Name: Dental Surgery, BDS
Price: £9,535 per year GBP

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Attendance

Campus

Start

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Duration

4 years

Start

September 2025

UCAS Code

A202

Delivery

In-person

On our Bachelor in Dental Surgery (BDS) course you’ll be based in primary care where you’ll gain real-world experience from Year 1 and graduate well prepared for your foundation year.

Please note this course is primarily available to UK students with one place available on the graduate entry route for an international student. If you are an international student, you can view our Bachelor in Dental Surgery course for international students.

This course has a small cohort so it has a friendly, intimate feel and allows for more discursive, interactive learning. You will be based in our Dental Education Centres for the majority of the final three years - a very different model from a traditional dental school and one that we firmly believe prepares you better for life in practice.

In the first year of this graduate entry pathway, you will be based in our purpose-built Dental School in Preston developing clinical skills and supporting knowledge, as well as an understanding of how the human body works in health and disease. You will also spend Year 1 studying on campus, before relocating for three years of clinical training at one of four local community Dental Education Centres (DECs) in Accrington, Blackpool, Carlisle and Morecambe Bay, where you will treat, under supervision, patients who have problems and dental needs of the type that are seen in general dental practice.

This will help give you direct experience of what it is like to provide oral healthcare for patients in a practice setting. During your placements you will gain experience of secondary care Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Orthodontics and Restorative Dentistry. This not only adds to your knowledge but gives you an understanding of the respective roles of Specialists and the Primary Care Practitioners. This is a course that strongly emphasises teamwork. In contrast to a hospital-based course, you will take care of the patient throughout their entire treatment journey, supported by experienced practitioners in primary care clinics.

Why study with us

2nd
in the UK for learning opportunities
National Student Survey (Dentistry)
2024

You’ll have the opportunity to gain early patient contact during your studies.
You’ll learn clinical skills in one of Europe’s advanced Phantom Head rooms, equipped with state-of-the-art audio-visual technology.
Since 2011, every student who has graduated from our BDS has gone on to secure their first job as a Dental Foundation Trainee.

Important information

This course is only available to UK students.
Applications for September 2025 are now closed for UK students.

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Slide 1 of 5

Student working in our Phantom Head Training Area

What you'll do

Small class sizes allow for a close and friendly atmosphere with interactive learning opportunities.
As a dentistry student you will learn clinical skills in one of the most modern Phantom Head rooms in Europe, equipped with state-of-the-art audio-visual equipment.
We are delivering “a particularly innovative dental degree programme” with imaginative use of IT, e-learning and an emphasis on learning dentistry within the local community (General Dental Council).

Modules

This module aims to continue to develop your clinical skills as a primary care dental practitioner, including routine restorations, simple periodontal treatment, endodontic treatment of single-rooted teeth, provision and management of dentures, and management of paediatric patients. It includes several simulator courses to widen clinical skills and will focus on explaining a staged treatment plan to patients and developing skills to manage nervous patients.

Module code: DG2005

The aim of this module is for your knowledge and understanding of drugs (both prescribed by a dentist and relevant drugs prescribed by medical practitioners) ensures sound and safe dental practice. You will gain knowledge of drug categories along with an understanding of principles that integrate around physiology, microbiology, pathology, immunology, clinical medicine, and dental surgery/therapeutics.

Module code: DG2017

The aim of this module is to provide the supporting knowledge for the Year 3 Clinical Skills module. It progresses knowledge in endodontic, periodontal disease, occlusion and denture design including the theory of implant retained dentures. You'll commence your secondary care attachments in orthodontics, maxillo-facial surgery, medical assessment units and restorative dentistry. This module covers the theory and pharmacology of sedation and general anaesthesia and the management of the special care patient.

Module code: DG3003

To enable you to apply the concept and practice of professionalism within the extended dental team and other healthcare professions in the primary and secondary care environments. It aims to develop the your understanding of the importance of communication within the extended health care team and other sectors. It enables you to further develop the skills needed to accurately assess their capabilities and limitation in the interest of high quality patient care and to utilise the provision and receipt of feedback to further develop these abilities.

Module code: DG3007

The module continues to develop the discriminative approach to dental literature and professional responsibilities towards patients, staff and the general public. It aims to provide depth of understanding of the Governance and Legislation of a dental practice including legislation relating to Consent, Record Keeping, Health and Safety, Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity, Employment, Confidentiality and Medical Ethics.

