Peninsula (Plymouth) dental school: BDS entry requirements

Peninsula Dental School (University of Plymouth), Plymouth. 2 dentistry programmes for 2027 entry, plus 2 hygiene/therapy programmes. Entry requirements, admissions test, interview format and resit policy below, as published by the Dental Schools Council.

UCAS code	A206
Course length	5 years
Typical A level offer	The typical offer is A*AA – AAB at GCE A level/Scottish Advanced Highers which must include the following: • Grade A in Biology • Grade A in a second…
Admissions test	UCAT
Interview	Online Multiple mini-interviews.

Entry requirements — 2027 entry

BDS Dental Surgery (A206) — 5 years

Standard Entry Dentistry

A levels / Scottish Highers	The typical offer is A*AA – AAB at GCE A level/Scottish Advanced Highers which must include the following: • Grade A in Biology • Grade A in a second science from Chemistry, Physics, Maths or Psychology • Your third GCE A level can be from any subject area and does not need to be science based. When shortlisting for interview we do not give preference to those who complete three Science A Levels. General Studies is not accepted. AAB offers are considered upon evidence of contextual markers. We are only able to consider A Levels completed within five years of the start of the application cycle.
GCSEs / Scottish Nationals	Applicants need to achieve 7 GCSE/Scottish National passes (grade C/grade 4 or higher) which must include the following subjects: • English Language • Mathematics • Two Science subjects - either GCSE Double Award Science or two from single award Chemistry, Biology, or Physics
International Baccalaureate	36–38 points overall to include the following: • Higher Level 6 in Biology • Higher Level 6 in one further science from Chemistry, Physics, Maths or Psychology
Degree (graduate applicants)	Only a degree programme through the University of Plymouth School of Biomedical Sciences is considered. Those applicants with degree study from other institutions must take GAMSAT.
Admissions test	UCAT
Personal statement	We do not consider the personal statement at any point during the admissions process.
Interview method	Online Multiple mini-interviews.
Work experience	We do not require demonstrable work experience as part of the admissions process.
Resit policy	Re-sit applicants are considered for this course, with the following requirements: • If you are applying with predicted grades, a minimum of ABB must be achieved on first sitting of A Level • Where ABB is not achieved on first sitting, applicants must re-sit the required qualifications and apply once suitable grades have been achieved • A Level or accepted equivalent qualifications must be completed in no more than 3 years of study, unless otherwise advised • A suitable qualification profile must be achieved on first re-sit attempt IB resit policy: A minimum of 34 points overall with Higher Level 5 in Biology and Higher Level 5 in another science must be achieved on first sitting. The resit policy for Widening Participation students is ABC.
Widening participation	The University of Plymouth is committed to widening access (WA) and ensuring that all students with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply with us. Please visit our website for further information on our widening participation initiatives and contextual admissions. For applicants from widening access backgrounds, we will accept AAB at GCE A Level, which must include the following: • Grade A in Biology • Grade A in a second science from Chemistry, Physics, Maths or Psychology • Your third A level can be from any subject area and does not need to be science based. When shortlisting for interview we do not give preference to those who complete three science A Levels. General Studies is not accepted UCAT and GCSE requirements remain the same for all applicants. For students sitting the IB, the widening access offer would equate to 35 points overall with Higher Level 6 in Biology and Higher Level 6 in another science. The resit policy for Widening Participation students is ABC. Applicants with AAB must meet a minimum of three widening access indicators as stated on our website.

