Following an extensive curriculum overhaul, the Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) program across Punjab’s dental colleges is set for a transformative upgrade. Spearheaded by the University of Health Sciences (UHS), the new “Integrated Curriculum 2K25” is scheduled for implementation in the 2024-25 academic session. This ambitious curriculum revision extends the BDS degree duration from four to five years, with the additional year focused on clinical skill development through a structured “clerkship” experience. This clerkship year is designed to strengthen practical training, equipping students with essential skills that meet international standards and facilitate global recognition of Pakistani BDS degrees.
University of Health Sciences (UHS) Vice Chancellor Prof. Ahsan Waheed Rathore shared that these updates have already been communicated to the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PM&DC), with the curriculum structured around international benchmarks and inspired by dental programs in the UK, USA, and Australia. The revised curriculum ensures that Pakistani graduates are not only better prepared for their profession but also more competitive in the global job market, opening doors to both employment and advanced education opportunities worldwide.
The curriculum spans 4,900 instructional hours over the first four years, aligning with PM&DC guidelines, and adds 1,100 hours of dedicated clerkship in the final year. According to Prof. Rathore, the integrated curriculum was developed with input from faculty and students at affiliated dental colleges across Punjab, ensuring it addresses real-world needs and challenges faced by students and educators. The UHS anticipates that PM&DC will adopt this curriculum at a national level, promoting a standardized and advanced level of dental education across Pakistan.
