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Example dental clinical academic training pathway

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There is no one single route to a clinical academic career. The specific pathway of qualifications and job roles required will depend on your field, experience, and in most cases, a bit of luck. Although some organisations do run structured schemes that set out a prescribed pathway, many more clinical academics end up in their posts through more informal and individual routes. The information in this chart is intended to illustrate some of the potential clinical academic career paths available, but it should not be considered to be definitive.

Qualify as Dentist

The Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) or MChD/BChD are the standard qualifications awarded upon completion of the dental degree. As a dental student there are numerous opportunities to engage with research through intercalation, electives and research projects.

 Dental Foundation Training or Vocational Training - 1 Year

To practice in the NHS after graduation, dental graduates must complete Dental Foundation Training if based in England, Wales or Northern Ireland (DFT) or Vocational Training (VT) if based in Scotland.

Dental Foundation Trainee + DCT 1 - 1 + 1 Years

Following the completion of Foundation or Vocational Training, a dentist may undertake a training post in hospital or community dentistry instead of continuing in primary care. Upon completion of the scheme the trainee may apply for DCT2.

 General Professional Trainee - 2 Years

General Professional Training schemes allow newly qualified dentists to undertake a longitudinal dental foundation training scheme (combining DFT and DCT1) which may incorporate a research project, audit or service evaluation. Upon completion of the scheme the trainee may apply for DCT2.

 Dental Core Trainee ACT 2 + 3 - 1-2 Years

Dental Core Training is an optional period of postgraduate training which extends up to 3 years from the end of DFT/VT to the start of specialty training, specialist practice, generalist practice or many other possible career options.

 Academic Clinical Fellowship + Primary Care - 3 Years

The ACF is a training post in dentistry that combines clinical training (75%) with research training (25%). It is available paired with specialist training, dental core training, or ongoing practice in primary care.

 PhD in Primary Care - 3 Years

A full-time PhD usually takes three years to complete and can be pursued part-time (and self-funded) during practice in primary or community dental services or during or after specialist training.

 Academic Clinical Fellowship + Specialist Training - 3-5 Years

The ACF is a training post in dentistry that combines clinical training (75%) with research training (25%). It is available paired with specialist training, dental core training, or ongoing practice in primary care.

 PhD - Step 'out programme' for 3-4 years (After / During Specialist Training 3-4 Years)

A full-time PhD usually takes three years to complete and can be pursued part-time (and self-funded) during practice in primary or community dental services or during or after specialist training.

 Clinical Fellow - 5-6 Years

Some universities have internal schemes that allow 50% teaching of undergraduates with 50% research time in which the host institution funds a PhD under staff regulations for the post-holder. DCT1 or equivalent is usually a minimum starting point for entry to these posts.

 Specialist Training (After PHD) - 3-5 Years Senior Lecturer

Senior Lecturers without an honorary consultant role are often held by individuals whose emphasis has been on academic, rather than clinical training or they may be entirely non-clinical.

 Senior Lecturer + Honorary Consultant

Senior Lecturers with an Honorary Consultant role are held by individuals who combine academic work with clinical practice.

The first step to becoming a dentist in the UK is to study for an undergraduate degree in dentistry on a course approved by the General Dental Council. The dental degree will typically take five years to complete, though some courses may take four or six years.

While the dental degree is focused on preparing students to become safe and competent dentists, there are early opportunities to explore clinical academia through intercalation, electives and research projects. Taking part in these activities during your undergraduate dental degree can be a good way to find out whether a clinical academic career would interest you, but it is not essential to make a firm decision about your future career at this stage.

Following qualification, to become a clinical academic the dentist must first complete Dental Foundation Training or Vocational Training, obtain the relevant dental postgraduate diploma (MFDS/MJDF) and undertake a PhD alongside or after clinical training. This diagram illustrates various pathways that could be taken to achieve this outcome, though it should be noted that while it illustrates some routes in, it is by no means exhaustive.

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