As a graduate, you should be in practice (Dentistry) in the UK whilst undertaking the programme and hold full General Dental Council (GDC) registration as a dental practitioner. You should also have full professional indemnity and normally at least two years of clinical experience. Places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis, subject to fulfilling the above requirements.

If your first language is not English you will be required to provide evidence of competence in English language. The minimum acceptable English language requirement for postgraduate courses is IELTS 6.5 overall, in both cases with minimum 5.5 across all four components (listening, reading, speaking, writing). Other acceptable tests and scores include PTE Academic: 61, with minimum 51 across all four components (listening, reading, speaking, writing).

Accreditation of prior certificated learning (APCL) and accreditation of prior experiential learning (APEL) refer to the process by which previous formal certificated learning and informal non-certificated learning can be awarded credit towards modules within the sphere of Higher Education. Credit for prior learning, whether certificated or experiential, may count towards the requirements for the named award. The maximum amount of credit for prior learning (certificated or experiential) claimed towards the award is 120 credits. To qualify for the award of a masters degree, your dissertation must be completed at the University of Plymouth. If you are seeking credit (whether certificated or experiential), you will normally be required to apply for such credit on receipt of an offer of a place on the programme. Requests for APCL if you are already on a programme will be considered provided that you submit the request in the session before you would normally begin the module/stage for which you are seeking credit. In the case of requests for APEL, this would be at least six months prior to the beginning of the session before you would normally begin the module(s)/stage against which you are seeking credit.

The University of Plymouth is committed to providing equality for all irrespective of age, disability, ethnicity (including race, colour and nationality), gender, gender reassignment, religion or belief, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity and will work to ensure that all students, employees and visitors, as well as those who apply or seek to apply to work or study at the University, are treated fairly and are not subjected to discrimination by the University on any of these grounds (University Equality and Diversity Policy, Revised April 2011).

The School welcomes applications from people with disabilities who will be considered on the same academic grounds as other potential students. Considerations about individual needs arising from disability will be made separately, and we will strive to meet an individual disabled student's needs wherever possible and in consultation with Disability Services . An accelerated top-up MSc in Restorative Dentistry is available to recent holders of the Diploma in Restorative Dentistry from the Faculty of General Dental Practice (UK) for enrolment in October/November each year.

We welcome applicants with international qualifications. To view other accepted qualifications please refer to our tariff glossary .

None of the typical offers listed below are necessarily the threshold for interview selection. Other factors including the number of applications received may influence the threshold for interview selection.

GCSE
Applicants need to achieve 6 GCSE passes (grade C/grade 4 or higher) which must include the following subjects:

A Level
The typical offer is ABB at GCE A Level, which must include Biology.
General studies at GCE A or AS level is not included in any offer.
We are only able to consider Level 3 qualifications completed within five years of the start of the application cycle. For example, qualifications completed since 2019 would still be valid when applying in September 2024.

National Certificate or Diploma in Dental Nursing, plus 2 A Levels at grade BB, must include Biology.

If you are unsure whether your qualification is suitable, please contact meddent-admissions@plymouth.ac.uk.

City & Guilds Extended Diploma in Dental Nursing
Grade Distinction + 2 A levels at grade AB (to include Biology and a second science).

BTEC National Extended Diploma
DDD in a predominantly science subject area. As desirable, an A-level in Biology is also strongly advised alongside this qualification at grade B.

BTEC National Diploma
DD in addition to an A-Level in Biology at grade B is mandatory.

Access to Higher Education Diploma
Pass an Access course in a predominantly Science subject. 60 credits overall to include 45 level 3 credits, of which 15 level 3 credits must be in Biology or Human Biology. You must achieve Merit or Distinction in 33 level 3 credits, including the 15 credits in Biology or Human Biology. As desirable, an A-level in Biology is also strongly advised alongside this qualification at grade B.

Other accepted qualifications
For information regarding all other accepted qualifications, including the International Baccalaureate, Scottish Advanced Highers and Irish Leaving Certificate, please contact the Admissions Team at meddent-admissions@plymouth.ac.uk.

We welcome applicants with international qualifications. To confirm whether your qualification will be considered, please contact meddent-admissions@plymouth.ac.uk.

All teaching at our school is in English, so if you are an international applicant you must have one of the following English Language qualifications. If you are unsure whether your English Language qualification is suitable, please contact meddent-admissions@plymouth.ac.uk:

If English is your first language, we will accept your home country’s equivalent providing it is at Level C1 or above according to the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR).

Students whose first language is not English must demonstrate proficiency in the English language by achieving one of the following qualifications:

We know that university life is a challenge for any student but especially when you are a long way from home. You will find us friendly and supportive. We pride ourselves on being friendly and supportive, and have a nominated academic tutor to coordinate the induction and academic support provided to international students. International student advice also provide support and can assist you with any non-academic issues affecting international students. There are also student welfare support and counselling services, wardens and student health centres on hand if you need them.

Students who have an offer of a place should apply under for a Student (formerly Tier 4 General Student) visa. Further information is available on the UK Border Agency's website.
Selection and admissions process

Applications should be made through UCAS by the published deadline. This is typically 15 January.
All decisions on applications are made by the Admissions Advisory Panel, which consists of academics, clinicians and senior members of the administrative team.

The University of Plymouth Medicine and Dentistry Admissions Team process applications as follows:

1. Shortlisting for interview– Applicants are considered for interview based on relevant academic qualifications alone. We do not currently consider personal statements or work experience when selecting for interview
The Admissions Advisory Panel consider many factors when choosing who will be invited to attend an interview, including the number of places available on the course and the number of applications received, alongside the academic profiles of all of our applicants

2. Interview – Successful applicants are invited to attend an interview process. We use Multiple Mini Interviews (MMI) as the format for our interviews, and full details can be found on the Medicine and Dentistry selection and admissions process page.

Following interviews, candidates are ranked based on the score achieved and the top performing applicants are offered a place on the course

3. Offer – Offers are made via UCAS. Within all offers, candidates are required to complete a series of health and police checks, full details of which are communicated to firm offer holders by the Admissions Team.

Practising as a doctor requires the highest standards and we take seriously our commitment to only enrol and teach students with the integrity required of the profession. Full details can be found on our Student Conduct and Fitness to Practise page.

Full details of our selection and admissions process can be found on our Medicine and Dentistry selection and admissions process page.

Student Conduct and Fitness to Practise
Please view our Student Conduct and Fitness to Practise page.

Re-sit applicants
Re-sit applicants are considered for this course, with the following requirements:

We do not have an AS Level resit policy, however, full A Levels must be completed within the above timeframe.

For re-sit criteria of other qualifications, please contact the Admissions Team at meddent-admissions@plymouth.ac.uk.

Students must be 18 years old or over at the start date of this programme.