REGULATIONS FOR THE CLINICAL PARTS OF THE BACHELOR OF DENTAL SURGERY (BDS) DEGREE PROGRAMME
1 ADMISSION
- The admission would be based on Senior High School results in Science (WASSCE results). However, all GCE ‘A’ Level Science, International Baccalaureate and its equivalent applicants would be considered for admission to Level 100.
- For admission to Level 100, students may be required to pass an examination and go through interviews.
- To progress from Level 100 to Level 200, a student is required to make a minimum CGPA of 2.0; that is Grade C, which is equivalent to mark of 60-64%. It is interpreted as Average by the new Students Handbook for Faculty of Science.
2.1 The Clinical Parts of the BDS Degree Programmes shall be 3 years duration and structured as follows:
2.1.1 BDS
(a) First Clinical Year (BDS Final Part I) - 45 Weeks
(b) Second Clinical Year (BDS Final Part II) - 46 Weeks
(c) Third Clinical Year (BDS Final Part III) - 42 weeks
3.0 ACADEMIC YEAR
The Academic Year shall comprise two semesters.
4.0 STRUCTURE OF SEMESTER
4.0.1 First Clinical Year (BDS Final Part I) 45 Teaching Weeks
(a) Semester 7 - 24 Weeks
(b) Semester 8 - 18 Weeks
4.0.2 Second Clinical Year (BDS Final Part II) 46 Teaching Weeks
(a) Semester 9 - 22 Weeks
(b) Semester 10 - 22 Weeks
(c) Revision - 2 Weeks
4.0.3 Third Clinical Year (BDS Final Part III) 42 Teaching Weeks
(a) Semester 11 - 22 Weeks
(b) Semester 12 - 18 Weeks
(c) Revision - 2 Weeks
5.0 SUBJECTS BDS CLINICAL YEARS 1 - 3
5.1 BDS
5.1.1 First Clinical Year (BDS Final Part I): Semesters 7 & 8 (45 Weeks)
Oral Biology I
Dental Material Science I
Dental Morphology I 10 Weeks
Behavioural Science I
Biostatistics and Research Methodology I
Introduction to Clinical Dentistry I
Introduction to Nursing Skills - 1 Week
Introduction to Clinical Skills - 4 Weeks
Coordinate Course I (Human Disease I) - 12 Weeks
b. Semester 8: 18 Weeks
Coordinated Course II (Human Disease II) - 12 Weeks
Specialty Rotations (including Trauma/Orthodontics,
ENT/Ophthalmology) - 6 Weeks
5.1.2 Second Clinical Year: BDS Final Part II, Semesters 9 & 10
Duration - 46 Weeks: This period shall be devoted to the following courses:
Operative Technique and Endodontics
Prosthetics Dentistry I (Complete Dentures)
Local Anaesthesia and Surgical Anatomy
Community Dentistry, Ethics and Jurisprudence I
Oral Pathology I 22 Weeks
Oral Radiology I
Oral Biology II
Dental Material Science II
Dental Morphology II
Behavioural Science II
Biostatistics and Research Methodology II
Introduction to Clinical Dentistry II
Revision - 1 Week
Advance Operative Technique & Endodontics
Oral Diagnosis
Local Anaesthesia and Exodontia
Restorative Dentistry I
Orthodontics & Pedodontics I 22 Week
Periodontics I
Oral Pathology II
Oral Radiology II
Community Dentistry, Ethics and Jurisprudence II
Prosthetics Dentistry II (Partial Dentures)
Revision - 1 Week
5.1.3 Third Clinical Year: BDS Final Part III, Semester 11 & 12 (42 Weeks)
a. Semester 11: 22 Weeks
Oral Medicine and Dental Therapeutics I
Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery I
Dental Practice Management I 22 Weeks
Restorative Dentistry II
Periodontics II
Orthodontics & Pedodontics II
Oral Medicine and Dental Therapeutics II
Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery II
Dental Practice Management II 18 Weeks
Restorative Dentistry III
Periodontics III
Orthodontics & Pedodontics III
Revision - 2 Weeks
6 MINIMUM/MAXIMUM PERIOD FOR COMPLETING THE BDS PROGRAMME
6.1 The minimum period for completing the Clinical BDS Programme shall be six semesters or three Academic Years.
6.2 The maximum period for completing the Clinical BDS Programmes shall be twelve semesters or six Academic Years.
6.3 A candidate who is unable to complete his or her programme within the maximum period allowed, shall lose all credits accumulated. Such a candidate shall not be allowed to re-apply for admission into BDS degree programme.
