Celebrating the University of Plymouth's Community University of the Year 2027 Award

We are delighted to celebrate the University of Plymouth being named Community University of the Year 2027 by the Daily Mail University Guide, recognising its outstanding commitment to serving its city, region and wider communities.

As a proud subsidiary of the University, Peninsula Dental Social Enterprise (PDSE) is honoured to play a part in that mission. Within our five dental education facilities, students from the University of Plymouth’s Peninsula Dental School provide dental care to the public under the supervision of qualified dentists, supported by PDSE’s dedicated team of dental nurses, dental therapists, and support staff.

Students rotate through our five facilities as part of their Dental Surgery (five-year) and Dental Therapy and Hygiene (three-year) programmes, gaining valuable clinical experience while helping to improve access to dental care across the region. In their final year, students also work in our new Dental Education Practice, ganing experience in a multidisciplinary clinical environment. Find more information on the University’s dental programmes here.

Inter-Professional Engagement is an embedded feature of the curriculum, enabling undergraduate dental and dental therapy students to work with groups in the community to address societal needs. Through these projects, students gain valuable insight into the challenges faced by different community groups while making a positive impact beyond the clinic. Find out more about the Inter-Professional Engagement module here.

This award highlights the University’s dedication to civic responsibility and its positive impact on people’s lives, values that are at the core of everything we do at PDSE. The judges praised the University’s close alignment with the region and its commitment to making a meaningful difference beyond the campus.

Through our community clinics, educational programmes, and outreach initiatives, we are proud to contribute to the University’s wider vision of improving health, wellbeing and opportunity across Plymouth and the South West.

Read more about the award here.