Portsmouth dental school: BDS entry requirements
University of Portsmouth Dental School, Portsmouth. 1 dentistry programme 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 | A758 |
| Course length | 5 years |
| Typical A level offer | Tariff range 136 (AAB) – 152 (AAA*). |
| Admissions test | UCAT |
| Interview | Semi-structured panel interview. |
Entry requirements — 2027 entry
Dental Surgery BDS (A758) — 5 years
Standard Entry Dentistry
| A levels / Scottish Highers | Tariff range 136 (AAB) – 152 (AAA*). To include 48 points (grade A) from Biology and 48 points (grade A) from a second science from chemistry, physics or maths. For Science A levels that include the separately graded practical endorsement, a Pass is required. |
| GCSEs / Scottish Nationals | Minimum of 7 GCSEs at grade 4/C or above, to include English, Maths and 2 sciences (either double science or 2 from chemistry, biology or physics) at a minimum of grade 6/B. GCSEs should be achieved grades at point of application (predicted grades are not acceptable). |
| International Baccalaureate | 36 overall or 666 in 3 Higher Level subjects, to include grade 6 in Chemistry and one other science Biology, Physics or Maths and another grade 6 in any subject area. |
| Access to HE Diploma / BTEC | BTEC Extended Diploma in Applied Science considered; minimum of DDM in addition to 48 points (A) from A level Chemistry or Biology. Access to HE courses considered; the core content of acceptable Access courses must be in pure science; biology, chemistry, maths and physics. A minimum of 36 level 3 credits at Distinction are required in addition to 48 points from an A level in Chemistry or Biology. The level of these core modules should be the equivalent of A-Level standard. Assessment of performance in Access courses should be available for every module and should be based on a variety of methods. General Studies, Critical Thinking and Vocational/Applied A levels or T levels are not accepted. Social sciences are not accepted. |
| Degree (graduate applicants) | Minimum 2:1 in a life science subject. |
| Admissions test | UCAT |
| Personal statement | Will be reviewed by Admissions Tutors and scored against values-based selection criteria. |
| Interview method | Semi-structured panel interview. |
| Work experience | We recognise that obtaining work experience in a dental setting can be challenging and this is therefore a desirable but not a specific requirement. However, all applicants should show: evidence of commitment to a career in the dental profession applied for; evidence of qualities and skills required for dental healthcare; evidence of knowledge of the nature of the dental profession. |
| Resit policy | Resits for A-Level are considered. Resits are accepted for GCSE subjects but the results are to be in place at the time of application. |
| Widening participation | WP applications are welcomed in line with our University admissions processes and our Access & Participation Plan. Applicants that meet the university contextual criteria are given additional consideration when being considered for interview. Applicants that are to be made an offer will be given up to a 2-grade reduction (ABB). |
How Portsmouth 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 Portsmouth
Portsmouth 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 Hygiene and Therapy BSc Hons (B750) · 3 years — ABB-BBB (120-128 points), including a pure Science subject at grade B.
- Dental Hygiene BSc Hons (B752) · 3 years — ABB-BBB (120-128 points), including a pure Science subject at grade B.
DFT schemes nearest Portsmouth
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hampshire and Emsworth 24 month Scheme | Emsworth | 2 | 13 km |
| Hampshire Scheme | Southampton | 12 | 25 km |
| Winchester Scheme | Winchester | 14 | 33 km |
| Dorset and Wiltshire Scheme | Salisbury | 6 | 58 km |
| Surrey and Sussex Scheme | Crawley | 13 | 73 km |
🗺 See this school and its DFT schemes on the map
Portsmouth dentistry: common questions
What A level grades does Portsmouth need for dentistry?
Tariff range 136 (AAB) – 152 (AAA*).
What GCSEs does Portsmouth require for dentistry?
Minimum of 7 GCSEs at grade 4/C or above, to include English, Maths and 2 sciences (either double science or 2 from chemistry, biology or physics) at a minimum of grade 6/B.
Does Portsmouth use the UCAT?
Yes — the UCAT.
Is the Portsmouth dentistry interview an MMI or a panel?
Semi-structured panel interview.
Does Portsmouth accept A level resits for dentistry?
Resits for A-Level are considered.
Which DFT scheme is nearest Portsmouth?
Hampshire and Emsworth 24 month Scheme, based in Emsworth, about 13 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 Portsmouth:
- https://local-policies.docstore.port.ac.uk/APP001.pdf
- https://www.port.ac.uk/study/courses/undergraduate/bds-dental-surgery
Part of all UK dental schools · recruitment timelines · what training pays
Application update
New school (official opening 5 June 2026). 25 UK BDS places a year from September 2027; UK applications are open. The course page also advertised EU/international entry for September 2026; actual enrolment has not been confirmed here. University source — checked 16 September 2026.
2027-entry dentistry deadline: 15 October 2026, 18:00 UK time. This is the UCAS equal-consideration deadline for most dentistry courses; check your course listing. UCAS deadline.