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Schulich Dental Clinician Scientist students in lab

Dental Clinician Scientist (DCS) Program

This rigorous and expansive program prepares accomplished learners for academic careers in oral health research.

Dental Clinician Scientist (DCS) Program

This rigorous and expansive program prepares accomplished learners for academic careers in oral health research.

Schulich Dental Clinician Scientist students in lab

Dental Clinician Scientist (DCS) Program

This rigorous and expansive program prepares accomplished learners for academic careers in oral health research.

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About the program

Apply now Admission requirements
Our joint degree program consists of a PhD in a dentistry-relevant area of research followed by a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree. The program targets exceptional candidates aiming to become productive clinician-scientists in dental research or academic dentistry. You must hold an honours or master's degree to ensure sufficient academic training and research experience. Canadian citizens or learners with Canadian Permanent Residency status will be considered for admission.
PhD/DDS
4-7 years
Research-focused
Full-time
Combined degree

Who’s eligible

Read more

Academic background

Honours bachelor’s or a master’s degree (shows strong academics + some research).

Status

Canadian citizens or Canadian permanent residents only.

Fit with Western

External applicants

Before you apply

You must meet one of these in the year you apply:

  • Already started PhD studies*, or

  • Applied to a PhD program with a start date of September of the following year or earlier, or

  • Have an offer/acceptance to a PhD program with a start date of September of the following year or earlier.
    *If your target program doesn’t offer direct-entry PhD, you’ll start in an MSc.

Also:

  • Your research must be conducted at Western and be relevant to dentistry.

  • This is a joint sequence: PhD first, then DDS.

What to submit

DDS application

DCS-specific materials (send to the Dentistry Admissions Coordinator)

  • One-page research summary (with proposed/actual supervisor; describe project + relevance to dentistry; supervisor must be SGPS member with PhD-supervisory status).

  • One-page personal statement (career goals; why DCS; research interests & accomplishments).

  • CV (awards, research experience, publications—abstracts or full papers if applicable).

  • Two confidential reference letters (highlight research aptitude; referees send directly to admissions.dentistry@schulich.uwo.ca).

All DCS candidates who meet acceptable academic and non-academic admissions requirements for admission to the DDS program will receive an invitation to interview as part of the DDS interview process. Concurrently, DCS candidates will be interviewed by the Dentistry Research Committee (the Chair of the Dental Admissions Committee will be a member of the Research Committee for this meeting).  The Research Committee will assess the suitability of the candidates and the relevance of their projects as preparation for a career in academic dentistry and/or oral-health research.

The principal criteria for assessment of the candidate will be
(a) demonstrated evidence of superior academic achievement,
(b) demonstrated or potential research excellence and
(c) aptitude and motivation for a career in academic dentistry. 

Up to two candidates will be accepted into the DCS program.  Candidates whose PhD applications have not been approved by the graduate program and SGPS by the time of the Research Committee meeting will not be considered.

Should a candidate be found acceptable for the DDS program but not for the DCS program, a position in the DDS class will be offered, entering in September. However, students accepted into the DCS program will not have an option to enter the DDS program immediately.

*In the case of graduate programs that do not have a direct-entry PhD program, DCS candidates will initially be registered for an MSc degree.

PhD component

  • Expected completion: within 4 years (possible extension up to 2 more years under extenuating circumstances, with approvals).

  • To start DDS: all PhD requirements must be completed by June 30 of that year, including thesis exam & oral defense (SGPS deems a defense successful only if remaining minor corrections take < 2 weeks).

  • Admission into DDS is contingent on successful PhD completion.

DDS component

  • You’ll have a mentorship committee (includes the Director of Dentistry); meets at least annually to support your clinician-scientist pathway.

  • You’re expected to stay active in research (e.g., summer research programs).

Students interested in the DCS program and applying from universities other than Western University should explore research opportunities at Western by contacting the Assistant Director of Research-Dentistry, and the graduate program in which they might conduct their research. In addition students are expected to visit Western University after making initial enquiries. Candidates who start their planning well in advance of the application deadline have the opportunity to make scholarship applications (e.g. the Ontario Graduate Scholarship) through their (proposed) graduate program.

Have questions? Connect with us!

Contact us for more information on the program or get your questions answered.

Admissions Office
admissions.dentistry@schulich.uwo.ca
Dentistry Research
dentistry.research@schulich.uwo.ca
Email Dentistry Research

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