Degree Project in Odontology, 30 credits

To be eligible for the course, a pass grade in all courses from semester 1 through 6 is required. 

Students who fail a clinical placement (or equivalent) during their education at KI as a result of demonstrating such a serious lack of knowledge, skills or attitude that patient safety or the patients' confidence in medical care is at risk, will only be qualified for a clinical placement once the individual action plan has been carried out.

The purpose of the course is for the student to develop their knowledge and ability to critically and independently review, assess and employ relevant information, as well as to discuss, on a scientific basis, novel findings, phenomena and problems within the research area of odontology.

After completing the course, the student can:

• Demonstrate knowledge of research and development work within odontology, as well as advanced knowledge within the chosen research area.
• Define and formulate research questions, as well as discuss study design and method in relation to a research question.
• Make ethical considerations.
• Search within scientific databases, collect information from relevant publications, as well as critically review, evaluate and summarize the content.
• Plan, carry out and present in writing a research project in English, within the defined timeframe.
• Orally present and discuss their own research project in English.
• As an opponent, critically review and discuss research projects of others', in English.
• Discuss the role of science in societal development and identify further knowledge gaps within the chosen advanced research area.
• Discuss evidence-based science and its importance for future work as a dentist.

The student undertakes, with supervision, a research project within the area of odontology. The student is trained in various aspects of the research process, including the development of project plan, critical review of literature, data collection and processing, as well as oral presentations and written reports. The student also receives further training in critical review skills by giving feedback on other students' projects.

The course covers three semesters:

Semester 7 
The student is introduced to the current research at the Department of Dental Medicine during an inspiration day. The student independently seeks out a supervisor to agree on a project and, under supervision, draws up a detailed project plan for the chosen project. The student presents the project plan during a group seminar which includes a representative from the steering committee of the course. Through lectures, seminar and workshops the student is introduced to research ethics, literature searching, statistics, scientific writing, as well as critical review of research literature.

Semester 9 
During this semester the majority of the project work is undertaken. The student develops their knowledge of scientific writing and statistics through workshops, and a seminar of literature search strategies. The student continues the project under supervision, prepares and submits a written halftime report, with the supervisor's approval.

Semester 10 
In the final phase of the course, the research project is completed. The student writes, under supervision, and completes the full report which is submitted and presented orally at a seminar. The student acts as an opponent for another student's presentation and report.

Lectures, seminars, workshops and the student's own research work.

All assessments are made according to established criteria. 

Compulsory parts:
All lectures, seminars and workshops, which support the student's learning and achievement of learning objectives. 
Submission of a written project proposal in semester 7.
Submission of a written project plan in semester 7.
Oral presentation of the project plan during a seminar in semester 7.
Submission of a written halftime report in semester 9.
Submission of the full report for formative assessment, including a description of their own contributions, in semester 10.
Written feedback on another student's scientific report in semester 10. 

Examination:
Assessment of the project plan in semester 7. An approved project plan is required for the student to be able to continue with the project work.
Summative assessment of the report, following formative assessment, in the following order: 
1) Oral presentation of own research project during the examination seminar with another student acting as opponent, as well as oral opposition during another student's presentation of the research project, in semester 10.
2) The final version of the thesis report is examined by an examiner.

The time plan for the research project must be followed according to the specific supervision. Late submission of the written assignments may affect the possibility of being examined during the course study period.

A research project which has not passed the examination must be revised and/or presented orally and assessed again. If the written report has not passed, a possibility of revision may be granted to obtain a passing grade. A failed written report may be granted the possibility of revision in order to obtain a pass grade.

Students who do not pass a regular examination are entitled to re-sit the examination on five more occasions. If the student has failed six examinations/tests, no additional examination is given. Each occasion the student participates in the same test counts as an examination. Submission of a blank exam paper is regarded as an examination. In case a student is registered for an examination but does not attend, this is not regarded as an examination.

The examiner decides whether, and if so how, absence from compulsory course elements can be made up. Study results cannot be reported until the student has participated in compulsory course elements or compensated for any absence in accordance with instructions from the examiner. Absence from a compulsory course element could mean that the student cannot retake the element until the next time the course is offered.

If there are special grounds, or a need for adaptation for a student with a disability, the examiner may decide to deviate from the syllabus's regulations on the examination form, the number of examination opportunities, the possibility of supplementation or exemptions from the compulsory section/s of the course etc. Content and learning outcomes as well as the level of expected skills, knowledge and abilities may not be changed, removed or reduced.

The examiner may, with immediate effect, interrupt a student's clinical practice if the student demonstrates such serious deficiencies in knowledge, skills or attitude that patient safety or patient confidence in healthcare is at risk. If the clinical practice is interrupted in this way the student is deemed to have failed that part of the course. In such cases, an individual action plan should be set up stating which activities and tests are required before the student is qualified for clinical practice in the course. The number of tests within the action plan is limited to three. 

If the course is discontinued or undergoes major changes, examination with the previous literature list and learning outcomes will be offered for no more than one academic year after the implementation of the revision/discontinuation.

Language of instruction: English and Swedish.
Language of examination: All written assignments, including the full report and presentation, are written in English. All oral presentations are given in English.