Module code: DG4004

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of our published course information. However, our programmes are subject to ongoing review and development. Changing circumstances may cause alteration to, or the cancellation of, courses. Changes may be necessary to comply with the requirements of accrediting bodies or revisions to subject benchmarks statements. As well as to keep courses updated and contemporary, or as a result of student feedback. We reserve the right to make variations if we consider such action to be necessary or in the best interests of students.

Dental Clinic

Phantom Head Training Area

Clinical Training Bays

Human Anatomy and Learning Suite

Your teaching team

Dr Julie Burke

Senior Lecturer

Professor Kathryn Taylor

Chair in Oral Surgery

Dr Victoria Buller

Deputy Associate Dean

Peter Dyer

Clinical Senior Lecturer in Oral Surgery

Shalini Kanagasingam

Senior Clinical Lecturer

Dr Flavio Pisani

Senior Clinical Lecturer

Dr Neil Cook

Lecturer in Research Methods – Online Learning

Dr Anna Barlach Pritchard

Senior Clinical Teacher

Paul Knott

Senior Clinical Teacher

Charlotte Willmot

Senior Clinical Teacher

Dr Pedro Moreira

Senior Clinical Teacher

Rachel Butterworth

Senior Clinical Teacher

Yvonne Halliwell

Senior Clinical Teacher

Nargis Sonde

Clinical Lecturer in Restorative Dentistry

Dr Nadia Shah

Senior Lecturer in Medical Sciences, Pharmacology

Dr Aimee Batt

Senior Clinical Tutor

We’re proud to say that our Dental Surgery, BDS course has been awarded 4 QS Stars (Very Good) for programme strength (2025). With access to state-of-the-art facilities such as our Dental Education Centres and our on-campus Dental Clinic, we enable trainee dentists to develop advanced clinical skills and treat real patients under expert supervision. Our 4 QS Stars reflects our outstanding teaching, high student satisfaction and the success of our graduates. 4 QS Stars (Very Good) for programme strength (Dental Surgery, BDS)

Future careers in dentistry

Graduation from the BDS course leads to a first job 100% success rate as a Dental Foundation Trainee (DF1), where you are responsible for the treatment of patients. Since 2011, every student who has graduated from our Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) degree has gone on to secure their first job as a Dental Foundation Trainee. This is impressive, as places are limited and awarded following a national competitive selection process.

The majority of dentists work in a high street practice or community dental clinics. If you want to work in a hospital environment and specialise, you can undergo further specialist training in orthodontics, paediatric dentistry, restorative dentistry and surgical dentistry.

When you qualify it’s the end of the beginning. It’s like passing your driving test – you can get around safely but you need to gain more experience to become proficient and, eventually, an expert. Dentistry changes all the time and postgraduate education is the only way to keep up with these developments and ensure that you maintain and develop the skills of your chosen profession.

Entry requirements

We will consider your educational achievements and predicted grades. If you don't meet the grades for your chosen course, we will consider you for other programmes.

We know that many factors can influence the grades you achieve in school or college. If your life experience has affected your academic studies, we can take this into account. Use the UCAS Points Calculator below to check whether you are eligible.

Unsure if you meet our entry requirements? Contact our friendly Course Enquiries Team to talk through your options.

This course is only available to UK students. If you are an international student, please view our Bachelor in Dental Surgery for international students.

You will be asked to attend an interview if your application is successful. You must sit the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) as part of your application. Your UCAT score will be utilised to rank your application prior to interview.

You must complete the verification of prior learning form. This must be completed by Tuesday 15 October 2024 (for September 2025 entry).

2:1 Degree in a Biomedical discipline, plus 3 A Levels at Grade C or above at least 2 must be from Biology or Physics or Chemistry or Mathematics. General Studies is not counted towards A Level entry
BTEC Extended Diploma: Not accepted
IELTS: 7.0 only with no score lower than 7.0
GCSEs: English and Maths at Grade B
All applicants are required to sit the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) before you apply. Your UCAT score will be utilised to rank your application prior to interview
An academic reference. This should be from the course leader, your personal tutor or project supervisor for your degree. If you do not already have your degree, the academic reference should include a predicted grade. If you have been in employment for a number of years and are unable to obtain a reference from your previous university degree, we would consider a reference that can evidence continuing professional development at degree level or beyond
A satisfactory Criminal records declaration (DBS/Disclosure Scotland) and Occupational Health clearance are required for this course

All offers of a place on this course are subject to satisfactory health screening. It is important to note that should your health screening not be satisfactory your offer of a place on this course may be withdrawn.

