)
Medicine at UEA
Find out more about studying Medicine at UEA, and browse our other courses.
Find out moreBDS Dental Surgery
Key Details
- Attendance
- Full Time
- Award
- Degree of Bachelor of Dental Surgery
- UCAS Course Code
- A200
- Entry Requirements
- AAA including Biology or Chemistry
- Course Length
- 5 years
- Course Start Date
- September 2027
Other Start Dates
Chat to us on Unibuddy
Any questions? Chat online with current students, staff and experts. This is your chance to ask anything about UEA, university life, Norwich and more.
Other Start Dates
Scroll For More
Course Overview
Why Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) at UEA?
Train as a patient-focused dentist through hands-on clinical experience and integrated learning. Build the skills and confidence to deliver high-quality dental care across a wide range of real-world settings.
Why choose UEA
- Early patient contact: Gain practical experience and develop strong clinical and communication skills
- Community-based training: Learn in real settings, meeting diverse patient needs
- Integrated curriculum: Study science, clinical care, and teamwork to understand the patient journey
What is the Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS)?
This five-year programme combines cutting-edge science with hands-on clinical training to prepare you for modern dental practice. From day one, you’ll begin developing your skills through a patient-centred approach.
You'll develop diagnostic, treatment planning and clinical skills through simulation and supervised patient care. Learning is structured around real-world clinical scenarios and decision-making.
The course prepares you for Dental Foundation Training and a wide range of careers in modern dental practice. You'll graduate ready to deliver safe, effective and compassionate care.
)
Accreditations
This course is subject to approval by the General Dental Council (GDC). The programme has been provisionally accepted by the GDC and is progressing through the final stages of the approval process.
Careers
Career Pathways
With a Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS), you could develop a career as a:
- General Dentist: Provide preventive and restorative care in NHS, private, or mixed practice settings
- Community Dentist: Deliver care for patients with additional needs in community and specialist services
- Hospital Dentist: Work in oral and maxillofacial teams supporting complex patient care
- Dental Specialist: Train further in areas such as orthodontics, oral surgery, or paediatric dentistry
- Dental Academic or Researcher: Teach, research, and contribute to advances in dental science and education
Career Support
You’ll receive tailored career support throughout your degree, including guidance on Dental Foundation Training and postgraduate pathways. A dedicated careers lead will support your progression into professional practice. You’ll build skills in communication, leadership, and teamwork valued across dental careers. You’ll also connect with practitioners and mentors to help plan your future. At UEA, Career Central can support you with CVs, applications, and interview preparation. You’ll also get help finding opportunities, building networks, and exploring career options. Support continues for up to three years after graduation, helping you take your next step with confidence.
After the Course
Upon successful completion, you'll be eligible to apply for registration with the General Dental Council and progress to Dental Foundation Training. This is the usual first step towards practicing as a dentist in the UK. The programme prepares you for a wide range of careers across modern dental practice. Graduates will be well equipped to contribute to improving oral health in diverse populations.
Study and Modules
Teaching and Learning, and Assessment
Teaching and Learning
Teaching combines scientific knowledge, clinical skills, and professional development through an integrated, patient-centred approach. You’ll learn through lectures, small-group teaching, simulation, and supervised clinical experience, with early patient contact building confidence from the start. You’ll be supported by experienced staff in a collaborative learning environment throughout your degree.
In year one, you’ll focus on scientific foundations, simulation, and the early development of clinical and communication skills.
In year two, you’ll build on your knowledge with increased simulation and supervised patient interaction.
In year three, you’ll gain greater clinical exposure and apply your learning in real-world settings.
In year four, you’ll develop advanced clinical skills with increased responsibility for patient care.
In year five, you’ll consolidate your skills and prepare for independent practice and Dental Foundation Training.
Assessment
Assessment is continuous and designed to support your development as a safe and competent dental practitioner. You'll be assessed through a range of methods reflecting real-world clinical practice. These include written assessments, clinical examinations and workplace-based assessments. Regular feedback supports your progression and development throughout the course.
Year one includes written assessments and early clinical evaluations to develop your foundational knowledge and professional skills.
In year two, you’ll have continued written and clinical assessments with increasing focus on applying your knowledge to clinical scenarios.
