Doctoral (PhD) Periodontology

PhD in Medical Sciences (Periodontology) is offered for post-DDS/DMD applicants. The time required to complete the PhD will vary according to the previous training of the applicant and the nature of the research undertaken; however, a minimum of six years is required with six to seven years being the expected norm.

Application Information
  • Applications accepted from May 1 to September 1 the year preceding admission.

  • It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that all required documents are received by the application deadline noted above or the application will not be considered for admission. 

  • Once you submit and pay for your application, your referees will receive a notice from the online application system requesting that their reference be submitted within two weeks of receiving the request. 

  • Once you submit and pay for your application, you can use the GSMS Portal (Not Bear Tracks) to check the status of your application, determine if references have been received, replace referees, and upload documents. To access the portal, please sign in using the e-mail address and password initially used when you created your account.

Admission Requirements

  • Completion of a DDS or equivalent degree is required, with a grade point average of at least 3.0 (or equivalent qualification) in the last 60 units of course weight of their dental program.

  • A master’s degree or demonstratable equivalency is required, but does not guarantee acceptance into the PhD program.

  • Completion of at least one year of experience as a licensed dentist prior to the start of the program is preferred but not required.

  • Although a current Albertan dental license is not a requirement to apply, preference may be given to candidates who have successfully completed the National Dental Examining Board of Canada's (NDEB) Certification Process.

  • Complete a required personal interview if short-listed. Those applicants will be advised of the arranged interview time by e-mail.
  • Notes:

    • Applicants to the PhD Periodontology program must identify a willing faculty supervisor, a potential thesis topic, and potential funding prior to submission of your application. Please use the Faculty Member Listing to contact those in which you have common research interests in order to secure a supervisor. Please note that it is beneficial to include a research proposal when contacting individual faculty members.  Once you have confirmed a Supervisor, you are required to complete the Applicant/Supervisor Checklist and submit this as part of your application. Please note that this form requires the signature of your confirmed supervisor.

    • Students enrolled in the PhD in Periodontology program will not have the option of transferring to the MSc in Periodontology program, but they could transfer to the MSc in Dentistry as an option without Periodontology clinical training. 

    • Most of the research will be completed and the student has to pass the PhD candidacy examination before starting the clinical training component. The thesis supervisory committee may determine what additional milestones will need to be met prior to beginning the clinical portion of the program.

English Language Proficiency (ELP)

  • All applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency prior to admission either by:

    • Possession of an undergraduate degree or its academic equivalent from an academic institution recognized by the University of Alberta, in which the language of instruction is English.

    • A satisfactory score on an approved English language examination as described below.

      • TOEFL internet-based minimum score of 95 and the following minimum score on each of the individual skill areas: Listening 22, Reading 22, Speaking 26, Writing 24.

      • MELAB Minimum score of 91

      • IELTS (Academic) minimum score of 7.5 with at least 7 on each band

      • CAEL minimum score of 80 with at least 70 on each subtest

  • For application purposes, unofficial test results may be submitted.  If admitted to the program, official standardized test results must be issued directly from the testing office. Test scores must be valid and verifiable.

  • For ELP exempt countries and institutions click here.

Application Documentation Required

  • Applicants should submit supporting documents though the online portal.

  • Required application documents:

    • Unofficial transcripts of all academic work in progress or completed at all post-secondary institutions attended. Specific requirements can be found here. Documents that are not in English must be accompanied by a notarized English translation.

    • A Degree Certificate must accompany transcripts that do not clearly indicate that a degree has been conferred/awarded/granted; and the date on which the degree was conferred. Degree certificates must include the date of conferral, the registrar's signature, and a post-secondary institution stamp or seal. Documents that are not in English must be accompanied by a notarized English translation.

    • A letter from your Dental School noting your graduation ranking (it should include the number of students in your graduating class and your ranking within the class) is expected if available. Stronger consideration may be given to those that provide such ranking.

    • Proof of English Language Proficiency.

    • The recommendation letters, as well as the names and contact information of three referees, before the stated due date.

    • Your curriculum vitae (resume) which includes education, qualifications, publications, community involvement, and previous professional and research experience

    • Letter of intent - (Describe why you wish to pursue graduate studies at the University of Alberta).

    • A completed and signed Applicant/Supervisor Checklist

  • If offered admission to the program, Official documents (transcripts, degree certificates, etc.) may be required upon receiving the conditional offer of admission letter. Documents must be sent directly from the post-secondary institution to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research office.

