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Posted Oct. 7, 2025

Best postgraduate programs in orthodontics

Best postgraduate programs in orthodontics

Are you interested in learning how to diagnose, prevent and treat oral issues? If so, universities in the UK offer a great selection of masters degrees in orthodontics and dentistry.

Orthodontics is the type of dentistry that specialises in improving the appearance, function and position of crooked and over-crowded teeth, and an orthodontist will focus on straightening teeth and aligning the bite of a patient’s teeth and jaw.

Closely related to this is prosthodontics, the branch of dentistry that specialises in the design, manufacture and fitting of artificial replacements for teeth including dental implants, dentures, crowns and bridges. A prosthodontist will undertake specialist training to enable them to treat patients for issues such as traumatic mouth and facial injuries, oral cancer reconstruction, and congenital anomalies.

Considerations when choosing a postgraduate orthodontics course

There are several factors that you should consider when choosing a postgraduate program in orthodontics – these include:

Masters degree type – do you want to study an MSc (Masters of Science) or MClinDent/DClinDent (Master of Clinical Dentistry/Doctor of Clinical Dentistry)? The latter options are more clinically focused, so could be considered a better choice for advancing your career in this field on a practical level.

Course focus – do you want to study a broader masters in dentistry or are you more interested in a specialised orthodontic qualification?

Clinical experience – if you are keen to gain as much clinical experience as possible, explore postgraduate programs and HEIs with strong links to hospital trusts, as these are more likely to offer more clinical opportunities.

Accreditation and examinations – check whether the course will prepare you for recognised dentistry qualifications. Plus, is it verified by regulatory bodies?

Supervisors and faculty – to be successful in orthodontics and dentistry, strong academic and clinical mentorship is key. Check the expertise of the department of the university you are considering and make sure these align with your areas of interest.

Research opportunities – do you want to undertake a research project? Some orthodontic masters programs will include a research dissertation.

Where can you study orthodontics?

There are many prestigious HEIs that are leading the way in the best postgraduate programs in orthodontics – both in the UK and worldwide – including King's College London, UCL (University College London), Queen Mary University of London (QMUL), Cardiff University and The University of Manchester.

Specialised MSc Orthodontics courses

Here we take a look at the courses offered by these institutions in some more details.

King’s College London – MSc Orthodontics
This is a three-year on-campus masters degree course that provides practical, academic and clinical teaching in orthodontics. Students benefit from a great learning environment and working in a dedicated postgraduate dental centre at Guy’s Hospital in London.

UCL – MClinDent Orthodontics (Advanced Training)
This is a three-year masters degree that is designed for international students who are not eligible to apply for orthodontic training via the Health Education England/NHS England national recruitment process.

Queen Mary University of London – DClinDent Orthodontics
This Professional Doctorate Programme in Orthodontics is a three-year course that provides training to dentists who want to become specialists in primary or secondary services, or who want to become clinical academics. Students will gain their skills in the Institute of Dentistry at the Royal London Hospital.

Cardiff University – MScD Orthodontics
This three-year full-time course provides students with the skills needed to become specialists in orthodontics via extensive clinical and academic training. It is based in a working dental hospital with strong NHS links and is recognised for training purposes by the Royal Colleges for Membership in Orthodontics of the Edinburgh and Bicollegiate examination.

The University of Manchester – MSc (Clin) Orthodontics
This three-year full-time course teaches contemporary orthodontic treatment techniques and gives students practical experience via attachments at the University Dental Hospital of Manchester and at hospitals in the northwest of England.

Postgraduate dentistry course rankings

The Complete University Guide has compiled a rankings list the best universities for Dentistry in the UK – including Clinical and Pre-Clinical Dentistry courses. This table shows the postgraduate dentistry courses these HEIs currently have on offer to study.

University

Postgraduate Dentistry Courses

UCL

MClinDent Orthodontics (Advanced Training)
MClinDent Prosthodontics (Advanced Training)

University of Sheffield

DClinDent Prosthodontics

King’s College London

MSc Orthodontics
MClinDent Prosthodontics
MClinDent Fixed & Removable Prosthodontics

Cardiff University

MClinDent Clinical Dentistry (Prosthodontics)
MScD Orthodontics

University of Liverpool

DDSc Orthodontics

University of Manchester

MSc (Clin) Orthodontics
PhD/MPhil Orthodontics

Newcastle University

MClinDent Prosthodontics

Queen Mary, University of London

DClinDent Orthodontics

DClinDent Prosthodontics

University of Greater Manchester

MSc Dentofacial Orthodontics and Clear Aligners

Dentistry league table for undergrad courses

To be eligible to study a masters degree in orthodontics, students will have completed an undergraduate dentistry course, such as the BDS in Dentistry at Queen’s University Belfast.

The Guardian’s Dentistry League Table ranks undergraduate dentistry courses throughout the UK in terms of several factors including student satisfaction, student-to-staff ratio, spend-per-student, career after 15 months, and academic continuation. Although these HEIs have been ranked as a result of their undergraduate dentistry offerings, this table provides a good starting point when researching your postgraduate orthodontic and dentistry options.

Here are the top 10 universities in the UK according to The Guardian’s Dentistry League Table 2025 – all scores are out of 100.

Ranking

University

Guardian Score

Student Satisfaction

Career after 15 months

Continuation

1

University of Plymouth

100

94

97

97

2

Queen’s University Belfast

97.7

96.4

95

100

3

University of Dundee

94.6

97.1

100

95.8

4

University of Glasgow

90.9

97.3

98

93.1

5

University of Bristol

90.7

95.6

95

97.7

6

University of Liverpool

85.6

95.2

100

100

7

Cardiff University

83.9

92.5

98

99.2

8

University of Birmingham

81.7

89

97

99.5

9

Queen Mary University of London

81

83.9

97

98.8

10

Newcastle University

79.3

94.6

99

96.6

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