Dentistry
How To Get Into Dentistry With Low Grades UK In 2026
Click here: UCAT Cut Offs - Dental Universities (2027Entry Updated)
The decision to study Dentistry is an amazing choice however, it can be difficult with low grades or qualifications. Due to the highly competitive nature of applying to dental school, low grades may result in not gaining an offer.
This may be due to low GCSE / A Level grades or even low scores in the UCAT exam. Below we tell you how to think and apply strategies to help get you into dental school with low grades.
Dentistry Entry Requirements
Every dental university has different entry requirements. Some universities focus on one aspect more than others such as some focusing on A-Levels more and others focusing on your UCAT score. It is definitely worth looking at all university entry requirements and seeing which one matches your grades. For example, if you have a very low UCAT score it may be worth applying to universities that do not look at the UCAT (such as Leeds Dental School).
Every university has a different entry requirement for A Levels with most requiring A-Levels in Biology, Chemistry and one other A-Level. These range from A*AA to AAA with the occasional few accepting AAB. This means if you are predicted AAA but apply to a university offering A*AA this will weaken your application and can reduce your chance of getting into a dental university. Contact our UCAT Tutors to help prevent this from happening.
How to strengthen your dentistry application if you have a low score
Dental Schools look at several aspects of your application before giving an interview and offer. This includes your A Levels, GCSE grades, Personal Statement, Work Experience, Extra-Curricular activities, Volunteering and Admission tests (UCAT).
If one part of your application is weak such as your grades then you must heighten other parts of your application to strengthen your whole application.
- Personal Statement: If you have low grades for Dentistry you must make sure your personal statement is beyond amazing. This is a chance for you to really sell yourself to the university whilst showing why you are passionate and driven to pursue a career in dentistry. Find out more about how to write a perfect dental personal statement.
- Work Experience: Having a lot of work experience in a variety of dental fields will show your commitment and determination to dentistry. Find out about what dental work experience will make you stand out.
- Extra-curricular and Volunteering Activities: Being an all-rounded individual is something that dental universities want to see. Doing sports, playing musical instruments and volunteering within the community will show this clearly and can help balance out the low grades. It is also imperative that you manage to expand your dentistry wider reading to boost your application.
- UCAT: The UCAT is the only admissions test for UK dentistry, and a strong score can help make up for weaker grades because several dental schools balance grades and UCAT together. Since 2025 the UCAT has had four subtests (Verbal Reasoning, Decision Making, Quantitative Reasoning and the Situational Judgement Test), with Abstract Reasoning removed and the cognitive total now scored out of 2700 (not 3600). If your grades are borderline, a high UCAT decile is one of the fastest ways to strengthen your application.
You may also be called for a dentistry interview. To help, take a look at 230 Dentistry Interview Questions.
Contextual Offers For Dentistry
You can get a place at a dental school with slightly lower grades if you are eligible for a contextual offer. To be eligible you must look at the individual dental websites to see if you come under the criteria. This can involve:
Contextual (or widening-participation) offers are one of the most reliable ways into dentistry with lower grades, and "dentistry contextual offer" is a common search for good reason. A contextual offer can drop the standard A-level requirement by one or two grades, so it is worth checking every school you are eligible for. For a full picture of standard versus reduced offers across the UK, compare schools on our UK dental schools ranking hub and read the How To Become A Dentist guide for the entry requirements behind every route.
- Attending an aspiring state school that may have performed below the national average over multiple years
- Live in an area with low progression to higher education
- Completed the university’s outreach program
- Spent time in care
- Refugee status
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Gateway to dentistry / Foundation Year / Pre-dental year
Gateway to dentistry/foundation year / pre-dental year is designed for students who have high ability and potential but who may also have had barriers during their education. This could either be due to their socioeconomic and/or educational circumstances hence students who do not meet the academic entry criteria to apply directly to the five-year Dentistry undergraduate course.
The gateway to dentistry (or foundation year) is open to UK students who have lower grades and meet specific widening-participation criteria. It is an extra year of study, after which you progress onto the five-year BDS. For 2026 entry, gateway or foundation routes into dentistry are offered by the University of Bristol, King's College London, the University of Leeds, the University of Liverpool, the University of Manchester and the University of Plymouth. Typical gateway A-level offers run from around BBC to AAB depending on the school, which is well below the standard direct-entry requirements. Eligibility and grades change every cycle, so always check the university's own page before you apply.
For more information about the gateway to dentistry and what each university looks for check out other pages on our website.
Graduate Entry Dentistry Programme
Applying for another degree that has a medical background can be another route to dentistry if you have lower grades. Other degrees such as the popular biomedical sciences or biochemistry have lower entry requirements.
Graduate entry is a strong option if you missed the grades first time round, because graduate offers often have lower A-level requirements once you hold a 2:1 degree. We cover every graduate route, the universities that accept graduates and how UCAT fits in, in our full Graduate Entry Dentistry guide.
After completion of the 3-year degree you then have the option to reapply for dentistry as either an undergraduate or as a graduate.
