Bachelor Of Dental Surgery (BDS)
Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS)
Become a dental surgeon at the UAE’s specialist health-sciences university. The Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) is a 5-year program of general education, basic medical & dental sciences and pre-clinical & clinical training — 201 credit hours in total. The program is MOHESR accredited, with clinical training to Accreditation Canada (Diamond) standard.
Program Overview
The five-year Bachelor of Dental Surgery program is offered at RAK College of Dental Sciences, RAK Medical and Health Sciences University, Ras Al Khaimah. The program comprises of 201 credit hours in general education, basic medical & dental sciences, pre-clinical & clinical courses. Preclinical training is provided in simulation lab and clinical training in dental clinics under the supervision of qualified faculty and staff.
The graduates of this program shall have opportunities to work in general practice, the community dental service, hospital practice, university teaching and research in various individual organizations.
RAK College of Dental Sciences (RAKCODS) has been educating dentists since 2007, offering a five-year Bachelor of Dental Surgery accredited by the UAE Ministry of Higher Education. Our curriculum keeps pace with advances in dental science, pairing strong basic-sciences and preclinical training with extensive hands-on clinical practice.
Students train in the college’s own modern laboratories and dental clinics, where clinical training is accredited by Accreditation Canada to the Diamond Standard. A culture of community service — free, quality treatment for patients of every nationality — builds confident, ethical professionals, with postgraduate Master of Dental Surgery specializations and research opportunities for those who go further.
Programs Offered
- Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) — 5 years program
- Master of Dental Surgery in Orthodontics — 3 years program
- Master of Dental Surgery in Prosthodontics — 3 years program
Curriculum at a glance
| Stage | Years | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Basic & dental sciences | Years 1–2 | Oral biology, anatomy and pre-clinical skills on simulators. |
| Clinical dentistry | Years 3–4 | Restorative, periodontics, oral surgery in supervised clinics. |
| Comprehensive care & internship | Year 5 | Full patient management and rotations. |
Why study BDS at RAKCODS
The BDS is accredited by the UAE Ministry of Higher Education, with clinical training to Accreditation Canada (Diamond) standard.
Students treat patients in the college’s own fully-equipped dental clinics under qualified faculty supervision.
Preclinical skills are built in dedicated simulation and basic-sciences laboratories that mirror real practice.
Free, quality dental treatment for the community gives students real, socially-responsible practice.
Master of Dental Surgery programs in Orthodontics and Prosthodontics extend study beyond the BDS.
Faculty and students engage in research that advances dental science and evidence-based care.
Chair / Program Coordinator
Professor Muhammed Mustahsen Rahman
Dean
RAK College of Dental Sciences
Use the tabs above to explore the full program outcomes, curriculum, study plan, admission criteria and the fee structure.
BDS Program Learning Outcomes
A. Knowledge
On successful completion of the BDS program the graduates will be able to:
- Recognize and explain the structure, function and pathogenesis of human body related to oral and maxillofacial region.
- Integrate the nature, structure and properties of biomaterials and demonstrate their application in dentistry.
- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the complex interrelationship between the biomedical sciences, clinical dental behavioral, and social sciences in oral health care.
- Assess new information and data pertaining their validity and applicability to one’s professional decisions.
B. Skills
On successful completion of the BDS program the graduates will be able to:
- Take accurate, comprehensive and focused medical and dental histories and perform physical examination of head and neck region including the oral cavity.
- Evaluate the patient’s medical and dental problems and interpret the findings from the various diagnostic aids to formulate appropriate diagnosis.
- Collect and analyze relevant knowledge from various resources in order to make appropriate clinical decisions for patient’s oral health care.
- Formulate and implement a plan of care for both the prevention and treatment of diseases and refer the advanced cases to other health specialties.
- Perform common dental techniques and procedures in pre-clinical and clinical setting.
C. Competence
On successful completion of the BD program the graduates will be able to:
C1. Autonomy and Responsibility:
- Implement honesty and integrity in the relationship while dealing with patients, community and the dental profession.
- Manage patients independently and/or work in association with other health professionals by applying the scientific basis of different therapeutic modalities.
- Educate, motivate and convince the patient for prevention, oral health promotion, and wellness.
C2. Role in Context:
- Diagnose the molecular basis of diseases and critique knowledge related to the management of dental problems in professional development.
- Practice professionalism with ethical standards and social responsibility in all aspects of dental practice.
- Communicate effectively with patients, their families, colleagues and other health care professionals, recognizing when patients have difficulties in coping with dental care and help them accept their role in prevention and treatment.
C3. Self-Development:
- Develop an effective working environment as part of an oral health care team, with appreciation of other health care professionals and agencies contributions.
- Follow the strategies to support self-directed life-long learning, research and innovation in the field of dental sciences.
- Adapt the ability to work safely and effectively with oral health care providers in diverse setting by upholding professional attitude.
Curriculum (BDS)
Curriculum Structure
Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) at RAKCODS is a 5-year program and is in accordance
with the MoE guidelines as per the Reforming Dentistry Programs decree issued on
March 11, 2021.
All courses in BDS programs are taught in English.
The college has its External Advisory Board for its strategy and curriculum design.
External Examiners are involved to evaluate the competency of students and delivery of
the program at the end of each academic year.
The competency framework for BDS programs is mapped with the program learning outcomes.
Course learning outcomes of individual courses are aligned with the program learning
outcomes.
| Courses | Number | Credit Hours | Credit Hours % |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Education | 7 | 21 | 10.4 % |
| Basic Medical Sciences | 11 | 42 | 20.9 % |
| Preclinical Dental Sciences | 11 | 44 | 21.9 % |
| Clinical Dental Sciences | 13 | 94 | 46.8 % |
| Total | 201 | 100 % |
Applied Courses Credit Hours = 82.58 %
Clinical Simulation (Pre-Clinical) = 450 Contact Hours
Clinical Training = 2212 Contact Hours
Table 2. Summary of the RAKCOD BDS Study Plan 2021-22 credit hours:
| BDS Study Plan Courses | Courses Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| General Education | 21 credits (10.45 %) |
| Basic & Medical Education Courses | 42 credits (20.89 %) |
| Pre-clinical Dental Sciences Courses | 44 credits (21.89 %) |
| Clinical Dental Sciences Courses | 94 credits (46.76 %) |
| Total | 201 Credits hours |
Table 2.1. General Education Courses: 21 credits (10.45 %)
| Course Name | Course Code | Year | Semester | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English | ENG 101 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Health Sci. Comm. In Arabic | ARB 101 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Information Technology and Innovation | ITI 101 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Health Sci. Comm. in English | HSE 101 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Islamic Culture in Medicine | ICM 101 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Emirates Society | EMS 101 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Biostatistics and Research Methodology | BRM 101 | 2 | Summer | 3 |
