The Student Room Group

Dentistry (actuary, engineering) - questions to people on VT and after

Hey there!

Few Qs about dentistry:smile:

To get Dentistry BDS degree it takes 5 years. Then you need to do 1 year of the VT, right? How much do you spend on equipment and how much do you earn during that VT period?

How much do you spend on equipment and how much do you earn after you start working? Please tell me the spendings and earnings for the main career paths i could take as the dentist.


Actuary - if i took actuarial science course.. how long does it usually take since you start studying till you get your full actuarial qualifications? When do you actually start working? After you qualify? Or after you graduate, and then you start getting your full qualifications and work at the same time? Explain please. Is it hard to find a job? What initial earnings can i expect, and how will they rise in 3 - 5 years?

Engineering - if i chose to do engineering, i think im pretty sure i would do aerospace engineering. It seems to be most interesting branch of engineering, and also most lucrative one - salaries seems to be the highest amongst enginneering jobs. But then again , i would be grateful if someone could actually tell me what could i expect after getting a Meng degree in aerospace engineering - what kind of salary, and how would it look like after 3 -5 years.

Is it possible to qualify for an actuary after finishing an engineering degree? Sorry for the lenghty post... If i choose to do dentistry, i need to get my PS done REALLY soon. And ive not even started. Thanks, kon.:s-smilie:
Reply 1
If you've not done any dentistry work experience don't apply :smile:
Reply 2
To be an actuary, you first of all get a degree (generally) in a numerate discipline (I'm sure engineering would be alright), actuarial science is apparently actually frowned upon by some employers, a friend at E&Y told me that they'd only recently begun accepting them again in the last couple of years, but they prefer if you learn it properly through experience than completely theoretically as you would in Uni.

Depends on you for how long you get qualified, it can take typically 3-6 years following graduation, depending on how well you do in the exams and if you pass them all quickly. You'll be working whilst you do them and get payrises as you go along, typically.
Reply 3
The Toffy
If you've not done any dentistry work experience don't apply :smile:


i have done work shadowing in a NHS Treatment centre, even watched a surgery n all. Doing dentistry work shadowing as well. I guess doing any kind of work shadowing shows the admission office workers that you actually show some interest in your future career, are inventive and actively learn new things :smile:
Reply 4
*bump*

heyy still no answers from dentists on VT , actuaries and aerospace engineers? cmon guys :smile:
Yes you do need to do the 1 year VT, and you do get paid, although I'm unsure how much. I'd presume around 22k? Dentistry equipment is very very expensive, therefore most people tend to go into partnership with someone who has already got the equipment and then works for them. That's what the dentist who I did work experience told me, anyway.
You should try searching on Google. Most of your questions could probably be answered.
Reply 6
the thing is, the dentist ive been doing work shadowing at told me that after few years of dentistry you might earn good money, but you still need to spend most of it on drills and other equipment - and all in all the income is MUCH lower than , lets say, a GP. So my question is - is it comparable to earnings of an aerospace engineer? Im interested in both of them, so knowing how much each of them earns would be a factor that could help me decide..
kon1u
the thing is, the dentist ive been doing work shadowing at told me that after few years of dentistry you might earn good money, but you still need to spend most of it on drills and other equipment - and all in all the income is MUCH lower than , lets say, a GP. So my question is - is it comparable to earnings of an aerospace engineer? Im interested in both of them, so knowing how much each of them earns would be a factor that could help me decide..


Not necessarily. How much a GP earns is very much based upon how much experience they have and how many years they have been practising for.
According to this: http://careersadvice.direct.gov.uk/helpwithyourcareer/jobprofiles/profiles/profile374/ experienced/senior aerospace engineers can earn up to £60,000. I wouldn't so something for the money though, decide based on how much you think you would enjoy the career. They are both very different career paths, so decide on the one you would enjoy the most. Enjoyment is priceless.
Reply 8
piece_by_piece
Not necessarily. How much a GP earns is very much based upon how much experience they have and how many years they have been practising for.
According to this: http://careersadvice.direct.gov.uk/helpwithyourcareer/jobprofiles/profiles/profile374/ experienced/senior aerospace engineers can earn up to £60,000. I wouldn't so something for the money though, decide based on how much you think you would enjoy the career. They are both very different career paths, so decide on the one you would enjoy the most. Enjoyment is priceless.



How much does a dentist earn after VT