Dentistry courses in the UK are demanding at both academic and technical levels. Students of this program focus on studying the causes, prevention, treatment, and management of oral and dental diseases. Generally, dentistry courses in the UK last for five to six years. The most common type of dental qualification is the Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) degree, wherein students who wish to focus on a particular area of expertise can choose to study further for a master’s in dentistry.
Why study Dentistry in UK for Indian Students?
The UK is known for its esteemed institutions and demanding dentistry curriculum. Its dental schools consistently secure high positions among the best universities on a global scale. As an illustration based on the QS world rankings 2024, King’s College, London, ranks ninth worldwide for its exceptional dentistry programs. Furthermore, in the UK, dental schools offer international students extensive opportunities for clinical exposure, enabling them to acquire crucial practical experience in patient care. Numerous dental schools were cutting-edge clinics of their own, providing students with a platform to practice skills under the guidance of seasoned faculty. The dental institute at Kings College London House is the largest dental teaching facility in Europe. This experience commences early in the course, allowing applicants to cultivate white clinical proficiency, including patient evaluation, dental treatments and treatment strategies.
Eligibility Criteria for Dentistry in UK for Indian Students
If you have a science background and one to plan and prepare the pathway to a rewarding and challenging profession, dentistry could be the right choice for you. The UK is home to some of the best dental universities in the world for international students with experience, teaching teams, placement, opportunities and state-of-the-art facilities, helping students graduate and be career-ready. While different dental schools have varying admission requirements for dentistry, here are some of the general eligibility requirements in the United Kingdom for dentistry-
- English Language Proficiency Scores- An IELTS score of 7.0 overall with no band lower than 6.5 in any component
- Typical A-Level requirements- AAA including chemistry and biology
- International Baccalaureate requirements- 37 points condition
Admission Process for Dentistry in UK for Indian Students
In order to study dentistry in UK, candidates need to take admission tests as part of the admission process. All dental schools in nations like the UK and Australia use these tests. Most institutes use UC or university clinical aptitude tests. It is a computer-based online test to evaluate verbal, quantitative reasoning and cognitive abilities. Amongst other skills, applicants can take this test at their local test centres.
In addition to the eligible criteria, pointers mentioned above UCAT, scores, and statement of purpose should be included in the application via mail. The selected candidates are further called for a virtual or in-person interview by the universities. Upon receiving the offer letter, individuals can either accept or deny it. If the student decides to accept the offer, they can move ahead with the visa application.
Top Colleges And Universities for Dentistry in UK for Indian Students
- University of Manchester
The University of Manchester offers a BDS Dentistry course that is the first step for students toward a career in dentistry. This is a five-year course that combines the study of basic and advanced dental sciences with substantial clinical experience and knowledge. This university was run by the QS World University Rankings 2024 for dentistry.
- University of Liverpool
The BDS courses in dental surgery by the University of Liverpool are designed to facilitate the development of leadership skills, teamwork, personal growth, etc. The program includes quality improvement projects to ensure an in-depth understanding of clinical governance. Students in this program can also engage with the local community and enhance their skills in primary care settings. This university was ranked 14 in dentistry for 2024 in the UK.
- University of Glasgow
The general school of the University of Glasgow offers undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral opportunities in dentistry in Scotland. Their bachelor of dental surgery BDS is an exceedingly sort. After a course in the UK, it is a modern and integrated course offered to approximately 400 students over a period of five years; from the importance of oral health of patients to experience a typical day in the life of a dentist, international students get to learn everything at this university in the Sunday times and good university guy 2024. The University of Glasgow was ranked first for dentistry.
- University of Bristol
The Bristol Dental School of the course and training within the University of Bristol Dental Hospital. Their BDS program is a five-year course that provides applicants with a solid set of skills for a contemporary clinical dental practice. Students can start working with patients from the second year onwards, and the school also provides individuals with the experience of working in highly integrated teams. It is amongst the top 10 in the UK.
- University of Dundee
This university is a public research school in Scotland known for its dentistry BDS course. Students of Dundee University develop skills and knowledge across an array of dental disciplines. Moreover, they learnt to operate on patients in the university dental hospital. The curriculum of this university encourages candidates to learn creatively and interactively. International students also get a chance to participate in research projects as part of the summer internship programs in this course. In the 2024 edition of Guardians University Guide, the University of Dandi ranks in the top five for dentistry.
