Choosing a Dental School
After completing some work experience and being sure that you want to study Dentistry, it is time to choose which Dental School to apply to.
Every Dental School in the UK is unique. The differences between them all can be confusing and it can be difficult to narrow them down to only four. The goal is to select a Dental School that matches your learning style and will serve you best.
This page outlines some of the questions relating to selecting Dental Schools.
Dental Schools UK: What Are The Different Dental Course Types?
Dental Schools have different teaching styles that might impact which Dental School you choose. The types of teaching are:
First take some time to research how the different course structures vary, then decide which match your learning style best.
Dental Schools UK: Can I Do A Foundation Year?
Foundation courses are suitable for those students who have no completed A Levels in the required subjects. They include a preliminary year that involves learning pre-clinical information and covers the foundation levels of science required to study Dentistry.
These courses run for six years rather than the usual five year Dentistry programme.
Dental Schools UK: How Important Are UKCAT and BMAT?
This varies between Dental Schools. Each Dental School usually specifies how they use UKCAT and BMAT scores in their selection process.
Remember, you will already know your UKCAT score prior to sending off your UCAS application. This means that you can tailor your choice of Dental School to fit your UKCAT result!
However, the BMAT is sat after applications have been submitted. This means that there is a greater degree of risk involved and it is wise to limit the number of BMAT universities you are applying to, so that you have some ‘back-up’ choices in case you don’t perform well in the BMAT.
Dental Schools UK: How Important is Location?
Location might play a role in deciding which Dental Schools to apply for. Things to take into account are:
- distance from home
- cost of living
- demographic of patients you will be treating.
It is important, however, that at the interview stage you focus on discussing the course itself, rather than implying that you have applied to a certain university due to location. This is with the exception of patient demographic which can be discussed as a minor point if it is related back to learning opportunities.
Dental Schools UK: What Are Intercalated Dentistry Degrees?
An intercalated degree means that you will get a BSc (or equivalent) from taking a year out of Dentistry to study another subject. This usually occurs between second and third year.
The possibility of completing an intercalated degree depends on the University so this should be researched prior to applying.
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