Table 2.2. Basic & Medical Education Courses: 42 credits (20. 89 %)
| Course Name | Course Code | Year | Semester | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anatomy - Head & Neck and Cell Biology | DAH 126 | 1 | 1 and 2 | 6 |
| Physiology | DPH 126 | 1 | 1 and 2 | 6 |
| Oral Biology & Tooth Morphology | DOB 126 | 1 | 1 and 2 | 6 |
| Biochemistry | DBC 226 | 2 | 3 and 4 | 6 |
| Pathology | DPT 224 | 2 | 3 and 4 | 4 |
| Pharmacology and Therapeutics | DPA 224 | 2 | 3 and 4 | 4 |
| Microbiology | DMB 212 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| Ethics in Dental Practice | DED 211 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| Evidence Based Dentistry | DEB 212 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| General Medicine | DGM 213 | 2 | 4 | 3 |
| General Surgery | DGS 212 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
Table 2.3. Pre-clinical Dental Sciences Courses: 44 credits (21.89 %)
| Course Name | Course Code | Year | Semester | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Infection Control | DIC 212 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| Clinical Orientation | DCO 211 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| Practice Management | DPM 211 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| Pre-Clinical Operative Dentistry | DOD 225 | 2 | 3 and 4 | 5 |
| Pre-Clinical Periodontics | DPR 213 | 2 | 4 | 3 |
| Community Dentistry | DCD 326 | 3 | 5 and 6 | 6 |
| Pre-Clinical Prosthodontics | DPP 328 | 3 | 5 and 6 | 8 |
| Pre-Clinical Oral Surgery | DOS 326 | 3 | 5 and 6 | 6 |
| Oral Pathology | DOP 326 | 3 | 5 and 6 | 6 |
| Oral Radiology | DOR 324 | 3 | 5 and 6 | 4 |
| Pre-Clinical Endodontics | DEN 312 | 3 | Summer | 2 |
Table 2.4. Clinical Dental Sciences Courses: 94 credits (46.76 %)
| Course Name | Course Code | Year | Semester | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clinical Periodontics | DPR 326 | 3 | 5 and 6 | 6 |
| Oral Medicine & Oral Diagnosis | DOM 314 | 3 | Summer | 4 |
| Clinical Operative Dentistry | DOD 426 | 4 | 7 and 8 | 6 |
| Clinical Prosthodontics | DPC 428 | 4 | 7 and 8 | 8 |
| Clinical Endodontics | DEN 427 | 4 | 7 and 8 | 7 |
| Clinical Oral Surgery | DOS 427 | 4 | 7 and 8 | 7 |
| Clinical Pediatric Dentistry | DPD 428 | 4 | 7 and 8 | 8 |
| Hospital & Geriatric Dentistry | DHG 413 | 4 | Summer | 3 |
| Treatment Planning & Seminar | DPT 413 | 4 | Summer | 3 |
| Clinical Orthodontics | DOR 526 | 5 | 9 and 10 | 6 |
| Research Project | DRP 522 | 5 | 9 and 10 | 2 |
| Comprehensive Clinical Dentistry - 1 | DCC 5228 | 5 | 9 and 10 | 28 |
| Comprehensive Clinical Dentistry- 2 | DCC 516 | 5 | Summer | 6 |
Table 3. Clinical Simulation (Preclinical) Hours= 450 Contact Hours
| Course Name | Contact Hours |
|---|---|
| Pre-Clinical Operative Dentistry – (2+2) x 15 | 60 contact hours |
| Pre-Clinical Periodontics – 2 x 15 | 30 contact hours |
| Community Dentistry – (2+2) x 15 | 60 contact hours |
| Pre-Clinical Prosthodontics – (4+4) x 15 | 120 contact hours |
| Pre-Clinical Oral Surgery – (2+2) x 15 | 60 contact hours |
| Oral Radiology – (2+2) x 15 | 60 contact hours |
| Pre-Clinical Endodontics – 2 x 15 | 30 contact hours |
| Clinical Orientation– 2 x 15 | 30 contact hours |
Table 4. Clinical Practicum Patient-Facing Clinical Hours; 1 Hour of 4-Hand
Equates to 0.75 Clinical Hours (2,212 x 0.75 = 1,659 Clinical Contact Hours)
| Course Name | Contact Hours |
|---|---|
| Clinical Periodontics – (4+4) x 16 | 128 contact hours |
| Oral Medicine & Oral Diagnosis – 4 x 16 | 64 contact hours |
| Clinical Operative Dentistry – (4+4) X16 | 128 contact hours |
| Clinical Prosthodontics – (6+6) x 16 | 192 contact hours |
| Clinical Endodontics – (4+6) x 16 | 160 contact hours |
| Clinical Oral Surgery – (4+4) x16 | 128 contact hours |
| Clinical Pediatric Dentistry – (4+6) x 16 | 160 contact hours |
| Clinical Orthodontics – (2+2) x 16 | 64 contact hours |
| Hospital Dentistry - Summer Semester – 2 x 16 | 32 contact hours |
| Comprehensive Clinical Dentistry-I – (28+28) x 17 | 952 contact hours |
| Comprehensive Clinical Dentistry-II – 12 x 17 | 204 contact hours |
| Total | 2,212 Contact Hours |
General Education Curriculum
General Education Course Description
Course Prerequisite: None
Course Summary: This course provides the basic skills of the English language required in dental practice. It covers college level writing standards, reading for comprehension purposes, editing techniques, and organization of material to express themselves clearly and effectively. Students will be familiarized with basic Medical/Dental terminology. Faculty will facilitate learning through interactive lecture sessions, group discussions and team based learning.
Course Prerequisite: None
Course Summary: This course has been prepared to provide the students with the basic knowledge and skills of communication in Arabic language with patients and healthcare staff. The course also focuses on reading and listening for understanding to prepare them for real life situations. The course gives priority to pronunciation and correct articulation while speaking in Arabic. Learning is facilitated through interactive lecture sessions, group discussions, self-directed learning and practice.
Course Prerequisite: None
Course Summary: Innovation in Information Technology is a three-credit course offered in first semester of the first year Dental program. The goal of the course focuses on identifying the components of the information systems namely, the hardware, software and connectivity. It also focuses on operating system environment, Internet, social media, telecommunication; as well as the ethical use of electronic data in health informatics and health information system. It also directs the students to apply the rules of problem solving related to health sciences through the effective utilization of information technology equipped with Artificial intelligence, Machine learning, 5G technology, Internet of Things, and Machine learning. Learning is facilitated through interactive lecture sessions, group discussions, self-directed learning and demonstrations.
Course Prerequisite: ENG 101
Course Summary: This course is to provide the students with the essential skills and competencies needed for professionals in health care. The course aims to train students to be able to communicate with clarity, sensitivity, and effectiveness in their interaction as Dentists to communicate with patients and their families. The course focuses on Empathy and Active Listening Skills while interacting with patients, their families as well as their own colleagues to achieve desired patient outcomes. It also focuses on Public Speaking skills, including conference presentations. Faculty will facilitate learning through interactive lecture sessions and group discussions.
Course Prerequisite: None
Course Summary: This course has been prepared to discuss the current medical and scientific issues through the Islamic perspective. It focusses on developing an understanding and appreciation of Islamic contribution to medicine in particular and science in general. The course aims at engaging in students’ awareness about Islamic Codes related to health and medicine. Learning is facilitated through interactive lecture sessions, group discussions, self-directed learning.
Course Prerequisite: None
Course Summary: The course explains the basic knowledge related to the nature of the UAE Society. It also helps students to understand the geography, historical roots, evolution of statehood, cultural & educational development, economic development and diversification of income, social development, population structure, foreign policy, and future aspirations of UAE.
Course Prerequisite: None
Course Summary: This course is designed to teach students how to find, evaluate and apply research evidence to make decisions regarding the care of their patients. This provides the students an opportunity to perform innovative, multidisciplinary research in diagnosis, prevention and treatment of dental and oral health related diseases. The students select a suitable topic for research in dental sciences under guidance of the course coordinator and a member of the dental faculty. Students learn how to work independently and be creative in their thoughts and ideas. The course offers knowledge on application of the basic principles of research design, methods of data collection and how to analyze them in dental health sciences. The course also provides the steps necessary to design and write a research project.
