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Who this Master suits — and what you must bring to enrol
This part-time Master is designed for licensed dentists who want to specialise clinically in orthodontics and aligner therapy while continuing to work. Typical profiles include: general dentists aiming to add aligner treatments in their practice; associate dentists in clinics who want to manage more complex orthodontic cases with a strong digital workflow; and internationally trained dentists planning a clinical career in Germany who can study in German and travel to the on-site seminars in Wiesbaden and Crailsheim.
Admission requirements
To qualify, you need formal, profession-specific credentials and the capacity to participate in the on-site blocks:
- Completed university degree in Dentistry (Zahnmedizin) suitable for postgraduate study.
- Professional licensure: usually an Approbationsurkunde (licence to practise) or a comparable authorisation to practise dentistry.
- At least one year of relevant professional experience.
- A further training contract with the IBIZ Privatinstitut für Bildung und Innovation in der Zahnmedizin GmbH (cooperation partner).
- Teaching language: German. You must be able to follow courses, case discussions and examinations in German. If you hold an international qualification, be prepared to document high-level German proficiency (C1). Typical certificates used in Germany include TestDaF, DSH, telc C1 Hochschule or Goethe-Zertifikat C1.
- International degrees and diplomas are admitted if they are recognised as equivalent to a German dental degree at Master’s-entry level. Academic records, syllabi and proof of professional rights may be requested for evaluation.
On-site attendance: plan for mandatory presence across 18 on-site seminars in Wiesbaden and Crailsheim, plus online modules.
Personal requirements
The programme runs alongside your job and combines compact on-site blocks with online learning and case work. You need strong self-organisation, reliable time management and the perseverance to study continuously between seminars. Realistically, you will alternate between intensive presence days and sustained independent study; travel time to Wiesbaden and Crailsheim should be factored into your schedule.
Because materials, patient pathways and discussions are in German, you should be comfortable reading specialist texts, writing case reports and presenting findings in academic German. Finally, bring an openness to digital orthodontic planning and reflective clinical practice — you will apply new methods directly in a clinical environment and discuss outcomes critically in case conferences.
What will you study in the Orthodontics and Aligner Therapy (M.Sc.) at Fresenius University of Applied Sciences?
This programme is taught in German. You will need very good German language skills to study and pass exams; the university states German as the teaching language. Proof of proficiency is typically required for enrolment. The degree awards 90 ECTS over four semesters and is offered part-time.
You develop advanced orthodontic diagnostics and treatment planning skills. Core topics include aetiology and morphogenesis, comprehensive orthodontic diagnostics, and structured planning with fixed and functional appliances. You also work on orthodontic-surgical therapy and interdisciplinary case concepts for complex indications.
Digital orthodontics and aligner therapy form a central pillar. Stepwise modules in digital aligner therapy and “digital aspects in theory and practice” cover intraoral scanning, virtual set-up and simulation, staging and outcome control. You practise critical case selection for aligners and integration into general practice workflows.
You broaden your clinical perspective with early treatment and prevention as well as interfaces with periodontology and prosthodontics. Interdisciplinary subject areas help you coordinate pre-prosthetic orthodontics and periodontal stability in long-term treatment outcomes.
Scientific and professional skills round off the curriculum. You refresh scientific methodology and evidence-based decision-making and build management skills for practice organisation, quality assurance and communication. A capstone assessment concludes the programme; case discussions run throughout to ensure clinical transfer.
Electives and focus areas: you can place emphases in Digitalisation as well as at the interfaces with Periodontology and Prosthodontics. The study concept combines academic learning with practice-based training through 18 on-site seminars plus online modules and practical phases in specialist practices. Fresenius is a Fachhochschule (university of applied sciences) and the university is staatlich anerkannt (state-recognised).
How does studying in the Orthodontics and Aligner Therapy (M.Sc.) work?
You study part-time over four semesters while continuing to work. Teaching combines 18 compact on-site seminars with online modules and practice phases in specialist orthodontic practices. Study locations are Wiesbaden and Crailsheim in cooperation with the IBIZ private institute.
Teaching language and what this means for you
The teaching language is German. All classes, case discussions and assessments are held in German. You should be comfortable with clinical communication and specialist terminology. Proof of adequate German proficiency is required for admission; plan time to prepare if you have not studied in German before.
Study model and where you will attend
The programme is part-time (berufsbegleitend). Seminars take place in Wiesbaden and Crailsheim; credit points are earned both at Fresenius University of Applied Sciences and at the IBIZ institute (Weinheim). Wiesbaden, the capital of Hesse, offers a well-connected, green city environment; the modern campus is the university’s newest site. Crailsheim provides access to specialised facilities and treatment workflows through the cooperation.
Learning format, cohort feel and supervision
Teaching is practice-oriented and case-based. You learn in compact blocks, combining theory with hands-on digital planning and structured case discussions with experienced teaching staff from universities and clinical practice. Small groups promote exchange and personalised feedback. Practical phases allow you to apply new methods directly in patient pathways.
