequent opportunity to achieve a passing grade in the ACE module. In the event that students complete units in subsequent teaching periods without completing the ACE module, these results will similarly be withheld. Students will not be permitted to submit late review or appeal applications regarding results which have been withheld for this reason and which they were unable to access in the normally permitted review period.

English Language competency requirements

3.(1) To be considered eligible for consideration for admission to this course an applicant must satisfy the University's English language competence requirement as set out in the University Policy on Admission: Coursework, except as otherwise indicated in the rules for this course.

(2) Applicants presenting with the IELTS Academic require an overall score of at least 7.0 and no band less than 7.0.

Admission requirements

4.(1) To be considered for admission to this course an applicant must have—

(1) a bachelor's degree, or an equivalent qualification, as recognised by UWA; and

(2) the equivalent of a UWA grade point average (GPA) of at least 5.5; and

(3) (a) a Graduate Medical School Admissions Test (GAMSAT) overall score of at least 50 and no section score less than 50 for domestic applicants;

or

(b) a Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) score of 123/123/123/123 for international applicants;

or

(c) a Dental Aptitude Test (DAT);

or

(d) a place in a Direct Pathway into this course.

Admission ranking and selection

5. Where relevant, admission will be awarded to the highest ranked applicants or applicants selected based on—

(a) a structured interview in which eligible applicants will be assessed based on the personal qualities considered desirable in dental practitioners, and a spatial awareness test, with invitation to attend the interview based on equal weightings under Rule 4(1), (2) and (3), in alignment with the interview quota for the year;

and

(b) the intake quota for that year;

and

(c) (i) for non-rural applicants, equal weighting of the GAMSAT/MCAT/DAT, GPA and interview;

or

(ii) for rural applicants, equal weighting of the GAMSAT, GPA, interview and rurality ranking.

Articulations and exit awards

6. This course does not form part of an articulated sequence.

Course structure

7.(1) The course consists of units to a total value of 192 points.

(2) Units must be selected in accordance with the course structure, as set out in these rules.

Satisfactory progress

8. To make satisfactory progress a student must pass units to a point value greater than half the total value of units in which they remain enrolled after the final date for withdrawal without academic penalty.

9. A student who has not achieved a result of Ungraded Pass (UP) for the Communication and Research Skills module (the CARS module) when their progress status is assessed will not have made satisfactory progress even if they have met the other requirements for satisfactory progress in Rule 8.

Progress status

10.(1) The Faculty, on the recommendation of the Board of Examiners, may assign a progress status of 'On Probation' or 'Excluded' to a student who does not make satisfactory progress under Rule 8.

(2) Unless it determines otherwise in light of exceptional circumstances, and except as set out in (3), the Faculty, on the recommendation of the Board of Examiners, assigns a progress status of 'On Probation' to a student who fails to make satisfactory progress under Rule 8.

(3) Unless it determines otherwise in light of exceptional circumstances, the Faculty, on the recommendation of the Board of Examiners, assigns a progress status of 'Excluded' to a student who—

(a) fails to make satisfactory progress under Rule 8 and has previously repeated two years of the course; or

(b) fails to make satisfactory progress under Rule 8 in the same year of the course for a second time.

(4) A student who is assigned a progress status of 'Excluded' under (3) (a) or (b) will not be permitted to re-enrol in the course.

[(4) is an exception to University Policy]

11. A student who does not make satisfactory progress in terms of Rule 9 is assigned the progress status of 'On Probation', unless they have been assigned a progress status of 'Suspended' or 'Excluded' for failure to meet other satisfactory progress requirements in Rule 8.

Award with distinction

12. To be awarded the degree with distinction a student must achieve a course weighted average mark (WAM) of at least 80 per cent, which is calculated based on —

(a) all units above Level 3 attempted as part of the course that are awarded a final percentage mark;

(b) all relevant units above Level 3 undertaken in articulating courses of this University that are awarded a final percentage mark;

and

(c) all units above Level 3 completed at this University that are credited to the master's degree course.

Deferrals

13. Applicants are not permitted to defer admission to this course and are expected to commence their course in the offered intake only. Approved leave is not available during the first academic year of this course. Applicants seeking admission to an alternative intake must submit a new application for that intake.

Additional rules

Supplementary assessment

14.(1) Subject to (2), a student who fails a didactic (non-clinical) component of a unit may be granted supplementary assessment in that component.

(2) The Board of Examiners will not provide an opportunity for supplementary assessment to a student who—

(a) fails more than two units in any calendar year;

or

(b) fails a deferred examination.

Requirements of students on probation

15.(1) Students who have been assigned a progress status of ‘On Probation' must –

(a) repeat all units having a clinical component that they have previously attempted in that year of the course;

and

(b) subject to (2), repeat all other units that they have previously attempted in that year of the course

(2) Students are exempt from the requirement to complete the following unit if they have a mark of at least 70 per cent in the unit DENT5302 Research Design, Statistics and Dental Public Health.

Approved leave and retention of credit

16.(1) Students may apply for a period of approved leave in accordance with University Policy.

(2) Following a period of approved leave of less than two years, students retain credit for all units previously passed.

(3) Following a period of approved leave of two years or more, full credit is unable to be granted and students must repeat the units comprising the most recently completed year of the course.

Short leave, requirement to attend and complete prescribed work

17.(1) Students must attend compulsory teaching and undertake practical and clinical work at the University, Oral Health Centre of Western Australia, and other institutions as approved by the Faculty.

(2) Providing approval is granted, a student is permitted to take a maximum of 10 University days annually as short leave. Short leave can include compassionate leave, medical leave , personal/other leave.

(3) Short leave is administered and managed as outlined in the UWA Dental School Student Handbook.

(4) Students who are absent for more than 5% of their total clinical sessions or 10 clinical sessions, whichever applies in an academic year, will be required to make-up/replace any further clinical sessions missed during the remainder of the year.

Entry from Medical Sciences Major at The University of Western Australia

18. Subject to completing other admission requirements, in recognition of prior learning, students who have satisfactorily completed the MJD-MEDSC Medical Sciences Major may be granted up to 48 credit points towards year 1 of the Doctor of Dental Medicine Course.

Entry via the Oral and Maxillofacial Entry Pathway

19. Subject to completing other admission requirements, in recognition of prior learning, students who have satisfactorily completed an MBBS or MD may be granted up to 48 credit points, for relevant units in year 1 of the Doctor of Dental Medicine Course.

National Police Clearance

20. At admission and annually during enrolment, students must provide a clear current Australian National Police Clearance; or

equivalent certification.

Health and Medical Sciences Infection Control requirements

21. Upon entry and during their enrolment students must comply with the Health and Medical Sciences Infection Control Requirements as appended to the UWA Policies on Admission and Student Enrolment

First Aid Requirements

22. At the time of enrolment students must show first aid competence equivalent to assessment requirements for HLTAID003, valid for no more than three years.

Advanced standing

23. The School may grant advanced standing for previously completed Dental units if they were completed as part of a postgraduate dental course recognised by the School as equivalent to the Doctor of Dental Medicine of this University.