BDS Dental Surgery FAQ's

All applications must meet our minimum academic requirements as listed. 

If a candidate applies with a GCSE profile which does not meet our requirements along with their predicted A levels, their application will be rejected. However, if a candidate were to apply once their A levels have been achieved (take a year out between School and University and apply during a gap year) then we would not look at their GCSE profile but only their A level attainment, so provided they have achieved the A level grades and subjects we are asking for then this would be acceptable. We would not want a candidate to waste a UCAS space, but we also would not want a candidate to discount Birmingham on the strength of a GCSE grade without knowing the options which are still available to them.

We encourage all applicants to gain a minimum of 3 days work experience in an NHS or NHS and private mixed practice setting. Work experience can be difficult to get in practices, but is essential to gain insight into the career of being a Dentist. Often practices cite issues such as insurance or confidentiality as issues, however the linked toolkit from Health Education England can help practices realise their duty to help prospective professionals.

Purely private or other hospital based work experience is not a substitution for NHS or mixed practice work experience. If you do not have the required work experience you may still apply but your application is less likely to be shortlisted for interview than if 3 or more days have been completed. The interview may also have a work experience element incorporated to not completing work experience could also adversely affect interview performance.

The University of Birmingham is committed to providing students from all backgrounds with the opportunity to discover education and research in biomedical sciences and healthcare. Please visit the College of Medical and Dental Sciences website for information on the range of activities offered.

If you are a Pathways to Birmingham applicant who applied before the deadline and have not received an update on your application by 1st January, please contact outreach@contacts.bham.ac.uk.

Our standard offer is AAA at A level including Chemistry and Biology plus one other subject as detailed above. Offers are all conditional and subject to satisfactory DBS and health declarations. Offers are made to candidates who performed best in our interview process. 

We have up to 3 places on the BDS course for overseas candidates. If you have any further questions relating to overseas qualifications, please see our international pages.

Please be aware that no further information on the subjects above can be released by our admissions team. Feedback on individual applications or UCAT scores cannot be given. If you have a query which has not been answered by the above questions and answers, please contact our dental admissions team via email at dentadmissions@contacts.bham.ac.uk or by telephone on (0)121 466 5472.