BDS Dental Surgery with Integrated Foundation Year (A205) — 6 years

Dentistry with a Gateway Year

A levels / Scottish Highers	The typical offer is BBB at GCE A level/Scottish Advanced Highers which must include the following: • Grade B in Biology • Grade B in a second science from Chemistry, Physics, Maths or Psychology • Your third A level can be from any subject area and does not need to be science based. When shortlisting for interview we do not give preference to those who complete three Science A Levels. General Studies is not accepted. BTEC National Extended Diploma: DDM in a relevant subject, which must contain units covering sufficient Biology and another science. BTEC National Diploma: DM in a relevant subject, which must contain units covering sufficient Biology and another science GCE A Level grade B in Biology. City & Guilds Extended Diploma in Dental Nursing: Grade Distinction + 2 A levels at grade BB (to include Biology and a second science out of Chemistry, Physics, Maths and Psychology). NEBDN: NEBDN Dental Nursing qualification with 1 A Level - B in Biology. Access to Higher Education Diploma: Pass an Access to Higher Education Diploma in a predominantly science subject area, meeting the following criteria: 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 Distinction in 33 level 3 credits, and Merit in the remaining 12 level 3 credits. Irish Leaving Certificate: H2, H2, H3, H3, H3, H3 to include Biology and one further science from Chemistry, Physics, Maths or Psychology.
GCSEs / Scottish Nationals	Applicants need to achieve 5 GCSE/Scottish National passes (grade C/grade 4 or higher) which must include the following subjects: English Language, Mathematics, Two science subjects - either GCSE Double Award Science or two from single award Chemistry, Biology, or Physics.
International Baccalaureate	28-32 points overall to include the following: Higher Level 5 in Biology, Higher Level 5 in one further science from Chemistry, Physics, Maths or Psychology.
Admissions test	None. Only open to UK students that have met the contextual criteria.
Personal statement	We do not review or score the personal statement at any part of the admissions process.
Interview method	Multiple mini-interviews.
Work experience	We do not require demonstrable work experience as part of the admissions process.
Resit policy	Re-sit applicants are considered for this course, with the following requirements: • If you are applying with predicted grades, a minimum of BCC must be achieved on first sitting of A Level • Where BCC is not achieved on first sitting, applicants must re-sit the required qualifications and apply once suitable grades have been achieved • A Level or accepted equivalent qualifications must be completed in no more than 3 years of study, unless otherwise advised A suitable qualification profile must be achieved on first re-sit attempt
Widening participation	All applicants, in addition to meeting or exceeding the published academic criteria above will need to meet a minimum of three of the following contextual indicator options. Please see our website for more details.

How Peninsula (Plymouth) uses the UCAT

UCAT

The UCAT Consortium does not publish a central table of how each school scores the test, and this site does not publish unsourced cut-off scores. Check the admissions pages linked below for the current threshold or ranking method. Preliminary UCAT mean scores and deciles are published each September; since 2025 the test has no Abstract Reasoning section, so the maximum is 2700, not 3600.

Dental hygiene and therapy at Peninsula (Plymouth)

Peninsula (Plymouth) also runs 2 dental care professional programmes. These train hygienists and therapists, not dentists, and do not lead to the BDS. See every GDC-approved therapy and hygiene course in the UK, with approval status.

Dental Therapy and Hygiene BSc Hons (B750) · 3 years — The typical offer is ABB at GCE A Level, which must include Biology.
Dental Therapy and Hygiene with Integrated Foundation Year BSc Hons (B751) · 4 years — CC at GCE A Level, which must include A-Level Biology.

DFT schemes nearest Peninsula (Plymouth)

Dental Foundation Training is the year every UK graduate does next. These are the 5 DFT schemes closest to the school, with their post counts — allocation is national and by ranked preference, so proximity is context, not entitlement.

Scheme	Base	Posts	Distance
Plymouth Longitudinal 24 month Scheme	Plymouth	2	3 km
West Devon and Cornwall Scheme	Plymouth	8	5 km
Plymouth 2 year Joint DFT & DCT Scheme	Plymouth	3	6 km
Torbay 2 year Joint DFT & DCT Scheme	Torquay	3	42 km
Devon and Coastal Scheme	Exeter	8	53 km

🗺 See this school and its DFT schemes on the map

Peninsula (Plymouth) dentistry: common questions

What A level grades does Peninsula (Plymouth) need for dentistry?

The typical offer is A*AA – AAB at GCE A level/Scottish Advanced Highers which must include the following: • Grade A in Biology • Grade A in a second science from Chemistry, Physics, Maths or Psychology • Your third GCE A level can be from any subject area and does not need to be science based.

What GCSEs does Peninsula (Plymouth) require for dentistry?

Applicants need to achieve 7 GCSE/Scottish National passes (grade C/grade 4 or higher) which must include the following subjects: • English Language • Mathematics • Two Science subjects - either GCSE Double Award Science or two from single award Chemistry, Biology, or Physics

Does Peninsula (Plymouth) use the UCAT?

Yes — the UCAT.

Is the Peninsula (Plymouth) dentistry interview an MMI or a panel?

Online Multiple mini-interviews.

Does Peninsula (Plymouth) accept A level resits for dentistry?

Re-sit applicants are considered for this course, with the following requirements: • If you are applying with predicted grades, a minimum of ABB must be achieved on first sitting of A Level • Where ABB is not achieved on first sitting, applicants must re-sit the required qualifications and apply…

Which DFT scheme is nearest Peninsula (Plymouth)?

Plymouth Longitudinal 24 month Scheme, based in Plymouth, about 3 km away with 2 posts. DFT allocation is national and by ranked preference, so proximity is context, not entitlement.

Sources

Entry requirements above are as published by the Dental Schools Council, Entry requirements for UK and Ireland dental schools — 2027 entry, collated directly from admissions staff and checked on 8 Sep 2026. Requirements change every cycle — confirm on the school's own page before applying.

Admissions pages for Peninsula (Plymouth):

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