Description

Introduction
Ziauddin College of Dentistry started its BDS programme in January 2010, with the mission to prepare confident dental professionals. Who are committed to excellence in the field of patient care and research that widens the horizon of knowledge particularly in relation to community health problems.

At Ziauddin College of Dentistry, a student is identified as an adult learner and is expected to develop as a responsible individual taking care of community dental problems.

Bachelor Of Dental Surgery (BDS)
Ziauddin College of Dentistry offers a four-year under-graduate degree programme leading to Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS), under the cooperative auspices of Ziauddin University.

Course Details
BDS programme is divided into four academic years; each year comprises a number of modules related to subject specific scientific information, in accordance with PMDC recognized curriculum. Ziauddin College of Dentistry has taken the initiative of developing and implementing a horizontally integrated curriculum. The curriculum makes use of the latest teaching strategies, which are aimed at providing better quality of education to the students.

Learning and Teaching Strategies
The college recognizes the challenges met by students once they enter into professional lives. Therefore, students are empowered to adapt to the different ways of absorbing information and take responsibility of their own learning using student centered learning strategies such as Problem Based Learning (PBL) and Case Based Sessions (CBS).Community Oriented Education is also given its due importance in the College of Dentistry.
Students are actively involved in the learning process by interacting in small groups and by collecting, analyzing and synthesizing information relevant to the problems they are going to face in their professional lives.

Problem Based Learning
PBL is one of the strategies adopted for learning at the Ziauddin College of Dentistry. This approach is characterized by:
• Opportunities to deal with problems students are going to face in later professional practice.
• Emphasis on self-motivation and responsibility for learning on their own.
• Training for learning professional skills, leadership qualities and team work.
The aim of problem based learning is to overcome various drawbacks in the traditional methods of instruction; for instance the passive role of students during lectures irrelevant subject matter in the curriculum and lack of integration between disciplines.

Laboratories
Basic Dental and Medical Science laboratories and Dental OPDs are fully equipped with state of the art equipment, models and other teaching aids ensuring an excellent academic environment for students.

Study Guide Book
On the commencement day, students are given course/study guides which contain the course objectives and teaching strategies for 1st year of BDS with the planner for the entire academic year. The study guide also identifies all rules and regulations that the student is required to abide by. Likewise, for the subsequent academic years, study guides are supplied to all promoted students on the respective orientation days.

Clinical Training
In addition to the theoretical knowledge, it is important that the students have a significant exposure to the curative, preventive and rehabilitative facets of oral and general health care. The first exposure of the dental students to a clinical environment starts in their 2nd professional year, where students are first trained on phantom heads about the clinical aspects of treatment and soon after it, they are taken for field visits to the community settings as part of their community dentistry training; they are primarily trained for detailed history taking or dental records.
Third year BDS students receive clinical training for General Medicine, General Surgery and other Clinical subjects of BDS curriculum at the following hospitals:
• Dr. Ziauddin Hospital, Clifton Campus – 150-bedded Hospital
• KDLB Kemari Campus -125-bedded Hospital.
• Clinical Departments (OPD) for Ziauddin College of Dentistry, Clifton Campus having 75 dental Units.
The students attend OPDs and wards where they obtain first-hand knowledge by dealing with patients under faculty supervision. Apart from clinical learning under the supervision of faculty of Medicine, the students also work in the clinical departments of Periodontology, Oral Medicine, Oral Surgery, Operative Dentistry and Prosthodontics where they gain experience with patients and are trained in different clinical procedures.
In the final year, students spend most of their time in Dental OPDs in the department of Oral Surgery, Prosthodontics, Operative dentistry and Orthodontics. Their training not only includes performing procedures on patients, but also learning crucial skills that help to groom their interpersonal and professional behavior and attitudes.

Student Assessment
General Principles:
It is recognized that the methods of assessment have a strong influence on shaping students’ learning approach. At Ziauddin College of Dentistry, the structure, content and process of all assessments are designed to reflect and reinforce the specified learning objectives at each stage of the programme. Assessments serve the purpose of providing feedback to the students and the faculty as well as certification.

Examination:
It is conducted by the examination department of Ziauddin University. Continuous Assessment Tests (CAT) are held at the end of each module. At least 80% attendance in each course is mandatory for eligibility to appear in the final examination. Promotion to next classes based on passing all the courses scheduled in a year.

