This course has been designed to enable students to acquire a strong grounding in the theory and application of dental public health. The course has a formal taught component delivered by unit staff and visiting public health practitioners and researchers. In addition to delivering core content the taught modules help to improve students’ competencies in critical thinking, argumentation and presentation of complex public health problems. Students also undertake placements in public health bodies in London, giving them exposure to the world of public health decision making. The Dental Public Health unit is active in applied research in the community and the research module builds on this by giving students the opportunity to develop research planning, delivery and analysis capabilities in these settings. The Dental Public Health MSc programme includes timetabled seminars, placements, personal study and supervised research. The direction of your individual study will be guided by the formal study sessions you attend, along with your reading lists and assignments. However, we expect you to demonstrate an active role in your own learning by reading widely and expanding your own knowledge, understanding and critical ability. Independent study will foster in you the ability to identify your own learning needs and determine which areas you need to focus on to become proficient in your subject area. This is an important transferable skill and will help to prepare you for the transition to working life. You will be assessed on a modular basis. Our assessment procedures vary between each module and include written papers, long essays, drafting study protocols, proposing a solution to oral health needs and a critical review of a published paper using appropriate criteria.