Course types
The BDS or BChD
The Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS or BChD) degree is a five year programme in the UK for undergraduate entry. This course can be abbreviated as BDS or BChD but both result in the same dentistry degree. Dentistry degrees have different names, but they fit into four types.
Standard entry
The Standard Entry Dentistry course is a five year programme which results in a dentistry degree.
Graduate entry
These courses are designed to enable graduates with honours degrees in science subjects, and healthcare professionals with a degree, to study for a BDS. These degrees are usually four years in duration.
Dentistry with a preliminary year
This course takes the form of a five-year standard degree with an additional year at the start, making it a six year course. It is designed for those who achieved highly at A level, or equivalent, but who did not take the required science subjects. The grade requirements tend to be three As at A level, achieved in one sitting. This extra year gives students the necessary science training to catch up. It is not a means of boosting the grades of those who do not meet the entry requirements of standard entry dentistry.
Gateway to Dentistry
These dental degrees are designed for students who are of high ability but who may have had barriers to their learning due to their socioeconomic and/or educational circumstances. These courses are open to UK students only.
Where can you study?
There are sixteen dental schools in the UK. There are also two postgraduate entry dental institutes.
List of standard entry courses
- University of Aberdeen School of Medicine and Dentistry
- Queen’s University Belfast Centre for Dentistry
- University of Birmingham School of Dentistry
- University of Bristol Dental School
- Cardiff University School of Dentistry
- University of Dundee School of Dentistry
- University of Glasgow Dental School
- University of Leeds Dental Institute
- University of Liverpool School of Dentistry
- King’s College London Dental Institute
- Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry
- University of Manchester School of Dentistry
- Newcastle University School of Dental Sciences
- University of Plymouth Peninsula Dental School
- University of Sheffield School of Clinical Dentistry
List of graduate entry courses
- University of Aberdeen School of Medicine and Dentistry
- University of Central Lancashire School of Dentistry
- King’s College London Dental Institute (4 years)
- King’s College London Dental Institute (3 years – medically qualified applicants only)