7 INTERRUPTION OF STUDY PROGRAMME
7.1 A student may break his/her study programme but not break for more than four continuous semesters, so that the maximum period allowable for the completion of the programme is not exceeded. Such a student shall be allowed to continue the programme from where he/she had left off.
7.2 A student who wishes to interrupt his/her course of study shall apply in advance to the Dean of the Dental School, stating reasons why he/she wants to interrupt his/her study programme, and permission duly granted before he/she leaves the University. The decision of the Dean shall be communicated to the applicant by the School Administrator/College Secretary before he/she leaves the University.
7.3 A student who breaks his/her studies for more than four continuous semesters shall be deemed to have lost any accumulated credits. Such a student may not be allowed to re-apply for admission.
7.4 Where the ground for interruption of studies is medical, the Director of University Health Services shall be required to advise the College Secretary on the propriety and length of period of interruption. The College Secretary shall cause the Director of University Health Services to investigate any medical Report reaching his office from any health delivery facility outside the University Hospital and advice accordingly.
8 EXEMPTIONS
8.1 No exemption shall be granted from any part of the Clinical BDS courses/subjects and examinations.
9 SCHEME OF EXAMINATIONS
9.1 BDS Degree Programme
i. First Clinical Year (BDS Part I)
Candidates shall be examined at the end of Coordinated Course I and II and shall be required to pass both examinations in order to proceed to the Second Clinical Year.
ii. Second Clinical Year (BDS Final Part II)
- At the end of the First Semester of the Second Clinical Year, candidates shall be
required to take the BDS Part IIA Examinations in Biomaterial Science, Oral Biology, Prosthetic Dentistry (Complete Dentures), Operative Technique, Behavioural Science, and Biostatistics & Research Methodology.
b. At the end of the Second Semester of the Second Clinical Year, candidates shall be required to take the BDS Part IIB Examinations in Diagnostic Dental Sciences (including Oral Pathology, Oral Diagnosis and Oral Radiology), Prosthetics Dentistry (Partial Dentures) and Oral Surgery II etc. All other continuing courses will be evaluated by Continuous Assessment.
iii. Third Clinical Year (BDS Part III) -
At the end of the Third Clinical Year, candidates shall be required to take the BDS Part III Examinations in Oral Medicine & Dental Therapeutics, Oral & Maxillo-Facial Surgery, Restorative Dentistry (including Conservative, Endodontics & Prosthetics), Periodontics, Orthodontics & Pedodontics and Community Dentistry (including Ethics & Jurisprudence and Long Essay).
9.1.1 A candidate shall not proceed to the next Clinical Year until he or she has completed the course and passed the examinations each subject in the preceding Clinical Year.
9.1.2 The pass mark for all subjects at all BDS Examinations shall be 60%, provided that the candidate shall have passed the clinical and/or practical examinations.
10 ELIGIBILITY FOR EXAMINATIONS
10.1 A candidate shall attend all such lectures, tutorials, seminars, satisfy the clinical and laboratory requirements and undertake all other assignments as approved by the University.
10.2 Each department shall, with the approval of the Academic Board, determine the requirements for the subjects they offer.
10.3 Further to the above, a candidate shall attend lectures, tutorials, practical and other activities prescribed for the courses/subjects for which he/she has registered and execute all assignments given.
10.4 A candidate who does not fulfill the requirements for any course/subject shall not be allowed to take the examination in that course/subject.
10.5 In any case, a student who is absent for a cumulative period of 21 days from all lectures, tutorials, end of rotation examinations and other activities prescribed for any course/subject in any semester shall be deemed to have withdrawn from the course/subject. Such a student shall not be permitted to sit for the semester examination.
11 REGISTRATION FOR EXAMINATIONS
11.1 Registration for a Dentistry examination shall require endorsement of the Registration Form by the Head of Department to the effect that the candidate has pursued satisfactorily the approved course (s) of study being offered over the prescribed period and has attended at least 85% of lectures, tutorials, clinical, laboratory assignment and other activities prescribed for the course(s)/subject(s). A candidate’s registration shall not be valid unless it is so endorsed.
