Study options
- Starting in
- September 2025
- Location
- Whitechapel
- Fees
- Home: £15,250
Overseas: £29,950
EU/EEA/Swiss students
What you'll study
You’ll follow a structured course of seminars, with practical work, dealing with the structure and behaviour of cells and tissues in health and disease. You’ll begin with fundamental concepts of cell biology and continue with the application of these concepts to oral and dental disease. Related disciplines such as oral microbiology and immunology will also be covered.
Throughout the programme, an emphasis will be placed on the evidence base for these concepts and the way in which such evidence is obtained by observation and experiment.
You’ll join one of our research teams and undertake a laboratory-based research project in the final module of the programme, exploring any aspect of oral disease. We’ll introduce you to experimental design and research, so you’re at the very forefront of innovations in this field.
You’ll gain transferable laboratory skills, in addition to those gained as part of your research project. You’ll learn how to write papers and present them to your peers – and for publication.
Running in parallel with your core programme you’ll be invited to attend seminars within the Blizard, across basic science disciplines, genomics, immunobiology, molecular cell biology and neurosciences.
Please note that for intercalating BDS students, Queen Mary students must apply by 1 February and complete an intercalated application in addition to the MSc application. Following the February deadline for iBSc applications external students are free to continue to apply for MSc degrees via the Postgraduate Taught Course online application process. Find out more about applying for an intercalated degree.
Structure
- Eight compulsory modules
- Research project with a 15,000-word dissertation
Compulsory/Core modules
The module will initially provide students with a introduction to research, including qualitative and quantitative paradigms, methodology, validity and reliability and support them to choose their research projects which are in the areas of their discipline.
This module is divided into two components: research process (including methods and ethics) and basic statistics. Students will learn about the research stages including conducting literature searches, setting research questions, selecting study designs and research methods, drafting research protocols and seeking ethical approval delivered in the form of lectures and practical seminars. The basic statistics component will introduce students to medical statistics and common statistical tests delivered in lectures.
Eukaryotic cell structure. Cytoskeleton. Extracellular Matrix. DNA, RNA to Protein. Transcription & Translation. Cell Receptors and Cell Signalling. Cell cycle.
Antibody Discovery and Applications. Bioinformatics. Cell Culture. Fixation and Processing. Immunocytochemistry. Immunofluorescence. Staining. Molecular Biology. Proteomics. Stereology
Anti-microbial peptides. Structure and function of oral mucosa. Bone pathologies. Cell biology of bone. Cytoskeleton. Desmosomes and cell attachment. Introduction to stem cells. Oral defence mechanisms.
Introduction to pathology. Cell adhesion and migration. Genetics of oral cancer. Mechanisms of cell death. Mendelian inheritance. Hallmarks of cancer. Salivary gland structure, normal and inflamed mucosa.
Introduction to immunology. Immune functions. Cells of the immune system. Mucosal immunology
ELISA. mRNA extraction reverse transcription.PCR. Immunofluorescence staining. SDS PAGE. Western blot. Cell culture. Introduction to microscopy.
Carcinogenesis. Acquisition and metabolism of oral flora. Oral commensal and opportunistic pathogens. Dental plaque. Disease of the salivary gland. Microbiology and periodontal disease. The mouth as a microbial habitat. Oral defence mechanisms. Oral infections. Overview of infectious agents. Pathology of pre cancer. Overview of virulence.
Assessment
- 67% Modules
- 33% Research project
You will be assessed by:
- two written papers
- the submission of your research project
- an oral examination.
Research project
The research project forms a major component of your degree. You’ll write a dissertation of 15,000 words.
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- What was your favourite thing about your degree?
Whilst being a specialised field, the degree provided skills that could be applied to study and investigate any disease, even outside dentistry. I had the opportunity to present my research project at the 2019 BSODR scientific meeting and was awarded the poster prize.
- What did you enjoy most about studying at Queen Mary in London?
The intensity of the course content, and being taught by academics who are world
leading in their respective fields. The support from my project supervisor was
incredible.
- What did you think of the facilities available on our campuses?
The Blizard laboratory where I spent most of the time working on my research
project provided a highly stimulating academic research environment. It is well-equipped with state-of-the-art resources, conveniently located within a short distance from my main workstation. This all-inclusive facility provided easy access to lab equipment which greatly facilitated high efficiency.
- How did your degree help you in your career afterwards?
Being a clinician desiring to shift into translational research, the MSc degree offered
the necessary training and lab skills for pursuing an advanced research degree (PhD).
The degree played a crucial role in the success of my PhD journey, ultimately leading
to securing an entry-level position in the field of drug discovery.
Randy Chance, MSc Experimental Oral Pathology (2019),
PhD student in Immunobiology at Queen Mary University of London
Teaching
You’ll be taught through a variety of methods, including seminars, laboratory practice sessions, self-directed learning, one-to-one tutorials, case presentations and reading.