The graduate entry tends to have lower A level requirements seeing as you now have another degree. Check the information below to see which university offers a lower A Level requirement if applying as a graduate.
👉🏼 Read more: Top 5 Books To Boost Your Dentistry Personal Statement
Dental Schools with low grade requirements
The easiest dental school to get into in the UK is difficult to list as each university looks for different aspects of your application. Below is a list of universities that offer lower grade requirements for dentistry.
University of Plymouth Peninsula Dental School BDS 5 year course
- Website
- A Level: A*AA - AAB
- Contextual offer: AAB
- GCSEs: 7 GCSE passes at grades A-C
University of Leeds Dental Institute Dental Surgery MChD/BChD 5 year course:
- Website
- A Level: AAA - alternative conditions for ABB
- GCSEs: Minimum of 6 GCSEs at grade B /6 or higher
- UCAT: Required
Newcastle University Dental School BDS 5 year course:
- Website
- Contextual offer for A Levels: BBB
Queens’ Belfast Dental School
- Website
- Graduates: minimum A Level requirement is BBB at first attempt, ie: prior to commencing degree studies for those with a 2:1 degree, or BBC at the first attempt for those with a First Class Honours Degree or a PhD and an Upper Second Class Honours degree
University of Manchester School of Dentistry BDS 5 year course
- Website
- Graduates: Predicted or achieved a 2:1 degree with a minimum of BBB at A-level (32 in IB) in their first sitting.
- Contextual offer for A Levels: AAB
University of Liverpool School of Dentistry BDS 5 year course
- Website
- Graduates: Predicted or achieved a 2:1 degree with a minimum of ABB at A-level (32 in IB) in their first sitting.
- Contextual offer for A Levels: ABB
King’s College London Faculty of Dentistry BDS 5 year course
- Website
- Graduates: Minimum 2:1 in any subject, with a grade B in Biology or Chemistry and a B in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths or Psychology at A-Level (or equivalent
University of Bristol Dental School BDS 5 year course:
- Website
- Graduates: A 2:1 in the degree and BBB at A-level including Chemistry and one of Biology, Physics or Mathematics.
Cardiff University School of Dentistry BDS 5 year course:
- Website
- Graduates: A 2.1 Honours degree and have ABB at A level including Biology and Chemistry. Level 2 requirements (GCSE or equivalent) must also be met.
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Dentistry Clearing
If you have not been successful when applying for Dentistry due to your low grades you may be able to gain a place through clearing. This can especially be the case if you did better than your predicted grades. We recommend that on results day once you know which grades you have achieved, ring every dental university and see if they have an available place for you.
Dental clearing places are rare and fill within hours, so preparation matters. Our step-by-step Dentistry Clearing guide explains how clearing works for dentistry, who is eligible and exactly what to do on results day. If you do not secure a place, our Reapplying for Dentistry gap-year guide walks you through rebuilding a stronger application.
Due to dentistry being one of the most competitive courses, it is really important that you are organised and act fast as spaces get filled up quickly! Have a list of the contact details from every university, your UCAS Personal ID, your Clearing Number, personal statement, and GCSE grades written down or to hand. For further information, read our Dentistry Clearing page to know how you can be organised and gain a place at dental school through clearing.
Retake The year
If you have taken all the steps mentioned above but are still unable to gain a place at university you may need to retake your A-Level exams to gain better grades and heighten your chance of gaining a place at university. By retaking your exams you will be in a better position next year when applying to Dentistry so it is definitely worth considering.
If you do decide to retake your exams, check each dental school's resit policy carefully, because they differ a lot. Some, such as Liverpool, do not accept A-level resits at all; others, such as Manchester and Newcastle, will consider resits (often only on a single occasion, and sometimes only for previous dental-school applicants) but may raise the required grades, for example to A*AA. Resit policies change every admissions cycle, so always confirm on the university's own page before you commit to a retake year.
Study Dentistry Abroad
Doing dentistry abroad is another great option. There are several European countries that offer this, including Spain, Budapest, Georgia, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Armenia, and Romania. More and more people are choosing to study abroad and some of the reasons may include:
- Lower accepted grades
- Lower living costs
- Lower competition
- Lower tuition fees
Most of the above courses are taught in English and degrees from these countries are recognised internationally. Most of these countries also offer graduate-entry dentistry courses.
Living in a new country and having the chance to study abroad is amazing and sometimes can even be a once in a lifetime opportunity! You can embrace yourself in a different culture, meet new people from different parts of the world and travel to neighbouring countries more easily (especially with the lower tuition fees).
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Most popularCourses Other Than Dentistry
If the above does not suit you, there are several other dental courses/healthcare courses you can consider.
This includes and is not limited to:
- Dental nursing
- Dental materials
- Dental technician
- Dental hygiene and therapy
- Medicine
- Nursing
- Optometry
- Pharmacy
We hope this helps! If you have any further questions about your grades and need help applying to Dentistry, please contact our helpful team at TheUKCATPeople.
Frequently asked questions
Can you get into dentistry with low grades in the UK?