11.2 Endorsement as outlined above shall be withheld if a candidate is not deemed to have followed satisfactorily the approved course of study.
11.3 In any event of the withholding of an endorsement, the Head of Department shall request the confirmation by the Dean, subject to subsequent approval by the School Management Committee.
12 EXAMINATIONS
12.1 Candidates shall be required to take the first examination immediately following the completion of the relevant courses/subjects and may not postpone their entry without special written permission of the Dean.
12.2 A candidate who has not complied with the prescribed requirements for any course/subject or who has not performed satisfactorily in other duties prescribed or associated with a course/subject of instruction, may, on the recommendation of the relevant Department, be refused admission to the examination of the year concerned and be required to repeat part or the whole of the course/subject of instruction leading to the particular examination.
12.3 A candidate who passes an examination as a whole at the first attempt and reaches the requisite high standard in a subject(s) may, on the recommendation of the Board of Examiners be awarded (a) Distinction; or (b) Credit; in such subject (s) in accordance with such rules as may be approved by the Academic Board.
12.4 Criteria for such Honours are:
Distinction - 80 – 100%
Credit - 70 – 79%
13 SUPPLEMENTARY EXAMINATIONS
13.1 Supplementary Examinations for the BDS Parts I and II shall be held within six weeks after the main examination.
13.2 Supplementary Examinations for BDS Part III Examinations shall be held fifteen weeks after the main examination.
13.3 Supplementary Examinations shall not include continuous assessment marks.
13.4 A candidate who fails in only one course/subject of an examination at the first examination shall be referred in that course/subject and shall be required to take the examination in the referred course/subject at the supplementary examination following the main examination.
13.5 A candidate who fails in more than one subject or course at the first examination shall be deemed to have failed the whole examination and may on the recommendation of the College Admissions and Examinations Board be required to:
Either (1) repeat the whole of the examination at the supplementary
examination immediately following the main examination; or,
- repeat only those course(s)/subjects in which he/she failed, provided he/she attains not less than 50% in the course(s)/subject(s) in which he/she failed (pass mark is 60%); or,
- repeat the year without the option of the supplementary examination.
13.6 A candidate who fails to complete an examination at the supplementary examination, may, on the recommendation of the College Admissions and Examinations Board, be required to withdraw from the Dental School or to repeat the whole or part of the course of instruction leading to that examination, before presenting himself/herself for re-examination.
14 EXTERNAL EXAMINERS
14.1 External Examiners shall be required for both the main and supplementary examinations for the BDS Parts II and III.
14.2 All External Examiners shall be required to submit a written report on all aspects of the examination in which they took part.
15 DEFERMENT OF EXAMINATION
15.1 On Grounds of Ill-Health: A student who has satisfied all the requirements but is unable to take the main examination on grounds of ill health, shall, on application to the School Administrator/College Secretary, and on provision of a Medical Certification issued by the Head of Department concerned and endorsed by the Director of University Health Services/Dean, Dental School, be allowed to take supplementary examination as his/her main examination. He/she shall be credited with the grade obtained in the supplementary examination. Subsequent application for deferment, on grounds of ill-health, shall be subject to a Medical Certificate issued by a properly constituted Medical Board.
15.2 On Grounds other than Ill-Health: In cases of deferment on grounds other than ill-health, the Dean of the Dental School shall invite the applicant for an interview and advise the University as appropriate. It shall be the student’s responsibility to satisfy the University beyond reasonable doubt why he/she wishes to defer the examinations.
15.3 In all cases of deferment of examinations, the applicant(s) shall obtain written responses from the School Administrator/College Secretary before leaving the University.
16 EXAMINERS BOARD
16.1 There shall be an Examiners Board for the main and supplementary examinations in respect of the BDS Final Parts IIA, IIB and III.
16.2 The Examiners Board shall receive, consider and determine the results of the BDS Parts II and III examinations.
16.3 The Examiners Board shall be required to make appropriate recommendations on any candidate based on his/her performance and also on any aspect of the examination as it deems fit.
