Rank thresholdATAR: 75 SR: 75
Duration3 years full-time
Location
Rockhampton
Next start termTerm 1, 2025
Study modeOn Campus
Course codeCB29
First-year fee
$12,248 (Indicative) (CSP)
Students practicing oral health on dummies

Overview

CQUniversity’s Bachelor of Oral Health equips you with the skills and knowledge to perform preventive and operative dentistry for patients across the lifespan. You will learn from experienced practitioners and benefit from hands-on experience treating real patients in CQUni's oral health simulation labs, Rockhampton Health Clinic or at various external clinical placement sites. You will graduate with a wide scope of practice, capable of working with children and adults, and will be eligible to apply to the Dental Board of Australia for registration as an Oral Health Therapist. Registered graduates of this course are highly sought after in Queensland and in other states in the public and private sectors.

Completing the Bachelor of Oral Health at CQUniversity enables you to apply to the Dental Board of Australia for registration as an Oral Health Therapist.

Designed to equip you with a broad skill set, the course ensures you graduate work-ready. You will develop skills to effectively perform preventive and operative dentistry for patients and provide specialist dental practices. In addition, your education and training will provide you with underpinning industry knowledge so you can educate and promote oral health in small group and community settings.

The course has a strong focus on work-integrated learning in pre-clinical and clinical settings such as our purpose-fit oral health laboratory and dental clinic at CQUniversity Rockhampton. This allows you to gain valuable practical experience whilst also increasing your employability. Oral health can be a diverse and rewarding career. During your studies, you will benefit from learning alongside students in other health courses in facilities such as CQUniversity's Allied Health Clinic. To apply for general registration as a dental practitioner, please visit the Dental Board of Australia website.

Study experience

  • CQU student Loran Ware walks on campus in Rockhampton.
    CQU has so many facilities, like the oral health clinic and you can actually see real patients instead of just working on each other.

    Loran Ware

    STEPS, Bachelor of Oral Health

Career Opportunities

Upon completion of the Bachelor of Oral Health you will be eligible to apply for registration to work in general and specialist dental practices within Australia as an Oral Health Therapist. You will be able to perform preventive and operative dentistry for patients across the lifespan. You will also be equipped to educate and promote oral health in small group and community settings.

Structure & Availability

Course structure

You are required to complete 20 core units.

Unit information

For information on the units, you could study as part of this course, visit the Handbook and select the "Course Structure" tab.

Credit transfer information

If you have already completed study relevant to the course you have enrolled in, you may be eligible for credit transfer.

On-Campus Availability

IntakeLocations
Term 1, 2023Rockhampton
Term 1, 2024Rockhampton
Term 1, 2025Rockhampton

Application for Term 1, 2024, are closed

Please note for Term 1, 2024, this course has early closing dates, as follows:

  • Direct applications (STEPS) closed Friday, 8 December 2023
  • Applications via QTAC closed Thursday, 18 January 2024.

Majors and minors are not applicable to this course.

Students studying via Mixed Mode in non-oral health units may be required to attend residential schools.
Introduction to Oral Health Therapy - ORAL11001

Work-based learning takes place in the oral health simulation laboratory (up to 3 hours per week) and oral health clinics on campus 6 x 3 hour sessions per term.

Introduction to Oral Disease - ORAL11003

Work-based learning takes place in the oral health simulation laboratory and/or the oral health clinics on campus for up to 2 x 3 hour sessions per term.

Introduction to Oral Health Practice - ORAL11006

Work-based learning takes place in the oral health simulation laboratory for 2 x 3 hour sessions, per week, per term and the oral health clinic on campus for up to 36 hours per term.

Oral Health Pre Clinical Practice 1 - ORAL12002

Work-based learning takes place in the oral health simulation laboratory on campus for 2 x 3 hour sessions per week per term.

Oral Health Clinical Practice 1 - ORAL12003

Work-based learning takes place in the oral health clinics on campus 2 x 3-hour sessions per week per term.

Advanced Oral Health Practice - ORAL12004

Work-based learning takes place in the oral health simulation laboratory and oral health clinics on campus over 5 days per term.

Paediatric Dentistry for the Oral Health Therapist - ORAL12005

Work-based learning takes place in the oral health simulation laboratory on campus for 2 x 3 hour sessions per week per term.

