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Dentistry · Dental School Profile
Queens School of Dentistry Belfast (A200 BDS) 2026
UCAT requiredUpdated 16 September 2026
Reviewed by Dr Sonal Gandhi, BDS (Hons), King's College London
Trusted UK dentistry admissions specialists since 2012 · 2,700+ students taught
At a glance
- Location
- Belfast, Northern Ireland
- Founded
- 1920
- Degree awarded
- BDS (UCAS code A200)
- Course length
- 5 years
- Home fee
- £4,985 per year (2026/27), NI-domiciled rate (Rest of UK £9,790)
- International fee
- £41,500 /year
- Annual intake
- ~60 places per year (around 45 Home/ROI and 15 International)
- Interview format
- MMI
- UCAT required
- Yes
- SJT Band 4 accepted
- Yes
- Foundation year
- No
- Post-interview success (home, 2024)
- 43%
Queen's University of Belfast Dentistry Overview
The Dental School at Queen's has been responsible for delivering dental education in Northern Ireland since 1920. In the National Student Survey, where final year students have an opportunity to give anonymous feedback on the completion of their 5-year course, the Bachelor of Dental Surgery degree at Queen’s University is consistently highly rated.
Queens Belfast Dentistry admissions statistics
For 2024 entry, 43% of home applicants interviewed at Queens Belfast received an offer (87 of 204).
Home applicants
| Entry year | Applications | Interviewed% of applicants | Offers | Post-interview success% of interviewed | Offer rate% of applicants |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | — | 204 | 87 | 43% | — |
| 2023 | — | 181 | 68 | 38% | — |
| 2022 | — | 183 | 54 | 30% | — |
| 2021 | — | 166 | 54 | 33% | — |
- % invited to interview:
- applicants interviewed divided by applications.
- Post-interview success rate:
- offers divided by applicants interviewed.
- Offer rate:
- offers divided by applications. An offer is not a confirmed place.
Last checked June 2026.
School of Dentistry Belfast Course Structure
Stage 1 and 2
Students are attached to dental clinics and also undertake modules where they learn about the foundations of clinical practice including the biomedical and behavioural sciences as well as the principles of dental patient management, dental health promotion and core clinical dental skills.
Stage 3
Introduces a greater clinical component within the various clinical dental specialities as well as developing students’ core clinical skills in Restorative dentistry. Students also learn about the impact of systemic disease in dentistry.
Stage 4 and 5
Emphasis is on teaching advanced dental clinical skills within the range of clinical specialities in dentistry. Students carry out the full range of dental treatment for their own adult and child patients. Clinical tuition takes place in classes within the Dental School and in Outreach dental clinics.
Teaching style
Teaching at Queen’s combines modern clinical facilities with early hands-on experience. From year one, students develop practical and operative skills using sophisticated simulation labs-such as haptic dental simulators, prosthetics labs, and digital dentistry techniques-and then smoothly transition to treating real patients across both on-campus clinics and regional outreach sites. This approach ensures students grow their knowledge, confidence, and clinical competence in a realistic, supportive setting.
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Royal School of Dentistry Belfast Entry Requirements
Universities revise entry requirements between cycles, usually in August and September. Always confirm with the university before you apply.
A-Levels
AAA at A-level including Biology/Human Biology and Chemistry. GCSE Mathematics minimum grade C/4 is required if not offered at AS-level or A-level. For A-level School Leavers a maximum of one Applied A-level will be counted. Please also note that only one Mathematics subject will be counted at A-level. A-level Critical Thinking and both A-level and AS-level General Studies are not acceptable.
GCSEs
For NI and GB applicants, GCSE performance in the best 9 subjects will be scored with 4 points awarded for an A* (grade 9 in the new grading scale) and 3 for an A grade (grade 8/7 in the new grading scale). Points are not awarded for B and C grades (grades 6, 5 and 4 in the new grading scale).
Still sitting your GCSEs? Protect the grades this course screens for with 1-1 GCSE Maths, Biology and Chemistry tutoring from medics.
International Baccalaureate (IB)
36 points overall including 6 6 6 at Higher Level including Biology and Chemistry + GCSE Mathematics grade C/4 or an equivalent acceptable to the University
Graduates (degree requirements)
Applications from graduates or those in the final year of their degree are considered and the full academic background is taken into account. The minimum A-level threshold (or equivalent in other qualifications) is either BBB at first attempt, ie: prior to commencing degree studies for those with an Upper Second Class Honours 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. Applicants must have an appropriate science background at GCSE and A-level or equivalent (see below) and at least a 2.1 Honours classification in their primary (first) degree, which can be from a wide range of different subjects. A-level Chemistry and Biology/Human Biology are required. In addition, GCSE Mathematics minimum grade C/4 is required if not offered at AS-level or A-level. Graduate applicants who fulfil these criteria are then scored with their UCAT.
