“Is it even possible to study for a Postgraduate Diploma online?”
That was the question recently posed to Dr. James Mackenzie, co-founder of the London Dental Institute, during dinner recently.
The question made him pause—not because he didn’t know the answer!—but because it became clear that many people may not fully understand the logistics of virtual learning.
For those of us who studied for our qualifying degree in a traditional university, the concept of virtual classes may seem unfamiliar. While online learning has grown exponentially post-Covid, you may be surprised to hear that virtual classes have been around since the 1980s as a viable way of studying for a postgraduate qualification.
But what actually is an online class, and can you really study for a postgraduate dentistry course 100% online? In this blog, we’re diving into these questions, asking what students can expect from a virtual class and understanding why the London Dental Institute is fully online.
The Virtual Class Experience
So, what is a virtual class, and how does it work?
Virtual classes at LDi are designed to replicate the traditional classroom experience, but with the added flexibility of being online. An online class is similar to a regular class, with one key difference—it’s conducted virtually and is pre-recorded, so you can study at a time and place that suits you.
Our Virtual Learning Environment works almost like a virtual university campus, allowing students to engage with instructors, ask questions, and collaborate with their peers, all through interactive tools.
Advance your career by studying for a world-leading postgraduate diploma
Study at the cutting-edge of dental research with curricula taught by global experts and an online schedule that suits you.
Why Choose Virtual Classes?
Virtual classes come with several key benefits. Firstly, online learning allows students to work at their own pace and schedule, making it easier to balance studies with professional and personal commitments. This makes it an ideal option for busy professionals looking to advance their careers without sacrificing their current responsibilities.
As well as this, virtual classes mean there’s no need to commute or relocate. Students can join from anywhere, saving time and money and meaning they can keep to their existing work schedule. In general, online education tends to be much more affordable. You’re not paying for the costs associated with maintaining a physical campus, so the focus is on the education itself.
Online learning opens up a wider range of high-quality dental programmes that might not be available locally. At the London Dental Institute, for instance, all of our courses are UK-accredited and accessible from across the globe, meaning our courses allow dentists from everywhere to access premium quality higher education. This offers a diverse learning environment where students from various backgrounds and countries come together, offering unique perspectives and creating a rich learning experience for everyone.
So, how does it work?
Still have questions about how online study actually works? Let’s take a look at the behind the scenes of our online Diplomas.
1. Log into the Virtual Learning Environment
The first thing all our students do is log into the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). This is our bespoke, comprehensive platform designed to offer an accessible and engaging learning experience for postgraduate students. It is the central hub for all course activities—think of it as an online university campus.
With the VLE, students can:
- Access modules and lectures at any time, allowing for flexible study that fits around their professional and personal schedules.
- Participate in live study clubs that simulate the classroom environment, where they can ask questions and interact with instructors and peers in real time. Missed a session? No problem—recordings are available for review.
- Engage in group discussions on the news feed and participate in our 1:1 clinical case forums, where students can share patient cases, receive feedback, and collaborate with a global community of dental professionals.
- Submit assignments and Q&A questions directly to tutors, ensuring personalised support throughout the programme.
2. Attend Live Study Clubs
While the VLE offers recorded sessions, they’re complemented by our online Live Study Clubs.
These live, interactive sessions allow students to engage directly with faculty and peers, much like a traditional classroom, but again with the flexibility of online learning.
(Although these sessions happen live, they are recorded too if your schedule doesn’t allow for attendance!)
During these live sessions, students can ask questions, discuss complex topics, and gain deeper insights into their coursework. We love these sessions as the real-time interaction builds a sense of community and collaboration, creating a supportive environment for learning. Sometimes, having complex topics explained in another way, or a safe space to ask questions, is all you need to succeed.
The Live Study Clubs also provide a great opportunity to focus on practical case discussions, allowing students to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world dental scenarios. This helps to enhance critical thinking and problem-solving skills, key competencies for any practising dentist — and entirely possible to learn online!
3. Pass Your Assessment
At the LDi, we need to ensure that our students are learning to meet our accreditation responsibilities and to ensure rigorous academic standards are applied in the dental profession. That’s why assessments at the London Dental Institute are designed to evaluate both the theoretical and practical knowledge gained throughout the course.
Like all learning experiences, assessments happen in the VLE itself, and students are assessed three times in the duration of their course. The assessments are multiple choice, and resits are available.
Once you’ve successfully completed these assessments, you’ll earn a UK-accredited Postgraduate Diploma, gaining career recognition and the confidence to apply your new skills in your practice.
The Benefits of Online Learning at LDi
At the London Dental Institute, we use virtual classes to ensure our postgraduate programmes are flexible, accessible, and practical for working professionals like you.
Our fully online structure ensures that students can benefit from cutting-edge content without having to compromise your existing work, personal, and family commitments, helping you build a career without taking a step back to return to full time study.
We like to think our online classes give practising dentists the best of both worlds—cutting-edge content delivered in a convenient format that they can access from anywhere.
If you have any further questions about virtual classes and how they work, check out our website or attend an upcoming live event online and experience one for yourself.