Assessments and workload management
Assessments are spread across modules and culminate in a final examination. Expect a mix of written work, case presentations and practical or oral components aligned with the subject matter. Workload is designed for working dentists: online elements can be integrated flexibly, and on-site sessions are bundled – but attendance is mandatory, so plan travel time well.
What does the Orthodontics and Aligner Therapy (M.Sc.) cost?
Tuition is €1,250 per month. Over the standard duration of 24 months this totals approximately €30,000 in tuition. There is no separate enrolment fee stated. Budget additionally for travel and accommodation for the 18 on-site seminars in Wiesbaden and Crailsheim, plus specialist literature and digital tools you may wish to use.
Payment is typically arranged in monthly instalments. The university highlights options such as scholarships or study loans; terms depend on your personal situation and country of residence. As a working professional, many students spread costs across the two years to align with practice income.
Living costs: Wiesbaden is a prosperous Rhine-Main city with higher rents than smaller towns. If you plan longer stays around seminar blocks, include short-term accommodation, local transport and meals in your budget. The hybrid design limits continuous living costs on site, but travel expenses can add up.
What careers and recognition does the Orthodontics and Aligner Therapy (M.Sc.) offer?
The programme is offered by a state-recognised university of applied sciences and the degree is accredited. With 90 ECTS credits, the Master follows the Bologna framework used across Europe, which supports international readability of your qualification.
What this means in practice: the Master of Science is an academic degree that signals advanced clinical and digital expertise to employers, referrers and patients. It can strengthen your position in Germany and the EU, ease cross-border recognition discussions through the ECTS system, and open doors to teaching or research collaborations.
Typical career directions include:
- Expanding orthodontic and aligner services in your general dental practice, taking on more complex cases
- Clinical roles in multi-disciplinary clinics or dental centres with a focus on digital orthodontics
- Digital treatment planning, case management and clinical lead functions for aligner workflows
- Positions in the dental industry, especially in aligner systems, digital planning software or clinical education
Important to know: this academic Master does not replace the regulated German specialist training for “Fachzahnärztin/Fachzahnarzt für Kieferorthopädie”. Access to strictly regulated professional titles depends on national regulations and separate pathways.
Who is the Orthodontics and Aligner Therapy (M.Sc.) right for – and who not?
This degree suits practising dentists who want to deepen orthodontic skills and master digital aligner workflows while continuing to work. It is built for immediate clinical transfer, with compact attendance blocks, case discussions and practical phases.
- You are a practising dentist and want to plan and deliver orthodontic and aligner treatments confidently
- You aim to build a strong digital workflow from scanning to virtual set-up and outcome control
- You value small-group teaching, expert feedback and structured case discussions
- You prefer a part-time format that lets you study alongside your practice responsibilities
- You want an accredited, state-recognised Master of Science to strengthen your profile in Germany and the EU
There are also clear cases where the fit is not ideal. Consider these limitations carefully before you apply.
- The programme is taught in German; without strong German skills you will struggle in seminars, clinics and exams
- Attendance is required at 18 on-site seminars in Germany; if you need a fully online, location-independent programme, this will not work
- This Master does not grant the regulated German specialist title in orthodontics; if that is your goal, pursue the formal “Fachzahnarzt” pathway
- Tuition is significantly higher than at German public universities; if the budget is your primary criterion, weigh costs versus the part-time, practice-oriented design
- If you are not currently in a clinical environment, you may find it hard to apply methods immediately and benefit from the practice phases
Lade…
Advisory Service
Have questions about Academic Programs Orthodontics and Aligner Therapy? Ask your question here, even anonymously. An employee of the institution Fresenius University of Applied Sciences or the editorial team will answer you.
Hi Isla!
The programme's language is German, so I would only recommend it if you are comfortable studying, discussing cases and being assessed in German. In addition, you should expect a requirement to provide proof of your German language proficiency during the admission process (typically C1 according to Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR)).
In our current database, I did not find English-taught Master's programmes specifically in this field. The closest English-taught alternatives in Germany that I found are from public universities:
M.Sc. Esthetic Dentistry – Goethe University Frankfurt: English-taught and part-time, with a broader focus on restorative and aesthetic dentistry, prosthetics, periodontology and dental technology.
M.Sc. Dental Technology – Goethe University Frankfurt: part-time and taught in English. This is probably the closest match if you are interested in digital dental workflows, restorations and dental technology rather than orthodontics.
M.Sc. Oral Implantology – Goethe University Frankfurt: English-taught, blended/part-time, for dentists with implantology experience.
M.Sc. Personalized Oral Implantology and Periodontology – Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz: English-taught and aimed at dentists with at least one year of professional experience, but a full-time programme.
Before applying, please check directly with each provider whether your qualification/licence, professional experience and work schedule match the requirements.