BDS Curriculum Summary
Description of subjects in the BDS course (Curriculum 2021). Expand each year to review every course, its credit-hour load and a description of the subject taught across the five-year Bachelor of Dental Surgery program, including the elective courses.
| Anatomy-Head & Neck and Cell Biology DAH 126 | Credit Hours: (4 + 2 = 6) |
|---|---|
| This course provides an understanding of the basic anatomy, embryology, histology, imaging and relevant clinical anatomy of the Head and neck region, CNS along with general outline of Respiratory, cardiovascular and digestive system. The course prepares the students for the application of head and neck anatomy and embryology and radiology in clinical sciences which will help them towards diagnosis of clinical disorders. | |
| Physiology DPH 126 | Credit Hours: (4 + 2 = 6) |
| Physiology is a six-credit course offered in the first year of the BDS program. The course provides a system-based approach to the normal organ functions and the various physiological processes of the body that maintain homeostasis. It covers cellular structure and function, muscle types, excitability and mechanism of contraction, and details of blood, cardiovascular, digestive, respiratory, excretory, endocrine, reproductive, and central nervous systems, and special senses. Students can apply this knowledge to understand the physiological adaptations to special conditions, and to explain the physiological basis of oro-dental health and disease. The course is facilitated through interactive lecture sessions, self-directed learning, practical sessions, and course examinations. | |
| Oral Biology and Tooth Morphology DOB 126 | Credit Hours: (4 + 2 = 6) |
| This course describes the micro and macro structures and function of the oral cavity including teeth, bone, soft tissues and salivary glands and associated structures along with theories of formation, growth, development of these tissues. The course also describes the anatomical and morphological characteristics of teeth and their supporting structures, the inter-arch and intra-arch relationships. The course enables students to incorporate and integrate the knowledge of structure and development of oro-facial tissues in their future clinical practice to develop the knowledge and skills necessary for clinical diagnosis and treatment planning. | |
| ENG 101 English | Credits: (3+0=3) |
| This course provides the basic skills of the English language required in dental practice. It covers college-level writing standards, reading for comprehension purposes, editing techniques, and organization of material to express themselves clearly and effectively. Students will be familiarized with basic Medical/Dental terminology. Faculty will facilitate learning through interactive lecture sessions, group discussions, and team-based learning. | |
| ARB 101 Health Sciences Communication in Arabic | Credits: (3+0=3) |
| This course has been prepared to provide the students with the basic knowledge and skills of communication in the Arabic language with patients and healthcare staff. The course also focuses on reading and listening for understanding to prepare them for real-life situations. The course gives priority to pronunciation and correct articulation while speaking in Arabic. Learning is facilitated through interactive lecture sessions, group discussions, self-directed learning, and practice. | |
| ITI 101 Information Technology and Innovation | Credits: (2+1=3) |
| Innovation in Information Technology is a three-credit course offered in the first semester of the first-year Dental program. The goal of the course focuses on identifying the components of the information systems namely, the hardware, software, and connectivity. It also focuses on operating system environment, Internet, social media, and telecommunication; as well as the ethical use of electronic data in health informatics and health information system. It also directs the students to apply the rules of problem-solving related to health sciences through the effective utilization of information technology equipped with Artificial intelligence, Machine learning, 5G technology, the Internet of Things, and Machine learning. Learning is facilitated through interactive lecture sessions, group discussions, self-directed learning, and demonstrations. | |
| HSE 101 Health Sciences Communication in English | Credits: (3+0=3) |
| This course is to provide the students with the essential skills and competencies needed for professionals in health care. The course aims to train students to be able to communicate with clarity, sensitivity, and effectiveness in their interaction as Dentists to communicate with patients and their families. The course focuses on Empathy and Active Listening Skills, and Problem-Solving skills while interacting with patients, their families as well as their colleagues to achieve desired patient outcomes. It also focuses on Public Speaking skills, including conference presentations. Faculty will facilitate learning through interactive lecture sessions and group discussions. | |
| ICM 101 Islamic Culture and Medicine | Credits: (3+0=3) |
| This course has been prepared to discuss the current medical and scientific issues from the Islamic perspective. It focuses on developing an understanding and appreciation of Islamic contribution to medicine in particular and science in general. The course aims to engage in students’ awareness about Islamic Codes related to health and medicine. Learning is facilitated through interactive lecture sessions, group discussions, and self-directed learning. | |
| EMS 101 Emirates Society | Credits: (3+0=3) |
| The Emirates Society is a three-credit course delivered to (first year- semester two) Dental Students, seeking to merge national belonging and identity and appreciate the national achievements of the United Arab Emirates. The course focuses on introducing students to the main social features of the Emirati community and its core values and heritage, as well as the history and geography of the country. It discusses the internal and foreign policy, social development, and services provided by the State, including the empowerment of women and their role in society. The course also aims to shed light on UAE’s role in building an Emirati knowledgeable society, encouraging multiculturalism, and developing solid economic and technological infrastructure, as well as positioning UAE at a globally competitive level. The course also includes the future visions and challenges towards developing strategic plans as it will discuss the Federal Government's Vision and Abu Dhabi’s Vision 2030 and the different issues related to future development plans and the expected challenges. Learning about this course is facilitating Knowledge through several interactive assessment methods such as lecture sessions, discussions, group discussions, self-directed learning, and demonstrations. | |
| Biochemistry DBC 226 | Credit Hours: (4 + 2 = 6) |
|---|---|
| The course will focus on the conceptual discipline based on the structure and function of components of living tissues in health and disease. It will also provide basic knowledge of the biochemistry of the human body as an aid in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of oral diseases. | |
| Pharmacology and Therapeutic DPT 224 | Credit Hours: (4 + 0 = 4) |
| The course describes the principles of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics including factors that modify drug action. The course also describes the mechanism of action, therapeutic uses, adverse reactions, contraindications, drug interactions along with salient pharmacokinetic features and dental implications of the drugs used in inflammatory conditions, infective diseases including bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic infections, cancer, autoimmune disorders, anemias, disorders of hemostasis, hyperlipidemia, and gastrointestinal disorders. The course also describes the mechanism of action, therapeutic uses, adverse reactions, contraindications, drug interactions along with salient pharmacokinetic features and dental implications of the drugs used in cardiovascular, respiratory, endocrine and central nervous systems and, general and local anesthetics. | |
| Pathology DPA 224 | Credit Hours: (3 + 1 = 4) |
| The course builds upon an understanding of the normal structure and function of the human body and enables the students to relate the basic concepts of general pathology to understand the pathogenesis and morphology of diseases. | |
| Pre-Clinical Operative Dentistry & Biomaterials DOD 225 | Credit Hours: (3 + 2 = 5) |
| The course describes the basic concepts of cavity design with minimum cavity extension, materials used in the various conservative procedures, their manipulation, and properties. This course also highlights the diagnosis, prevention, and management of dental caries. The concepts of minimally invasive dentistry for incipient caries and complex restorations for grossly damaged teeth are introduced to develop the students’ knowledge and skills for future clinical work. Pre-clinical laboratory sessions and demonstrations will help the students to develop skills to utilize the materials in conservative techniques. | |
| Microbiology DMB 212 | Credit Hours: (1 + 1 = 2) |
| The microbiology course provides the student with an understanding of the natural history of oral infections and other systemic infectious diseases with oral manifestations. The course covers oral microbiology, immunology, and microbial interactions with human hosts in health and disease. It provides the foundation of the roles of microbes and host response in oral health and disease, and to utilize this knowledge for the prevention of oral diseases such as caries and periodontitis. | |
| General Medicine DGM 213 | Credit Hours: (2 + 1 = 3) |
