Study Dentistry (BDS)

A good application relies on more than just good grades. Click here to find out how to make the most of your application.

Click here for further information on how to apply, how we manage your application and our admissions policy.

Being a dental student is hard work, but there is still time for fun! Click here to read about some of the societies and clubs on offer throughout the University and hear what some of our current students think about Aberdeen. 

The School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition also have a great selection of student societies.  Click here to find out more. 

Click here to read about former students experiences of studying at the Institute of Dentistry.  

General 

• If I miss the deadline for handing in my application form, how will this affect my application?
• When should students hear the results of an application?
• Do all Dental Schools have the same admissions policy?
• How do you decide how many places you have available?
• Can I transfer on to your course?
• What happens if I fail to meet a conditional offer made?

Academic Requirements

• What A-Level results do I need?
• Can I apply to study dentistry when I finish school?
• Will I get into dentistry by studying Biomedical Sciences?
• What if my degree isn't Medical or Health-related science?
• I have a 2:2 Honours degree and wish to study Dentistry. If I undertake an MSc will this improve my academic score?

Non-Academic Requirements

• Can I submit additional information to support my UCAS application?
• Should I list all my paid employment, or just relevant work-experience?

UKCAT

• What is your cut off for the UKCAT?
• If I have a degree in Medicine, do I have to complete the UKCAT test?

Interview

• Do you interview applicants?

International Applications

• Do you accept applications from international applicants?

Deferred Entry

• Can I take a gap year?
• Will taking a year out increase my chances of being offered a place?

Previous Years Admission Data

• Admissions data for 2013 entry

General

If I miss the deadline for handing in my application form, how will this affect my application?

• The closing date for Dentistry is 18:00 (GMT) 16^th October, and we don’t normally accept late applications.

When should students hear the results of an application?

• Interviews take place from February to March. You should be able to access the outcome of your application through UCAS Track by the beginning of April at the latest.

Do all Dental Schools have the same admissions policy?

• No, many are very similar but academic requirements, interview policy and undergraduate curricula may vary. Students should research the entry requirements and admissions procedure at each individual institution and plan their school studies and UCAS application accordingly.

How do you decide how many places you have available?

• You will be aware that entry to this programme is highly competitive, attracting large numbers of applications from highly qualified and motivated applicants.  Additionally, we are required to manage the number of students admitted to our programme from different parts of the UK, in order to meet targets set by the Scottish Government and the Scottish Funding Council, which are set annually.

Can I transfer on to your course?

• We do not allow transfers on to our BDS degree programme to students who have commenced other degree courses. Nor can the School consider applicants who have commenced an alternate degree course with the intention of making an application for dentistry whilst they are an undergraduate student of that course.

What happens if I fail to meet a conditional offer made?

• When degree results are available in June, the Admissions Panel considers all applications. If you are in any doubt about meeting the conditions of your offer please contact Dental Admissions.

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Academic Requirements

What A-Level results do I need?

• We do not consider A-Level results in the academic score. It is based solely on your final/predicted degree result.

Can I apply to study dentistry when I finish school?

• Unfortunately we are unable to consider applications for this programme of study from school leavers, as the degree is only available to graduates. Our best advice would be for you to study a degree, such as Biomedical Science and achieve at least an Upper Second Class Honours qualification. Find out more information on our Biomedical Science course on the School of Medical Sciences website.

Will I get into dentistry by studying Biomedical Sciences?

• It is not a guaranteed route into Dentistry, although we do receive a large number of applications from biomedical science graduates.

What if my degree isn't Medical or Health-related science?

• We recommend that potential applicants send a copy of their degree transcript to dentistry@abdn.ac.ukfor clarification on their degree suitability. Please send as much information as possible including module titles and content.

I have a 2:2 Honours degree and wish to study Dentistry. If I undertake an MSc will this improve my academic score?

• Due to the large number of graduate applicants with a 2.1 Honours degree or better, an additional qualification such as an MSc will not improve chances of acceptance.

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Non-Academic Requirements

Can I submit additional information to support my UCAS application?

• We are happy to receive such paperwork, but advise that documents should be sent to Dental Admissions at the time that the UCAS form is submitted. Only then can we guarantee that this information will be linked to the UCAS file in time to be sent to Selectors when the application forms are scored.

Should I list all my paid employment, or just relevant work-experience?

• Relevant experience is very useful, but there are often problems in obtaining this. What we are looking for is an understanding of what a career in dentistry entails, and that your perceptions aren’t just based on what you have seen on TV! In addition, you should list all your paid employment, expanding on what you’ve learnt from it in your personal statement.

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UKCAT

What is your cut off for the UKCAT?

• We do not have a cut off for the UKCAT. The score allocated is based upon an applicant’s overall performance in the UKCAT compared with the performance of all other applicants to Aberdeen. Achievements are ranked in deciles and allocated the appropriate score.

If I have a degree in Medicine, do I have to complete the UKCAT test?

• Yes. The UKCAT forms part of our scoring system and therefore an application cannot be considered without this.

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Interview

Do you interview applicants?

• We apply an Objective Scoring System to the UCAS application, to produce a score that, in combination with an academic score, shortlists for interview. Each year we plan to interview about 60 applicants. This is an opportunity for us to meet you and assess non-academic attributes that are difficult to assess on paper, such as communication skills. It is also a chance for you to demonstrate why you want to be a dentist, ask questions and visit the dental school.

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International Applications

Do you accept applications from international applicants?

• Unfortunately, at present we are unable to consider applications for the BDS from International students.

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Deferred Entry

Can I take a gap year?

• Some students prefer to secure a place at university for a year ahead, allowing them to "take a year out" before entering dental school to start their studies. Perhaps they wish to undertake projects abroad with a voluntary organisation or to work to raise finance to support themselves through university. These are valid reasons to defer an application. However, deferred entry will not be granted to applicants whose current courses of study will not be complete at the start of the 'deferred' year or those part way through an undergraduate degree programme.
  
  We expect applicants to have a clear plan of activity for the year, preferably involving work of a caring nature. Admissions Selectors will certainly look favourably upon applications which include as much relevant experience in healthcare as possible. The decision to apply for deferred entry should be noted on the UCAS form at the time of application. A request to defer once an offer of a place has been given for the current admissions cycle cannot normally be considered.

Will taking a year out increase my chances of being offered a place?

• It does not really matter - we judge all applications on their merits. As long as you have a clear plan about what you want to do, preferably involving work of a caring nature, it won't affect your application

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Admissions data for 2013 entry

Deferred Offers for 2014 entry: 1