Oral Health Clinical Practice 2 - ORAL12006

Work-based learning takes place in the oral health clinics on campus 4 x 3-hour sessions per week per term.

Oral Health Clinical Placement 1 - ORAL13001

Work-based learning takes place in a variety of settings 4-5 days per week per term. This includes general dental practices, specialist dental practices, school dental clinics, oral health clinics on campus and residential care facilities. These clinical placements may be in Central Queensland, in other areas of Queensland and in other states and territories of Australia.

Oral Health Clinical Placement 2 - ORAL13002

Work-based learning takes place in a variety of settings 4-5 days per week per the term. This includes general dental practices, specialist dental practices, school dental clinics, oral health clinics on campus and residential care facilities. These clinical placements may be in Central Queensland, in other areas of Queensland and in other states and territories of Australia.

You are required to undertake a minimum of 1000 hours of clinical placement. The Bachelor of Oral Health course involves extensive training in a clinical environment, initially using simulator technologies before progressing to full-time clinical placements in an oral health environment. Students should be prepared in their final year of study to spend four days per week in full-time clinical placements as part of the course requirements.

Requirements

Rank Threshold

A rank threshold is the minimum competitive rank that applications will be considered for entry to this course.

The rank threshold for this course is: SR 75.00 | ATAR 75.00

Lowest Ranks

The lowest selection rank refers to the lowest rank to which an offer was made for an intake or term and includes adjustment factors applied to an applicant's ATAR, such as the Regional Adjustment Scheme and Educational Access Scheme. The lowest selection rank listed below can be helpful as a historical guide of past performance. An ATAR with adjustment factors applied is referred to as a selection rank (SR).

Term 1, 2024 lowest selection rank (includes adjustment factors): SR 97.25

Entry to courses is competitive, and the lowest score (ATAR or selection rank) will vary from year to year and from campus to campus.

Student profile

If you would like to know more about entry scores and the student profile for this course view our Course and Entry Score Profile for Term 1, 2023.

Institute profile

To find out about CQUniversity's Undergraduate Profile for Term 1, 2023 view our Institute Profile.

Recommended study

English, Science, Mathematics or equivalent

Prerequisites

English (Units 3 and 4, C); one of Biology, Chemistry or Physics (Units 3 and 4, C)

Dental Board of Australia Requirements

Student health care workers who will be performing exposure prone procedures (EPP) must be tested for blood-borne viruses (BBV) in accordance with the Dental Board of Australia's Guidelines for Registered health practitioners and students in relation to blood-borne viruses (6 July 2020). These guidelines require students to be aware of their BBV status and undertake testing at or before entry to the course.

Students who are successfully admitted to the course will be emailed explaining the national guidelines, their responsibilities as healthcare workers, the mandatory BBV screening and steps to complete their EPP Student Declaration.

Entry Requirements

English (Units 3 & 4, C) or equivalent; one of Biology, Chemistry or Physics (Units 3 & 4, C) or equivalent

English Language Proficiency Requirements

If you were not born in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Ireland, South Africa or United States of America, you are required to meet the English Language Proficiency requirements set by the University.

Applicants are required to provide evidence of completion with the last 5 years of:

  • A secondary qualification (Year 11 and 12, or equivalent), or
  • Bachelor level qualification study for a period of at least 2 years fulltime with a minimum overall GPA 4.0

completed within Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, South Africa, Ireland, or United States of America, which will meet the English proficiency.

If you do not satisfy any of the above, you will need to undertake an English language proficiency test and achieve the following scores:

  • An International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic) overall band score of at least 7.0 with a minimum 7.0 in each subset; or
  • An Occupational English Test with Grades A or B only in each of the four components.

English test results remain valid for no more than two years between final examination date and the date of commencement of study, and must appear on a single result certificate.

International Students should visit http://www.cqu.edu.au/international for further information.

Each student will be assessed individually.

Effective 25 September 2023, updates have been made to the COVID-19 vaccination mandate for Queensland Health sites and the Queensland Ambulance Service. While Queensland Health does not currently mandate evidence of COVID-19 vaccination, it's essential to recognise that other organisations may enforce their own vaccination specific criteria. This situation is similar across other states and territories, with the exception of Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia, where COVID-19 vaccination is mandatory for all healthcare students.    

Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) placements apply to this course and as such are subject to compulsory pre-placement conditions referred to as mandatory checks and are outlined in the health, security and other compulsory requirements sections. Mandatory checks are determined by industry, organisations, legislation, regulations, policies, and procedures. To be eligible for a WIL placement, students must first achieve compliance with mandatory checks by each closing date prior to a WIL placement and maintain current evidence for the duration of the course.

Mandatory health requirements include immunisation and vaccination evidence (and serology where required) to the following diseases: Hepatitis B, Measles, Mumps and Rubella, Varicella, Pertussis, Influenza, Blood Borne Virus and Tuberculosis screening. Respirator mask fit testing is also an annual requirement for this course.

Mandatory security requirements include an Australian Federal Police clearance and working with children check.

Other mandatory requirements include a First Aid and CPR certificate, student agreement to privacy and confidentiality, fitness to participate in WIL student declaration, jurisdictional and site-specific compulsory requirements, and other training modules.

You will have to meet this course's inherent requirements by demonstrating essential skills and attributes.

Fees & Scholarships

2024 Indicative Fees

Fee TypeFees
Commonwealth Supported Place – Indicative First Year Fee$12,248
Domestic Full Fee Paying – Indicative First Year Fee$40,708.50

Indicative first-year fee

The fees listed are indicative only and based on enrolling in a full-time study load for one academic year (generally, this is eight units over two terms) for a Commonwealth Supported Place. Your fees may vary depending on the units you select and the number you study per term. Fees are reviewed annually and are subject to change. Understanding your fees

Commonwealth support and government assistance loans

Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs) are subsidised by the Australian Government, meaning you are only required to pay the student contribution rather than full tuition fees if you meet eligibility requirements. If offered a CSP, you may be eligible for a HECS-HELP government loan. HECS-HELP is an Australian Government loan scheme that assists you in paying your student contributions. Provided you meet the HECS-HELP eligibility criteria, you may use HECS-HELP to defer part or all of your student contribution fees. Learn more about paying for university.

Other study costs

Part of your course costs includes Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF). Additionally, first-year students are required to purchase equipment for simulation training in Term 2 at approximately $1300. Second-year students are required to purchase equipment for simulation training in Term 2 at approximately $400. There may also be additional costs as part of your studies, such as textbooks, technology expenses, travel expenses, professional certifications, uniforms, or vaccinations. Explore other study costs.

At CQUniversity, we believe higher education should be for everyone. No matter your situation, we know that everyone needs a helping hand from time to time, and we are proud to offer a wide range of scholarships, bursaries and stipends.
Our scholarships could help you pay for things like relocation, living on campus, laptops and technology, childcare, study and living expenses, travel and more. 

How to apply

StateAdmission Code
QueenslandRockhampton: 858701

If you have decided what you would like to study and are ready to apply, we’re here to help you along the way. Before you apply, you will need to have a Unique Student Identifier (USI). If you do not have a USI, creating one is quick and easy. Visit usi.gov.au to create one.

Want to know more about application dates and other admission information?

View our important dates information and read about other admission considerations, such as information for domestic students with overseas qualifications, indigenous support, and elite athlete, coach and performer support.

What’s the best way to apply?

  • Option 1: Ideal for most situations, whether you have completed high school recently or some time ago.
  • Option 2: Ideal if you have studied our Skills for Tertiary Entrance Preparatory Studies (STEPS) program or Tertiary Entrance Program (TEP).

OPTION 1: IN MOST SITUATIONS, YOU WILL NEED TO APPLY VIA THE QUEENSLAND TERTIARY ADMISSION CENTRE
To apply for this course, you will need to submit your application for this course via the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC).

Apply via QTAC

Please note that you may be required to pay a fee when applying via QTAC.


OPTION 2: ARE YOU A CQUNI STEPS OR TEP GRADUATE? APPLY DIRECTLY TO CQUNIVERSITY
You may be eligible to apply directly to CQUniversity provided you meet one of the following criteria:

  • You have successfully completed or are completing CQUniversity's Skills for Tertiary Entrance Preparatory Studies (STEPS) program.
  • You have successfully completed CQUniversity's Tertiary Entrance Program (TEP).