This two-and-a-half-year degree gives you an overview of rural health sciences before focusing on oral health and promotion. You'll learn how to assist in the prevention and treatment of tooth decay and gum disease and promote oral health to rural Victorians.

In the first and second years of your degree, you'll focus on applied science subjects such as human biosciences, principles of public health and determinants of health. You'll have access to our new on-campus clinical facility to practise your skills in dentistry, oral health practice, special needs dentistry and pharmacology before entering into external clinical placements.

Before starting your last semester, you must complete a summer semester that includes a two-week placement at either a rural Victorian dentistry practice or overseas, before returning to our Bendigo Campus to finish your studies.

Before starting this degree you'll need to complete your Level 1 First Aid/CPR certification, get your required vaccinations, and provide a current police check and Working With Children check.

The qualification awarded on graduation is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) as Level 7.

Sample course structure

Please note, the following course structure is indicative and subject to change depending on your course location, offer year or how you tailor your course with specialisations, majors, minors and electives. Structures for the following year are not normally finalised until October, so the sample provided is based on the most recently approved structure. For more information, please refer to the La Trobe University Handbook.

The Bachelor of Oral Health Science is accredited by the Australian Dental Council.Graduates of the Bachelor of Oral Health Science may be eligible to apply for registration with the Dental Board of Australia. Professional registration may be subject to additional or ongoing requirements beyond completion of the degree. Please contact the relevant professional body for details.