Honours and Masters Research Areas

Honours and Masters Research at the Melbourne Dental School

The Melbourne Dental School is a research and training-intensive teaching school in the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences. Our internationally recognised scientists undertake multidisciplinary basic science and clinical research.

Our basic science research is largely focused on understanding oral and related systemic diseases at the microbial, immunological and molecular level ‒ with a view to the development of novel, effective, and specific prevention and treatment strategies. Basic science research project themes include: (1) host-microbe interactions, (2) microbiomes, (3) bacterial virulence, (4) oral cancer, (5) vaccine technology, (6) developmental defects, (7) biomaterials for tissue repair and regeneration, and (8) life events and environmental effects on human mineralised tissues.

Our clinical research is focused on understanding the basis of a wide range of oral diseases to enable the development of new technologies and materials and improve clinical practice. We are undertaking research in preventive dentistry, diagnosis and treatment planning, epidemiology and public health, periodontics and implant dentistry. Clinical research project themes include: (1) population oral health promotion, (2) indigenous oral health, (3) cariology, (4) diabetes and periodontitis, and (5) dental implants.

We are passionate about the mentoring and the training of future researchers. Indeed, our mission is to continue to be a world-class, research-based school, providing education of the highest quality. So, if you are also passionate about improving patient health, and have a major in microbiology, immunology, cell biology, biochemistry and molecular biology, chemistry, anatomy, physiology, or materials engineering, we strongly encourage you to join us in the pursuit of knowledge by applying to do Honours or a Masters degree at the Melbourne Dental School.

Working closely with our researchers, Honours and Masters students undertake their project in state-of-the-art research laboratories at the Melbourne Dental School  and Bio21 Institute.

The following degrees each have a supervised research project and an advanced coursework component. Entry to these degrees is based on available projects and student suitability and academic background.

Furthermore, the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences requires the student to have a Weighted Average Mark (WAM) of at least 65. Nearly all students entering Honours at the Melbourne Dental School have a WAM of at least 70. Therefore, meeting the Faculty minimum does not guarantee admission.