Bachelor of Oral Health (BOH)

Overview

The Bachelor of Oral Health (BOH) programme is an exciting new three-year degree at New Zealand’s only School of Dentistry, delivering an excellent innovative education in oral health.

Oral Health degree students will be working in a team with undergraduate and postgraduate dental and dental technology students, and with constant access to highly qualified specialist staff. Graduates will be leaders in the field, as the programme ensures that its teaching and research are continually refined and improved to keep in step with oral health best-practice

Regulations for the Degree of Bachelor of Oral Health (BOH)

1. Admission to the Programme

   1. Admission to the programme shall be determined by the Oral Health Admissions Committee.
   2. Admission to the programme is limited to 50 Domestic applicants annually (but see regulation 1(j) regarding International student admissions).

   Note: ‘Domestic student’ is defined in the Admission to University Statute 2011, clause 3.3.

   3. Applications for admission may be made under the following categories:
      1. Secondary School (see 1(e))
      2. One Year of University Study (see 1(f))
      3. Two or More Years of University Study (see 1(g))
      4. Graduate (see 1(h))
      5. Alternative (see 1(i))
   4. The University of Otago is committed to promote and facilitate academic equity for Māori students, and for students from other underrepresented groups, who have the potential to succeed academically.
      Applicants in any category (see regulations 1(c)) who have fulfilled the criteria as described in the Mirror on Society Policy and associated admissions entry requirements, may be considered in one or more of the Mirror on Society Category Groups.

   5. To be considered for admission under the Secondary School category, an applicant must
      1. have attained a minimum of 14 credits in National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) Level 3 Biology or equivalent; and
      2. have attained a minimum of 10 credits in English at NCEA Level 2 or above (with at least 5 credits in Reading and 5 credits in Writing) or equivalent; and
      3. have provided a statement of interest and a current curriculum vitae.

      Selection of applicants who have met these criteria will be based on academic merit and a possible interview. Final admission is subject to the fulfilment of the University’s entrance requirements and confirmation of satisfactory NCEA Level 3 results (or equivalent).

      Note: Applicants who have not yet completed NCEA Level 3 (or equivalent) are initially considered on the basis of their NCEA Level 2 (or equivalent) performance and Biology taken for NCEA Level 2 (or equivalent). Applicants must have completed (or be completing) NCEA Level 3 Biology (or equivalent) within the last five years. Admission from Secondary School will be based on a scoring process similar to that used for Managed Enrolment.

   6. To be considered for admission under the One Year of University Study category, an applicant must
      1. have completed within the last five years one year of relevant study at a university in New Zealand to a standard determined by the Oral Health Admissions Committee; and
      2. have provided a statement of interest and a current curriculum vitae.

      Selection of applicants who have met these criteria will be based on academic merit and a possible interview.

      Note: For guidance on how average grades are calculated, and the definition of ‘relevant study’, see Application for Admission into Dental Technology and Oral Health at http://www.otago.ac.nz/healthsciences/students/professional/otago034836.html

   7. To be considered for admission under the Two or More Years of Tertiary Study category, an applicant must
      1. not be a finalist but must have completed, within the last five years, two or more years of relevant study at a university in New Zealand, comprising at least three papers at 200-level, to a standard determined by the Oral Health Admissions Committee; and
      2. have provided a statement of interest and a current curriculum vitae.

      Selection of applicants who have met these criteria will be based on academic merit and a possible interview.

      Note: For guidance on how average grades are calculated, and the definition of ‘relevant study’, see Application for Admission into Dental Technology and Oral Health at www.otago.ac.nz/ healthsciences/students/professional/otago034836.html

   8. To be considered for admission under the Graduate category, an applicant must
      1. have completed, normally in the minimum academic time, at least one of the following qualifications awarded by a university in New Zealand:
         • a bachelor's degree; or
         • a bachelor's honours degree; or
         • a bachelor's degree followed by a postgraduate diploma; and
      2. have provided a statement of interest and a current curriculum vitae.

      Notes:
      (i) The qualifying degree for the Graduate category will be the first university degree awarded to the applicant.
      (ii) The grades obtained in a bachelor’s honours degree (if separate from the qualifying degree) or postgraduate diploma will be included in the GPA calculation, along with the qualifying degree.

      Applications must be received within three years of completion of the qualifying degree. Normally, the date of completion will be taken as the end of the teaching period in which the final paper or papers included in the programme are undertaken. Repeat applications within the eligibility period are allowed.

      Selection of applicants who have met these criteria will be based on academic merit and a possible interview.

      Notes:
      (i) For guidance on how average grades are calculated, see Application for Admission into Dental Technology and Oral Health at www.otago.ac.nz/healthsciences/students/professional/ otago034836.html
      (ii) Applicants offered a place under the Graduate category may be required to pass relevant papers, to a standard determined by the Oral Health Admissions Committee, before being admitted.

   9. To be considered for admission under the Alternative category a candidate must
      either
      hold a relevant degree from a New Zealand university, and no longer be eligible under the Graduate category
      or
      have completed a relevant degree at an overseas university at a standard of at least NZQF Level 7;
      or
      hold a relevant master’s or doctoral degree;
      or
      have relevant study acceptable to the Oral Health Admissions Committee;
      or
      have relevant health-related experience as determined by the Oral Health Admissions Committee
      and
      have provided a statement of interest and a current curriculum vitae.

      All applicants applying for admission under the Alternative category will be required to have achieved a minimum academic standard to be determined by the Oral Health Admissions Committee.

      Selection of applicants who have met these criteria will be based on academic merit and a possible interview.

   10. The Oral Health Admissions Committee shall have discretion to offer a limited number of places in first year to International students who meet all the requirements determined by the Oral Health Admissions Committee. (See Note (i) below.)
   11. Notwithstanding any of the above provisions, the Oral Health Admissions Committee shall have discretion to admit any applicant who, not having satisfied these regulations in a particular aspect, warrants admission to the programme for exceptional reasons.
   12. Any applicant who
       1. is, or who has been, the subject of criminal charges; or
       2. is, or has been, subject to disciplinary proceedings of a tertiary institution or professional body; or
       3. has been found to have an issue (whether in connection with their mental or physical health, or their professional attributes or conduct, or otherwise) that compromises or is likely to compromise their fitness to practise; or
       4. is found to have failed to declare a matter covered by (m)(i)-(iii),

       may be declined admission to the programme by the Oral Health Admissions Committee on the recommendation of the Health and Conduct Review Group. Any offer of admission made before responses to medical tests or requests for information regarding an applicant’s health status or past conduct have been received is conditional on the information received confirming the applicant’s suitability for admission.

       Notes:
       (i) See Application for Admission into Dental Technology and Oral Health at http://www.otago.ac.nz/healthsciences/students/professional/otago034836.html
       (ii) The due date for applications for enrolment in the first year course is 15 September in the year before admission. Late applications may be considered.

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2. Structure of the Programme

   1. Every programme of study shall satisfy the programme requirements above.
   2. Candidates will not normally be permitted to enrol in any papers of a year until all papers of the preceding year have been passed.

3. Duration of the Programme

   The duration of the programme shall normally be three academic years of full-time study