About us
The University is ranked first in Australia and fifth in the world for graduate employability in the QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2022.
Find out more.The University has been providing education, training and research to oral health and dentistry students for over 100 years.
Find out more.
In response to COVID-19, the University of Sydney has reviewed the availability of courses to be delivered remotely for students commencing their studies in 2021 and 2022.
Students commencing this course in 2021 and 2022 are required to commence their studies in-person on campus. Remote study is not available for this course. Applicants will be eligible for admission only if they are able to demonstrate they are physically present in Australia on the date specified in the offer made to them by the University.
About this course
The Graduate Diploma in Clinical Dentistry (Conscious Sedation and Pain Control) offers study in the practice of sedation, differential diagnosis of collapse, and advanced life support. Conducted over two years part-time, this diploma will upgrade your skills and clinical techniques as a general dental practitioner.
The course provides the opportunity to acquire knowledge and develop skills in the growing field of conscious sedation and pain control, cultivating expertise for general practitioners in safe sedation techniques.
The University of Sydney School of Dentistry has been educating dental practitioners for more than 100 years. Our programs are clinically focused, patient centred and evidence based.
You will learn from expert dental professionals and researchers and have access to the latest technology, facilities and teaching laboratories, so you can develop your manual dexterity skills and improve your confidence to perform specialist dental procedures.
There are no specialisations for this course.
For academic requirements check the ‘Admission criteria’ section on this page.
You can apply online via the application portal. When you are ready to apply, select the ‘Apply’ button on this course page. Visit the How to apply page for other important information.
Application dates
Applications open - 1 September, 2 years prior to the commencement year
Applications close - 31 March of the preceding year
We strongly encourage applicants to apply as early as possible, as places are limited. Separate scholarship deadlines apply - check the scholarships website for details.
Semester 1 (February)
A successful applicant for admission to the Graduate Diploma in Clinical Dentistry (Conscious Sedation and Pain Control) will hold a Bachelor of Dentistry, Doctor of Dental Medicine or Bachelor of Dental Surgery from the University of Sydney or equivalent institution; or an equivalent qualification that is recognised by the Australian Dental Board (Limited Registration for postgraduate training/supervised practice) and with a curriculum acceptable to the school.
Applicants must demonstrate commitment to the particular specialty that they are applying for, such as through participation in short courses or continuing education programs aligned to that particular specialty. In addition to these criteria, admission to this course requires:
All applications will be ranked according to academic merit after the application closing date. Successfully ranked applicants will be invited to participate in an interview with the Sydney Dental School. Some specialist programs also require applicants to sit an examination as a component of the admission process.
English Requirements
Sydney School of Dentistry requires all applicants to meet one of the following criteria by the application closing date due to registration requirements and limited places, and complete a declaration form to evidence:
i. Current AHPRA registration as a dental practitioner or;
ii. Successful completion of requisite secondary and tertiary study requirements undertaken in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, USA, UK, South Africa or Republic of Ireland as specified by AHPRA (Registration Standards, Dental Board of Australia) or;
iii. Successful completion of English language proficiency tests and achieved at least the minimum score required.
To assist students to make informed choices about their study, we have identified and set out the Inherent Requirements for coursework award courses in dentistry.
The University of Sydney welcomes and encourages applications from students with disabilities, and from diverse social and cultural backgrounds. Where there are physical, intellectual, cultural, religious or other factors that impact on a student's ability to meet the Inherent Requirements, the University will make reasonable adjustments to assist the student to meet the requirements. Please read the Inherent Requirements carefully as you consider your course choices.
For more information about the University’s credit policy, please see the Credit for Previous Studies page.
Please note the Sydney Dental School regularly reviews the admission criteria and application processes for its courses. It reserves the right to change these criteria and processes without notice. Information on this website provides advice about the currently applicable criteria and processes, and may not be correct for future application periods.
Applications for the deferral of enrolment following an offer of a place in this course will only be considered under exceptional circumstances, and require the approval of the PG Course Coordinator.
Transfer of enrolment between dental schools or from a medical program is not possible due to our unique units of study, continuous long learning and assessment in dentistry at the University of Sydney. All students must apply through the standard admission pathway.
International applicants and students who change from international to domestic status are advised to refer to clause 39 of the University’s Coursework Policy 2014.
The Sydney Dental School reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to vary or cancel an offer of admission if your conduct prior to enrolment causes the school to form the view that you are unsuitable for admission to its programs.
Examples of conduct that might make you unsuitable for admission to Sydney Dental School programs include (but are not limited to):
The program is suitable for local dental graduates wishing to upgrade skills in pain management for general dental practice.
Karen Such, Acting Command Health Officer at the Australian Army.
"The University of Sydney is the only university in Australia which offers the Diploma in Conscious Sedation and Pain Control for dentists and it has been popular with military dentists due to there being a number of Reserve military dentists involved in running the course over the years"
