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 clinic 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
If you have New Zealand qualifications
- 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 Art History, Classical Studies, Drama, English, Geography, Health Education, History, 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.
If you have qualifications from another country
See entry requirements for students from other countries. Select your country from the dropdown menu.
Overseas dental qualifications don't provide any Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) towards AUT's Bachelor of Health Science (Oral Health) in New Zealand. This is because dental degrees vary significantly between countries in terms of curriculum, clinical training and regulatory requirements.
Useful New Zealand school subjects
Biology, Art History, Classical Studies, Drama, Design and Visual Communication, English, Geography, Health Education, History, Media Studies, Painting, Social Studies, Technology, Te Reo Māori, Te Reo Rangatira
English language requirements
- IELTS (Academic) 7.0 overall with all bands 6.5 or higher
Year 1
Semester 1 courses
- HEAL504 Lifespan Development and Communication (15 points)
- HEAL505 Human Anatomy and Physiology I (15 points)
- HEAL506 Knowledge, Enquiry and Communication (15 points)
- HEAL507 Health and Environment (15 points) OR MAOH501 Hauora Māori (15 points)
In the first semester all students study the same four courses (HEAL504, HEAL505, HEAL506 and HEAL507) to help you develop an in-depth understanding of general healthcare, learning alongside other health science students. You can study these four courses at the North Campus, South Campus or online.
Instead of the course HEAL507 Health and Environment you can also study MAOH501 Hauora Māori and Environment, but do note that this is an on-campus course at the North or South Campus, and you’ll have to attend your classes in person.
Semester 2 courses
- HEAL609 Human Anatomy and Physiology II (15 points)
- ORAH501 Introduction to Oral Health Practice (30 points)
- ORAH601 Oral Health Promotion (15 points)
In your second semester, 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 with the community, including an education programme that you plan, evaluate, resource and implement.
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 Niho Ora ki Manukau (Oral Health Manukau) clinic at AUT and the wider Aotearoa New Zealand community start in Semester 2.
Full-year courses
- ORAH602 Oral Health I (30 points)
- ORAH603 Oral Biology and Pathology (30 points)
- ORAH604 Oral Health Assessment (30 points)
Semester 1 course
Semester 2 course
Year 3
You complete your pre-clinical training and start to do 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 prepare you for your career, you'll study oral health courses as well as courses focused on health law and professional practice and ethics.
Semester 1 courses
And one of
- MAOH600 Te Korowai Oranga - Uplifting Māori Health (15 points)
- MAOH602 Te Pūtake o te Waiora (15 points)
- PSYC602 Social Psychology (15 points)
- MAOH701 Māori Health Promotion (15 points)
- MAOH702 Applied Primary Māori Mental Healt (15 points)
- HIST690 Te Tiriti O Waitangi: The Treaty of Waitangi (15 points)
Or any other bachelor’s degree course with approval of the programme leader.
Semester 2 courses
Workplace experience in the oral health degree
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.
Want more info about work integrated learning at AUT?
Read more about workplace experience in AUT programmes, how it works and why it’s so beneficial when you start your career.
Workplace experience in AUT programmes
Study planner for this programme
Download our study planner to see what your studies could look like in the Bachelor of Health Science (Oral Health).
Bachelor of Health Science (Oral Health) study planner
Ready to enrol in your courses?
Find out how you can enrol in the courses and classes for your programme, whether you’ve just joined AUT as a new student or you’re already studying with us. If you’re looking for a course timetable or more info on a specific course use our course search.
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.
What is an oral health therapist?
Oral health therapists provide:
- Preventative and restorative care for children and adolescents
- Periodontal care for adults
You could work in:
- District health boards (DHBs)
- Private, general or specialist practice
- Oral health promotion
- Education sector
Oral health therapists are different from dentists
While oral health therapists work closely with dentists, the two professions are different.
Dentists cover a wider range of clinical services that include cariology and prosthodontics, periodontics, endodontics, paediatric dentistry, orthodontics, oral medicine, oral surgery or oral pathology. If you want to work as a dentist in New Zealand, the primary pathway is to complete a Bachelor of Dental Surgery at the University of Otago.
How to become an oral health therapist
To work as an oral health therapist in New Zealand you need to:
- Complete an oral health degree like the Bachelor of Health Science (Oral Health) at AUT
- Register with the Dental Council of New Zealand
- Hold an Annual Practising Certificate
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
($7,726 - $11,929 tuition fees + $1,192 student services levy)
($47,000 tuition fees + $1,192 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.