Dentistry is a popular degree in the UK that is taught across 16 different universities. With caps on available places and tens of thousands of applicants, it can be tough to get your offer.
Therefore, strict entry requirements are put in place to ensure the best applicants are able to stand out and get their place. In this guide, we’ll explore these entry requirements so you can learn what it takes to get into dental school.
UK Dentistry Degrees
In the UK, there are 16 dedicated dental schools that teach various forms of dentistry and oral health courses. These universities are:
Undergraduate Dentistry Courses
Graduate Dentistry Courses
These are the universities that teach standard Dentistry courses (BDS A200), but similar degrees are also taught at these universities, as well as universities not listed above. These courses include Dental Therapy, Dental Hygiene and Oral Health Science.
As well as this, there are two postgraduate Dentistry courses in the UK, taught at the University of Edinburgh and University College London (UCL).
Do Oxford and Cambridge teach Dentistry?
No, neither the University of Oxford or the University of Cambridge teach any form of dentistry course. Each of these universities has a medical school, but they have no history of teaching dentistry.
Early preparation is the key to a successful Dentistry application.
Dentistry is a popular degree in the UK, so writing the perfect Personal Statement, getting a good score on the UCAT and interviewing like a pro is how you get your dream offer.
Discover our Dentistry Full-Blue Programme for comprehensive admissions support by clicking the button below to enrol and triple your chances of success.
Dentistry Entry Requirements
Below are all of the major entry requirements for UK Dentistry applicants. These requirements primarily relate to undergraduate courses, though some additional information is provided for graduate courses where needed.
GCSEs
All Dentistry courses in the UK have required grades for GCSEs, though these requirements can vary greatly between universities. Minimum grades can range anywhere from Grade 4 to Grade 8, while require subjects can include Mathematics, English Language, Chemistry and Biology.
Beyond specific grades, other universities, such as Manchester and Cardiff, require applicants to have a minimum number of grades in any subject, usually 6 or 7 Grades 7+. It’s important to check these requirements at each dentistry school you’re considering, as the requirements may be more or less strict.
A-Levels
A-Levels are one of the primary factors by which your application will be assessed and are the main requirement for confirming your place once an offer has been made. The minimum grade requirement for more courses is AAA, although King’s College London and Queen Mary both request A*AA (Plymouth as states that a standard offer can fall between AAB and A*AA).
As well as the grade requirement, all Dentistry courses require applicants to complete qualifications in specific subjects. These are usually Biology and/or Chemistry, although Physics and Mathematics are sometimes considered as alternatives alongside one of them.
Contextual offers can be made at some universities, which will lower the requirements by up to three grades, although the most common contextual offers are AAB – ABB. These will be offered to students who have proof of extenuating circumstances.
Let’s review the requirements for the top dental schools:
King’s College London Dentistry A-Level Requirements
A*AA, including an A in Chemistry or Biology and an A in Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Mathematics or Psychology.
Queen Mary Dentistry A-Level Requirements
A*AA, including an A in Chemistry or Biology and an A in Chemistry, Biology, Physics or Mathematics.
Dundee Dentistry A-Level Requirements
AAA, including Biology and Chemistry.
Glasgow Dentistry A-Level Requirements
AAA, including Biology and Chemistry.
Birmingham Dentistry A-Level Requirements
AAA, including Biology/Human Biology and Chemistry.
Manchester Dentistry A-Level Requirements
AAA, including Biology/Human Biology and Chemistry.
Alternative Qualifications
Beyond A-Levels, UK dental schools will also accept a variety of other equivalent qualifications, although there is variance between universities as to which ones are considered.
Scottish Advanced Highers are universally accepted across UK medical schools, usually with a minimum grade requirement of AAAAB – AAAAA Higher. Other qualifications like BTECs are less widely accepted, though universities like Leeds and Sheffield will consider them.
For international applicants, the primary qualification that is considered is the International Baccalaureate. This is a qualification that can be taken from many different countries across the globe and is universally accepted across UK dental schools.
The standard grade requirements for this qualification fall between 35 and 37, with up to 666 at Higher Level in relevant subjects like Chemistry and Biology. Contextual offers are available for any alternative qualification when offered for A-Levels.
UCAS Personal Statement
Like any other degree in the UK, you must submit a Personal Statement to each of your chosen universities through your UCAS application. For Dentistry applicants, the entire UCAS application, including the Personal Statement, must be submitted by the 15th of October, which is several months before the usual deadline in January.
Because of the UCAT and interviews, your Personal Statement isn’t as important to your application as it would be for other courses. However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t put time and effort into writing an effective statement, as it will still be a significant consideration for some universities.
When writing your statement, make sure to highlight relevant experiences (including work placements), research, and studies you’ve undertaken in the field. Self-reflection is crucial for a strong Personal Statement, so be sure to focus on how you’ve developed as an applicant, rather than simply listing what you’ve done.
Our Ultimate Personal Statement Guide covers more advice on how to write an effective Personal Statement, so be sure to check it out before beginning the process.
UCAT
Just like UK medicine degrees, all undergraduate dentistry applicants need to complete the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) in order to be considered for Dentistry.
This admissions test is a four-part multiple-choice quiz that tests applicants on a variety of essential thinking skills. The test isn’t subject specific, so no subject knowledge will be required to succeed in it.
The test is utilised in different ways at each dental school, with some placing cut-offs and minimum scores and others placing no score requirement for the test. Here are some examples of UCAT requirements set by UK dental schools:
Queen Mary Dentistry UCAT Requirements
Fourth decile or above, SJT Bands 1- 3.
Bristol Dentistry UCAT Cut Off Score (2024 Entry)
2920 (home applicants) and 2960 (overseas applicants).
Liverpool Dentistry UCAT Requirements
SJT Bands 1- 3.
Plymouth Dentistry UCAT Cut Off Score (2024 Entry)
2610 (home applicants) and 2630 (overseas applicants).
Be aware that, for graduate courses, applicants may sometimes need to take the Graduate Medical School Admissions Test (GAMSAT) instead of the UCAT. This test consists of both Multiple-Choice questions and essay questions, and features subject-specific content relating to Humanities, Social Sciences, Biology and Physics.
Applicants who don’t speak English as a first language will need to complete an English Language Proficiency Test, although this can be completed after offers have been received. The most commonly used test is the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).
Interviews
In most cases, the last step of the admissions process is the interview. All dental schools require shortlisted applicants to complete at least one interview, which can take one of multiple forms.
The two most common dentistry interview formats are the Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) and the structured panel interview. The later is a traditional interview structure between an interviewee and one of more interviewers from the dental school.
The MMI is a more unique interview format commonly used in UK medical schools. In an MMI, applicants will need to move across multiple stations – usually 4 – 7 in a session. Each station lasts 5 – 10 minutes and features a unique question or task that the applicant must complete. These can be anything from standard interview questions to practical tasks or role-playing scenarios.
Interviews are held either in-person or remotely, depending on the university, so this may impact the types of tasks you’re given at an MMI. You will be given details on where your interview will be conducted if you are shortlisted, but it’s a good idea to check on the university website earlier on in the preparation process so that you are aware and can begin practicing sooner.
Conclusion
After reading this guide, you should now have a better understanding of what you need to do to earn your offer for Dentistry in the UK. It’s a tough process, but it’s necessary to help dental schools find the right students to offer their limited places to. If you’re able to successfully navigate this process, you will have proven that you’ll be a great dentist in the future!
While these are the minimum requirements, it’s essential to strive to exceed them whenever possible to make your application truly competitive. This involves thorough preparation for every aspect of your application, although support is available to help enhance your chances of success.
If you’re worried about the process, you may want to access additional support from admissions experts. UniAdmissions’ Dentistry Full-Blue Programme offers you unlimited support from an expert dentistry tutor as well as extensive resources, live sessions and much more. No matter how you choose to start your preparation, we hope this guide has helped you understand the process and get you on the right path. Good luck!
Our expert tutors will guide you to Dentistry success.
Applying to one of the UK’s most popular courses is extremely competitive, so you’ll need to give your application a boost to have the best chance of success. We help you craft the perfect Personal Statement, achieve a highly competitive UCAT score and teach you how to interview effectively – supporting you in all areas of your application.
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