| This course provides the students with the etiology, signs and symptoms of common medical problems encountered during dental practice, which may complicate the delivery of quality dental care. Undertaking the course ensures that graduate practitioners understand when to refer and indication for complex treatment. Also, to enable the students to recognize problems in the medical history of patients as a prerequisite to the whole patient care and health promotion approach to modern dentistry. | |
| Infection Control DIC 212 | Credit Hours: (2 + 0 = 2) |
| The course focuses on the protocols of infection control and the mechanisms by which infectious diseases are transmitted in dental practice. Introduce to the Students understanding about the meaning and importance of infection control in dental practice and the methods required for it. | |
| General Surgery DGS 212 | Credit Hours: (2 + 0 = 2) |
| General surgery is a two-credit course offered in the 4th semester of the second-year Dental program. The aim of the course is to introduce the student to the basic concept of surgical patients. The course includes general principles of surgery and surgical patients which includes preparing patients for surgery and anesthesia, identifying the high-risk patient during the peri-operative period as well as surgical wound care and wound healing. The second part is specific to surgical topics relevant to dental students, with stress on topics related directly to the learning outcome, the students will be asked to write in one of the related topics this is active self-directed learning that will make them read more on specific topics. | |
| Ethics in Dental Practice DED 211 | Credit Hours: (1 + 0 = 1) |
| This course helps students to understand the place of ethics in professional life, to recognize when an ethical problem exists in the performance of academic work, clinical treatment, or research, and to have the capability of analyzing and addressing the problem. | |
| Practice Management DPM 211 | Credit Hours: (1 + 0 = 1) |
| Practice management course focuses on dentistry as a business, dental team & patient management, importance of legal and ethical issues, communication skill, financing, purchasing equipment, documentation, and regulations of dental practice management. The course introduces students to those business skills that will contribute to a more efficient and cost-effective delivery of dental care in the private practice setting. | |
| Evidence Based Dentistry DEB 212 | Credit Hours: (2 + 0 = 2) |
| This course is designed to teach students how to find, evaluate and apply research evidence to make decisions regarding the care of their patients. | |
| Pre-Clinical Periodontics DPR 213 | Credit Hours: (2 + 1 = 3) |
| This course exposes the students to a complete spectrum of normal structure of periodontium, various forms of periodontal diseases, plaque and systemic conditions affecting the periodontal tissues. Etiology, pathology, and clinical features associated with periodontal diseases are also described. Practical training on phantom head will prepare the students to develop manual skills for non-surgical periodontal therapy. | |
| Clinical Orientation DCO 211 | Credit: (0 + 1 = 1) |
| The concept of clinical orientation is to acquaint the students with dental operatory. The students will be made aware of teamwork and patient care by observing their seniors during the clinical work. Students will have an opportunity to observe clinically normal oral tissues, dental plaque and caries. The course also familiarizes the students with infection control protocol and Hospital Information Management System (HIMS). | |
| BRM 101 Biostatistics and Research Methodology | Credits: (3 + 0 = 3) |
| This course is designed to teach students how to find, evaluate, and apply research evidence to make decisions regarding the care of their patients. This provides the students an opportunity to perform innovative, multidisciplinary research in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of dental and oral health-related diseases. The students select a suitable topic for research in dental sciences under the guidance of the course coordinator and a member of the dental faculty. Students learn how to work independently and be creative in their thoughts and ideas. The course offers knowledge on the application of the basic principles of research design, methods of data collection, and how to analyze them in dental health sciences. The course also provides the steps necessary to design and write a research project. | |
| Community Dentistry DCD 326 | Credit Hours: (4 + 2 = 6) |
|---|---|
| This course introduces the students to different oral health problems at a community level along with general epidemiological methods. The course content will contribute to the concepts and practice of health promotion. It also prepares the students to understand and fulfill their responsibility to improve the oral health of the community. | |
| Ethics in Dental Practice DED 211 | Credit Hours: (1 + 0 = 1) |
| This course helps students to understand the place of ethics in professional life, to recognize when an ethical problem exists in the performance of academic work, clinical treatment, or research, and to have the capability of analyzing and addressing the problem. | |
| Pre-Clinical Prosthodontics & Biomaterials DPP 328 | Credit Hours: (4 + 4 = 8) |
| This course introduces the principles and lab procedures related to dental materials, removable and fixed prostheses. It describes the knowledge for use of dental materials, practical skills for handling the materials and preparation of removable and fixed prostheses. A thorough knowledge will be provided of the terminologies, techniques and skills for the fabrication of these prostheses. | |
| Pre-Clinical Oral Surgery DOS 326 | Credit Hours: (4 + 2 = 6) |
| This course presents the complete pharmacology of local anesthetic agents and commonly used injection techniques. The course also includes different methods of pain control, dental management of medically compromised patients and medical emergencies in dental practice. Practical training will prepare students for manual implementation of different techniques of local anesthesia, as well as examination of compromised patients. | |
| Oral Pathology DOB 326 | Credit Hours: (4 + 2 = 6) |
| The course is designed to study diseases involving the soft tissues, bone, and dental hard tissues of the maxillofacial region. The course highlights pathogenesis, clinical and radiographic presentation and microscopic changes of all reactive, infective, and neoplastic processes involving the head and neck region, specifically the oral cavity. The course also provides an overview of diagnostic procedures and treatment of oral disease are introduced in relationship to the clinical and radiographic presentation and pathogenesis. In addition, it emphasizes the clinical recognition of diseases, radiographic interpretation, and formulation of an appropriate differential diagnosis. | |
| Oral Radiology DOR 324 | Credit Hours: (2 + 2 = 4) |
| The course focuses on the basic principles of X-ray production, the biological damage effects of ionizing radiation and protection from radiation hazards. Students learn to take all intraoral and extra oral skull different radiographic techniques. Students practice the interpretation of different radiographs and deal with advanced techniques in dental radiology. Students learn how to assess clinical cases and make differential diagnosis between normal anatomical landmarks and types of radiolucent & radiopaque lesions with preparation of accurate report for of radiographic interpretation. | |
| Clinical Periodontics DPR 326 | Credit Hours: (2 + 4 = 6) |
| The course focuses on diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment planning of various forms of periodontal diseases based on the comprehensive clinical examination including properly sequenced and individualized therapeutic treatment plan. The course describes nonsurgical periodontal therapy and knowledge necessary for surgical periodontal therapy. Students will be able to perform non-surgical periodontal procedures and diagnose cases which require surgical treatment. | |
| DEN 312 Pre-Clinical Endodontics | Credit Hours: (1 + 1 = 2) |
| The course focuses on knowledge of pulp diseases, diagnosis and treatment planning related to endodontics, and trains the student to perform endodontic procedures in clinical situations. The course describes diagnosing, planning and successfully managing teeth with pulpal involvement. Important fundamentals are stressed with emphasis on problem-solving skills, critical thinking, radiographic interpretation, and self-assessment criteria. | |
| Oral Medicine & Oral Diagnosis DOM 314 | Credit Hours: (2 + 2 = 4) |
| The course describes various oral diseases and conditions; including white lesions of the oral mucosa; oral ulcerations; disorders of pigmentation and pigmented lesions; vesicular and bullous lesions, their clinical presentations, diagnosis and management. The course also deals with the common oral manifestations of medically complex patients, primary and acquired immunodeficiency, salivary gland dysfunction, typical facial pain and chemosensory disorder, including their management. Emphasis is placed on the relevance of a thorough medical history, proper communication with patients, proper use of diagnostic tools, including biopsies to gather the necessary data for establishing diagnosis and setting up treatment plans. | |
| Clinical Operative Dentistry DOD 426 | Credit Hours: (2 + 4 = 6) |
|---|---|
| The clinical operative dentistry course builds on the preceding principles and techniques presented in the pre-clinical operative course while expanding the area of diagnosis, treatment planning and management of assigned patients. This course helps to provide the knowledge, technical skills, critical thinking and judgment for caries diagnosis and prevention, minimal intervention, restoration of posterior and anterior teeth and endodontically-treated teeth and management of complex carious lesions, non-carious cervical lesions, root caries, dentin hypersensitivity and teeth discoloration. A correlation between operative dentistry and allied restorative specialties is to be established. | |
