Is a four-year second degree worth your time?

Author: Katie Ellen Crawley

For many doctors and dentists considering a career in OMFS, the path may seem to be almost predetermined – complete your first degree, undertake foundation, and core training, and apply for a three-year second-degree programme. These courses are well known, highly competitive, and naturally attract those pursuing a career in OMFS. However, having almost completed a four-year medical degree after previously qualifying in dentistry, I would like to offer an alternative perspective that I feel is often overlooked.

Firstly, there is a practical advantage during the application stage for four-year courses. You are typically competing against standard undergraduate or postgraduate students, who are not pursuing a career in OMFS. As your CV will include clinical qualifications and surgical experience, you naturally stand out from the crowd. This can make the application process comparatively smoother.

One of the biggest advantages I have experienced by completing a four-year medical degree is the ability to remain in a region where I previously worked in several OMFS departments. There are no three-year medical degrees for dentists at my local university. This continuity has been invaluable in continuing to develop good working relationships with the OMFS teams in my local area. They have also provided me with financial security via locum and contracted work throughout my studies. By remaining in the region where I previously worked, I also avoided the need to learn new hospital protocols and systems whilst also tackling the academic demands of a second degree.

Another major consideration is funding. Four-year courses are classified as postgraduate degrees, whilst three-year courses fall under undergraduate funding rules. As a result, if you are over 25 years old or meet the criteria to be considered an independent student, you may be eligible to have one third of your tuition fees covered by the NHS bursary for each year of study. You may also receive the maximum maintenance bursary for each year of study, regardless of your financial background. Of course, the disadvantage of a four-year course is the need to fund an extra year of study and the associated loss of earnings through qualifying a year later. However, I would urge those of you on a plan 2 student finance loan to consider if you will ever repay your balance in full – if not, the additional year of borrowing is likely to have a minimal financial impact in the long-term.

The extra year of study offers academic benefits. Four-year courses are less compressed, and frequently offer more teaching with greater depth across many subject areas. They provide the opportunity to properly consolidate your medical knowledge before entering speciality training.

Of course, I must acknowledge the downsides of a four-year course. It means an extra year at university and another year without a full-time salary. OMFS already has a lengthy training pathway, and it is understandable that not everybody is willing to further extend the journey.

However, for those willing to invest the extra time, the four-year course broadens the number of universities and cities available to you. It may provide a more rounded educational experience, more stability, and financial security that works in your favour.

I hope that sharing my experience offers a different perspective and encourages you to explore four-year courses as a genuine and valuable option on the pathway to a career in OMFS.