Bachelor of Health Science (Oral Health)
Oral health is vital for our general health. By successfully completing this oral health degree you can practise as an oral health therapist.
If you successfully complete the Bachelor of Health Science (Oral Health) you can register as an oral health therapist with the Dental Council of New Zealand. Graduates provide oral health assessment, diagnosis, management, treatment and preventive care for patients within the oral health therapy scope of practice.
You gain experience in our oral health simulation laboratory, and clinical experience at AUT’s oral health clinics and community oral health clinics in Auckland and around New Zealand. You also work on oral health promotion projects in communities around Auckland and gain valuable workplace experience in the field of oral health.
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Minimum entry requirements
- University Entrance or equivalent
- Must be capable of meeting Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act (HPCA Act) and Children’s Act 2014 requirements, including police clearance
- Preference will be given to applicants with Biology and one subject from Classical Studies, Drama, English, Geography, Health Education, History, History of Art, Media Studies, Social Studies, Te Reo Māori or Te Reo Rangatira
Ranking of applicants will occur. Preference will be given to applicants with the highest level of academic achievement and/or evidence of accomplishments in the relevant field.
Applicants with English as a second or other language who have not completed at least three years of secondary schooling in NZ will be required to meet IELTS requirements.
International student entry requirements
English language requirements
- IELTS (Academic) 7.0 overall with all bands 6.5 or higher
Year 1
Semester 1
You study a number of courses to prepare for academic study and the field of health sciences.
Semester 1 courses
- HEAL504 Lifespan Development and Communication
- HEAL505 Human Anatomy and Physiology I
- HEAL506 Knowledge, Enquiry and Communication
- HEAL507 Health and Environment OR MAOH501 Hauora Māori
Semester 2
You'll learn more about human anatomy and the integral role it plays in oral health therapy practice.
The course Introduction to Oral Health Practice will be the foundation for your oral health knowledge including prevention and management of dental diseases.
The course Oral Health Promotion gives you an opportunity to work firsthand with the community, including an education programme that you plan, evaluate, resource and implement.
Semester 2 courses
- HEAL609 Human Anatomy and Physiology II
- ORAH501 Introduction to Oral Health Practice
- ORAH601 Oral Health Promotion
Year 2
You continue to build on your foundation skills in oral health through lectures, tutorials, case study application of knowledge as well as pre-clinical and clinical education.
You'll learn pharmacology, explore health research methods and learn more discipline specific knowledge in oral biology and pathology.
Assessment and treatment of patients in the Akoranga Integrated Health (AIH) and Oral Health Therapy Clinics at AUT and the wider Aotearoa New Zealand community start in Semester 2.
Complete the following courses
- PHMY701 Pharmacology for Professional Practice
- HEAL610 Methods of Research and Enquiry
- ORAH602 Oral Health I
- ORAH603 Oral Biology and Pathology
- ORAH604 Oral Health Assessment
Year 3
You complete your pre-clinical training and start to undertake clinical activities both on and off site. Your clinical environments have been designed to reflect the oral health environments you’re likely to encounter once you graduate.
To ensure ‘work readiness’, you will undertake your oral health courses as well as courses focused on health law and professional practice and ethics. You also complete a 15-point elective course so you can pursue an area of interest.
Complete the following courses
- HLAW701 Health Law and Policy
- HEAL708 Professional Practice and Ethics
- ORAH704 Oral Health II
- ORAH705 Oral Health III
You also need to complete a 15-point elective course.
Workplace experience
Throughout your study you complete over 1,000 hours of clinical learning to prepare you for professional registration. There’s an emphasis on practical experience, including clinical experience at AUT’s on-campus oral health clinic, private practices and DHB clinics.
In your final year, you complete a community placement in New Zealand or internationally.
Te Ara Hauora Māori courses
If you're interested in a career with a Māori development perspective select the following courses as electives or as an alternative course of study
- MAOH501 Hauora Māori (instead of HEAL507 Health and Environment)
- MAOH701 Māori Health Promotion
- MAOH702 Applied Primary Māori Mental Health
We'll help you form relationships with Māori health providers, industry stakeholders and communities, and AUT Māori staff and students.
By successfully completing this degree you can register as an oral health therapist with the Dental Council of New Zealand.
Your qualification is recognised in Australia.
You could work in:
- District health boards (DHBs)
- Private, general or specialist practice
- Oral health promotion
- Education sector
Find out more about industry trends, job descriptions and what employers may be looking for.
Other undergraduate study options
- Bachelor of Health Science
- Bachelor of Health Science (Midwifery)
- Bachelor of Health Science (Nursing)
- Bachelor of Health Science (Occupational therapy)
- Bachelor of Health Science (Physiotherapy)
- Bachelor of Health Science (Podiatry)
- Bachelor of Business and Bachelor of Health Science in Psychology conjoint programmes
Postgraduate study options
($7,091 - $10,947 tuition fees + $1074 student services levy)
($44,300 tuition fees + $1074 student services levy)
- Fees shown are based on a full-time workload for the points indicated next to the fee. The exact fee charged will depend on which courses you select at the time of enrolment.
- Fees are subject to change year to year. If you are planning for study beyond the current year, fees may vary from those stated.
- There may also be other fees and charges you need to pay.
- International students' tuition fees reflect the full cost of tuition. Domestic students' tuition fees are less due to a proportion of the tuition fees being funded by the New Zealand Government.
- Fees-free study may be available for domestic students
The information on this page was correct at time of publication. For a comprehensive overview of AUT qualifications, please refer to the Academic Calendar.