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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Start date: 2023

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

English language requirements

Year 1

Semester 1

You study a number of courses to prepare for academic study and the field of health sciences.

Semester 1 courses

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

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

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

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

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
Oral-Health-A4-21-10-15.jpg

Find out more about industry trends, job descriptions and what employers may be looking for.

Oral Health Careers

Quick facts
Programme code:
AK3113
Level:
7
Points:
360
Duration:
3 years full-time
Campus:
North Campus
Starts:
27 Feb 2023
Fees
Domestic
$7,835 - $11,588 (for 120 points)
($6,901 - $10,654 tuition fees + $934 student services levy)
International
$44,334 (for 120 points)
($43,400 tuition fees + $934 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

Scholarships at AUT

Kathleen Oneroa
Ellen Johnson
Roanne Horne
Kathleen Oneroa
Great graduatesKathleen Oneroa Senior Oral Health Therapist, Auckland Regional Dental Service (ARDS) / Oral Health Therapist, WM DentalBachelor of Health Science (Oral Health)Being able to work with patients at AUT’s on-campus oral health clinic was one of the highlights of her studies, says oral health alumna Kathleen Oneroa.Being able to work with patients at AUT’s on-campus oral health clinic was one of the highlights of her studies, says Kathleen Oneroa. After graduating from AUT in 2017, Kathleen is now working as the senior oral health therapist for the Auckland Regional Dental Service (ARDS) in the centralised booking team, as well as an oral health therapist at WM Dental.
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Ellen Johnson
Great graduatesEllen JohnsonOral Health Therapist, Downtown DentalBachelor of Health Science (Oral Health)The people are what she loves most about having a career in oral health, says health sciences alumna Ellen Johnson who is now working at Downtown Dental.The people are what she loves most about having a career in oral health, says health sciences alumna Ellen Johnson who is now an oral health therapist at Downtown Dental. Ellen first realised that a career in oral health was a good fit for her when she was working as an assistant in a dental practice while raising her young daughter.
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Roanne Horne
Great graduatesRoanne HorneOral Health Therapist, Lumino PonsonbyBachelor of Health Science (Oral Health)Being an oral health therapist isn’t just about ‘cleaning teeth’, says AUT oral health alumna Roanne Horne who is currently working at Lumino Ponsonby.Being an oral health therapist isn’t just about ‘cleaning teeth’, says AUT oral health alumna Roanne Horne who now works at Lumino Ponsonby. Roanne discovered her passion for oral health while completing an introductory certificate at AUT that gave her insight into the different health science study options. Her success as an oral health therapist is a credit to the world-class training she received at AUT, Roanne says.
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The information on this page was correct at time of publication. For a comprehensive overview of AUT qualifications, please refer to the Academic Calendar.

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