Dental school admissions in Australia are highly competitive, with high ATAR requirements and a limited number of places. Each dental school has its own selection process, so understanding the pathways early helps you plan.
This guide explains how to get into dentistry in Australia: the entry pathways, which dental schools use the UCAT, dentistry entry requirements and a simple timeline for your applications.
Dental school admissions in Australia: undergraduate and graduate pathways
Undergraduate (school leaver) entry: you apply directly from Year 12 into a dentistry degree. This is the most common pathway.
Graduate entry: some universities offer dentistry as a graduate degree, which you apply for after completing a bachelor's degree. Requirements differ from school-leaver entry.
If you are in Year 11 or 12, focus on undergraduate entry first, but it is worth knowing that graduate pathways exist if you do not receive an offer straight away.
UCAT for dentistry: which dental schools use it?
Most undergraduate dental programs in Australia use the UCAT ANZ as part of selection. The official list of participating universities is on the UCAT ANZ website. There are exceptions. For example, James Cook University does not use the UCAT for its Bachelor of Dental Surgery, and instead relies on a written application and academic results. Read about our JCU Dentistry application support for details.
Dentistry entry requirements: ATAR and prerequisites
Dentistry usually requires a very high ATAR. Many programs also have subject prerequisites, commonly English and Chemistry, and sometimes Mathematics or Biology. Check each university's requirements early, ideally before you choose your Year 11 subjects.
Interviews and written applications
Some dental schools interview applicants, often using Multiple Mini Interviews (MMI). Others select on ATAR and UCAT alone, or use a written application. Each format needs different preparation, so check the process for every university on your list.
How to get into dentistry in Australia: a simple timeline
Year 11: choose prerequisite subjects and learn about each university's process.
Year 11 Summer break: start UCAT preparation.
Early in Year 12: register and book the UCAT ANZ.
July to early August: sit the UCAT ANZ.
Application period: apply through your state's admissions centre and complete any written applications.
Late in the year: interviews, if required.
January: offers released.
Dental school admissions in Australia: FAQs
Is dentistry harder to get into than medicine?
Both are highly competitive. The number of dentistry places is smaller, so entry can be very competitive even with a strong ATAR.
Can I apply for medicine and dentistry in the same year?
Yes. Many students apply for both, and the same UCAT ANZ result can be used for both.
Do all dental schools require the UCAT?
No. Most undergraduate programs do, but some, such as JCU, use their own selection process instead.
Do I need work experience?
It is not always required, but understanding what dentists do will help you in interviews and written applications.
What if I do not get an offer straight from school?
You can reapply the following year, or consider graduate-entry dentistry after completing a bachelor's degree.
Which subjects should I choose in Year 11?
Choose subjects that meet the dentistry entry requirements for the universities you are interested in. English and Chemistry are common prerequisites.
Dental school admissions support with MedEssentials
MedEssentials helps students through dental school admissions in Australia with UCAT preparation, written applications and interviews. Learn more about the UCAT, see our dental school admission statistics, or prepare with our medicine and dentistry interview training.
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Written by:
Dr Ian Tan MBBS MMed
MedEssentials Head of Education
Eye Specialist and Vitreo-retinal surgery fellow
Associate Clinical Lecturer