| Clinical Prosthodontics DPC 428 | Credit Hours: (2 + 6 = 8) |
| The course focuses on diagnosis, treatment planning and prognosis of removable and fixed prosthodontic cases based on the comprehensive clinical examination. A detailed individualized treatment plan based on the evaluation of all diagnostic findings is an essential component. This course outlines all types of removable and fixed dental prostheses treatment procedures. Students are required to acquire adequate knowledge and skills to perform all the prosthodontic procedures outlined in the course syllabus. | |
| Clinical Endodontics | Credit Hours: (2 + 5 = 7) |
| The course focuses on knowledge of pulp diseases, diagnosis and treatment planning related to endodontics, and trains the student to perform endodontic procedures in clinical situations. The course describes diagnosing, planning and successfully managing teeth with pulpal involvement. Important fundamentals are stressed with emphasis on problem-solving skills, critical thinking, radiographic interpretation and self-assessment criteria. | |
| Clinical Oral Surgery and Implantology | Credit Hours: (3 + 4 = 7) |
| The course focuses on diagnosis, prognosis and treatment planning of common dento-alveolar problems with an emphasis on oral surgical procedures performed by general dental practitioners. The course also describes the principles of management of impacted teeth, endodontic and pre-prosthetic surgery, primary and secondary survey of maxillofacial trauma, salivary glands, temporomandibular joint diseases, cleft lip and palate, orthognathic surgery and implantology. Students will be able to diagnose, prognose and to perform non-surgical and surgical extractions. | |
| Clinical Pediatric Dentistry | Credit Hours: (3 + 5 = 8) |
| This course is an age-dependent specialty. The course provides training in primary and comprehensive, preventive and therapeutic oral health care for infants and children through adolescence, including children with special health care needs. The course will provide the student with sufficient education and training for diagnosis, treatment planning and clinical care for the young population. In addition, graduates will demonstrate critical thinking, decision-making, and life-long learning skills. | |
| Hospital and Geriatric Dentistry DHG 413 | Credit Hours: (2 + 1 = 3) |
| This course provides an opportunity for the students to observe hospitalized patients with medical and surgical problems. It enables students to understand the basic principles of hospital regulations including admission, discharge, sterilization, infection control, operating theatre, ICU, CCU, & other emergency departments. The course summarizes the aging process and its associated epidemiologic, sociologic, psychosocial factors and the impact of these conditions on oral health, various oral disease findings and subsequent therapies. It also discusses the common medical conditions including their etiologies and appropriately design a plan of action for their older adult patients who present with these conditions in a systematic fashion to achieve evidence-based treatment. | |
| Treatment Planning and Problem-Oriented Learning DTP 413 | Credit Hours: (3 + 0 = 3) |
| The course focuses on patient examination, education, oral health risk assessment, development of personalized prevention strategies for dental and oral health related diseases, interpretation of diagnostic findings, development of comprehensive, sequenced treatment plans and patient management by completing the clinical charts and other documents pertaining to patient’s file. Group discussion improves the skills of making diagnosis and treatment planning. Problem-oriented learning is designed to give the students the experience to apply lecture materials to life-like situations and allows the student to experience the process as seen in daily clinical practice. It serves as a framework for discussion, which allows students to recall what they already know, explain their reasoning, limitation of their knowledge, formulate questions to address that limit, gather information, and incorporate that information into their thinking. | |
| Clinical Orthodontics DOR 526 | Credit Hours: (4 + 2 = 6) |
|---|---|
| This course provides the students with knowledge about the basic terminologies, rationale of orthodontic treatment, facial growth, development of normal occlusion, classification of malocclusion, etiology of malocclusion, diagnosis skills, extra and intra oral examination, study model analysis, cephalometric analysis, histology and physiology of tooth movement. Also, it explains knowledge of bio-mechanics principles, anchorage, retention and relapse. The course covers the principles of various removable, functional and fixed appliances; their indications, contra-indications and their use for the non-skeletal and skeletal treatment planning of class I, II and III malocclusions. Treatment of adults, cleft lip and palate and maxillary canine management and recent advances in orthodontic treatment are also discussed. | |
| Comprehensive Clinical Dentistry - I DCD 5228 | Credit Hours: (0 + 28 = 28) |
| This training is designed to improve clinical skills in diagnosis, comprehensive treatment planning and management of patients with various dental problems as comprehensive care under the supervision of clinical faculty and staff. | |
| Research Project DRP 522 | Credit Hours: (2 + 0 = 2) |
| This course provides the students an opportunity to select a suitable topic for research in dental sciences under guidance of the course coordinator and a member of the dental faculty. Students learn how to work independently and be creative in their thoughts and ideas. The course offers knowledge on application of the basic principles of research design, methods of data collection and how to analyze them in dental health sciences. The course also provides the steps necessary to design and write a research project. | |
| Comprehensive Dentistry – II DCD 516 | Credit Hours: (0 + 6 = 2) |
| This training is designed to improve clinical skills in diagnosis, comprehensive treatment planning and management of patients with various dental problems as comprehensive care under the supervision of clinical faculty & staff. | |
| Esthetic Dentistry DES 412 | Credit Hours: (1 + 1 = 2) |
|---|---|
| This course prepares the students to diagnose, form a treatment plan and perform a number of esthetic procedures with the latest available materials. It encompasses a broad approach to the total esthetic needs of the patient. Esthetic dentistry course is supported by new developments, innovative techniques, and a wealth of new scientific data to share new information with students. | |
| Rehabilitation in Pediatric Dentistry DRD 412 | Credit Hours: (1 + 1 = 2) |
| This course describes the principles of comprehensive oral rehabilitation in pediatric patients. The subject focuses on proper case selection, behavior guidance, conscious sedation, and the management of multiple surface restorations in children, inclusive of stainless-steel crowns and other clinical procedures with emphasis on all levels of prevention applicable to pediatric dentistry. | |
| Advanced Endodontics DAE 512 | Credit Hours: (1 + 1 = 2) |
| The advanced endodontics course builds on the preceding principles and techniques presented in the clinical endodontics course. This course gives the fundamental knowledge for excellence in endodontic treatment with emphasis on advanced endodontic topics and a correlation between endodontics and allied restorative specialties is to be established. The course format will involve a combination of lectures and case discussion with hands-on training on certain new technologies in endodontics. Students will have access to the latest equipment, including operating microscopes and rotary instruments. This advanced education in endodontics is a 6-month course offering a comprehensive educational experience. It is intended to increase students’ knowledge and endodontic literacy through didactic coursework and to enhance skills through clinical experience. | |
| Dental Implantology DDI 512 | Credit Hours: (1 + 1 = 2) |
| This course presents the complete orofacial anatomy, bone physiology, concept of Osseo integration and tissue reaction on implant material. The course includes basic surgical principles in implant dentistry as well as standard surgical principles and surgical principles in esthetic zone, implant therapy of patients with unsatisfactory anatomic conditions, postoperative treatment and management of therapy complications. The course will present the introduction with prosthetic components of implant, planning of restorative procedure and basic prosthetic principles. Practical training will prepare students for pre-implant treatment and knowledge of surgical therapy strategy as well as prepare students for knowledge of surgical implant procedure in different case conditions. Practical training will prepare students for knowledge of restorative procedure on dental implants in different case conditions. | |
Study Plan for BDS Program
RAKCODS BDS program has a total of 201 Credits Hours including 82.58% applied courses, 450 Contact Hours for preclinical training and 2212 contact hours for clinical training.
Graduation Requirements
To be eligible for graduation, the student must satisfy each of the following requirements:
- Satisfactorily complete all the academic requirements as per the BDS Curriculum
- Obtained pass grades in all courses of the program with minimum CGPA of 2.00
- Met all financial obligations to the University within the time specified.
