About this program
The department of orthodontics and craniofacial biology at the Radboud university medical centre offers a four-year fulltime international postgraduate program in orthodontics to become a specialist in orthodontics. The programme leads to a certificate of completion of specialist training in orthodontics according to EU-directive 78/686/EEG.
read moreFor more information please contact
Jacqueline Verhoeven
Coordinator specialist training in Orthodontics
Applying
Around spring 2026 you will find more information on this page, regarding the program starting in April 2027.
In short
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Dentists with a Dutch (BIG) registration.
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What do you need to start this program?
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Requirements
Applicants should have graduated as a dentist (DDS or DMD) from a recognized institution.
Before you can start one of the postgraduate programmes in Orthodontics at universities in the Netherlands, you have to be registered as a dentist in the Netherlands (BIG registration), which also requires a Dutch language proficiency test.
The BIG registration has to be obtained before we can offer you a position at our department.
Learn more about working in the Dutch healthcare sector with a foreign diploma.
Applicants from non-English-speaking countries are required to take the Academic IELTS exam, with a minimum total score of 7.0. The exam score must be current (less than two years old) and has to be submitted with the other application documents.
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Before you can start one of the postgraduate programmes in Orthodontics at universities in the Netherlands, you have to be registered as a dentist in the Netherlands (BIG registration), which also requires a Dutch language proficiency test.
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All theoretical courses are concluded with an examination. There is also a field examination.
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Certificate
All theoretical courses are concluded with an examination. At the end of all of the first three years, a field examination has to be passed. After four years and upon completion of all requirements, the programme is concluded with an external examination by the Specialist Registration Committee of the Dutch Dental Association. This examination consists of an oral examination, the presentation of 12 cases treated by the resident, a discussion about 2 new cases presented by the examination committee, and the defense of the research output. Upon successful completion of the examination, a certificate is granted. If the candidate meets the criteria for recognition of his/her dental degree in the Netherlands (registration in the so-called BIG-registry) then registration in the Dutch registry of orthodontic specialists can be obtained.
In addition, for those who combine the postgraduate programme in orthodontics with a PhD programme, a PhD degree can be awarded after fulfillment of all requirements (doctoral thesis and its public defense).
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The program starts on April 1st of every odd-numbered year.
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You do not have to pay for this program. During the 4 years of education you will be paid for your working hours and are not allowed to work outside of the university.
Research
Research is part of the program for every resident. Each resident conducts a research project in close collaboration with an advisor. The research of the department is embedded in the Research Institute for Medical Innovation. During the years many publications of faculty and residents have been published in international ISI-listed journals. Each resident is required to have one manuscript accepted in or submitted to an international ISI-listed journal by the end of the postgraduate program. It is a requirement to complete the research prior to the final discussion with the external committee as the publication is an integral part of this.