Graduate applicants from a non-science background but who fulfil the conditions in terms of grades achieved at the first attempt (ie in their original choice of A-level subjects) and degree performance will be considered if they undertake the appropriate Science qualifications on completion of their degree.
English language requirements
IELTS score of 7.5 with a minimum of 7.0 in Speaking and Listening and 6.0 in the other test components
Resits
No specified
Deferred entry
Yes
Minimum age requirements
It is not possible to admit students on to the five-year programme under the age of 16
Does Queens Belfast make contextual offers for dentistry?
Yes. Queens Belfast publishes a contextual adjustment for dentistry applicants.
Who it applies to, in the university's own words:
- Educated at a secondary school in Northern Ireland to at least Year 12, with a BT postcode
- Pathway Opportunity Programme (POP) SMDBS pathway, open only to applicants with a BT postcode attending a school within Northern Ireland
- Successful completion of any other POP programme at Queen's University, with the potential to satisfy the normal academic requirements
Northern Ireland school applicants are shortlisted on AS-level grades rather than GCSE performance, plus UCAT and predicted A-level performance. POP SMDBS pathway students receive a guaranteed interview and a possible offer of one A level grade below the normal target. Other POP pathways give a guaranteed interview with the normal entry requirements applying.
Policy read is the 2026-entry statement. The grade reduction is worded as possible, not guaranteed.
Source: QUB dentistry admissions policy (PDF). Last checked 16 September 2026.
Compare contextual offers at every UK dental school, with each university's criteria in its own words.
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Queens School of Dentistry Belfast Admission Tests
Queens School of Dentistry Belfast UCAT Cut off 2026
UCAT Cut Off at University of Queen's (Belfast) Dental School
The UCAT is considered in a holistic manner - there is no specific UCAT Cut Off Score (2026 Entry)
- UCAT 20%, GCSEs 80%
- Assign a score to UCAT 0-9 points,
- Assign a score to GCSE points /36 points 4 for A*, 3 for A etc
👉🏼 Past Thresholds ie Cut Off Scores for Queens Belfast BDS Dentistry Programme for INVITATION TO INTERVIEW
- 2025 Entry: 36 points (used old scoring system, see below)
- 2024 Entry: 38 points (used old scoring system, see below)
- 2023 Entry: 37 points (used old scoring system, see below)
- 2022 Entry: 33 points (scoring system changed here)
- 2021 Entry: 33 points
- 2020 Entry: 32 points
- 2019 Entry: 32 points
👉🏼 AVERAGE Queens Belfast BDS Dentistry Score for INVITATION TO INTERVIEW
- 2023 Entry: 39.1 points
- 2022 Entry: 37.1 points (scoring system changed here)
- 2021 Entry: 37.7 points
- 2020 Entry: 37.4 points
- 2019 Entry: 37.4 points
👉🏼 LOWEST Queens Belfast BDS Dentistry Score for GIVEN AN OFFER
- 2023 Entry: 37.0 points
- 2022 Entry: 33.0 points (scoring system changed here)
- 2021 Entry: 33.0 points
- 2020 Entry: 32.0 points
- 2019 Entry: 32.0 points
👉🏼 AVERAGE Queens Belfast BDS Dentistry Score for GIVEN AN OFFER
- 2023 Entry: 39.2 points
- 2022 Entry: 37.2 points (scoring system changed here)
- 2021 Entry: 37.6 points
- 2020 Entry: 38.1 points
- 2019 Entry: 37.9 points
NEW Queens Belfast Dentistry BDS Selection Process (to see old scores)
UCAT Points Scoring (Maximum 9 Points) - 2026 Entry (prior to this was only 6 points)
- 10th Decile (ie bottom 10%) = 0 points
- 9th Decile = 1 point
- 8th Decile = 2 points
- 7th Decile = 3 points
- 6th Decile = 4 points
- 5th Decile = 5 points
- 4th Decile = 6 points
- 3rd Decile = 7 points
- 2nd Decile = 8 points
- 1st Decile (ie top 10%) = 9 points
👉🏼 GCSE Points Scoring (Maximum 36 Points) - Top 9 GCSEs are scored:
- A*/9 = 4 points
- A/7/8 = 3 points
- B/6 = 2 points
- C/4/5 = 1 point
Achieved A Level grades meeting the requirements = 36/36 points confirmed
OLD Queens Belfast Dentistry Selection Process (to see old scores)
UCAT Score /6 [When out of 3600]
- 2900 - 3600 = 6 points
- 2700 - 2899 = 5 points
- 2500 - 2699 = 4 points
- 2300 - 2499 = 3 points
- 2100 - 2299 = 2 points
- 1900 - 2099 = 1 points
- 1200 - 1899 = 0 points
GCSE Score /36
- Top 9 GCSEs scored (short courses = half points)
- 9 = 4 points
- 7 or 8 = 3 points
- 6 = 2 points
- 4 or 5 = 1 point
Achieved A Level grades meeting the requirements = 36/36 points confirmed
International applicants are considered holistically, no UCAT needed.
