Master of Clinical Dentistry

The Master of Clinical Dentistry at Griffith University is a one-year postgraduate degree for dentists who want to deepen their clinical skills and move into more advanced practice. It's built for people already qualified in dentistry, so you won't be starting from scratch. Instead, you'll spend the year concentrating on clinical work, case management and the evidence behind treatment decisions.

As a master's degree, this course sits at level 9 on the Australian Qualifications Framework. That means it's a postgraduate qualification, usually one to two years full-time, and it carries a set number of credit points made up of individual units of study. At Griffith, the academic year is split into trimesters, so a one-year master's moves quickly. You'll typically complete core clinical units, some advanced theory, and a substantial research or capstone component. The exact unit list and credit point totals are set by the university, so check the official course page for the current structure.

Clinical dentistry is a hands-on field, and this degree reflects that. You'll spend time in clinical settings seeing patients, working alongside experienced clinicians, and building your own treatment planning and case management skills. There's also a research element, which might be a supervised project or a thesis depending on your pathway. That combination of clinical practice and research is what separates a master's from a basic registration degree.

The skills you gain are practical: advanced diagnosis, complex treatment planning, critical appraisal of the literature, and the ability to manage cases that need more than routine care. If you're a dentist looking to specialise further, return to study after some years in practice, or build a research profile before applying for specialist training, this course is aimed at you. English requirements for international applicants are set by Griffith and by the Department of Home Affairs for the student visa. Check the official Griffith page and the CRICOS register for the current English scores, tuition and intake dates.

• Clinical dentist in private practice or group practices across Australia
• Hospital dental officer or registrar in public hospital dental departments
• Dental clinical lead or supervisor in community health organisations
• Clinical tutor or lecturer in university dental schools
• Researcher in dental clinical trials, oral health or public dental health
• Consultant to dental insurance, health policy or dental product organisations
• Further specialist training pathway (for example oral medicine, prosthodontics or orthodontics, subject to separate entry requirements)

Australian employers in this field include private dental practices, public dental services, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community controlled health organisations, hospitals, universities and research institutes. International graduates may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream, which lets you stay and work after you finish. While you study, your visa generally allows up to 48 hours of work per fortnight. Confirm your visa conditions and registration requirements with the relevant Australian authorities.