University of Manchester
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Course contact details
The University of Manchester
Email:study@manchester.ac.uk
Dentistry (BDS pre-dental year entry)
- BDS
- 6 Years
- Full-time
- 22/09/2025
- Undergraduate
- Main Site
Course summary
Our pre-dental entry course in Dentistry (foundation year) is aimed at students who have proven academic ability but not the necessary science qualifications to apply directly to the five-year BDS .
You will spend your foundation year at the University and will start the five-year BDS course upon successful completion of the foundation course.
The five-year course will prepare you for a dentistry career through a combination of clinical study and basic and advanced dental sciences.
Once you have mastered basic competencies in the University's skills facilities, you will move on to treating patients in both the University Dental Hospital of Manchester and local outreach clinics early in the course.
You will learn to work within a dental team to take a patient-centred approach to clinical care, practicing in a professional, safe and ethical manner.
Our students are also trained to become reflective practitioners who are committed to lifelong learning.
This course is currently being reviewed and teaching and learning may differ for 2024 entry. Offer holders will be informed and the website will be updated when any changes are confirmed.
This course is not accepting applications at this time. Please contact the provider to find out more.
Ways to study this course
Campuses
- Main Site
Study options
- BDS • Full-time • 6 Years
Start dates
- 22/09/2025
Apply by
15 October
This is the equal consideration deadline. You can still apply after this date, but your application may not receive guaranteed consideration.
Application codes
- Course code:
- A204
- Institution code:
- M20
- Campus name:
- Main Site
- Campus Code:
- -
- Points of Entry:
- Year 1
Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
University of Manchester has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.
See why these ratings were awarded
What does this TEF outcome mean?
How to apply
This course is not accepting applications at this time. Please contact the provider to find out more.
Apply by
15 October
This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.
Application codes
- Course code:
- A204
- Institution code:
- M20
- Campus name:
- Main Site
- Campus Code:
- -
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Year 1
Entry requirements
UCAS Tariff
Not acceptedA level
AAAOur standard A-level offer is AAA including subject combinations that would be unsuitable for admission to the 5 year BDS.
Combinations of very similar subjects, for example, Biology and Human Biology or Maths and Further Maths together, are not acceptable. Two AS-levels in place of one A2-level will not be accepted.
Typical Contextual A-level offer: AAB.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
Not acceptedAccess to HE Diploma
We do not accept Access courses for application to A204. Please see the details for A206 BDS 5-year programme.
Scottish Higher
We require 4 Highers at grades AAAA by the end of Secondary 5. Grades should be achieved in the same sitting at first attempt. English Language and Maths, if not taken at Higher/Advanced Higher must have been achieved at SCQF level 5 (National 5, Intermediate II or Standard Grade Credit level grade 2 or above).
Applicants also need Scottish Advanced Highers in addition to Scottish Highers, so please also check the entry requirements for those qualifications.
AS
We have no specific requirements at AS-level. However, we would normally expect students to demonstrate a commitment towards achieving a broad and balanced education. Most applicants will therefore be studying beyond the 'bare minimum' in order to make the most competitive application possible.
You may wish to evidence this on your application in a number of ways, for example: studying four A-level subjects; studying for an additional AS level or BTEC qualification in addition to your three main subjects; taking General Studies, Key Skills or the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) in addition to your three main subjects.
We are aware that you may not be able to take the above qualifications at school or college and therefore we allow applicants to provide evidence of participating in other activities aimed at increasing social responsibility, for example, National Citizen Service (NCS) or the Duke of Edinburgh award in lieu of a formal qualification. A list of other suggested activities is provided on our FAQ page. If in doubt, please contact us.
Please note that if your school is unable to offer any of the above, they should state this in the UCAS reference and you will not be disadvantaged as a result.
Applicants with a WP/WP Plus flag are exempt.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
Not acceptedPearson BTEC Level 3 National Foundation Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
Not acceptedPearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate (first teaching from September 2016)
Not acceptedPearson BTEC Level 3 National Certificate (first teaching from September 2016)
Not acceptedScottish Advanced Higher
We require at least two Advanced Highers at grades AA by the end of Secondary 6. Any of the following combinations are acceptable:
- three Advanced Highers at AAA;
- two Advanced Highers at grades AA, plus one A2-level subject at grade A;
- two Advanced Highers at grades AA, plus one new Higher at grade A.
We do not accept Chemistry and Biology in the Advanced Highers.
You will also need Scottish Highers in addition to Scottish Advanced Highers.
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
36 points36 points are required overall (to include core points) with at least 666 at higher level. We accept both Maths options as part of the Diploma. If Maths and English Language are not offered as part of the Diploma, they should be offered at GCSE or IGCSE at grade B (6) or above.
Higher level subjects should include subject combinations that would be unsuitable for admission to the 5 year BDS.
Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (last awarded Summer 2024)
The University welcomes and recognises the value of the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate and usually requires two A Levels or equivalent to be included within this.
The minimum grade required will normally be the same as the lowest grade listed in the A-Level entry requirements.
