School of Dentistry

Report by Professor Albert Leung Head of School of Dentistry

The RCSI School of Dentistry was formally established in March 2024, becoming the University’s eighth school. This marks RCSI’s return to Undergraduate dental education after nearly five decades, building on a legacy that began in 1878. The School’s flagship programme, the Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS), will begin in September 2025.

The BDS programme is Ireland’s first community-based Undergraduate dentistry degree. Delivered at RCSI Dental Education Centres (DECs), students will begin clinical skills training early and start treating patients by the end of their first year. The spiralled, vertically integrated and competency-based curriculum is aligned with Smile agus Sláinte, the National Oral Health Policy and draws on the top-ranked Peninsula Dental School curriculum, adapted for the Irish context.

The Sandyford DEC, featuring 12 clinical chairs and 55 simulation units, was completed in June 2025. Construction began in early 2025 on the Connolly Hospital DEC with a third centre in advanced planning. These facilities support modern, patient-centred education and expand access to dental care in the community, improving oral health in underserved areas.

Demand for the BDS programme has been strong. The School will take up the full government allocation of 20 CAO places, increasing national capacity of dentistry students by one-third and helping address the shortage of dentists in Ireland. As most dentists practise in community settings, the programme is designed to produce graduates who are confident, competent and compassionate practitioners, ready to serve where they are most needed.

Recruitment of academic and support staff is progressing well. The School is also developing its research strategy, with initial priorities in community oral health and simulation-based education. The School has welcomed its first two PhD candidates, marking the start of its research journey, with plans to expand research collaborations and impact.

The establishment of the School reflects a significant commitment and investment by RCSI in national oral health. Its development has been enabled by the valued support of the Department of Health; the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science; the Health Service Executive (HSE) and the Higher Education Authority (HEA). We are also grateful to the National University of Ireland and the Dental Council for their support.

With key systems in place, the School of Dentistry team is poised to deliver an innovative, inclusive and impactful dental education experience that supports national health priorities and RCSI’s mission to educate, nurture and discover for the benefit of human health.