Oral Health Sciences

The Oral Hygienist is a professional who focuses on the prevention of oral disease and maintenance of good oral hygiene.

Overview

Oral hygienists focus on the prevention of oral disease and the maintenance of good oral hygiene.

The Bachelor of Oral Health Sciences degree aims to address and improve the oral health needs of patients and communities. You will learn how to deliver appropriate oral hygiene services in a wide range of settings, like schools, private practices, academia, research, community health centres, sales and marketing, and military health.

Oral hygienists work in the government sector, universities, private surgeries, private companies, and research institutions.

Wits is one of few oral health training institutes in South Africa and has a reputation for producing world-class dental professionals. You can also pursue postgraduate studies once you’ve completed the programme.

Career Opportunities

Oral Hygienists work in community, industrial, private practice and public service clinics.

Curriculum

First-year
  • Anatomy
  • Oral Biology and Physiology for Dental Auxiliaries
  • Fundamentals of Clinical Oral Health
  • Behavioural and Social Sciences for Dental Auxiliaries
  • Oral Microbiology for Dental Auxiliaries
  • Oral Pathology for Dental Auxiliaries
Second-year
  • Integrated Clinical Dentistry for Oral Hygienists
  • Bioethics for Dental Auxiliaries I
  • Community Dentistry for Dental Auxiliaries
  • Fundamentals of Clinical Oral Health I
Third-year
  • Applied Research and Dental Practice Management for Dental Auxiliaries
  • Bioethics for Dental Auxiliaries II
  • Community Dentistry for Dental Auxiliaries II
  • Fundamentals of Clinical Oral Health II

Entry Requirements

NSC Requirements

English Home Language OR First Additional Language Level 4
Mathematics Level 4 OR Maths Literacy Level 7
Life Sciences AND/OR Physical Sciences Level 4

The Faculty of Health Sciences uses a Composite Index (CI) score to guide applicant selection. This includes:

  1. Your matric academic results for five subjects: English, Mathematics, best of Physical Sciences/Life Sciences and the best two other subjects. We consider the percentage achieved, not the symbol. The average of the five subjects carries a 60% weighting.
  2. National Benchmark Test (NBT) scores. The average of the NBT scores carries a 40% weighting.

All applicants must write the NBT at one of the Pencil and Paper, i.e. IN-PERSON NBT sessions. Online NBT results will not be considered.

Click here for the NBT test dates. NBT results are valid for three years and Wits only considers the first attempt of the NBT from the most recent year. Visit www.nbt.ac.za 

The NBT should be written by 18 August.

Applicants applying to the Graduate Entry Medical Programme (GEMP) and/or Graduate Entry Physiotherapy Programme (GEPP) only, as well as applicants who are in their final year of study towards a Bachelor’s degree, or who have already completed a Bachelor’s degree, are not required to write the NBT.

Additional requirements

All applicants to the Bachelor of Dental Science and the Bachelor of Oral Health Sciences must spend time observing specific procedures as performed by a Dentist/Dental Therapist/Oral Hygienist to gain insight into the profession. Applicants must complete a job shadowing certificate of attendance (minimum 16 hours). Only observation hours completed between 1 July 2023 and 31 July 2024 will be accepted. Please download the form from https://www.wits.ac.za/undergraduate/apply-to-wits/additional-requirements/ 

Applicants who fail to submit a certificate will not be considered for admission.

University Application Process

  • The Student Enrolment Centre at Wits handles all student applications.
  • Please click here for an overview of the application process. 
  • Check the admission requirements for your degree. Check if any additional selection requirements apply. 
  • Submit your application, required documentation and application fee before the closing date.
  • Once you have applied, an admissions consultant will be assigned to your application.
  • Applicants can monitor the progress of their applications via the Self Service Portal.
  • If you are an international applicant and/or have a foreign qualification, please click here.

Compliance with the minimum requirements does not guarantee a place at the University. The University has a specific number of places for first year undergraduates, approved by the Department of Higher Education and Training. Final selection is made subject to the availability of places, academic results and other entry requirements where applicable.

University Fees and Funding

Click here to see the current average tuition fees for the first year of study. The Fees website also provides information about the payment of fees and closing dates for fees payments. Once you have applied you will be able to access the fees estimator on the student self-service portal. 

The Financial Aid and Scholarships Office provides information on student funding and scholarships. University-funded Scholarships include Vice-Chancellor's Scholarships, University Entrance Scholarships, Equality Scholarships, Sports Scholarships and National Olympiad winner awards. For information about NSFAS funding, please visit the NSFAS website. External bursaries portal: The Bursaries South Africa website provides a comprehensive list of bursaries in South Africa.