BDS Dental Surgery with Integrated Foundation Year
Entry requirements
GCSE: Applicants need to achieve 5 GCSE 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 We are unable to consider functional skills in lieu of GCSEs. Level 3 qualifications: A level The typical offer is BBB at GCE A level 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 T Level Merit Overall in Science or Health pathway. City & Guilds Extended Diploma in Dental Nursing Grade Distinction (pre 2025) or Pass (2025 onwards) plus two 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 one 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 Welsh Baccalaureate The Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Skills Challenge can be considered in place of a third A level alongside Biology and a second science from Chemistry, Physics, Maths or Psychology. Scottish Advanced Highers BBB to include the following: Grade B in Biology Grade B in one further science from Chemistry, Physics, Maths or Psychology. Irish Leaving Certificate H2, H2, H3, H3, H3, H3 to include Biology and one further science from Chemistry, Physics, Maths or Psychology 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 Other UK qualifications Other UK qualifications will be considered on an individual basis. Please contact the Admissions Team at admissions@plymouth.ac.uk for advice, ensuring you provide all details of your qualifications. Mandatory non-academic entry requirements: All applicants, in addition to meeting or exceeding the published academic criteria above will need to meet a total of at least 5 points from any combination of the following criteria: Each worth 3 points Being a South West resident (Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset) Significant engagement in the University of Plymouth Peninsula Pathways programme Each worth 2 points Being in care or care-experienced Being in receipt or eligible for free school meals during your level 3 qualifications Refugee status Attending a low performing school/college based on 16-18 performance In receipt of EMA or 16-19 bursary In receipt of UCAT bursary Veterans, having served at least 5 years of active service Each worth 1 point Living in an area categorised as being in indices of mass deprivation (IMD) 1-4 or local equivalent Living in a low participation area as determined by POLAR4 quintile 1 postcode analysis In receipt of service pupil premium Explanation of above terms In care/care leaver Being in care or care-experienced – Evidenced by school letter submitted by applicant at the point of application to the student portal (link to portal automatically sent when a UCAS application is received). Note: A care experienced student is someone who has spent any amount of time in local authority care, such as foster care or residential children's homes, but may not meet the definition of a care leaver. Free school meals Being in receipt of free school meals whilst completing your level 3 qualifications, at the school/college you undertook these qualifications – evidenced by school letter submitted by applicant at the point of application to the student portal (link to portal automatically sent when a UCAS application is received). Refugee status Evidenced by either an official letter from the Home Office or preferably a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP), submitted by the applicant at the point of application to the student portal (link to portal automatically sent when a UCAS application is received). Where English is not your first language and you do not have a GCSE or IGCSE Grade 4 in English language you, must have an alternative English language qualification. Examples of acceptable language qualifications are the Certificate of Proficiency in English (Cambridge - Grade C) or the International English Language Testing System IELTS (at least 7.0 overall with a minimum of 6.5 in every element). School performance Attending or attended a low performing school/college whilst completing your level 3 qualifications e.g. 16–18 performance in the ‘below’ or ‘well below average’ classifications. If you attend a secondary school or college in England, please visit the Compare School and College Performance gov.uk website. If you attend a secondary school or college in Wales, please visit My Local School website. If you attend a secondary school or college in Northern Ireland, please visit the Schools Plus, Department of Education website. If you attend a secondary school or college in Scotland, please visit the School information dashboard, Education Scotland website. UCAT, EMA or 16-19 bursary In receipt of one or more of these bursaries. UCAT bursary entitlement can be evidenced by providing a copy of your award email or a copy of your invoice showing a deduction of the test fee. EMA or 16-19 bursary entitlement to be evidenced by an official award letter or a school letter. Documents should be submitted at the point of application to the student portal (link to portal automatically sent when a UCAS application is received). Indices of Mass Deprivation Living in an area categorised as being in Indices of Mass Deprivation (IMD) 1–4 or 20% most deprived as determined by your English postcode , Northern Ireland postcode , Scottish postcode , and Welsh postcode . POLAR4 Living in a low participation neighbourhood as determined by your postcode (POLAR4 quintile 1). South West resident Currently living in Cornwall, Devon, Dorset or Somerset as determined by your postcode. Service pupil premium Being in receipt of service pupil premium – Evidenced by school letter submitted by applicant at the point of application to the student portal (link to portal automatically sent when a UCAS application is received). Significant engagement in the University of Plymouth Peninsula Pathways programme Significant engagement includes completion of the five-day summer Work Experience Programme, being a member of the e-Mentoring scheme and having attended a minimum of three of the various Peninsula Pathways workshops by the end of Year 12. Re-sit applicants: Re-sit applicants 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 International Baccalaureate re-sit policy: Applicants must achieve a minimum of 30 points overall including 5,5,5 at Higher Level at first attempt. Irish Leaving Certificate re-sit policy: Applicants must achieve a minimum of H3, H3, H3, H3, H3, H4 at first attempt. 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 admissions@plymouth.ac.uk . Selection and admissions process: Selection and admissions process Applications should be made through UCAS by the published deadline. This is typically 15 October. You can apply to no more than four of the same clinical course choice, so although you cannot apply for five medical courses, four medical courses and one dental course would be permitted. Further information on this is available through the UCAS website . You may also wish to consider an alternative course such as Biomedical Science or Medical Sciences as your fifth choice. 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 and non-academic criteria 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 – view full details of our selection and admissions process . 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. View full details of our selection and admissions process. Deferred entry: Unfortunately we cannot permit deferred entry. However, if you have a query please contact the admissions team who will be able to explain the application process in more detail at admissions@plymouth.ac.uk .
About this course
BDS in Dentistry. This six-year programme includes placement years and uses an Enquiry Based Learning approach with interdisciplinary team-based learning. Students engage with patients from the first year in practical learning environments and can participate in the Dental Outreach Team, working with the public in local communities.
Modules
- Learning Skills for Dentistry
- Infection, Immunity and Therapeutics
- Current Developments in Human Biology and Biomedical Sciences
- Molecules to Cells
- Introduction to Human Physiology
- Interdisciplinary Learning and Team Based Learning (Enquiry learning)