Masters (MSc) Oral Medicine
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Application Information | Requirements | Documents | Selection | Cost | Program Information
Our thesis-based Master of Science (MSc) Oral Medicine program prepares dental professionals to deliver specialized care for complex oral and maxillofacial diseases and disorders.
Students in our Oral Medicine Graduate program will learn to:
- plan and manage dental care for medically complex patients
- diagnose and treat medically-related disorders and conditions affecting the oral and maxillofacial region, including oral mucosal diseases and salivary gland disorders
- assess and manage orofacial pain disorders, temporomandibular disorders (TMDs), and oral chemosensory disorders
Our mission within the Oral Medicine Graduate program is to equip our students with the expertise to provide the highest quality care to the diverse communities we serve. This program serves as a valuable resource to ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥'s dentists and physicians in supporting their patients. We strive to contribute high-calibre research at the ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ and prepare our graduate students for academic-clinical track careers. We are committed to fostering an environment that promotes collegiality, professionalism, and collaboration.
Upon completion of the program, you will possess the necessary knowledge to challenge the Royal College of Dentists of Canada (RCDC) Fellowship national specialty examination.
Application Information
The admissions cycle is a year-long process. Applications are submitted in the year prior to the Fall term admission is sought.
Applications open: May 1
Application deadline: September 1
Once you submit and pay for your application, you can use the to:
- check the status of your application
- determine if references have been received
- change referees
- upload documents
To access the portal, please sign in using the e-mail address and password initially used when you created your account.
Admission Requirements
All applicant must meet the eligibility requirements established by the: Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies, Medical Sciences Graduate Program Committee, and Graduate Oral Medicine Program Admission Subcommittee.
Dental Degree & GPA
Successful completion of a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or equivalent degree with a minimum admission GPA of 3.0 out of 4.0 or equivalent.
Admission GPA is calculated using:
- the last 60 units of graded coursework complete, or;
- the equivalent of the last two years of full-time graded coursework
Dental Experience & Licensure
Dental experience is not required. Completion of at least one year of experience as a licensed dentist prior to the start of the program is preferred.
Current ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ dental licensure is not required. Preference may be given to candidates who have successfully completed the National Dental Examining Board of Canada's (NDEB) Certification process.
English Language Proficiency
English is the primary language of instruction and communication at the ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥. All applicants must demonstrate satisfactory English language proficiency prior to admission either by:
- Possession of an undergraduate degree or equivalent from an institution recognized by the ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥, in which the language of instruction is English, or;
- Minimum scores on an approved English language test described in the below table.
- Test scores must be valid and verifiable. Test scores cannot be more than two years old.
Unofficial test results can be submitted initially. If admitted, official test results must be issued directly from the testing office to the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies.
| Accepted English Tests | Minimum Scores |
| TOEFL Internet-based |
Overall Score of 95 with the minimum following scores in each subsection:
|
| IELTS Academic | Overall score of 7.5 with at least 7 on each band |
| CAEL | Overall score of 80 with at least 70 on each subtest |
Required Documents
Documents must be received by September 1. Applications missing required documents will not be considered for admission.
Applicants should submit supporting documents through the .
Please confirm that your documents meet the Application Requirements for Academic Documents. Documents that are not in English must be accompanied by a certified English translation.
Official documents (transcripts, degree certificates, etc.) will be required upon receiving the conditional offer of admission letter. Documents must be sent directly from the post-secondary institution to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research office.
Degree certificates must accompany transcripts that do not clearly indicate that a degree has been conferred/awarded/granted and the date.
Degree certificates must include:
- date of conferral
- registrar's signature
- post-secondary institution stamp or seal
A letter from your Dental School noting your graduation ranking is expected, if available. It should include the number of students in your graduating class and your ranking within the class.
Stronger consideration may be given to those that provide such ranking.
The letter can be either be:
- uploaded to GSMS as a single PDF document
- sent directly from the dental school to dentgrad@ualberta.ca
Letter(s) of Good Standing are required from all current and previous licensing bodies.
For candidates that are in a General Practice Residency program and are not licensed, a letter from the Program Director stating they are in good standing with no professional conduct issues is required.
Letter(s) can be either be:
- uploaded to GSMS as a single PDF document
- sent directly by the licensing body to dentgrad@ualberta.ca
A Curriculum vitae (or resume) which includes:
- education
- qualifications
- publications
- community involvement
- previous professional and research experience
Applicants must provide the names and contact information of three professional referees who need to provide a recommendation letter.
Once you submit and pay for your application, your referees will receive a notice from GSMS requesting that their reference be submitted within two weeks of receiving the request.
You can check whether reference letters have been received or change a referee through the .
Selection Process
Applications are reviewed by all full-time Faculty members of the Graduate Oral Medicine program.
Interviews
A limited number of applicants will be granted interviews. If you are invited for interview, you will be advised by email at least two weeks in advance.