First Year Courses
| SEMESTER 1 | SEMESTER 2 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Code | Title | Th | Pr | End Sem. Exams | Code | Title | Th | Pr | End Year Exams |
| ENG 101 | English | 3 | 0 | ENG 101 | HSE 101 | Health Science Communication Skills in English | 3 | 0 | HSE 101 |
| ARB 101 | Health Science Communication Skills in Arabic | 3 | 0 | ARB 101 | ICM 101 | Islamic Culture in Medicine | 3 | 0 | ICM 101 |
| ITI 101 | Information Technology and Innovation | 2 | 1 | ITI 101 | EMS 101 | Emirates Society | 3 | 0 | EMS 101 |
| DAH 126 | Anatomy - Head & Neck and Cell Biology | 2 | 1 | Continuous Course | DAH 126 | Anatomy - Head & Neck and Cell Biology | 2 | 1 | DAH 126 |
| DPH 126 | Physiology | 2 | 1 | Continuous Course | DPH 126 | Physiology | 2 | 1 | DPH 126 |
| DOB 126 | Oral Biology and Tooth Morphology | 2 | 1 | Continuous Course | DOB 126 | Oral Biology and Tooth Morphology | 2 | 1 | DOB 126 |
| Semester Total | 14 | 4 | Semester Total | 15 | 3 | ||||
Second Year Courses
| SEMESTER 3 | SEMESTER 4 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Code | Title | Th | Pr | End Sem. Exams | Code | Title | Th | Pr | End Year Exams |
| DBC 226 | Biochemistry | 2 | 1 | Continuous Course | DBC 226 | Biochemistry | 2 | 1 | DBC 226 |
| DPT 224 | Pharmacology and Therapeutics | 2 | 0 | Continuous Course | DPT 224 | Pharmacology and Therapeutics | 2 | 0 | DPT 224 |
| DPA 224 | Pathology | 2 | 0 | Continuous Course | DPA 224 | Pathology | 1 | 1 | DPA 224 |
| DOD 225 | Pre-Clinical Operative Dentistry & Biomaterials | 2 | 1 | Continuous Course | DOD 225 | Pre-Clinical Operative Dentistry & Biomaterials | 1 | 1 | DOD 225 |
| DMB 212 | Microbiology | 1 | 1 | DMB 212 | DGM 213 | General Medicine | 2 | 1 | DGM 213 |
| DIC 212 | Infection Control | 2 | 0 | DIC 212 | DGS 212 | General Surgery | 2 | 0 | DGS 212 |
| DED 211 | Ethics in Dental Practice | 1 | 0 | DED 211 | DPM 211 | Practice Management | 1 | 0 | DPM 211 |
| DEB 212 | Evidence Based Dentistry | 2 | 0 | DEB 212 | DPR 213 | Pre-Clinical Periodontics | 2 | 1 | DPR 213 |
| DCO 211 | Clinical Orientation | 0 | 1 | DCO 211 | |||||
| Semester Total | 14 | 4 | Semester Total | 13 | 5 | ||||
Summer Semester
| Code | Title | Credit Hours | End Sem. Exams | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Th | Pr | |||
| BRM 101 | Biostatistics & Research Methodology | 3 | 0 | BRM 101 |
Third Year Courses
| SEMESTER 5 | SEMESTER 6 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Code | Title | Th | Pr | End Sem. Exams | Code | Title | Th | Pr | End Year Exams |
| DCD 326 | Community Dentistry | 2 | 1 | Continuous Course | DCD 326 | Community Dentistry | 2 | 1 | DCD 326 |
| DPP 328 | Pre-Clinical Prosthodontics & Biomaterials | 2 | 2 | Continuous Course | DPP 328 | Pre-Clinical Prosthodontics | 2 | 2 | DPP 328 |
| DOS 326 | Pre-Clinical Oral Surgery | 2 | 1 | Continuous Course | DOS 326 | Pre-Clinical Oral Surgery | 2 | 1 | DOS 326 |
| DOP 326 | Oral Pathology | 2 | 1 | Continuous Course | DOP 326 | Oral Pathology | 2 | 1 | DOP 326 |
| DOR 324 | Oral Radiology | 1 | 1 | Continuous Course | DOR 324 | Oral Radiology | 1 | 1 | DOR 324 |
| DPR 326 | Clinical Periodontics | 1 | 2 | Continuous Course | DPR 326 | Clinical Periodontics | 1 | 2 | DPR 326 |
| Semester Total | 10 | 8 | Semester Total | 10 | 8 | ||||
Summer Semester
| Code | Title | Credit Hours | End Sem. Exams | Code | Title | Credit Hours | End Sem. Exams | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Th | Pr | Th | Cl | ||||||
| DEN 312 | Pre-Clinical Endodontics | 1 | 1 | DEN 312 | DOM 314 | Oral Medicine and Oral Diagnosis | 2 | 2 | DOM 314 |
Fourth Year Courses
| SEMESTER 9 | SEMESTER 10 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Code | Title | Th | Cl | End Sem. Exams | Code | Title | Th | Cl | End Year Exams |
| DOD 426 | Clinical Operative Dentistry | 1 | 2 | Continuous Course | DOD 426 | Clinical Operative Dentistry | 1 | 2 | DOD 426 |
| DPC 428 | Clinical Prosthodontics (Partial & Complete Denture) | 1 | 3 | Continuous Course | DPC 428 | Clinical Prosthodontics (Fixed Prosthesis) | 1 | 3 | DPC 428 |
| DEN 427 | Clinical Endodontics | 1 | 2 | Continuous Course | DEN 427 | Clinical Endodontics | 1 | 3 | DEN 427 |
| DOS 427 | Clinical Oral Surgery | 1 | 2 | Continuous Course | DOS 427 | Clinical Oral Surgery & Implantology | 2 | 2 | DOS 427 |
| DPD 428 | Clinical Pediatric Dentistry | 2 | 3 | Continuous Course | DPD 428 | Clinical Pediatric Dentistry | 1 | 2 | DPD 428 |
| Semester Total | 6 | 12 | Semester Total | 6 | 12 | ||||
Summer Semester
| Code | Title | Credit Hours | End Sem. Exams | Code | Title | Credit Hours | End Sem. Exams | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Th | Cl | Th | Cl | ||||||
| DHG 413 | Hospital & Geriatric Dentistry | 2 | 1 | DHG 413 | DTP 413 | Treatment Planning & POL | 3 | 0 | DTP 413 |
Fifth Year Courses
| SEMESTER 9 | SEMESTER 10 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Code | Title | Th | Cl | End Sem. Exams | Code | Title | Th | Cl | End Year Exams |
| DOR 526 | Clinical Orthodontics | 2 | 1 | Continuous Course | DOR 526 | Clinical Orthodontics | 2 | 1 | DOR 526 |
| DCD 5228 | Comprehensive Clinical Dentistry-I | 0 | 14 | Continuous Course | DCD 5228 | Comprehensive Clinical Dentistry-I | 0 | 14 | DCD 5228 |
| DRP 522 | Research Project | 1 | 0 | Continuous Course | DRP 522 | Research Project | 1 | 0 | DRP 522 |
| Semester Total | 3 | 15 | Semester Total | 3 | 15 | ||||
Summer Semester
| Code | Title | Credit Hours | End Sem. Exams | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Th | Cl | |||
| DCD 516 | Comprehensive Clinical Dentistry-II | 0 | 6 | DCD 516 |
Theory (Th): One contact hour is equal to one credit hour
Practical (Pr) and Clinical (Cl): One credit hour is equal to two contact hours
RAKCODS have offered following 4 Elective courses during the summer semester of year 4 and 5:
- Esthetic Dentistry (DES 412) - Summer Semester 2 Year 4
- Rehabilitation in Pediatric Dentistry (DRD 412) - Summer Semester 2 Year 4
- Advanced Endodontics (DAE 512) - Summer Semester 2 Year 5
- Dental Implantology (DDI 512) - Summer Semester 2 Year 5
Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) — Admission Criteria
Admissions are open to students of all nationalities based on the established admission criteria.
A.2. Admissions criteria for 12th grade High School or equivalent and additional requirements.