If you have already enrolled on the course prior to completion of your health screening, or if your health screening clearance is revoked or changes during the course, you may be required to withdraw from the course even if you have already started.

If you would like to discuss or seek advice in respect of the health screening requirements for this course, please contact the Course Enquiries Team.

This course will involve you working with vulnerable groups of individuals, this may include children. In order to ensure that the University offers places on their programmes to suitable candidates you will be required to obtain a satisfactory Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service clearance (formerly termed CRB).

We will be able to guide you through this process once you have been offered a conditional place of study at the University of Central Lancashire.

It is important to note that should your Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check prove to be unsatisfactory for the purpose of the course you have applied to, your offer of a place for that course may be withdrawn. If you have already enrolled on a course and your DBS check subsequently discloses a criminal conviction, you may be required to withdraw from the course even if you have already started. If you are aware that your DBS check will disclose a previous conviction, please contact the course leader for advice as not all convictions may preclude you from continuing with the course.

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Not got the grades?

Our courses with a foundation year could be exactly what you're looking for. They provide an alternative route to study for this degree.

Find out more about our courses with a foundation year.

Selection procedure

Applicants must hold either:

A good honours degree (1st or 2:1) in a medical science or health related degree from a UK university; or
Have an acceptable equivalent international degree

The Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) degree is a five year programme in the UK.

If you're applying to our four year graduate entry pathway you must demonstrate that your prior formal qualifications have covered relevant biomedical subjects. This will allow for direct entry into Year 2.

You must complete the verification of prior learning form. The form must be completed by Tuesday 15 October 2024.

You will need to sit the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) as part of your application. Your UCAT score will be utilised to rank your application prior to interview. The highest scoring applicants will be invited to attend an interview.

Interview format

Interviews for 2025 entry will be held on:

Monday 16 December 2024
Tuesday 17 December 2024
Wednesday 18 December 2024

No other interview dates will be held.

The interview format uses a series of Multi Mini Interviews (MMI) and will include topics such as communication skills, knowledge of dentistry, ethics, professionalism and team working. We will confirm at a later date whether the interviews will be held online or at the Preston Campus.

Home transfers

Dental schools do not accept transfers of students from other schools. This is because the requirements for graduation defined by the GDC are not taught and assessed in the same order. Government capped places would also be disrupted by student transfers.

Schools may consider transfers for students in unforeseen exceptional circumstances with approval of both the sending and receiving programmes. In most cases the student would need to re-start from year one for the reasons described previously.

DSC encourages prospective students to consider the intensity of oral healthcare courses and their potential geographical distance from their support networks, when applying for dental school.

International transfers

Students from a dental school outside the UK are unable to transfer into a programme in a UK dental school. This is because international programmes follow their local regulatory requirements which are likely to differ from those in the UK.

Fees and funding

2025/26

Full-time£9,535 per year

Scholarships and bursaries

We have a wide range of bursaries, scholarships and funds available to help support you whilst studying with us.

Select your country to see eligibility information and how to apply by selecting more info on the cards below.

Select your country/region

NHS Learning Support Fund
If you are thinking of studying for a health-related undergraduate or postgraduate degree, take a look at what financial support is available.
Find out more about NHS Learning Support Fund
Care Leaver Bursary
Our Care Leaver Bursary is for students who need extra support because they have been in care or are estranged from their parents.
Find out more about Care Leaver Bursary
Estranged student support
Estranged Student Support Bursary is for students who need extra support because they are estranged from their parents.
Find out more about Estranged student support
Dependants Bursary
Students with financially dependent children may be eligible for our Dependants Bursary as part of our financial support package. 
Find out more about Dependants Bursary

Independent study is an important aspect of your degree course. The exact combination of study time will be detailed within your module descriptors, and will depend on your option choices.

We employ a number of teaching methods to teach you the various aspects of dentistry. There is a great emphasis on clinical experience to develop clinical skills, initially by working on simulators in phantom head. Working with actors assists in the development of communication skills. Knowledge is developed by traditional lectures and tutorials as well as Problem-Based Learning (PBL) where you work together to develop an integrated knowledge of how the body functions in Health and Disease. We use a variety of methods for assessment such as short answer, single best item and short note questions.

