BDS Dentistry (first-year entry)

Tuition fees for home students commencing their studies in September 2024 will be £9,250. Tuition fees for international students, including EU, will be £36,500 for year 1 of study. Clinical tuition fees (years 2-5) are charged at the future rate which is applicable when you enter Year 2. Clinical fees for students entering Year 2 in 2024 will be £58,000. These fees are subject to change with inflation each year.

For general information, please see the undergraduate finance pages.

When on the clinics you will need to wear a tunic - which cost approximately £25 each - as well as black trousers or skirt and black leather duty shoes that are close fitting around the toes and heels.

There will be travel costs when attending community clinics in the Greater Manchester area from Year 4. There is no discounted parking on campus for students if you have a car.

Our standard A-level offer is AAA including Chemistry and Biology/Human Biology. You must also meet the GCSE requirements.

A combination of three sciences is equally acceptable at A-level. However, our offer will not include combinations of very similar subjects, for example, Biology and Human Biology or Maths and Further Maths together.

Where the science A-level syllabus is available with a practical element this also must be offered and passed.

Typical Contextual A-level offer: AAB (including non-science subjects).

If you have studied an advanced curriculum, where the examinations are spread over three years, please contact the admissions office  prior to submitting an application.

We have no specific requirements at AS-level. However, we would normally expect students to demonstrate a commitment towards achieving a broad and balanced education. Most applicants will therefore be studying beyond the 'bare minimum' in order to make the most competitive application possible.

You may wish to evidence this on your application in a number of ways, for example:

• studying four A-level subjects;
• studying for an additional AS level or BTEC qualification in addition to your three main subjects;
• taking General Studies, Key Skills or the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) in addition to your three main subjects.

We are aware that you may not be able to take the above qualifications at school or college and therefore we allow applicants to provide evidence of participating in other activities aimed at increasing social responsibility, for example, National Citizen Service (NCS) or the Duke of Edinburgh award in lieu of a formal qualification. A list of other suggested activities is provided on our FAQ page. If in doubt, please contact us.

Please note that if your school is unable to offer any of the above, they should state this in the UCAS reference and you will not be disadvantaged as a result.

Applicants with a WP/WP Plus flag are exempt.

Although we warmly welcome applicants with Critical Thinking, Citizenship, EPQ, Key Skills or General Studies qualifications, these will not usually form part of the formal AAA offer.

The University of Manchester welcomes the provision of unit information where available.  Like all other information provided by applicants this may be taken into consideration when assessing your application.  Unit grades will not normally form part of an offer conditions.

We require at least seven GCSEs at grade 7 (A) or above.

English Language, Mathematics and at least two science subjects are required at GCSE minimum grade 6 (B). If Dual Award Science or Core and Additional Science are offered, the minimum required is 66 (BB).

For applicants whose status has been confirmed as WP+ or WP++ using the University's Contextual Data Eligibility tool, we will accept 6 GCSEs at Grade 7 (A) or above.

We permit GCSE resits. If you are resitting any GCSEs at the point of application, we require you to list it as a pending qualification on your UCAS form.

We do not currently accept short courses; however, Level 2 BTEC qualifications are acceptable (at distinction grade or above) in lieu of one GCSE.

If you are offering an international equivalent to GCSEs and this is not listed on our international entry requirements page, please contact the School of Medical Sciences Admissions Office to check the suitability of the qualification.

Due to the phased introduction of GCSE reform in England, we will accept a mixture of GCSE grading scales. We can confirm our position in terms of equivalencies:

• A* = 8
• A = 7
• B = 6
• C = 4

36 points are required overall (to include core points) with at least 666 at higher level. If Maths and English Language are not offered as part of the Diploma, they should be offered at GCSE or IGCSE at grade B (6) or above.

Major subjects must include Chemistry and Biology, plus one further subject at higher level. We accept both Maths options as part of the Diploma.

We welcome applications from overseas students. Country-specific information can be found on the University website. However, this is for general information only, as specific entry requirements may be different for the Dentistry course.

Please contact us at ug.dentistry@manchester.ac.uk to check specific requirements for your country before you apply for the Dentistry course.

Scottish Highers

We require 4 Highers at grades AAAA by the end of Secondary 5. Grades should be achieved in the same sitting at first attempt. English Language and any science subject (Maths, Chemistry or Biology) not taken at Higher/Advanced Higher must have been achieved at SCQF level 5 (National 5, Intermediate II or Standard Grade Credit level grade 2 or above). Applicants also need Scottish Advanced Highers in addition to Scottish Highers.

Scottish Advanced Highers

We require at least two Advanced Highers at grades AA by the end of Secondary 6. Any of the following combinations are acceptable:

• three Advanced Highers at AAA, including Chemistry and Biology plus one other subject;
• two Advanced Highers at grades AA, plus one A2-level subject at grade A (subjects as above);
• two Advanced Highers at grades AA, plus one new Higher at grade A (subjects to include Chemistry and Biology at Advanced Higher).

