At VUB’s Open Day on Sunday 30 August, students will have their first opportunity to learn about the new Dentistry degree, which will launch in the 2027–28 academic year. Koen Putman, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, said: “We are pleased that VUB can help tackle the shortage of dentists with this new degree.” The programme is currently being developed under the leadership of Professor Nastaran Meschi, who will become the academic coordinator of the new course.
By 2030, an estimated half of the current dentists will be over the age of 60, while existing programmes are not producing enough graduates to fully replace those leaving the profession. With a third Dutch-language Dentistry degree, VUB aims to contribute to a sustainable solution to this societal challenge.
Twenty years after discontinuing its Dentistry degree, VUB is once again taking the opportunity to train dentists. The programme will be based at VUB’s Health Campus in Jette. From their first year, students will have contact with patients and work with advanced simulation and training equipment. The degree combines clinical training with innovative teaching methods and close collaboration between different healthcare disciplines. In doing so, the university is building on the expertise of the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, UZ Brussel and the University Dental Centre in Jette.
Koen Putman, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy
Professor Nastaran Meschi is responsible for developing the academic content of the programme. A VUB alumna, she graduated as a dentist from the university in 2006 and has since built an academic and clinical career. She is active in teaching, research and patient care and will help shape the new degree in the run-up to its launch in 2027.
“The Dentistry degree offers students excellent career prospects in a field where cutting-edge technology and humanity go hand in hand,” Koen Putman concludes.
VUB Open Day on 30 August
Would you like to find out more about the new Dentistry degree or another course at VUB? Then come to VUB on Sunday 30 August for an extensive Open Day at the Etterbeek and Jette campuses. Visitors can attend information sessions, ask questions of professors and students, explore the campuses and find out about support services such as accommodation, study guidance and financial support. The Open Day runs from 10am to 3pm. Those interested in the new Dentistry degree are also welcome. During the Open Day, you can find out more about the new programme, which will launch at VUB in the 2027–28 academic year.
Information and registration for the Open Day can be found here.