Bachelor of Health Science (Oral Health)
Oral health is vital for our general health. By successfully completing this oral health degree you’ll become a dual-trained oral health practitioner.
If you successfully complete the Bachelor of Health Science (Oral Health) you can register as a dental hygienist and a dental therapist with the Dental Council of New Zealand. Graduates provide oral health services to people of all ages within the dental hygiene scope and to young people 0-18 years of age in the dental therapy scope.
You gain experience in our oral health simulation laboratory, and clinical experience at AUT’s on-campus oral health clinic and Auckland Regional Dental Service (ARDS) clinics. You also work on oral health promotion projects in communities around Auckland and gain valuable workplace experience in the field of oral health.
Start date: 2019
- Download Health Sciences programme brochure [PDF, 5.1 MB]
Minimum entry requirements
- University Entrance or equivalent
- Must be capable of meeting Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act (HPCA Act) requirements and Vulnerable Children’s Act (VCA Act) including police clearance
- Applicants with two or more years of secondary and/or tertiary education outside New Zealand must meet IELTS requirements and may be interviewed
Selection criteria
- Preference will be given to applicants with the highest level of academic achievement and/or evidence of accomplishments in the relevant field
- Interview may be required
- 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
English language requirements
- IELTS (Academic) 7.0 overall with all bands 6.5 or higher
Year 1
Assessment and treatment of patients in the AIH (Akoranga Integrated Health) Oral Health clinics starts from week seven of Semester 1 and in Auckland Regional Dental Service (ARDS) clinics in Semester 2. You explore health research methods, and will implement the oral health promotion project planned in Year 1. You could also visit communities with oral health education messages.
Semester 1 papers
- HEAL504 Lifespan Development and Communication
- HEAL505 Human Anatomy and Physiology I
- HEAL506 Knowledge, Enquiry and Communication
- HEAL507 Health and Environment OR MAOH501 Māori Health, Development and Environment
Semester 2 papers
- HEAL609 Human Anatomy and Physiology II
- ORAH501 Introduction to Oral Health Practice
- ORAH601 Oral Health Promotion
Year 2
Complete the following papers
- 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 papers as well as papers focused on health law and professional practice and ethics. You also complete a 15-point elective paper so you can pursue an area of interest.
Complete the following papers
- HLAW701 Health Law and Policy
- HEAL708 Professional Practice and Ethics
- ORAH704 Oral Health II
- ORAH705 Oral Health III
You will also be required to undertake a 15-point elective paper that allows you to pursue an area of interest.
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 papers
If you're interested in a career with a Māori development perspective select the following papers as electives or as an alternative course of study
- MAOH501 Māori Health, Development and Environment (instead of HEAL507 Health and Environment)
- MAOH701 Māori Health Promotion
- MAOH702 Applied Primary Māori Mental Health
- HEAL710 Utilising Supervision in Practice
We will 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 a dental hygienist and a dental 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.
25 Feb 2019
- The tuition fee for a year of full-time study varies depending on your course of study and the combination of papers you study within your qualification. Estimates given are based on paper selection of previous student enrolments within each qualification. Your exact fees will be calculated at the time of invoicing.
- The tuition fee for a year of full-time study varies depending on your course of study and the combination of papers you study within your qualification. Estimates given are based on paper selection of previous student enrolments within each qualification. Your exact fees will be calculated at the time of invoicing.
The information on this page was correct at time of publication. For a comprehensive overview of AUT qualifications, please refer to the Academic Calendar.