All interviews are conducted in-person at the ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ North Campus. Online interviews requests will not be granted.
The interview committee may include:
- Full-time Oral Medicine faculty
- a representative from the Mike Petryk School of Dentistry Graduate Studies Committee
Interviewed candidates, including any PhD applicants also being interviewed, will be ranked.
Admission
Enrollment is limited. The number of qualified applicants greatly exceeds the number of yearly positions available.
Admission will be based on demonstrated academic excellence, community involvement, quality of letters of recommendation and interview performance. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission.
Admission to the MSc Oral Medicine program is dependent upon the recommendation of the Graduate Oral Medicine Program Admission Subcommittee and Medical Sciences Graduate Program Committee.
The final admission decision is made by the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies.
Program Cost
Information about tuition and fees can be found on the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies website.
Below is the estimated cost per year:
| Tuition | ~$4,775 |
| Equipment and Instrumentation Rental | $13,225 |
| Annual Total (not including non-instructional fees) | ~$18,000 |
Note: Costs are estimates and subject to change. Fees are paid at registration.
Below is the estimated cost per year:
| Tuition | $10,000 |
| Equipment and Instrumentation Rental | $13,225 |
| Annual Total (not including non-instructional fees) | $23,225 |
Note: Costs are estimates and subject to change. Fees are paid at registration.
Additional Anticipated Costs
Students can expect to have the following additional costs:
- 3 neuromodulator courses (~$10,000)
- Registration with the College of Dental Surgeons of ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥
- Annual CPR Training
- Camera and Laptop
- Conference-related costs
Cost of Living
Edmonton offers a moderate cost of living when compared with other major cities in Canada.
U¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ no longer provides cost of living estimates for graduate students but you might be able to find useful information by using the instead.
Funding & Financial Support
Students in the MSc Oral Medicine program are expected to be financially self-sufficient for the duration of their studies. However, several internal and external funding opportunities are available on a competitive basis to support eligible students.
Limited scholarships and studentships may be awarded to highly qualified applicants. These are typically based on academic excellence, research potential, and leadership qualities.
We encourage all applicants to explore funding options administered by the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies (FGPS), including entrance scholarships, research awards, and awards for international students. Additional funding may be available through external agencies such as CIHR, NSERC, and ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ Innovates. International students are also encouraged to review opportunities specific to their residency and citizenship status.
Program Information
Program Length & Residency
Minimum: 3 years
Maximum: 4 years
Students are required to reside in Edmonton for the entirety of the program.
Licensure
An Education and Research license from the College of Dental Surgeons of ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ (CDSA) is mandatory for the entire duration of the program. Documentation is due prior to starting the program in the fall term. If you already possess a full license from the CDSA , you do not need to obtain additional licensure.
Our program is led by a dedicated team of full-time faculty members. For detailed contact information for each faculty member, please visit Our Researchers page.
Program Co-Directors:
- Dr. Pallavi Parashar
- Dr. Reid Friesen
Additional Faculty:
- Dr. Tim McGaw
- Dr. Ivonne Hernandez
Completion of the following courses is required:
- General and Oral Pathology: DENT 505, 506
- Oral Medicine Clinics: DENT 514, 515, 519, 614, 615, 619, 714, 715, 719
- Temporomandibular Disorders, Orofacial Pain, and Sleep-Disordered Breathing Clinics: DENT 520, 521, 522, 620, 621, 622, 720, 721, 722
- TMD/Orofacial Pain/Sleep-Disordered Breathing Seminars: DENT 560, 561
- Oral Medicine Seminars: DENT 623, 624, 723, 724
- Introduction to Research Methods and Data Management: DENT 543
- Evidence-Based Dentistry: DENT 565
- Systematic Reviews in Dentistry: DENT 567, 568
- Pharmacotherapeutics in Oral Medicine: DENT 606
- Advanced Oral Radiology: DENT 607
- Advanced Oral Pathology: DENT 608, 609
- Medically Complex Patients: DENT 630
Additional courses may be taken beyond the required courses for the program, as determined by your supervising committee. Please consult with the Graduate Program Administrator for assistance with registering for any supplementary courses.
Academic staff & Faculty will assess diagnosis, treatment planning, and treatment skills.
Assessment feedback will identify areas for improvement in the student's progress, allowing for the development of specific objectives. Failure to meet improvement objectives will require the student to extend their program or may result in a failing grade in the clinical course(s).
Students are required to complete research, usually within the established research focus of the program.
Students must complete a paper-format thesis.
Students should have their research results ready to submit to peer-reviewed journals. It is anticipated that all student research projects will result in publication.
Students may also have an opportunity to present their research results at an international scientific meeting prior to program completion.
Apply Now
Applications are open from May 1 to September 1 in the year prior to the Fall term admission is being sought.