Award in Foundations of Dental Science .

Applicants are required to have achieved their High School Diploma (HSD) as per the Italian educational system, or equivalent, at EQF/MQF level 4. In the Italian system the HSD is required for entry into undergraduate courses – please see HERE.   The HSD includes competence in Italian at native speaker level, and communicative competence in English as a foreign language.

For applications chosing the Italian streamSince the Award will be delivered in Italian, and the Award English language courses will start at a foundational communicative level so as to reinforce mastery before going on to the medical register, the Italian High School Diploma is fit for purpose as an entry requirement.

For International applicants: Applicants shall be in possession of:

1. a qualfication at EQF level 4, which grants access to higher education.
2. English EQF level 3, Grade C or better, GCE Advanced grade C or better, IELTS 6.5, or equivalent.

All applicants shall undergo an inteview at point of application, to be carried out face-to-face or by video-call. The purpose of this interview shall be a) to verify the documentation of the application, b) to ensure that the applicant and his/her family are fully conversant with the requirements of residential tuition in Malta, and c) to verify that the applicant has sufficient communicative competence in English to undertake the Award with profit and communicate in the Maltese social context.

If the EIMS Admissions Board as per the EIMS QA Policy deems that an applicant has satisfied a) and b) above but not c) , it shall reserve the right to request the applicant to undergo an additonal fundational communication course in English, prior to commencement of the Award or concurrently in the first semester. This course can be by an accredited English Language school and/or leading to a recognized EFL qualification.

click here to access the Programme of Study Award in Foundations of Dental Science (EIMSUADS)

click here to access the Programme of Study for International Students (EIMSUADS INT)

click here to access the General Assessment Procedures  of Award in Foundations of Dental Science ( EIMSUADS / EIMSUADS INT)

teaching

The Award pedagogy will be a mix of interactive lectures with theoretical and practical components. Lectures are typlically 50 minutes long, starting with a presentation of the lesson summary and completed with lesson synthesis and a Q&A session. The practical component, structured in conjunction with the theoretical component, consists of weekly classes of 110 minutes. It includes laboratory work with anatomical models.

The syllabus will be taught using the support of multimedia devices. Relevant theoretical concepts will be exposed in the classroom. Discussion based on “problem issues” will be promoted. These different teaching approaches aim to develop the student’s ability to create their own model of learning, adapted to each programmatic topic.

In each of the medical and dental science units, lecturers shall be a mix of medical or biology experts who will provide the relevant knowledge, coupled with practicing dentists who will contextualize this knowledge in relevant dentistry scenarios.

The language of instruction will typically be Italian, but may vary, especially in the second year, from unit to unit according to the lecturers and to enhance the language competence of particpating students.

Students  will engage with practical work through use of  digital resources made available by EIMS and well known to young people.  Students will  become familiar with the contents of the units using a modern approach and familiar for them.

Collaborative teamwork via our online platform will be organized.  Small group of  laboratory sessions will be organized where students will be able to use the study models and the contents of the units.

Online practical work will be assigned and students should work on inferences at preclinical levels. For an example, complete blood picture or histological slide images will  given and students will derive inference from it and provisionally disgnose the pathology.

assessment

Assessment Format 1 (AF1)

For Units assessed in Format 1, 55 shall be considered the pass-mark, of which 50 marks needs to be come from the two multiple choice tests, each of 90 minutes. A high mark in attendance shall not compensate for joint mark of less than 50 in the two multiple choice tests.

Assessment Format 2 (AF2)

With respect to the marking of the practical test in Format 2, the grading shall be as per table below. A Grade of A to D is required for a Pass, whilst E shall be considered a Fail. For Units assessed in Format 2, 55 shall be considered the pass-mark; however a high mark in attendance shall not compensate for a Grade E in the practical test. The practical test shall be of 30 minutes.