Graduate Dental Education Programs

The Graduate Dental Education programs at Penn Dental Medicine include an Advanced Education in General Dentistry program as well as postgraduate study options in nine dental specialties that lead to certificates in the fields of endodontics, oral medicine, oral and maxillofacial surgery, orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, periodontics, periodontics/orthodontics, periodontal prosthesis, and prosthodontics. In all of the programs, students are presented with a broad range of clinical procedures rather than any single method of treatment, preparing graduates to manage a diversity of cases and use varying treatment modalities.

Prepare for a career in academic dentistry: The highly respected research environment at Penn Dental Medicine and throughout the University of Pennsylvania provides a valuable opportunity for students applying to the School’s graduate dental education programs to combine their specialty training with advanced research and academic opportunities. To that end, Penn Dental Medicine offers a Doctor of Science in Dentistry (DScD) and a Master of Science in Oral Biology (MSOB) that can be earned concurrent with a specialty certificate, preparing students to successfully enter the field of academic dentistry while also becoming skilled clinicians in specialty care. Through the DScD and MSOB programs, students are encouraged to pursue their individual research interests with projects that can span the diverse disciplines and research labs within Penn Dental Medicine’s basic and clinical sciences and across the University. Students apply to the DScD or MSOB programs concurrent with their application to a specialty program.

Program Costs

For an annual budget for the graduate dental education specialty certificate programs, please see the respective program pages:
Endodontic Residency » Annual Fees
Oral Medicine Residency » Annual Fees
Orthodontic Residency » Annual Fees
Periodontic Residency » Annual Fees
Periodontic/ Orthodontic Residency » Annual Fees
Periodontal Prosthesis » Annual Fees
Prosthodontics Residency » Annual Fees

Federal and Alternative Loan Opportunities

Graduate Dental Education (GDE) students are eligible for non-University-based funding (Federal loan, if applicable, and private/alternative loans). Penn Dental Medicine and Penn’s Student Registration and Financial Services are available to assist you in locating sources according to your educational program and needs.

Direct Loan

The Federal Direct loan program enables a full-time Graduate Dental Education (GDE) student to borrow a $20,500 per year. However, the maximum aggregate eligibility is $224,000 including undergraduate borrowing. The entire loan is unsubsidized, with interest accruing from the date of disbursement. The interest rate is set annually every July 1. The Federal government charges an origination fee for money borrowed.

Direct PLUS Loan

The Federal Direct loan program enables full-time students to borrow up to the cost of attendance. The entire loan is unsubsidized, with interest accruing from the date of disbursement. The interest rate is set annually every July 1 for the academic year and is fixed for the life of the loan. The federal government charges an origination fee for money borrowed.

To begin the process of applying for these loans, a student must complete the student section only of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid

Private Educational/Alternative Loans

Alternative loan options include the Federal Direct PLUS loan, available only to U.S. citizens and permanent residents, as well as private educational loan programs typically with variable interest rates although some lenders do offer fixed rates.

International students may borrow private educational loans with an approved U.S. citizen or permanent resident co-signer. The loan is unsubsidized with interest accruing from the date of disbursement.

It is important to remember that your credit history is one of the most important factors used in determining your loan eligibility. Most loan programs require some form of credit evaluation. If you have defaulted on a previous educational loan, you may be ineligible for future loans.

Completion Rate

For the current graduating class, all specialty certificate students completed the program in the time frame defined by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). The specialty program time periods do not coincide with the University’s academic calendar year.