Extended Project
The University recognises the benefits of the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) and the opportunities it provides for applicants to develop independent study and research skills. Although the Extended Project will not be included in the conditions of your offer, we strongly encourage you to provide information about the EPQ in your personal statement and at interview. A number of our academic Schools may also choose to take your performance in the EPQ into account should places be available in August for applicants who narrowly miss the entry grades for their chosen course.
Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal
We consider applicants offering Pre-U Principal Subjects, or a mix of Pre-U and A Level subjects, provided a minimum of three distinct subjects overall is taken.
The same subject specifications as A-level apply.
If you require further clarification about the acceptability of this qualification please contact the Academic School(s) you plan to apply to.
GCSE/National 4/National 5
We require at least seven GCSEs at grade 7 (A) or above.
English Language, Mathematics are required at GCSE minimum grade 6 (B). At least two science subjects are required at GCSE minimum grade 6 (B) if not taken to AS/A2-level. If Dual Award Science or Core and Additional Science are offered, the minimum required is 66 (BB).
For applicants whose status has been confirmed as WP+ or WP++ using the University's Contextual Data Eligibility tool, we will accept 6 GCSEs at Grade 7 (A) or above.
We permit GCSE resits. If you are resitting any GCSEs at the point of your application, we require you to list it as pending qualifications on your UCAS form.
We do not currently accept short courses; however, Level 2 BTEC qualifications are acceptable (at distinction grade or above) in lieu of one GCSE.
If you are offering an international equivalent to GCSE and this is not listed on our international entry requirements page, please contact The School of Medical Sciences Admissions Office to check the suitability of the qualification.
OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma
Not acceptedOCR Cambridge Technical Diploma
Not acceptedOCR Cambridge Technical Foundation Diploma
Not acceptedOCR Cambridge Technical Extended Certificate
Not acceptedT Level
We will consider Science, Healthcare Science or Health T Level pathway for the foundation year. We would require Distinction overall.
Additional entry requirements
- Admission tests
- Criminal records declaration (DBS/Disclosure Scotland)
- Health checks
- Interview
- Other
- Institutions Own Test Non-Academic Information Form. For entry in 2019, every applicant for A204 and A206 must complete an online information form with respect to non-academic activities. The information required will include details of work experience roles undertaken, main hobbies, interests and/or extracurricular activities, team working and motivation to pursue a career in dentistry. Access to this form will be provided by email once we have received your UCAS form.
- University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT)
- All applicants for the BDS programme(A204 and A206) will be required to sit the UK Clinical Aptitude Test (UKCAT). See the UKCAT website for more details and exemptions.
English language requirements
| Test | Grade | Additional details |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic) | 7 | A minimum average score of 7.0 and with no less than 6.5 in any one component taken at the same sitting. |
In most cases, we expect applicants to satisfy our English Language requirement by offering English language at GCSE grade B (6) or above (or a score of 5 in the International Baccalaureate diploma).
Applicants from outside the UK (including non-native speakers) need to meet specific English language requirements to study at Manchester. We accept:
- IGCSE English first language at grade B or second language at grade A;
- International English Language Testing Service (IELTS): A minimum average score of 7.0 and with not less than 6.5 in any one component taken at the same sitting;
- Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic: An overall score of 65 with no less than 65 in each of the communicative skills domains taken at the same sitting;
- Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE), or Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE): An overall score of 185 with no less than 185 in each of the scoring domains taken at the same sitting;
- a score of 5 at Standard or Higher level as part of the International Baccalaureate diploma.
You must declare your English qualification (including those which are pending) on the UCAS form.
Please contact us prior to application if you are unsure how to satisfy these language requirements.
Graduates : Graduates who have completed a degree conducted entirely in English at a UK institution may be exempt from the English language requirements. Please contact us if you are unsure.
At interview, if we have any concerns about your English language capability regardless of your origin, country of upbringing or existing qualifications, we may require you to take an additional English language test as a condition of any offer we make to you.
Contextual admissions
Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.
We operate contextual admissions meaning many applicants receive an offer and are admitted at least one grade below standard entry requirements. Entry requirements for applicants meeting contextual admissions criteria are listed next to the standard entry requirements on course profiles.
Contextual admissions means we consider your application in context helping us to ensure everyone has a fair chance of getting into Manchester. The data we use is automatically provided on your UCAS form.
Historical entry grades data BETA
This section shows the range of grades students (with UK A-Levels or Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diplomas) who received offers were previously accepted with (learn more). It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place. Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.
Not enough data available
We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| Location | Fee | Year |
|---|---|---|
| England | £9535 | Year 1 |
| Northern Ireland | £9535 | Year 1 |
| Scotland | £9535 | Year 1 |
| Wales | £9535 | Year 1 |
| Channel Islands | £9535 | Year 1 |
| Republic of Ireland | £9535 | Year 1 |
| EU | £36500 | Year 1 |
| International | £36500 | Year 1 |
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.
Additional fee information
No additional fees or cost information has been supplied for this course, please contact the provider directly.
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