Year three will involve a combination of written, clinical and workplace-based assessments reflecting your growing clinical responsibility.
Assessment in year four focuses on clinical competence, treatment planning and safe delivery of patient care.
In year five, final assessments demonstrate your readiness for professional practice and transition to Dental Foundation Training.
Entry Requirements
- This course is open to
UK fee-paying students. The entry point is in September each year.
We welcome and value a wide range of qualifications, and we recognise that some students might take a mixture of different qualifications. We have listed typical examples that we accept for entry.
You should hold or be working towards the specified English and Mathematics requirements, GCSE requirements and one of the examples of typical entry qualifications listed below. If your qualifications aren’t listed, or if you are taking a combination of qualifications that isn’t specified, please contact Admissions.- GCSE Requirements UK
Applicants must hold or be working towards GCSEs in a minimum of six subjects at grade 6 or B including Mathematics, English Language and either two science subjects or Double Science. Triple Science, Science, Additional Science and Further Science GCSEs are accepted.
Graduate applicants must hold or be working towards GCSEs in a minimum of six subjects at grade 5 or B including English Language, Mathematics and either two science subjects or Double Science. Triple Science, Science, Additional Science and Further Science GCSEs are accepted.
If GCSE Double Science or Triple Science is presented at the required grade or above, we will not consider any additional single science subjects to meet the minimum GCSE requirements.
If Methods of Mathematics & Application of Mathematics are taken, we require both. They will be considered as a single grade for screening purposes as together they are equivalent to the full Mathematics GCSE.
AQA Level 2 qualifications are accepted in lieu of a GCSE.
We will only accept one of the following GCSEs: Learning for Life & Work, Expressive Arts, Catering, Child Development, Business & Communication Systems (ICAA), Health & Social Care and Leisure & Tourism.
GCSE short courses, BTEC Level 2, OCR Level 2 and Functional Skills are not accepted.
Applicants who do not meet the GCSE requirement must be resitting GCSEs and predicted to achieve the required grade. This should be evident from their UCAS application.
- Typical UK Entry Requirements
- Further Examples of Typical Entry Requirements UK
- UCAT
All applicants must sit the UCAT in the year of application, prior to applying. UEA does not have a cut off score. A high score is advantageous; a low score does not disqualify an applicant from consideration.
How do we use the UCAT?
- The overall UCAT score is used to rank applicants for selection for interview.
- The overall UCAT score is used alongside the interview score to rank and select applicants to whom an offer is made.
- The SJT component score is included within the interview score.- English Foreign Language
Applications from students whose first language is not English are welcome. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading):
-
IELTS: 7.5 overall (minimum 7.0 in all components)
We also accept a number of other English language tests. Review our English Language Equivalencies(opens in a new window) for a list of example qualifications that we may accept to meet this requirement.
Test dates should be within two years of the course start date.
-
- Non-Academic Entry Requirements
Recent Study - Applicants are required to have achieved successful academic study within the past five years. Qualifications to meet the subject specific requirement must also have been taken within this period.
Gap Years - If applying with achieved qualifications, applicants must include in their personal statement what they have been doing or what they plan to do, during any gaps in education.
Previous Degree Study - Applicants currently studying in higher education, irrespective of prior experience or qualifications, must have completed their current course of study and provided official evidence of award by 1 September 2027. This includes bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, and doctoral degrees (PhDs).
Applicants in the first or second year of a degree will not be considered. Applicants who have started a degree but not successfully completed it will not be considered. Concurrent registration on another programme is not permitted.
We are unable to accept transfer students onto our Dental Surgery degree due to the integrated nature of the course.
Applicants who have previously studied or are currently studying Dental Surgery or equivalent (UK or overseas) will not be considered.
Programme Conditions - Offers to successful applicants will be subject to a successful interview, a satisfactory occupational health check, including evidence of appropriate immunisations. As this course includes patient facing placements in a health or social care setting and these are a mandatory component of the course, you will need to comply with the placement vaccination policy. Failure to meet the placement vaccination policy may prevent you from joining the course or may lead to your withdrawal from the course in the future. Future employment may also be subject to this condition.
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) - Applicants will also be required to have an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
- Interviews
Interviews are Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format and will be held on campus.
