Medicine & Dentistry
Your route to Dentist
Clinical dentistry with high manual precision — plus practice ownership as a realistic long-term route.
Career compatibility and admission likelihood are different things
Compatibility is about you. Admission is the institution's decision — we can only tell you how to be ready for it.
Destination
Dentist
Interview (MMI), then offer
UCAS: up to 4 medicine choices + 1 backup
UCAT in the summer before applying
Work experience or volunteering in a care setting
A Levels: Chemistry + Biology (+ third subject)
GCSEs: strong grades including Maths, English and Sciences
You are here
Tell us your year group to place this properly
My academic gap
Here's exactly what has to move
Current position
Stage not set · predicted grades
Target
AAA at A Level including Chemistry and Biology, plus UCAT
Science
Chemistry and Biology are required at A Level
Maths
GCSE Maths minimum applies
Official requirements set by General Dental Council / dental schools. Last checked August 2026 — always confirm directly with the institution.
What the destination officially asks for
AAA at A Level including Chemistry and Biology, plus UCAT
Admissions tests: UCAT · Interview
Timeline
- Year 12: Chemistry + Biology
- Work experience in a practice
- UCAT
- October UCAS deadline
Official requirements from General Dental Council / dental schools · last checked August 2026. Always confirm with the institution — they set the rules, we don't.
Your routes in
Ranked honestly, for where you are now.
Some of these are harder than others. We say which, and why.
Qualifications
A Levels including Chemistry and Biology (most schools require both)
Grades
Typically AAA–A*AA, plus strong GCSEs including Maths and English
Admissions tests
UCAT (most schools) and interviews (MMI or panel)
Duration
5–6 years, then 2 foundation years
How competitive
Very competitive — several applicants per place
Funding
Student finance, with NHS bursary support in later years
Progression
Foundation training, then core and specialty training
The route, step by step
- 1GCSEs: strong grades including Maths, English and Sciences
- 2A Levels: Chemistry + Biology (+ third subject)
- 3Work experience or volunteering in a care setting
- 4UCAT in the summer before applying
- 5UCAS: up to 4 medicine choices + 1 backup
- 6Interview (MMI), then offer
Next action
Lock in Chemistry and Biology grades, then start UCAT practice early
Plan this route with the TutorWhere people study this
Real institutions, real requirements.
Universities, conservatoires and specialist schools that lead to this destination.