- University of Edinburgh
Edinburgh Dental Institute is the dental school of the University of Edinburgh. It offers both bachelor’s and master’s programs in dentistry, along with an online mode of learning. One of the most famous courses is the BSc Honours in Oral Health Science. It is a four-year degree program that leads to a qualification in dental therapy and dental hygiene. This university is placed 16 in the QS world university rankings.
- University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham School of Dentistry, is a place for leading professionals and students looking to get involved in world-class research and wanting to make a difference. This school admits over 130 students annually and is a thriving place to research and grow their BSC in dental hygiene and therapy program links under depending theory with practical clinical experiences at all stages. That is why this is a sort of fully integrated course in dentistry. The school was ragged the 13th in the world by QS world rankings.
- King’s College London
The dentistry BDS course by Kings College is a research letter from a faculty member who has a high level of clinical experience in all areas. It is one of the largest dental schools in the UK, with 150 students graduating yearly in dentistry at this college. London was ranked first in the 2020 4US rankings in the UK. The school uses delivery methods to ensure that the students have a rich experience from the start.
The cost of study for a dentistry degree (BDS) in the UK ranges from ₹24 lakhs to 59 lakhs INR per year. Please note that these stickers are tuition fees only and do not include other expenses such as living, cost, accommodation or additional fees.
Scholarships for Dentistry in UK for Indian students
To help the students with the cost of tuition fees, living expenses, accommodation, and other personal expenses related to a dentist’s degree in the UK. There are various scholarships, grants and bursaries available to apply for Indian students. Some of the many scholarships for Indian students looking into dentistry include the following-
- Cowrie scholarship- The Cowrie Scholarship Foundation and Newcastle University offer at least one annual scholarship to support black African and Caribbean Heritage applicants from disadvantaged backgrounds.
- MSc dental public health Aubrey Sheiham scholarship- UCL offers two-year scholarships for full-time international students. Undertaking the MSc health with ₹2 lakhs for domestic students and ₹5 lakhs for international students.
- Professor David Locker scholarship- the University of Sheffield offers two ₹8 lakh INR scholarships for master study programmes, students in social science, science, dentistry and oral health 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 ₹2,00,000 INR over three years for MBBS medical students and Professor Wright’s student offers the same amount for BDS dental students at the London School of Medicine and dentistry and Barts.
Career Prospects after Dentistry in UK for Indian Students
Dentistry graduates initially begin jobs as trainees in the NHS or the private sector. Due to 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. Dentistry graduates could complete their course with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery ( BDS) award. Dentistry is the only subject in which graduates are paid More than Three lakhs INR in professional jobs, right six months after finishing university. The following jobs can be taken up by the dentistry graduates-
- Orthodontist
- Periodontist
- Endodontist
- Prosthodontist
- Oral pathologist or surgeon
- General dentists
An international student, after studying dentistry in UK, can earn a median of 31 lakhs INR annually.
Conclusion
Dentistry is, without a doubt, one of the most competitive courses for applying to the UK. The specialisation in this field lasts for around five years in the country and is excessively demanding. So, if you are looking to pursue a degree in dentistry in UK, having superior academic grades, mental skills, and perseverance is essential. The universities and colleges of dentistry mentioned above offer high-quality dentistry programs to help individuals start and grow in their careers. If you want the best out of your dentistry program, critical analysis of different programs from these institutions is crucial.
FAQs
Q. Is there a demand for dentists in the UK?
Yes, according to last year’s findings, the UK had roughly 41,350 dental practitioners. This is why there is a significant burden on the UK healthcare system. Currently, there is a shortage of dentists in the country, creating immense demand in the field.
Q. Is the India BDS degree acceptable in the UK?
To practise dentistry in UK after a BDS in India, you first need to register with the General Dental Council and appear for the overseas registration exam (ORE) and the English language proficiency exam (IELTS).
Q. Is dentistry in UK worth it?
Yes, absolutely. The demand for dentists is on the rise in the UK, which means that there will be more job opportunities after you complete your dentistry course. It is typically a long course and takes about 4 to 6 years to complete, but the payback, which is the return on investment, is worth it.
Q. Which type of dentist earns the most money?
Some typical hyping specialities in dentistry include oral surgeons, orthodontists, periodontists, prosthodontists, and endodontists, who earn well in the UK.
Q. Are dentists richer than doctors in the UK?
Due to shorter training periods, dentists earn more than doctors in the UK in terms of lifetime earning potential. This is because dentists start earning as soon as they qualify, and there is more scope for private sector work earlier than doctors in the UK.