The Bologna Process and health science education: times are changing

CONTEXT: The Bologna Declaration of 1999 has led to the initiation of profound changes within the European Higher Education Area. METHODS: This paper gives an overview of the Bologna Process, reviews the developments within European dental education that have arisen as a result of the Process, and describes the impact of the continuation of the Process on health science education in the UK. CONCLUSIONS: The Bologna Process has led to the establishment of the European Higher Education Area, which is committed to implementing a series of action lines by 2010. Currently, we are just over halfway to 2010, and the importance of UK higher education institutions engaging with the Bologna Process is stressed.