On successful completion of the 5-year programme students are granted a Bachelor of dental surgery degree that is accredited by the General Dental Council; phase I has 3 basic elements; the 1st is an introduction to basic medical sciences, which students study via a problem- based learning (PBL) course taken in conjunction with the 1st year MBChB (medicine) students; the 2nd element is an introduction to operative dental surgery undertaken as a special dental module during the second semester; finally, an introduction to preventive dentistry includes participation in a communication skills course; phase II, which occupies the 2nd, 3rd and 4th years, again has three strands; it is an integrated, modular course planned to cover more applied aspects of the basic medical and dental sciences as well as clinical laboratory sciences with medicine and surgery; this 2nd phase is delivered through a series of clinical scenarios, clinical dental practice employing didactic learning methods and training in the practical skills of dentistry through the supervised treatment of patients in the dental hospital, and continuing instruction in preventive dentistry and behavioural sciences; during the 4th year, the medical aspects of dentistry are developed in a course in oral diseases; sedation and general anaesthetics and law and ethics are also introduced, as well as a course on research and development in dental sciences; the compulsory elective study period gives the student time to carry out an independent study, based on a protocol written by him or herself and may be undertaken within or outside the University; phase III is the final year of study, consolidating theoretical knowledge and clinical experience in preparation for the final examination; a series of seminars, tutorials and discussion sessions are held with experienced clinical teachers to discuss and evaluate controversial issues and difficult clinical topics.