The unique course celebrated its last contact day of the year last month with a series of provoking lectures. The course, which lasts for a year and is part time, is the only university accredited course in Law and Ethics specifically for dental professionals.

Running for just three years, the course has seen its numbers steadily increase with students already registered for next year.

Dental Law and Ethics provides dental care professionals a unique opportunity to critically examine dental care and practice from ethical, legal and professional standpoints.

Tariq Drabu is a dentist from Manchester. “I took the course to get a better understanding of ethics in dentistry. Issues such as negligence and poor treatment are subjects dentists should be more aware of in their everyday work.”

The part-time course combines eight study days, with supported on-line learning and self-directed study. It is taught by dentists and other health and social care professionals with legal and ethical expertise.

Sharan Reddy, a newly qualified dentist from Nottingham, said: “When you finish University, you’re a bit scared and not quite sure what you’re getting into. This course gives you a good foundation on what’s good and what’s bad.

“I’ve also learnt from other people on the course. When you qualify there’s a limited pool of people to talk to. Here you have the opportunity to talk to like-minded people.”

Dr Hoda Wassif is the Principal Lecturer and Portfolio Lead Medical and Dental Education at the University.

She said: “This is the only university accredited course in Dental Law and Ethics within the UK that is specific to dental staff.

“The course focuses on enabling dentists to work with professionally relevant legal and ethical principles and to consider the ways in which these principles influence their everyday practice.

“The course has been very successful, and as of October 2015, students will be able to progress towards a Master’s programme in Dental Law and Ethics* as a progression from this postgraduate certificate.”

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*Course is subject to approval.