16.4 The Examiners Board for the BDS Final Part II(A) shall comprise the following
- Dean - Chairman
- School Administrator
- Head of Department of Biomaterial Science
- Head of Department of Oral Biology
- Head of Department of Restorative Dentistry
- Head of Department of Community and Preventive Dentistry
16.5 The Examiners Board for the BDS Final Part II(B) shall comprise the following
- Dean - Chairman
- School Administrator
- Head of Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
- Head of Department of Oral Medicine/Oral Pathology
- Head of Department of Restorative Dentistry
16.6 The Examiners Board for the BDS Final Part III shall comprise the following
- Dean - Chairman
- School Administrator
- Head of Department of Oral & Maxillofacial
- Head of Department of Oral Medicine/Oral Pathology
- Head of Department of Orthodontics & Paedodontics
- Head of Department of Restorative Dentistry
- Head of Department of Community and Preventive Dentistry
17 DECLARATION OF RESULTS
17.1 Results of the BDS Parts I, II and III Examinations shall normally be published by the Dean on the School’s Notice Boards after the Examiners’ Board has determined the results.
17.2 The results as published shall be subject to the approval of the Academic Board of the College of Health Sciences.
17.3 Results indicating the student’s performance shall be made available to him/her.
18 ELIGIBILITY FOR THE BDS DEGREES
18.1 The BDS degrees shall be awarded to a candidate who has been properly admitted to the University, has followed the approved courses of study over the prescribed period and has satisfied the following conditions:
18.1.1 UNIVERSITY REQUIREMENTS
(i) evidence of regular enrolment in the degree programme;
- discharge of all obligations owed to the University;
- a pass in all University Required Courses; and,
- satisfactory performance in the appropriate University Examinations.
18.1.2 Faculty/Departmental Requirements
Satisfactory discharge of such requirements as may be prescribed for the degree.
19 REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATION
19.1 A candidate shall be deemed to have:
(i) satisfied all General University and Faculty requirements; and,
- Obtained at least 60% in each subject featured in BDS Parts I, II and III examinations.
20 CONFIRMATION OF AWARD OF DEGREE
20.1 A list of candidates who are deemed eligible shall be brought before the Academic Board of the University for approval as soon as practicable.
20.2 No award shall be confirmed unless the Academic Board of the University is satisfied that the candidate has satisfied all the conditions for the award of a degree.
21 CANCELLATION OF AWARD
21.1 Notwithstanding previous confirmation of an award of a degree as above, the Academic Board of the University may at any time cancel an award even with retrospective effect, if it becomes known that:
(i) a candidate has entered the University with false qualifications;
- a candidate has impersonated someone else;
- a candidate has been guilty of an examination malpractice for which a grade Z would have been awarded; or,
- there are other reasons that would have led to the withholding of confirmation of the award in the first place.
21.2 In any such event, the decision of the Academic Board of the University shall be published on the University Notice Boards and the candidate notified. Such cancellation and the reasons for it shall be entered on the candidate’s transcript.
22 TRANSCRIPT OF ACADEMIC RECORD
22.1 At the end of a student’s programme, the University shall, on the payment of an appropriate fee, issue to the particular student a complete transcript of his/her academic record upon request. This transcript shall be marked Student’s Copy and shall record all courses attempted and all results obtained.
23 CLASSIFICATION OF DEGREE
23.1 The BDS Degrees shall not be classified.
Competencies that a Student Should Exhibit on Graduation in Relation to their Subsequent Training and Future Roles in the Health System
Knowledge
At the end of the training the student must be able to demonstrate knowledge and under-standing of the Basic, Para-Clinical, Clinical, Behavioural and Social Sciences including Public Health relevant to the practice of medicine and Dentistry.
Attitude
The student should be able to:
- maintain the highest standard of professional conduct and medical/dental ethics
- demonstrate respect for, and the responsibility for, preserving human life from the time of conception and the need for human beings to live and be treated with dignity and humanity
- Accept and demonstrate the importance of team work in health delivery.
Skills
The students must be able to demonstrate appropriate:
- Communication skills.
- Clinical Skills.
- Promotive, preventive, rehabilitative skills and be able to organise and carry out health programmes in collaboration with other members of the health team to improve health.
- Management skills.
Life Long Learning and Continuing Professional Development
The student should be able to demonstrate the importance of research in the management of patients and the advancement of medical and dental knowledge and cultivate life-long learning habits.
Further to the above, it is deemed essential to inculcate into the student a sense of patriotism to serve the motherland.