The interview is a Multiple Mini Interview. There are a number of stations each with a different interviewer. You will spend 5 minutes at each station, with 1.5 minute preparation time. We can only interview you in the format specified in your invitation to interview.
We will email invitations to applicants who are selected for interview. Interviews will take place between November and March.
- Placements
Further information to follow.
- Deferred Entry
Deferred entry is not permitted.
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all undergraduate applicants.
- Progression
Once enrolled onto your course at UEA, your progression and continuation (which may include your eligibility for study abroad, overseas experience, placement, or year in industry opportunities) is contingent on meeting the assessment requirements which are relevant to the course on which you are enrolled.
- Recent Study
Applicants must show that they have achieved successful academic study within the past five years. Qualifications to meet the subject specific requirement must also have been taken within this period.
If your last qualification will have been completed more than 5 years ago by the time the course starts, please contact Admissions.
- Age on Entry
Applicants must be aged 18 or over by the start date of this course. This is owing to the integrated nature of placements within the first year of study and safeguarding implications.
- How will you process my application?
Briefly, all on-time applications proceed to primary screening, where checks are made to see that applicants meet, or are predicted to meet, our minimum academic entry criteria, have a satisfactory personal statement and reference and have taken the UCAT test in the summer prior to submitting the application. Applicants are then invited to interview (from late November/December onwards).
If the number of applications received exceed the number of interview places available, those meeting primary screening requirements may also undergo secondary screening, where the overall UCAT score may be ranked against the applicant cohort, with the strongest applicants invited to interview.
Following the completion of interviews, interviewed applicants are ranked (by interview scores – which includes the UCAT SJT subsection score - and UCAT overall scores) within the applicant cohort. The interview score and UCAT score is weighted equally and the top ranking applicants will receive offers.
- Frequently Asked Questions
What if there is a mistake on my application?
Following the closing date, any errors or omissions should be notified to the Admissions Service immediately for consideration and verified by an official letter from your school. However, if notification is made after 15 October, we reserve the right not to consider the application further.
What if my predicted grades change?
Your application will be processed using the information provided on your UCAS form. Any changes in predicted grades will not be considered once processing has commenced following the UCAS deadline.
Can I send in additional supporting documents?
Only information submitted on the UCAS form will be considered unless supplementary information is requested by the Admissions Team. Factual errors on the form should be notified to the Admissions Service as soon as possible but additional information provided, or errors highlighted after submission of the UCAS form cannot be considered. Please note that we are unable to accept any unsolicited additional references or CVs.How do I report extenuating circumstances?
These should be indicated on the UCAS application. Supporting evidence may be requested. Please note that adverse events potentially impacting on performance at A level (or equivalent) or degree classification, should be notified to the relevant examination board.
What if I will still be 17 at the start of the course?
Applications will not be considered unless you will be aged 18 by the start of the course.
If I am unsuccessful, can I reapply?
Applicants to Dental Surgery at UEA will only be considered for two consecutive years. All applicants must have achieved successful academic study within the past 5 years. Please note that entry requirements may change each year and we would advise you to check our website before submitting an application. You will be required to retake the UCAT test as this is only valid in the year of application.
)
Fees and Funding
Tuition fees for the Academic Year 2027/28 are:
-
UK Students: £10,050
We estimate living expenses at £1,171 per month.
Further Information on tuition fees can be found here(opens in a new window).
Scholarships and Bursaries
We are committed to ensuring that costs do not act as a barrier to those aspiring to come to a world leading university and have developed a funding package to reward those with excellent qualifications and assist those from lower income backgrounds. View our range of Scholarships(opens in a new window) for eligibility, details of how to apply and closing dates.
Course Related Costs
Please see additional course fees for details of course-related costs.
How to Apply
Apply for this course through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Services (UCAS), using UCAS Hub.
UCAS Hub is a secure online application system that allows you to apply for full-time undergraduate courses at universities and colleges in the United Kingdom.
Your application does not have to be completed all at once. Register or sign in to UCAS to get started.
Once you submit your completed application, UCAS will process it and send it to your chosen universities and colleges.
The Institution code for the University of East Anglia is E14.
View our guide to applying through UCAS for useful tips, key dates and further information: