Advice on how to increase your chances of studying Dentistry at University

The most important element of your application is your academic profile; there is little room for manoeuvre if you do not meet the required grades. At GCSE, the requirements can vary widely, but grade 7 or above in most subjects, particularly the core subjects is going to be beneficial. At A level, there is less variation in required grades and most courses expect AAA. The majority of dental schools will expect two of these grades to come from A level Biology and Chemistry, though a small number of universities will accept alternative combinations. It is important to note that if you do not meet these grades, it is unlikely that you will be accepted.

Building up a profile of dentistry-specific work experience and a range of other voluntary work helps to show the admissions officers that you really mean business. You should aim to build up a variety of experience over a long period of time; students who cram experience into the summer holiday after their first year of A levels are less likely to present as truly dedicated applicants. Most courses require that you have undertaken at least two weeks of direct work experience with a dentist, so this should be your first priority. Online work experience is a good place to start but trying to get face-to-face experience where possible is a good idea. After that, aim for ongoing voluntary work in clinical or care-based settings to demonstrate your commitment to a career in a care role.

Universities have been using clinical pre-admissions tests for a number of years and they continue to be a major challenge to students pursuing entry to study

dentistry. All universities use the UCAT, a computer-based aptitude test. The test is losing one of the previous sections for the 2025 cycle, which means that new scores will not be directly comparable with ones taken in previous years. Careful research and ongoing practice for the UCAT is needed to maximise your chances of securing a high score.

The personal statement remains as important as ever and gives you an opportunity to demonstrate to the admissions team your motivation, skills and interests. This is not something that can be done easily, so your statement needs lots of thought and will need to be drafted and redrafted many times before it is perfect. This cannot be left until the last minute, so it is important to start work on it as soon as possible. For the 2025-26 cycle and beyond, UCAS have modified the personal statement so that students now break their statement into three sections in response to three questions.

Universities use either a traditional panel interview or the Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) to determine whether a student is suited to study dentistry. These interviews are increasingly complex and rigorous, so long-term preparation and practice are vital to ensure that a student succeeds. They often involve the student reflecting on why they want to pursue a career in dentistry, what they have learned during their work experience and consideration of ethical scenarios, as well as practical tasks and opportunities to provide instructions. Most of these interviews are in person, but a number of universities also interview online via platforms such as MS Teams or Zoom.

Many students who do not achieve the A level grades they wanted first time round too often conclude that their dreams to become a dentist are over. This is certainly not the case as there are courses that consider retake students. The afore mentioned points are all relevant to a retake student, but all such students are advised to contact dental schools directly before applying to check whether their circumstances make them eligible to be considered. For example, some dental schools stipulate certain minimum grade attainment during the first sitting of A levels.