You will also need Scottish Highers in addition to Scottish Advanced Highers.

The University welcomes and recognises the value of the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate and usually requires two A Levels or equivalent to be included within this. The minimum grade required will normally be the same as the lowest grade listed in the A-Level entry requirements.

Students will be required to have Chemistry and Biology / Human Biology at A Level and have achieved grade AA.

We require an overall final result of 83% including 8.4 in Biology and Chemistry. We also require a minimum of grade 5 in Maths and English Language.

The University recognises the benefits of the AQA Baccalaureate and the opportunities it provides for applicants to develop independent study and research skills.

In making offers, the University will focus on the three A Levels taken within the AQA Baccalaureate. Students need to check the standard A Level requirements for their chosen course.

The units of broader study, enrichment activities and the Extended Project are considered to be valuable elements of the AQA Baccalaureate and we would therefore strongly encourage students to draw upon these experiences within their personal statement.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma

We do not consider the National Extended Diploma for entry to this course.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma

We do not consider the National Diploma for entry to this course.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Foundation Diploma

We do not consider the National Foundation Diploma for entry to this course.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate

We do not consider the National Extended Certificate for entry to this course.

We do not consider legacy BTEC qualifications (pre-2016) such as the BTEC Extended Diploma, BTEC Diploma, BTEC Subsidiary Diploma, and BTEC Certificate.

If you require further clarification about the acceptability of this qualification please contact the academic School(s) you plan to apply to.

Cambridge Level 3 Technical Extended Diploma (CTEC)

We do not consider the Technical Extended Diploma for entry to this course.

Cambridge Level 3 Technical Diploma (CTEC)

We do not consider the Technical Diploma for entry to this course.

Cambridge Level 3 Technical Foundation Diploma (CTEC)

We do not consider the Technical Foundation Diploma for entry to this course.

Cambridge Level 3 Technical Extended Certificate (CTEC)

We do not consider the Technical Extended Certificate for entry to this course.

We do not consider legacy CTEC qualifications (pre-2016) such as the CTEC Extended Diploma, CTEC Diploma, CTEC Subsidiary Diploma, and CTEC Certificate.

If you require further clarification about the acceptability of this qualification please contact the Academic School(s) you plan to apply to.

We welcome applications from those taking Access qualifications if you have not previously studied at University.

We do not accept Access courses to `top-up' A-level grades that do not meet the normal entry requirements at the first attempt. We also expect applicants to have had at least 3 years out of education prior to starting the Access course.

If you have spent 3 or more years out of education but have previously studied A-levels or other post-16 qualifications you must contact us before applying in order to determine the suitability of an application.

Your Access course must be science-based and you must have 60 credits overall with 45 credits at Level 3. We require a minimum of 15 graded credits each in Biology and Chemistry. We require Distinctions in all Level 3 credits.

Applicants are also required to meet the English language requirements listed above and must offer GCSE Mathematics at Grade B (6).

Due to the lack of a practical element, we do not normally accept qualifications from distance learning Access courses. However, we will consider an appropriate online Access to HE course if you graduated in the summer of 2021 or 2022 only.

We consider applicants offering Pre-U Principal Subjects, or a mix of Pre-U and A Level subjects, provided a minimum of three distinct subjects overall is taken.

The same subject specifications as A-level apply. We require a minimum Pre-U grade of D3 and the standard A-Level grade and subject combination as listed above.

If you require further clarification about the acceptability of this qualification please contact the Academic School(s) you plan to apply to.

We do not accept T Levels as entry onto this course. The University does accept specific T Level qualifications on a number of courses please review to our T Level information page for a full list.

The University recognises the benefits of the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) and the opportunities it provides for applicants to develop independent study and research skills. Although the Extended Project will not be included in the conditions of your offer, we strongly encourage you to provide information about the EPQ in your personal statement and at interview. A number of our academic Schools may also choose to take your performance in the EPQ into account should places be available in August for applicants who narrowly miss the entry grades for their chosen course.

The University welcomes and recognises the value of Level 3 core mathematics qualifications (e.g. AQA Certificate in Mathematical Studies). 

Core Mathematics is not a compulsory element of post-16 study and as a result we will not normally include it in the conditions of any offer made to the student. However, if a student chooses to undertake a core mathematics qualification this may be taken into account when we consider their application, particularly for certain non-science courses with a distinct mathematical or statistical element.

We advise students to contact the academic School, who will clarify whether their specific portfolio of qualifications is acceptable for entry on to their chosen course.