  • If offered admission to the program, an Education and Research license is required from Alberta Dental Association and College (ADA&C). This documentation is due by August 1 prior to starting the program in the fall term. Candidates who already possess a full license from the ADA&C do not need to obtain additional licensure.

Helpful Links

Selection Process

  • Applications for the PhD in Medical Sciences (Periodontology) will be reviewed by all full- and part-time faculty members of the Periodontology Graduate program. Suitable candidates will be invited to interview.

  • The interview committee may include full- and part-time Periodontology Academic faculty, a Periodontology Graduate student, Affiliate Academic staff and a representative from the School of Dentistry Graduate Studies Committee.

  • Interviewed candidates (also including the MSc interviewed applicants) will be ranked and offers of admission made. If determined eligible for admission, the candidate will be offered a second interview with the Department of Dentistry Graduate Studies subcommittee. This subcommittee has to also support admission.

  • Admission to the PhD in Medical Sciences (Periodontology) is dependent upon the recommendation of the Graduate Periodontology Program Admission SubCommittee, Department of Dentistry Graduate Studies subcommittee and the Medical Sciences Graduate Program Committee. The FGSR makes the final decision.

Fees

  • Candidates should be prepared to support themselves for the duration of their selected program, although funding from scholarships and studentships may be obtained on a competitive basis.

  • A cost-recovery clinical operation fee of $9,767/year (every year that the student is registered in the program) and an equipment and an instrument-rental fee of $12,023/year (only when registered in the clinical courses) are required in addition to regular instructional and non-instructional fees which can be accessed here.

  • Additional certification fees and equipment purchase will apply for the following:

    • IV sedation (two-drug) certification cost (facilitated in conjunction with the UofA School of Dentistry Continuing Education department) 

    • Registration with the Alberta Dental Association and College 

    • CPR Training annually

    • Camera and Laptop Purchase

    • Dental Loupe costs

    • Conference-related costs

*Please note that all fees are subject to change. This is a cost-recovery program and therefore both International and Domestic students pay the same program fee per year.

Program

Curriculum 

*PhD students begin the clinical portion of the program after they have completed their Candidacy examination.  Successful completion of the Candidacy examination is required within three years of  the start date of the program. 

Completion of the following courses is required:

  • DENT 542 (Research Methodology)

  • DENT 635, 636 (Seminars in Oral Health Sciences)

  • DENT 510, 511,517, 610, 611, 617, 710, 711, 717 (Periodontology Clinics)

  • DENT 560, 561 (TMD/Orofacial Pain Seminars)

  • DENT 565 (Evidence-Based Dentistry)

  • DENT 567, 568 (Systematic Reviews in Dentistry)

  • DENT 575, 576, 577, 675, 676, 677, 775, 776, 777 (Periodontology Fundamentals)

  • DENT 578, 579, 580, 678, 679, 680, 778, 779, 780 (Impantology Fundamentals)

  • DENT 581, 582, 583, 681, 682, 683, 781, 782, 783 (Periodontology Seminars)

  • DENT 607 (Advanced Oral Radiology)

  • DENT 674 (Advanced Oral Pathology)

  • DENT 551 (Introduction to Applied Statistics)

  • OBIOL 500 (Oral Biology I)

  • OBIOL 501 (Oral Biology II)

  • More courses may be taken over and above what is required for the program based on requirements set by the supervising committee. Any courses being taken over and above what is required for the program should be registered for with the assistance of the Graduate Program Administrator. 

Clinical Assessments

  • Oral assessments are completed during the clinical training. Full-time academic staff will assess diagnosis and treatment planning skills. Feedback from this assessment will serve to identify weak areas in the student's progress that will permit the development of specific improvement objectives before the next annual assessment. Failure to overcome the limitations will require the student to extend their program or may imply a failing grade in the clinical course(s).

  • NOTE: The maximum time permitted to complete the program as set by the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research is six years. Students are required to reside in Edmonton for the entirety of their Clinical training.  Residency for the remainder of the program is dependent on discussions with your Supervisor, requirements of research, and course offerings. Oral examinations may be required to be in-person. 

Research

  • Students are required to complete research, usually within the established research focus of the program, and to complete a paper format thesis. Students should have their research results ready to submit to peer reviewed journals for publication. It is anticipated that all student research projects will result in publication. Students may also have an opportunity to present their research results at an international scientific meeting prior to completion of the program.