Yes. You can still get into dentistry with lower grades by targeting dental schools with the lowest entry requirements, using contextual offers, applying for a gateway to dentistry or foundation year, going through graduate entry, or applying in clearing. A strong UCAT score, personal statement and work experience can also offset weaker GCSEs or A-levels.
Which UK dental schools have the lowest entry requirements?
Entry requirements vary every year, but schools often cited for lower or more flexible offers include Plymouth (Peninsula), Leeds, Newcastle, Liverpool, Bristol and Cardiff, several of which advertise contextual offers down to ABB or BBB. There is no single "easiest" dental school, because each weighs grades, UCAT and interview differently. Always compare current requirements on each university's page before applying.
What is the easiest dental school to get into in the UK?
There is no officially easiest dental school, as every UK dental school is highly competitive. However, schools that place more weight on UCAT, interview performance or contextual circumstances, and those offering gateway or foundation routes, can be more attainable with lower grades. Apply strategically to schools whose selection method suits your strongest area rather than chasing one "easy" option.
Can you get into dentistry without A-levels?
Yes. You do not always need traditional A-levels to become a dentist. Routes include a gateway or foundation year, an Access to Higher Education Diploma, the International Baccalaureate, BTEC qualifications in some cases, or completing another degree and applying for graduate entry. Each dental school sets its own accepted qualifications, so check exactly what your target schools will consider.
What is a contextual offer for dentistry?
A contextual offer is a reduced grade requirement given to applicants who meet widening-participation criteria, such as attending an under-performing school, living in a low-progression area, having spent time in care or holding refugee status. A contextual offer can lower the standard A-level requirement by one or two grades, so it is one of the most effective routes into dentistry with lower grades.
What is a gateway to dentistry or dentistry foundation year?
A gateway to dentistry (or foundation year) is an extra preparatory year for UK students who have strong potential but faced barriers to their grades. After passing the foundation year, you progress onto the five-year BDS. For 2026 entry these routes are offered by Bristol, King's College London, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester and Plymouth, usually with reduced A-level offers around BBC to AAB.
Which universities offer a dentistry foundation year in the UK?
For 2026 entry, gateway to dentistry or foundation-year routes are offered by the University of Bristol, King's College London, the University of Leeds, the University of Liverpool, the University of Manchester and the University of Plymouth. Each has its own eligibility criteria, usually based on widening-participation factors, and grades change yearly, so confirm the latest requirements on the university's own admissions page.
Can I get into dentistry through clearing?
Sometimes. Dental clearing places are rare and fill within hours, but they do appear, especially if you exceeded your predicted grades. Have every dental school's clearing contact ready on results day and call immediately. Because dentistry is so competitive, speed and organisation are essential. See our dentistry clearing guide for a full results-day action plan.
Do dental schools accept A-level resits?
Some do and some do not, and policies change yearly. Liverpool, for example, does not accept A-level resits, while Manchester and Newcastle will consider them, often only on a single occasion and sometimes only for previous applicants, and may raise the required grades to A*AA. Always check each dental school's current resit policy on its own page before committing to a retake year.
How can I strengthen a dentistry application with low grades?
If one part of your application is weak, lift the others. Aim for a high UCAT decile, write an outstanding personal statement, gather varied dental and clinical work experience, and show extracurricular commitment and volunteering. Strong interview performance also matters. The goal is a balanced, compelling application where your strengths clearly outweigh your weaker grades.
Does the UCAT help if I have low grades for dentistry?
Yes. The UCAT is the only admissions test for UK dentistry, and many dental schools balance grades and UCAT together, so a high score can offset weaker grades. Since 2025 the UCAT has four subtests, with Abstract Reasoning removed and the cognitive total scored out of 2700. A strong decile is one of the quickest ways to lift a borderline application.
Can I use graduate entry to study dentistry with low grades?
Yes. Completing another degree, often biomedical sciences or biochemistry, can open a graduate route into dentistry, and graduate offers usually carry lower A-level requirements once you hold a 2:1. Schools such as Manchester, Liverpool, King's College London, Bristol, Cardiff and Queen's Belfast list specific graduate criteria. See our graduate entry dentistry guide for the full list and requirements.
How many dental schools are there in the UK?
There are around 18 dental schools in the UK offering the BDS (or equivalent BChD/BDent) degree, spread across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. New dental school places have also been announced to expand training. Because each school selects differently, applying with lower grades is about choosing the schools whose criteria best fit your profile.
Should I study dentistry abroad if I have low grades?
Studying dentistry abroad, for example in parts of Europe, can mean lower entry grades, lower competition and lower fees, with many courses taught in English. However, check that the degree is recognised by the General Dental Council if you intend to practise in the UK, as you may need additional registration steps. Treat it as one option to weigh against UK gateway, graduate and clearing routes.
What can I do if I do not get into dentistry?
If you are not successful, you can retake your A-levels (where schools accept resits), reapply after a gap year with a stronger application, take a gateway or foundation year, study a related degree and apply for graduate entry, or consider allied routes such as dental hygiene and therapy, dental technology or medicine. Many successful dentists did not get in on their first attempt.
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