UAE Curriculum
| Category | Requirement | |
| Qualified - Advanced Track | A minimum of 90% in any two science subjects (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) and Mathematics in grade 12 is required. Additionally, a minimum of 80% in English is also necessary. | |
| Qualified - Elite Track | A minimum of 85% in any two science subjects (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) and Mathematics in grade 12 is required. Additionally, a minimum of 80% in English is also necessary. | |
| General Track | Not Applicable | |
American Curriculum
| Category | Requirement |
| Qualified | A minimum of 90% in any two science subjects (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) and Mathematics in grade 12 is required. If any of the mentioned subjects are not completed in grade 12, a letter from the school is required to confirm that one of the missing subjects completed in grade 10/11 is equivalent to grade 12. |
SABIS Curriculum
| Category | Requirement |
| Qualified | A minimum of 85% in any two science subjects (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) and Mathematics in grade 12 is required. If any of the mentioned subjects are not completed in grade 12, a letter from the school is required to confirm that one of the missing subjects completed in grade 10/11 is equivalent to grade 12. |
| Equivalency Certificate | SAT scores in Math and English are required for obtaining an Equivalency Certificate from the MOE. |
International Baccalaureate
| Category | Requirement |
| Qualified | Completion of six courses is required, including any two science subjects (Biology, Chemistry, Physics) and Mathematics at the higher/standard level, with scores between 5 to 7. The remaining three subjects must be completed at the standard level. |
Pakistan Boards/Certificate
| Category | Requirement |
| Qualified | A minimum of 60% in any two science subjects (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) and Mathematics in grade 12 is required. |
Indian Curriculum (CBSE/ISCE) & Indian State Board
| Category | Requirement |
| Qualified | A minimum of 70% in any two science subjects (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) and Mathematics in grade 12 is required. |
British Curriculum
| Category | Requirement |
| Qualified | Applicants must have completed at least two Advanced Supplementary (AS) levels or one A-level in Physics, Chemistry, or Biology with a grade of 'C' or higher. Additionally, students must have completed any two science subjects (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) after completing five IGCSE/GCSE or O level subjects with a minimum grade of 'C' or higher. Only academic courses will be considered for admission. The courses must include Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, with at least two of these subjects, including Biology, at the AS or A level. Mathematics must also have a minimum grade of 'C' or higher. |
African Curriculum (WAEC/WASSCE etc.)
| Category | Requirement |
| Qualified | A minimum grade of ‘B’ or above in any two science subjects (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) and Mathematics in grade 12 is required. |
Canadian Curriculum (Ontario/Alberta etc.)
| Category | Requirement |
| Qualified | A minimum of 80% in any two science subjects (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) and Mathematics in grade 12 is required. If any of the mentioned subjects are not completed in grade 12, a letter from the school is required to confirm that one of the missing subjects completed in grade 10/11 is equivalent to grade 12. |
We converted the marks for the foreign curriculum based on the World Education service link https://applications.wes.org/country-resources/resources.asp
Additional Requirements
- English Subject: Applicants who do not meet the English subject requirements will be required to pass a remedial course in the specified subject. For other curriculum, if the medium of instruction is English, a letter from the school is required.
- Personal Interview: All applicants must pass a personal interview set by the College, in addition to other admission conditions.
- Priority Admission: Preference will be given to students with high scores in Biology and Chemistry/Physics in grade 12.
- Remedial: Applicants who do not meet the requirements for any of the science subjects, Mathematics, or English must successfully complete remedial courses in the respective subject during the first semester.
Admission Procedure (BDS, B.Pharm, BSN & BSM Programs)
a. The following steps will be followed for admissions (BDS, B.Pharm, BSN & BSM Programs) to the program for Aug 2026 session:
1. From the online applications received, after evaluating the 12th grade marks as per the Admission requirement, students will be shortlisted based on the marks of 12th grade submission. A provisional offer letter will be issued to the student asking to remit the seat reservation fee to block the seat for the programs. Once the student paid the seat reservation fee, based on the documents submission through online form, the student are required as mentioned in the additional requirements.
2. The Personal Interview which is a must for All the students, the interview will be conducted virtually through google meet or Zoom software. Admissions Committee consisting of Dean of respective College & a panel of one or two Senior Faculty and Manager - Admissions & Marketing.
3. Grade 12 results are declared for various Boards of study in UAE at different timings in 3 phases-starting end of May, mid of June and first week of July. Therefore, interviews will be conducted from June onwards every week until seats are full.
- The admission will be based on the MOE Guidelines.
- Candidates who are selected for admission after the Personal Interview will receive the Provisional Offer letter by email from the University within 2 days with a timeline for acceptance and confirmation by payment of the balance fees. If the candidate is accepting the offer of admission, he/she must comply with all the requirements specified in the Provisional Offer Letter including submission of required documents and payment of fee on or before the stipulated date mentioned in the Provisional Offer Letter. If the candidate does not respond within the deadline mentioned, the provisional offer automatically expires and the seat is allotted to the next candidate in the waiting list.
- On compliance of the above including payment of requisite fee, the candidate will receive a registered student ID number on email and due intimation from the University regarding further details on the Freshman Orientation Program.
- Applicants should strictly adhere to the deadlines indicated for admission, submit online applications on time and upload important document copies mentioned such as grade sheets/transcripts etc and ensure application is fully completed before they click the submit button.
- Once the seats are full, the remaining candidates who have qualified after personal interview will be waitlisted.
- Waitlisted applicants and late applicants can be considered for admission if seats are still available for that program, within registration deadlines.
- Admission of students are subject to the compliance of all requirements specified in the Provisional/Admission Offer Letter.
- All the documents submitted online by the candidates will be verified with the originals submitted by the candidates during admission and duly returned after verification as per MOHESR Standards.
- In case of non-compliance with any of the admission criteria/ false documentation submitted, the admission of the candidate will automatically stand cancelled.
- The original documents to be submitted for verification by the candidate for verification are mentioned in the Provisional/Admissions offer.
Note the following points:
- Students with 12th grade marksheet/grades more than 2 years old will not be given priority for admission.
- The University reserves the right to refuse admission to any candidate without assigning any reason.
- The decision of the Admission Committee in the matters of admission is final.
- The jurisdiction in respect of all legal matters in admission related matters will be at Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah.
Attestations & Equivalency Certificate mandatory prior to Admission:
- Prior to admission, all students who studied foreign curriculum in UAE must produce the Equivalency Certificate from the Ministry of Education of the emirate in which studied. To obtain the same, students should visit the Ministry of Education and submit their Arabic and Islamic results for the grades 10, 11 and 12(For Muslims).
- For students who studied foreign curriculum in UAE, attestation (official seal & stamp) of certificates grade 10 onwards until grade 12 by Ministry of Education is also mandatory. Students who studied foreign curriculum outside UAE, must obtain attestation (official seal & stamp) of school grade sheets, 10th grade upwards until 12th by Ministry of Education in the country of study and UAE consulate in that country.
Fee Structure
For detailed, up-to-date tuition and fee information for this program, please refer to the Fee Structure page.
Assessment, Evaluation, Grading & Promotion
Continuous Assessments
For courses assessed over two semesters
There will be two Continuous Assessments in theory held during designated periods within the two semesters (one academic year). The average scores of the two Continuous Assessment Test will contribute to the total theory continuous assessment.
For courses assessed after one semester
There will be one Continuous Assessment in theory held during designated periods within the semester.
- The format of these examinations will be the same as that of the theory Comprehensive Examination and will include multiple choice questions (MCQ). In each of the Continuous Assessments, students will be examined on only that part of the content which has been taught until that period of the course.
- The Continuous Assessment will be conducted on consecutive days without any gap between examinations for different courses.
- The Dean of the College will notify the students about the schedule of the Continuous Assessment and Makeup Continuous Assessment - including the date, time, and venue.
- During Continuous Assessments, one or more “Observers” may be deputed by the Office of the Examination to oversee the conduct of the examinations.
Quizzes
- Quiz is a mini written assessment testing a small area/topic in the course. The objectives of conducting the Quizzes are to motivate the students to learn and assess the level of knowledge on a continuous basis, and encourage analytical and critical thinking ability of students on selected topics.
- Quizzes may comprise of any one or a combination of MCQ, RRE and problem solving exercises.
- Quiz is to be conducted during the regular class hour for that particular course, with prior announcement.