If you are a student who has followed a non-standard educational route, e.g. you have been educated at home; your application will be considered against the standard entry criteria of the course for which you are applying. You will be required to demonstrate that you meet the specified academic entry requirements of the course. We will also require a reference from somebody who knows you well enough, in an official capacity, to write about you and your suitability for higher education. If you are a home schooled student and would like further information or advice please contact the academic School for your chosen course who will be able to help you. 

We welcome applications from graduates or those in their final year of study towards an undergraduate degree. You should have achieved or be predicted a minimum of an upper second (2:1) honours degree and should have achieved a minimum of BBB at A-level (32 in IB) in your first sitting.

Applicants with a relevant science degree are exempted from our subject specification at A-Level, but you must still meet the BBB academic standard. Relevant subjects include most Biomedical and Life Sciences disciplines or other approved courses. Please see our FAQ pages.

Applicants offering other degrees will need to hold at least two science subjects at A-level including Biology and Chemistry.

Please note that we do not accept ordinary or ungraded degrees. If you have a non-relevant degree and don't have the requisite science A-levels you are eligible to apply for our foundation year. Alternatively, you may sit the missing A-level subject(s) and apply for the 5-year course.

We don't accept A-level re-sits for the purpose of improving grades from graduates.

UCAT, Maths at minimum Grade B (6) in GCSE and English Language requirements also apply.

Graduates and final year undergraduates must offer an academic reference on their UCAS form.

In most cases, we expect applicants to satisfy our English Language requirement by offering English language at GCSE grade B (6) or above (or a score of 5 in the International Baccalaureate diploma).

Applicants from outside the UK (including non-native speakers) need to meet specific English language requirements to study at Manchester. We accept:

• IGCSE English first language at grade B or second language at grade A;
• International English Language Testing Service (IELTS): A minimum average score of 7.0 and with not less than 6.5 in any one component taken at the same sitting;
• Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic: An overall score of 65 with no less than 65 in each of the communicative skills domains taken at the same sitting;
• Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE), or Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE): An overall score of 185 with no less than 185 in each of the scoring domains taken at the same sitting;
• a score of 5 at Standard or Higher level as part of the International Baccalaureate diploma.

You must declare your English qualification (including those which are pending) on the UCAS form.

Please contact us prior to application if you are unsure how to satisfy these language requirements.

Graduates: Graduates who have completed a degree conducted entirely in English at a UK institution may be exempt from the English language requirements. Please contact us if you are unsure.

At interview, if we have any concerns about your English language capability regardless of your origin, country of upbringing or existing qualifications, we may require you to take an additional English language test as a condition of any offer we make to you.

Some English Language test results are only valid for two years. Your English Language test report must be valid on the start date of the course.

We require applicants to undertake some relevant work experience prior to application in order that they can gain some insight into what the role of a dentist involves.

Work experience may be paid or voluntary and should include some time spent in a dental setting but can also include examples from other healthcare and related environments. We do not have a requirement on the length of the work experience. We require applicants to demonstrate a commitment to their work experience placements.

As important as the detail of the work experience is the applicant's capacity to reflect on what they have gained from their experiences and the quality of that reflection will be reviewed as part of the selection process.

A key element we are looking for is for applicants to be able to demonstrate some understanding of the qualities and attributes required to become a dentist. Applicants should be aware that we may request confirmation of their work experience.

Please see our FAQ and Non-Academic Information Form pages for more information on work experience.

Applications are first screened according to whether or not they meet our standard academic threshold as given on this page.

Those applications that do not meet the appropriate academic criteria will not progress to the next phase of the screen process, and will receive notification that their application has been unsuccessful through UCAS in due course. 

See the application process page for information on how we consider your application.

Each applicant to study Dentistry at The University of Manchester must complete an online information form with respect to non-academic activities. This form will be sent to all applicants after the 16th October UCAS deadline by the School of Medical Sciences Admissions Office.

We do not make offers without interviews. Please see our interviews  page for more information.

We are pleased to consider applications from non-traditional applicants but would ask that you contact the Admissions Office for advice on suitability for a potential application.

Applicants are required to sit the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UKCAT) in the year they wish to make their application. Please note that the result is valid for one application cycle only. If applicants are reapplying, they must re-sit UCAT.

Further information specific to The University of Manchester is detailed on our UCAT page .

Please note that we do not consider applicants who achieve Band 4 in the Situational Judgement Test (SJT) element of the UCAT. Applicants with a SJT band 3 are welcome to apply. However, we will prioritise applicants who are in bands 1 and 2.

All offers of a place are subject to satisfactory health screening. The health screening is based upon the Higher Education Occupational Physicians/Practitioners (HEOPS) standards of medical fitness to train for dental students.

A potential student may be concerned that their health or disability may affect their ability to fulfil the competency standards of the course. Any such applicants are encouraged to contact the Occupational Health Service and/or The Disability Advisory and Support Service at an early stage in order to explore the situation in depth and consider the feasibility of making reasonable adjustments. Hopefully the process will prove helpful to the student in deciding whether to pursue an application.