Tools of Assessment:
• BCQ and Multiple Choice Questions (BCQs /MCQs).
• Short essay questions (SEQs).
• Objective Structured Practical/ Clinical Examinations (OSPE/ OSCE).
• Viva voce is used to assess knowledge mainly of a higher level.

BDS Graduates Registration
As per Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) rules, registration of BDS graduates is mandatory for dental practice and postgraduate education in Pakistan and abroad.

House-Job Training
Ziauddin Univrsity Hospitals offer house job to its graduates. A structured training programme has been designed that allows appropriate training for house officers in all domains of dentistry. In addition, house officers have opportunity to participate in multidisciplinary seminars and academic or clinical conferences. House job training is conducted strictly according to PMDC guidelines.

Admission Procedure
As per directives of the Health Department, Government of Sindh, this year centralized admissions for MBBS are being conducted by Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences (LUMHS). Candidates are required to follow instructions given at National Testing Service (NTS) website, www.nts.org.pk and fill the application form accordingly. If you wish to join Ziauddin University, please mention “Ziauddin College of Dentistry” in the priority box.

Eligibility Criteria
Candidate must have passed obtaining minimum seventy percent marks, in higher secondary school certificate (HSSC) or F.Sc (pre-medical) or equivalent examination having minimum twelve years of education.
Candidate must have passed obtaining minimum seventy percent marks in aggregate in, an examination of a course from a foreign university or examining body or foreign education system with at least three science subjects i.e. biology, chemistry, and either physics or mathematics and such course must have been duly certified by the inter boards committee of chairmen (IBCC) as equivalent to higher secondary school certificate (HSSC) or F.Sc. or intermediate level of Pakistan.

Overseas Applications
As per PM&DC policy, Ziauddin College of Dentistry will admit students on foreign seats quota upto fifteen percent (15%) of its total annual seats allocated by the Council purely on merit.

Students fulfilling the following conditions will be eligible for foreign/overseas seats

Candidate must have obtained minimum seventy percent (70%) marks in aggregate, in an examination of a course from a foreign university or examining body or foreign education system in at least three subjects i.e. biology, chemistry and either physics or mathematics and such course must have been duly certified by IBCC as equivalent to HSSC, F. Sc. or intermediate level of Pakistan.
Candidate must have passed English language proficiency test e.g. valid TOFEL or IELTS with a minimum score of 500 or 5.5 or have a certification by National University of Modern Languages (NUML) after one year English Language course where medium of instructions for obtaining required academic qualifications for admission test is not English
Candidate must be qualified from abroad and passed a foreign SAT II examination with minimum 550 marks in each of the three subjects i.e. biology, chemistry and either physics or mathematics or a foreign MCAT with minimum score of 500.
Important Note

No candidate shall be eligible for foreign quota seat in the public and private medical and dental institutions unless he/she holds a permanent foreign nationality or is an overseas (being a Pakistani citizen/permanent resident in a foreign country) or is a Pakistani student who has studied and passed HSSC 12th grade examination or equivalent from outside Pakistan and is a resident of a foreign country at the time of applying for admission and possesses a certificate from the institution last attended to this effect.

Notification of Admission
The Registrar of the university will notify students who are successful in the admission process. Successful applicants are given a dead line by which to accept the offer of admission. Offers not accepted by the given deadline are cancelled.

Requirements for Selected Students
Successful students selected for BDS programme are expected to fulfill the following:

• Verification of Educational Testimonials

Original transcripts, mark sheets and certificates to be brought for verification by the university.

• Medical Examination

The undergraduate medical programme is both physically and mentally demanding. Students offered admission are required to undergo a comprehensive medical examination including laboratory investigations and chest X-ray, before they are allowed to join classes.

• Immunization

Clinical experience carries a small personal risk of infection. In their own interest, and also in the interest of patients and others, students must provide evidence of immunization against the following:
Tuberculosis (BCG), Diphtheria, Poliomyelitis, Pertussis, Hepatitis B, Tetanus, Measles/Mumps (and Rubella for females)

Career Opportunities
A graduate with a BDS degree is open to endless opportunities in clinical and non-clinical specialties locally and internationally. Students can pursue clinical postgraduate training or fellowship programmes. Students who choose not to undergo clinical postgraduate training or fellowships can opt to do Masters or Ph.D in the field of their choice which will help them to become full time academicians.

Self-employment is also a promising avenue. With experience, a dental graduate can start his/her own individual clinic. Many dentists prefer private practice as it provides the best financial prospects along with a greater level of independence.