For courses assessed over two semesters
- There will be a minimum of two quizzes in the academic year. The average scores of the two Quizzes will contribute to the total continuous assessment.
For courses assessed after one semester
- There will be a minimum of one quiz in the semester.
Assignments
- Assignments may take the form of written reports, presentations, and projects, group work relevant to the course, critique, analysis & problem solving and can replace TBL/PBL as per the nature of the course.
- Assignments to be conducted at the discretion of the faculty.
- The faculty shall fix the precise date of submission and once the date is fixed, the faculty must maintain the deadline.
- Different topics can be given to different students or different group of students. The topics for the assignments will be announced at least 2 weeks in advance.
- The faculty shall provide the detailed guidelines to the students on the format of the assignment.
Practical continuous assessment in General Education, Basic and Medical Sciences
For annual courses with practical credit hours, two assessments in practical will be held during the academic year. The average scores of two practical assessments will contribute to the total continuous assessment.
For semester courses with practical credit hours, one assessment in practical will be held during the semester.
- Practical assessments will take place during the practical periods allocated in the timetable.
- Practical assessments may be timed to coincide with the day of Continuous Assessments in theory.
- Alternatively, the faculty may hold them at other times but at approximately equal intervals.
- Practical will be in the form of Objective Structured Practical Assessment (OSPE).
- Course Assessment/Grading System for General Education and Basic Sciences Courses with Practical Components.
Course Assessment/Grading System for General Education and Basic Sciences Courses with Practical Components
| Continuous Assessment = 60 % | Comprehensive Examination = 40% |
|---|---|
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Course Assessment/Grading System for General Education and Basic Sciences Courses Without Practical Components
| Continuous Assessment = 60 % | Comprehensive Examination = 40% |
|---|---|
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Protocols for Evaluation of Students’ Pre-Clinical/Clinical Competencies
Undergraduate pre-clinical/clinical training in dentistry at the RAK College of Dental Sciences is given in the dental labs and dental clinics. Pre-clinical competency is the ability essential for the dental student to begin clinical dental practice. Competency includes knowledge, experience, critical thinking and problem-solving skills; and technical and procedural skills.
- There is Continuous Assessment and Comprehensive Practical/Clinical Examinations. Continuous assessment occurs throughout the semester /academic year for semester/ annual courses. Comprehensive Practical/ OSPE/ OSCE/ Clinical Examination is conducted at the end of the semester for semester courses and end of academic year for annual courses. Combination of these components gives the final grades to the students.
- Continuous assessment in practical will be in the form of objective structured practical examination (OSPE) or practical examination according to the nature of the course.
- Course Assessment/Grading System for Preclinical and Clinical Courses: Practical/ OSPE/ OSCE/ Clinical Components will contribute 50%, remaining 50% is allocated for Theory Components.
Assessment Methodology in Pre Clinical Courses of BDS
- Steps of each procedure are described and practiced by the student during the pre-clinical training. These steps are detailed in the evaluation form to be filled for each procedure and these will be assessed and marked by the mentor / faculty, before the student proceeds to the next step.
- The pre-clinical skill and treatment plans are presented by students at seminars and discussed as part of the assessment.
- To ensure that the student master the various pre-clinical procedures, carried out in general dental labs, competency tests in all specialties are administered periodically.
For courses assessed over two semesters
- For courses with practical credit hours, three assessments in practical will be held during the academic year. The average of three practical / OSPE assessments will contribute 50% to the total continuous assessment.
For courses assessed after one semester
- For courses with practical credit hours, one assessment in practical / OSPE will be held during the semester.
Course Assessment/Grading System for Preclinical Courses
| Continuous Assessment = 60 % | Comprehensive Examination = 40% |
|---|---|
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Assessment Methodology for Clinical Components of BDS Program — Clinical Examination Methodology
- Students' competency on clinical skills in the various specialties is assessed on a specially designed Clinical examination Assessment criteria” based on a 3-point scale; Excellent, Satisfactory and Unsatisfactory.
- Student must obtain minimum 50% score in each section to pass the clinical examination.
- Students failing to achieve the competency will be provided an opportunity to reappear in clinical examination within 2 weeks period.
- The individual course includes course description for clinical skills, requirements, clinical work and clinical examination assessment criteria with score distribution in each section.
- Clinical competency examination is conducted in all clinical disciplines of dentistry, as given in the Clinical Manual - Policies, Procedures & Assessment Criteria for Clinical Competency.
- The Clinical Requirements for each course may be different and are mentioned in course syllabus and clinical manual.
Clinical Continuous Assessment
- Continuous assessment of clinical components will be in the form of Objective Structured clinical Examination (OSCE) and Clinical Examination.
- Clinical examination assess the skills of the students in carrying out treatment and other relevant procedures. Each of these clinical procedures will be evaluated using the designated clinical competency forms as given in the clinical manual.
For courses assessed over two semesters
- To assess the clinical competency, there will be three assessment during the whole academic year.
- First Clinical Assessment for the clinical component will be in form of OSCE. They may be timed to coincide with the day of first Continuous Assessments in theory during the fall semester.
- Second Assessment will be Clinical Examination starting from 12th week till 16th week of the fall semester.
- Third Assessment will be Clinical Examination starting from 8th week till the 12th week of spring semester.
- All three assessment will contribute to 50 % for the total continuous assessment, remaining 50% will be final clinical Examination.
For courses assessed after one semester
- Continuous assessment of clinical components will be in the form of OSCE/Clinical Examination.
- There will be one assessment during the whole semester, which will contribute 50% of clinical components, remaining 50% will be final clinical Examination / OSCE.
Course Assessment/Grading System for Clinical Courses
| Continuous Assessment = 60 % | Comprehensive Examination = 40% |
|---|---|
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Comprehensive Preclinical and Clinical Examination
The Comprehensive Clinical Examination will be the final examination for the course.
The clinical component will be tested with objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) and/or Clinical Case Procedures. The proportion of scores for these two components may vary based on the nature of the course but will be notified to the students in advance.
Clinical case procedures will be assessed using the prescribed assessment forms for each subject as given in the clinical manual; Policies, Procedures & Assessment Criteria.
Eligibility for the Comprehensive Examination:
To appear for the Comprehensive Pre-clinical/Clinical Examination a student must have completed all preclinical and clinical requirements.
Pass grade in Courses with Practical/Pre-clinical/Clinical Components
To appear for the final theory examination a student must have passed the practical/preclinical/clinical components of the continuous assessment of that course. To achieve an overall pass grade a student has to obtain a minimum passing Grade (60%) in OSPE, OSCE/ practical/ preclinical/ clinical components (combination of continuous assessment and comprehensive Examination) of the course. The final grade for each course will be based on the combined scores of theory and clinical components. A student will not pass the course if the score for the theory /practical/ pre-clinical / clinical components are below minimum pass level, even if the total overall score for theory and clinical taken together exceeds the minimum pass level. Students who obtain minimum pass grade in the practical/pre-clinical/clinical component of the course and fail in final examination will repeat only the theory component of the course in the repeat 1 and repeat 2 examination.
Clinical Training Facilities
Students undergo clinical orientation and preclinical training during BDS year 2 program. Clinical training starts from year 3 and continue until year 5 in its own dental clinics as per the international standard which is accredited by Accreditation Canada for excellence in quality care and services in accordance with Diamond Standard.
The clinical facilities at RAKCODS provides ample opportunities to the students for patient and community based research.
Dental clinics are completely equipped with the state-of-the-art dental units. The college is using Hospital Information Management System for patient electronic medical records thereby encouraging sustainability with inclusion of innovation and artificial intelligence.
The students provide discipline based and comprehensive oral care for their assigned patients at dental clinic.
RAKCODS is also using the facilities of Sheikh Saqr Hospital for Hospital Dentistry in Ras Al Khaimah for clinical training.
Ready to start your Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS)?
Speak to a named admissions counsellor, or apply before the next intake closes.