Potential Earnings
£37,315.35
Key details
- Course area
- Science
- Student type
- University Level
- Course type
-
Part-time University Level course
- Course level
-
Level 5
- Start date
- Monday 21st September 2026
- Location
- City Hub 111 Canal Street, Nottingham, NG1 7HB
- Fees
- £5,500.00
- Course code
- Parent course code:C044722 Child course code: Q044723
Course introduction
Dental technicians manufacture, modify and repair custom-made dental appliances (such as braces, bridges, crowns, implants and prosthetics).
There is an increasing demand for skilled dental technicians, with work requiring close attention to detail, colour and manual dexterity.
This new course provides the skills and theoretical knowledge required to succeed in this profession.
The Foundation Degree has been developed with industry input and is designed to fully comply with General Dental Council requirements.
This award is validated by The Open University.
Students will be able to acquire competency in areas such as:
- Oral anatomy and physiology
- Biomaterials science
- Dental appliance design and manufacture
- Professionalism, ethics and legislation are covered, together with reflective skills and analytical decisions-making.
Modules include:
- Dental Technology Techniques
- Oral Biomedical Science
- Professional Practice
- Dental Biomaterials Science
- Design of Fixed and Removable Prosthodontics
- Integrated Studies and Work Based Learning Modules
New HE Science Centre
- Our £1.2m science and innovation centre opened in September 2022, offering purpose-built higher level technical facilities for students studying in the fields of biology, chemistry, forensics, pharmaceuticals and dental technologies.
- A suite of brand new industrial grade machinery and equipment, including a bench-top NMR scanner, a high performance liquid chromatogram, UV, IR and Mass spectrometers, and for Forensic Science, bespoke ‘crime scene houses’, a blood spatter room and state-of-the-art finger print analysis equipment, have been made possible thanks to a grant from the Office for Students of over £1m.
This is a huge investment in science-related facilities and resources and ensures our science students have access to the very best, industry-leading equipment and tools available.
Timetable (subject to change)
The current timetable is as follows but this is subject to change:
- Friday 09:00 – 16:00
- Plus self directed study
Please note: Some classes may be delivered online.
Useful links:
- Programme Specification
- Open University Student Guide 2025/26
- Open University Validation Regulations 2025/26
Nottingham College is proud to have been awarded the Teaching Excellence Framework Bronze Award for high quality student experience and outcomes. You can read more about this on the Office for Students website.
Course information
3 years
Foundation Degree (Fd) Level 5
5 GCSE passes at 9-4/A*-C including English Language, Maths and a science (or equivalent) and a relevant full Level 3 qualification preferably in a science subject.
If English is not your first language, you should have attained (or expect to achieve) IELTS 6.0 with no element less than 5.5 or equivalent.
Mature applicants with relevant professional experience, lifeskills and/or qualifications are welcome to apply.
Applicants will be required to attend an interview and manual dexterity test prior to being offered a place on the course.
It is essential that applicants are employed in a Dental Laboratory or have some form of placement in order to carry out the work based learning modules. A total of 400 hours of logged work based activities is required together with constructed appliances in a portfolio.
The General Dental Council state that all Dental Care Professionals are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act and all criminal convictions need to be disclosed prior to registration. This may affect the ability to register as a DCP.
Coursework is assessed continually through a variety of individual and group assignments; such as practical activities and investigations, research projects, written reports and presentations. Some modules include assessment by examination to help prepare you for further study.
Career opportunities are available to graduates of this course in the NHS, commercial laboratories, private practices, dental manufacturing companies, or they could progress to further study with the option to continue studying for a full BSc (Hons) in Dental Technology.
Alternative career options include Clinical Dental Technology, Research and Development, Teaching and Education, or Medical Sales.
Nottingham College is approved by The Open University as an appropriate organisation to offer higher education programmes leading to Open University validated awards.
About the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
The TEF is a national scheme run by the Office for Students (OfS) that aims to encourage higher education providers to improve and deliver excellence in the areas that students care about the most: teaching, learning and achieving positive outcomes from their studies.
Careers related to this course
Medical and Dental Technicians
Average Earnings
£25,132.99
Source: Office for National Statistics' Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE).
Pathways
Medicine, Dentistry and Nursing
People in these occupations diagnose, assess, and treat health problems, operate medical technology, and care for patients.
Skills
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Active Learning
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Learning Strategies
Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Economic data for careers is provided by Lightcast and also available through our Career Coach app. Job postings, employment and earnings information is represented at the regional level for the East Midlands.