In Manchester, you will be introduced to the clinic in the first term. Therefore, you will have to produce satisfactory evidence on non-infectivity with respect to the blood-borne viruses HIV, Hepatitis B and C and Tuberculosis. In addition, you must pass a health screening in Student Occupational Health prior to entry to ensure you are fit to practice.

The health screening requires the completion of a detailed health questionnaire by the applicant and also an appointment with the University's Occupational Health Department. In order to be admitted and continue on the programme, students must be deemed as medically fit for both practice and theory by the Occupational Health Department.

General enquiries about health screening should be addressed to Student Occupational Health, Tel +44 (0)161 275 2858, Fax +44 (0)161 275 3137.

Please see also the Procedure for Admission to Courses Requiring Medical Fitness Assessment [Word 59KB].

You will be required, as part of the non-academic conditions of your offer, to provide a satisfactory Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. In the UK, this takes the form of an Enhanced Level search by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and will reveal any criminal convictions, spent or unspent, as well as any police cautions, warnings or reprimands.

Regulations and record systems in other countries vary. Overseas applicants are encouraged to contact our Admissions Team.

Anyone who considers it possible that a criminal record or other disclosure may reveal any offence must contact the Admissions Team before applying.

We welcome applications from students who wish to defer their entry to the following year, but we prefer this to be indicated at the point of application.

It may not be possible to defer entry once an offer has been made and we are unlikely to be able to consider any requests after the release of A-level results.

We do not have any specific requirements for how you use your gap year, but we would expect it to have been used constructively.

We welcome applications from those re-sitting their A-levels, though applicants may only re-sit one of either Year 12 or Year 13.

Where A-levels have been attempted in Year 13, applicants are expected to have obtained a minimum of grade B in each subject at the first sitting for the re-sit grades to be considered.

All re-sitting applicants are required to achieve Grades A*AA in the A-level subjects specified above, and the A* is expected to be achieved in the final examinations in either one of the dropped subjects at the discretion of the School.

If you have applied in previous years and your application has been unsuccessful on two consecutive occasions, future applications will not be considered.

We would require re-applicants to continue with their work experience in their year out and would also expect to see a material difference in their application from the previous year. We may draw upon all information from your previous applications or any previous registrations at the University as a student when assessing your suitability for your chosen course.

All re-applicants must retake the UCAT and provide updated information that refers to the initial application and chronicles subsequent events.

Applicants applying with achieved qualifications must explain in their personal statement what they are doing during the gap year.

Due to the highly integrated structure of the degree course, we do not grant exemptions from subjects. Transfers from other institutions are not considered. If you feel that you have embarked on the wrong course elsewhere, and who wish to be considered for entry to study dentistry and The University of Manchester, you should first complete your current programme of study, or be in the final year before you apply to us. We do not consider applications from students who have started a clinical programme elsewhere.

A key feature of the course is integration between theory and practice, and early learning and teaching in the clinical context is central to this. As such, clinical subjects are taught alongside the basic dental science subjects from Year 1.

This allows links to be made between the relationship of disease processes to body structure and function, and the behavioural sciences to patient treatment.

The course is designed around five themes:

1. Human Health and Disease
2. The Mouth in Health and Disease
3. Clinical Competence:
   • Diagnostic Skills
   • Manual Skills and Dexterity
   • Problem Solving
   • Patient Management
4. Scientific Understanding and Thought
5. Team working, Communication Skills, ICT, reflective practice

Dedicated teams have worked to develop these themes to ensure that your knowledge and skills develop over the five years of the course.

Basic building blocks:

• Orofacial Biology 1
• Healthy Living 1 (a healthy body)
• Team Working, Professionalism and Patient Management 1
• Patient Assessment 1

Building your knowledge, skills and attitudes:

• Orofacial Biology 2
• Healthy Living 2 (a healthy mouth)
• Team Working, Professionalism and Patient Management 2
• Patient Assessment 2
• Disease Management 2

Integrating knowledge, skills and attitudes:

• Orofacial Biology 3
• Healthy Living 3 (a healthy mind)
• Team Working, Professionalism and Patient Management 3
• Patient Assessment 3
• Disease Management 3
• Participation in the Manchester Leadership Programme (MLP)

Achieving clinical competence:

• Orofacial Biology 4
• Team Working, Professionalism and Patient Management 4
• Patient Assessment 4
• Disease Management 4

Moving to professional competence:

• Team Working, Professionalism and Patient Management 5
• Preparation for Independent Practice
• The Complex Patient

Practical support and advice for current students and applicants is available from the Disability Advisory and Support Office .

This Bachelor of Dental Surgery degree is accredited as a qualification registerable with the General Dental Council .