Dentistry courses in the UK are demanding at both an academic and technical level, rivalling medicine as one of the most challenging degrees in the world to complete. Dentistry degrees have students focus on studying the cause, prevention, management and treatment of oral and dental disease. Typically, dentistry courses in the UK last for five years or six if a foundation year is required.
The most common type of dental qualification is the BDS degree (Bachelor of Dental Surgery), whilst students who wish to focus on a particular area of expertise can choose to then study for a master's in dentistry.
A dentistry degree in the UK is one of the most competitive courses to apply for, and successful applicants will require strong academic grades, the commitment to complete a long degree and the practical and mental skills needed to concentrate over long periods. This will result in the knowledge, experience, and transferable skills necessary to work within the dental profession.
The cost of studying for a dentistry degree (BDS) in the UK ranges from £22,200 to £55,000 per year. Please note that these figures are for tuition fees only and do not include other expenses such as accommodation, living costs, or additional fees.
To help with the costs of tuition fees, accommodation, and living expenses involved with a dentistry degree in the UK, there are various scholarships, bursaries, and grants available to apply for. Some of the most sought-after scholarships for Indian students looking to study dentistry include:
Cowrie Scholarship: Newcastle University and The Cowrie Scholarship Foundation offer at least one yearly scholarship to support Black African and Caribbean heritage applicants from disadvantaged backgrounds.
MSc Dental Public Health Aubrey Sheiham Scholarship: UCL offers two one-year scholarships for full-time students undertaking the MSc in Dental Public Health, with £2,500 for home students and £5,000 for overseas students.
Professor David Locker Scholarship: The University of Sheffield offers two £7,500 scholarships for postgraduate study in Social Science, Oral Health, and Dentistry, established in honour of the late Professor David Locker.
Barts and The London Alumni Association Student Bursaries: Dr Richard Callander Hudson's Student Bursary provides £2,000 over three years for MBBS medical students, and Professor Wright's Student Bursary offers the same amount for BDS dental students at Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry.
Dentistry graduates initially begin employment as trainees in the NHS or the private sector. Because of the highly specialised skill set that dentistry graduates have, they can choose to specialise in a particular area early in their career before making changes later on.
Orthodontist: Orthodontists are specialists who correct the alignment of teeth and jaws, including overcrowding, alignment issues and crooked teeth. Orthodontist degrees in the UK are generally available at the master's level, meaning students will need to obtain an undergraduate dentistry degree first successfully.
Periodontist: Any disease or problem associated with the gums of an individual is assisted and corrected by a Periodontist. They treat any damaged tissues or use preventive measures if there are signs of gum decay.
Endodontists: Endodontists are skilled in treating problems that are associated with the roots of teeth. Any pain in the tooth is taken care of by an Endodontist, and normal treatments include root canal surgery, tooth extraction, etc.
Prosthodontist: Prosthodontists are dentists who work on restorative work to repair any damage that might have happened during an accident. These restorations can be minor or major, including missing teeth, jaw alignment, etc. They are also classified as cosmetic dentists, as they improve how the jaw and teeth appear.
Oral Pathologist or Surgeon: These dentists have a wide array of fixations to work on, including not just the jaw but the face, throat and ear as well. A variety of surgeries, procedures and implants are looked at by oral pathologists that might have happened due to deformation or accidents.
General Dentists: General dentists handle the day-to-day requirements of patients, such as routine checkups, fillings, cleaning and bleaching.
If you have a science background and want to plan and prepare your pathway to a challenging and rewarding profession, then dentistry could be the right career decision for you. The UK is home to some of the best dental colleges in the world for international students, with experienced teaching teams, placement opportunities and state-of-the-art facilities helping students graduate and be career-ready.
Please note that entry requirements vary for each UK university.
The UK Clinical Aptitude Test (UKCAT) is part of the selection process of some UK medical and dental schools. It is an online test designed to test cognitive abilities, attitudes, critical thinking, and logical reasoning. There are four reasoning tests and a situational judgement test.
Verbal reasoning. Assesses ability to think logically about written information and arrive at a reasoned conclusion: 21 minutes, with 11 passages to read and 44 questions.
Quantitative reasoning. Assesses ability to solve numerical problems: 24 minutes, 9 tables, charts, graphs etc. as information and 36 questions.
Abstract reasoning. Assesses the ability to infer relationships from information by convergent and divergent thinking: 13 minutes and 55 questions.
Decision analysis. Assesses ability to deal with various forms of information to infer relationships, make informed judgements, and decide on an appropriate response: 32 minutes, 1 scenario full of information and 28 questions (basic calculator provided)
Situational judgement. Measures your responses in situations and your grasp of medical ethics: 27 minutes and 67 questions on 20 scenarios.
The test is taken at your local test centre, with each subtest in a multiple-choice format. Past papers are not available, but there are specimen questions on the UKCAT website. Applicants can take the UKCAT at the following universities:
Please note that entry requirements vary for each UK university.
To learn more about the best dentistry courses in the UK for Indian students, find details on the top ten ranking dentistry universities in the Guardian University Guide 2025 below:
If you are interested in studying dentistry in the UK, arrange your free consultation with SI-UK India today.
The cost of studying dentistry in the UK begins at £22,200 but can be as high as £55,000 at some universities. There are various aids and scholarships available for international students covering not just their tuition fees but also living expenses. A few of the most rewarding scholarships are the Cowrie Scholarship, MSc Dental Public Health Aubrey Sheiham Scholarship, Professor David Locker Scholarship, and the Barts and The London Alumni Association Student Bursaries.
Dentistry degrees in the UK typically are completed over a 5-year period, the most common of which is a Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS). However, if a foundation degree is required first, this will add another year.
To become a dentist in the UK, you must complete a degree in dentistry, which is a competitive field. Dentistry entry requirements at any dental school at a UK university are high because of the highly skilled nature of the degree. Places are also extremely limited, so before applying, students should ensure they meet the following criteria:
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