Your individual study time could be spent preparing for, or following up on, formal study sessions, reading, producing written work, completing projects and revising for examinations.
The direction of your individual study will be guided by the formal study sessions you attend, along with your reading lists and assignments. However, we expect you to demonstrate an active role in your own learning by reading widely and expanding your own knowledge, understanding and critical ability.
You will be assigned an Academic Adviser who will guide you in both academic and pastoral matters throughout your time at Queen Mary.
Where you'll learn
Facilities
New postgraduate study and research facilities are available in the state of the art Blizard building, as well as the Institute of Dentistry, and include:
- 11 dedicated seminar rooms and a student learning centre
- 92 production laboratory spaces
- digital imaging and two cutting-edge cone beam CT machines
- a PC in every operatory with ‘slave screen’ on chair for viewing images and discussing results with patient
- modern facial-scanning equipment
- facilities and services for 72 ‘phantom’ heads.
Campus
Your postgraduate learning experience is enhanced by our fantastic location in Whitechapel, in east London.
Not only are we in one of the capital’s most vibrant areas to live and work but we also serve a diverse local community, with 92 different languages spoken by the borough’s 300,000 residents. You will develop your clinical skills and knowledge while caring for this community. Moreover, the Institute offers you many exciting opportunities to develop an understanding of health and the treatment of disease in a global and international context.
About the Institute
Institute of Dentistry
If you study with us, you will join a dynamic, successful dental school with a first-class reputation: Queen Mary has consistently been ranked in the top 20 in the World for dentistry in the QS World University Rankings by Subject and we were ranked joint first in the country for research environment for dentistry in the most recent national assessment (REF 2021).
The Institute of Dentistry is a special place to undertake your postgraduate studies. We bring together a number of world-leading researchers in basic and clinical sciences who supervise research students in the fields of oral medicine, oral pathology, oral microbiology, oral epidemiology, oncology, dental biomaterials, dental biophysics, dental public health, dental education, periodontology, orthodontics, paediatric, prosthetic and conservative dentistry.
The Institute is based in Whitechapel and offers cutting-edge technology, a superb education and first-class research facilities.
The Institute of Dentistry is part of Queen Mary’s Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry. Queen Mary is part of the University of London and a member of the Russell Group.
Career paths
This MSc provides a thorough grounding in oral pathology, giving your career a significant boost.
You’ll gain the research skills and experience necessary to pursue further academic research at PhD level.
- 100% of Dentistry postgraduate-taught students are in employment or further study (2020/21)
- 100% of Dentistry postgraduate-taught students are in highly skilled work or graduate study (2020/21)
Fees and funding
Full-time study
September 2025 | 1 year
- Home: £15,250
- Overseas: £29,950
EU/EEA/Swiss students
Conditional deposit
Home: £500
Overseas: £2000
Information about deposits
Queen Mary alumni can get a £1000, 10% or 20% discount on their fees depending on the programme of study. Find out more about the Alumni Loyalty Award
Funding
There are a number of ways you can fund your postgraduate degree.
- Scholarships and bursaries
- Postgraduate loans (UK students)
- Country-specific scholarships for international students
Our Advice and Counselling service offers specialist support on financial issues, which you can access as soon as you apply for a place at Queen Mary. Before you apply, you can access our funding guides and advice on managing your money:
Entry requirements
UK
Degree requirements
A 2:2 or above at undergraduate level in a relevant subject such as Medicine, Dentistry, Chemistry or Biology.
Other routes
For intercalating BDS Dentistry students:
- Successfully completed at least three years (360 credits) of the BDS or equivalent dental course (for clinically based masters this must include the equivalent of one year of patient based teaching (in hospital/dental practices/clinics))
- Passed BDS year 3 or 4 exams immediately prior to entry at the first opportunity
- Demonstrate a clear and unequivocal interest in the field by written application and/or interview
Find out more about how to apply for our postgraduate taught courses.
International
English language requirements
The English language requirements for our programmes are indicated by English bands, and therefore the specific test and score acceptable is based on the band assigned to the academic department within which your chosen course of study is administered. Note that for some academic departments there are programmes with non-standard English language requirements.
The English Language requirements for entry to postgraduate taught and research programmes in the Institute of Dentistry fall within either English band 4 or English band 5. This programme requires the following English band:
Band 4: IELTS (Academic) minimum score 6.5 overall with 6.0 in each of Writing, Listening, Reading and Speaking
We accept a range of English tests and qualifications categorised in our English bands for you to demonstrate your level of English Language proficiency. See all accepted English tests that we deem equivalent to these IELTS scores.
Visas and immigration
Find out how to apply for a student visa.