Dentistry in Australia

[deaf-knee]

I just came back from a very inspiring talk by representatives of the University of Melbourne about Medicine. Unfortunately for me, the speaker only touched a little bit about Dentistry at the University of Melbourne.

I would like to get some feedback from current Dental Science undergraduates in Australia regarding the best Dental School (the man said Melbourne has the best), what kind of scores are typically required, et cetera.

Thanks for your time. :)

[deaf-knee]

Okay that was me 2 years ago. :) A number of recommers have messaged me since then regarding dentistry and I'm sorry to say that I haven't been checking recom for awhile now hence couldn't reply any of their queries. I just went through the recom threads and found no relevant posts regarding dentistry in australia (or the university of melbourne in particular) so I thought I'll write some stuff here, in case of future interest.

0. Introduction.

(random facts about my secondary school eca life: I was involved in a couple of clubs and societies like red crescent, interact club, gavel club, tennis club; represented the state in the mssm tennis competition; joined all those academic thingamajig competitions that I never won like the new south wales competitions, physics and maths olympiads, kuiz kimia kebangsaan, etc etc; and was a school debater and was in the national choir competition, representing my state. I was also a prefect.)

In the SPM 2004 I got 10A1s (english, bm, moral, sejarah, est, maths, add maths, physics, chemistry, biology) and got the JPA scholarship to do Dentistry in Australia. I went through 1.5 years of Ausmat in Intec and got into the Dental School of the University of Melbourne's class of 2011 with a TER of 99.80. I also scored band 8.5 for IELTS, of which I took at the end of 2005 (in year 11). I am now in my 2nd year of Bachelor of Dental Science.

1. Scholarship Acceptance and Bond.

I went for NS (2nd batch) in March 2005, after SPM results came out and after I sent in my JPA scholarship application form. When I got called up for the interview, I flew home for a couple of days and went for the Interview/Written Thing. My group's topic of discussion was 'girls fare better than boys academically', and our session was conducted in English. I had to write an essay regarding 'which country would you like to further your studies in and why'.

In early June, I found out that I was granted the JPA scholarship to pursue Dentistry in Australia through JPA's online checking system. While elated that I got the scholarship, I was slightly disappointed not to be given the UK even though I wrote the long-ass essay about wanting to study in the UK. Then I thought, haiya got scholarship good enough la complain what shit so many people didn't get okay. So yeah. Couple of days later I received a package in the mail indicating the institute that I was going to do my pre university course at and I subsequently signed 10 years of my life away to the government. (read: accepted the scholarship)

2. Pre University.

AUSMAT in INTEC (UiTM) is exactly the same as SAM in Taylors, except that only sponsored students get to go to INTEC and there's something called Year 11 there. In Year 11 you do a lot of english (10 hours a week), a chapter of biology and some physics and chemistry and maths. Then you do the IELTS exams at the end of the year. Only certain marks will be taken into account and added to your internal marks for year 12. Year 11 lasts for 6 months.

In Year 12, if you are a dentistry hopeful (there were 8 of us in my batch), you will take English As Second Language Studies (ESLS), Mathematical Studies, Physics, Chemistry and Biology. The SACE exams that AUSMAT students take is 50% internal and 50% external, meaning all, everything, every single little test, exam, assignment, what not, will contribute to your final grade. For more information regarding the SACE exams, see here: http://www.ssabsa.sa.edu.au/

INTEC lecturers are very helpful and will push you to do your best, which is good because good grades are *very* important. ECAs are not taken into account in university applications.

3. University Application and Requirements.

There are 3 universities in Australia that offer undergraduate dentistry courses, namely University of Melbourne, University of Western Australia and University of Adelaide. UoM requires a TER of 99.25, UWA requires a TER of 96 plus ISAT scores and an interview, while UoA requires a TER of 90 plus PQA scores and an interview.

Students sit for the ISAT and PQA tests generally around mid year or slightly earlier. Those who pass these tests will get called up for an interview in a couple of months, and offers will be given out once the SACE results are released (generally at the end of December). University of Melbourne is the only university that doesn't require anything more than academic results but it is important to note that the introduction of the Melbourne Model means that the university will only be conducting postgraduate degrees in dentistry starting the year 2010.

Also, the people at IDP are very helpful and knowledgeable regarding applications and requirements so you will definitely be well informed regarding these sort of things in year 12.

4. Dentistry in University.

In February 2007, I began my first year of Dentistry at the University of Melbourne. The Bachelor of Dental Science is a 5 year course that admits around 80 students a year. I don't know if there is a quota for international students in this course but in my year there are approximately 25 international students. Students are required to purchase instruments that can cost up to RM10,000 and JPA will not pay for this, so be prepared.

Dentistry is exciting. And very challeging. Sometimes it feels as if you have to work your ass off just to pass dental school, even though you used to get top grades in school. But everyone in your course will be in the same boat as you, so usually with a little help from your friends you will pull through. Maybe even with flying colours. (if you maintain a 70% to 100% from second year onwards you will graduate with honours) And Melbourne is a wonderful city to live in.

So as not to sound like a spokesperson for the Dental School, I shall direct those interested to this link here: http://www.dent.unimelb.edu.au/

I've also found a couple of good articles online regarding dentistry, so you may want to google 'dental blogs' or anything similar to that.

5. Personal Account of Dentistry in University.

Trials and Tribulations (and possibly irrational and unnecessary woes and stress) can be found in the Archives on my personal blog: http://deaf-knee.blogspot.com


Footnote: this feels like a poorly written assignment so if you would like to know more, send me a pm and I will try to reply asap. Also, I don't know if the requirements for dentistry have changed or not so you should double check with the university website or IDP if you think that what I wrote is inaccurate.

[Cody44]

Its really appreciative work and I hope you will keep it up as well

[Ceriang]

Dear deaf-knee,

I just want to ask u a question, do we have to write the essay during the inteview or after the interview? Pliss, rply a.s.a.p :huh

[Miracle_seed]

Dear deaf-knee,

I just want to ask u a question, do we have to write the essay during the inteview or after the interview? Pliss, rply a.s.a.p :huhEssay section has been abolished since year 2006.