Human Anatomy and Resource Learning Centre (HARLC)
An understanding of anatomy is essential for any surgical discipline. HARLC is the focus for you to learn about the workings of the human body, particularly the head and neck region. The resources in the centre include anatomical models, guides and videos of professional dissections. You will have access to the centre from 7.30am until 8.00pm. You will be taught by dedicated anatomy staff. By using the resources in the HARLC, we aim to give you the ability to learn anatomy, which you can apply to your clinical practice.

Information Technology
Within the School, there is a wireless networking facility for you to access DVD and computer-based learning resources. You will have access to online dental e-resources through the Library and our e-learning platform (Blackboard). Chair-side computers in the phantom head room at the University and the DECs support clinical teaching, allowing procedures to be viewed and revisited.

Academic knowledge is assessed by formal exams at the end of Years 2, 3 and 4 BDS, and in the final exam at the end of Year 5 BDS. The development of clinical skill is assessed by a continuous record of grades for work, together with a reflective logbook.

During your three-year placement at our local community Dental Education Centres (DECs), you’ll gain experience of secondary care maxillofacial surgery, orthodontics and advanced restorative dentistry. The DECs are clinical training centres where you will treat patients, under supervision, and gain first-hand experience within the communities you are most likely to serve after graduation.

The four local DECs have been equipped with brand new surgeries, tutorial and study facilities dedicated for student teaching. The University and the DECs are linked via IT for learning and teaching, with individual student access to the relevant intranets.

By placing you at the heart of community dental services within Cumbria and Lancashire, we aim not only to attract local candidates, but also foster long-standing relationships with those communities, leading ultimately to an increase in the numbers of newly qualified dentists who will remain in the area to continue their professional career.

In the first year of the graduate entry pathway (2nd BDS) students are based in the Dental School at Preston. The course focuses on developing clinical skills and supporting knowledge as well as an understanding of how the human body works in health and disease.

In Years 2, 3 & 4 (3rd, 4th & 5th BDS) students are based within our Dental Education Centres; located in Accrington, Blackpool, Carlisle and Morecambe Bay. Here they put their skills into practice by treating patients, returning to Preston for short courses to learn more complex procedures. In the third year (4th BDS) students start to attend clinics in the local hospitals to understand the various specialities in dentistry. In their final years, students work in enhanced training practices where they have their own surgery and nurse.

Entering Year 2 (2nd BDS) of the course, you will practice routine clinical procedures in the phantom head room and learn about the clinical and technical procedures involved in making dentures. During this time you will begin to expand your biomedical knowledge to embrace the principles of disease and medical knowledge that must underpin dental practice. In subsequent years you will learn the knowledge and practice of specific branches of dentistry.

During your three-year placement within the local community Dental Education Centres (DECs), you will gain experience of secondary care maxillofacial surgery, orthodontics and advanced restorative dentistry. The DECs are clinical training centres where you will treat patients, under supervision, and gain first-hand experience within the communities you are most likely to serve after graduation.

Interested?

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This course is delivered by the School of Medicine and Dentistry

For information on possible changes to course information, see our essential and important course information

You can find regulations and policies relating to student life at the University of Central Lancashire on our student contract page

Your saved courses

Dental Surgery

Why study with us

Important information

Gallery01 / 05

What you'll do

Modules

Year 2

Compulsory modules

Year 3

Compulsory modules

Year 4

Compulsory modules

Year 5

Compulsory modules

View the course facilities

Your teaching team

Accreditations

Awards

Future careers in dentistry

Entry requirements

Use our UCAS points calculator

Not got the grades?

Selection procedure

Interview format

Fees and funding

Scholarships and bursaries

NHS Learning Support Fund

Care Leaver Bursary

Estranged student support

Dependants Bursary

Dental Surgery

Why study with us

Important information

Gallery01 / 05

What you'll do

Modules

Year 2

Year 3

Year 4

Year 5

Join us on campus

View the course facilities

Your teaching team

Accreditations

General Dental Council (GDC)

Awards

4 QS Stars (Very Good) for programme strength (Dental Surgery, BDS)

Future careers in dentistry

Entry requirements

Use our UCAS points calculator

Not got the grades?

Application and interview process

Transfers - home and international

Fees and funding

Additional costs

Scholarships and bursaries

NHS Learning Support Fund

Care Leaver Bursary

Estranged student support

Dependants Bursary

Learning and assessment

Industry links

Further information