Consideration of SJT use for 2023 entry
📝 PS - Have your PS checked - 5⭐ Rated
🎙️ Interviews - 1-1 Dentistry Interview (Panel & MMI) Tutoring & Mocks Online tailored to Queen's Belfast- 5⭐ Rated
BMAT
No
GAMSAT
No
School of Dentistry Belfast Work Experience
Work experience in a dental clinical setting is not a requirement for admission.
Interview preparation
1-1 Tutoring for Queens Belfast University Dentistry Interviews 2026
Our 1-1 dentistry interview tutoring is online and your tutor is matched to Queens Belfast, so every mock runs in the multiple mini interview (MMI) format Queens Belfast uses, with written feedback after each one.
We cover every UK dental school and last year our students were offered places at every one, including Queens Belfast.
Ten hours is £749 (£75 an hour) and includes the £349 Ultimate Q&A Guide free (300+ questions with model answers written by dentists), plus WhatsApp support between sessions.
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Royal School of Dentistry Belfast Personal Statement
No
Personal statements are not scored as part of the selection process and the following general factors are taken into account when considering applications:
- (i) Candidates are expected to state explicitly that Dentistry is their career choice. (Please note that an applicant cannot normally be considered for both Medicine and Dentistry).
- (ii) There should be evidence of commitment and motivation to follow a career in Dentistry.
- (iii) Work experience in a dental clinical setting is not a requirement for admission however, applicants are expected to show insight into the profession and enthusiasm to study the subject.
See our dentistry personal statement examples: model statements in the new UCAS format, each with commentary on what works and why.
Does Queens Belfast have a gateway or foundation year?
No. Queen's Belfast offers only the standard five-year BDS (A200). Its widening-access route is the Pathway Opportunity Programme (POP) for eligible Northern Ireland students, which gives a guaranteed interview and an offer up to one A-level grade lower (AAB), rather than a separate foundation year.
Queens Belfast interview
Everything on the Queen's Belfast interview is on its own page: the 2027 entry dates, whether there is a manual dexterity test, what Queen's Belfast assesses, 56 practice questions grouped by its published themes, model answers and a free mock interview.
Contact details for Queens Belfast
Queen’s University Belfast School of Dentistry
Grosvenor Road
Belfast
Northern Ireland
BT12 6BP
Tel: 02890 972215
Web: qub.ac.uk/schools/mdbs/
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FAQs
Queens Belfast dentistry FAQs
What are the A-Level requirements for Dentistry at Queens Belfast?
AAA at A-level including Biology/Human Biology and Chemistry. GCSE Mathematics minimum grade C/4 is required if not offered at AS-level or A-level. For A-level School Leavers a maximum of one Applied A-level will be counted. Please also note that only one Mathematics subject will be counted at A-level. A-level Critical Thinking and both A-level and AS-level General Studies are not acceptable.
What are the GCSE requirements for Dentistry at Queens Belfast?
For NI and GB applicants, GCSE performance in the best 9 subjects will be scored with 4 points awarded for an A* (grade 9 in the new grading scale) and 3 for an A grade (grade 8/7 in the new grading scale). Points are not awarded for B and C grades (grades 6, 5 and 4 in the new grading scale).
Does Queens Belfast accept A-Level resits for Dentistry?
No specified.
Does Queens Belfast require the UCAT for Dentistry?
Yes, Queens Belfast requires the UCAT for entry to Dentistry.
What UCAT score do you need for Dentistry at Queens Belfast?
The UCAT is considered in a holistic manner - there is no specific UCAT Cut Off Score (2026 Entry).
UCAT 20%, GCSEs 80%.
Assign a score to UCAT 0-9 points, Assign a score to GCSE points /36 points 4 for A*, 3 for A etc.
2025 Entry: 36 points (used old scoring system, see below).
2024 Entry: 38 points (used old scoring system, see below).
2023 Entry: 37 points (used old scoring system, see below).
2022 Entry: 33 points (scoring system changed here).
2021 Entry: 33 points.
What is the post-interview success rate for Dentistry at Queens Belfast?
Of the home applicants interviewed for Dentistry at Queens Belfast in 2024, 43% received an offer (87 of 204).
Do you offer dentistry interview tutoring for Queens Belfast?
Yes. Our 1-1 dentistry interview tutoring is online and your tutor is matched to Queens Belfast, so every mock runs in the multiple mini interview (MMI) format Queens Belfast uses, with written feedback after each one.
We cover every UK dental school and last year our students were offered places at every one, including Queens Belfast.
Ten hours is £749 (£75 an hour) and includes the £349 Ultimate Q&A Guide free (300+ questions with model answers written by dentists), plus WhatsApp support between sessions.
Book on the dental school interview coaching page at www.theukcatpeople.co.uk/dentistry-interview-coaching, or start with a single £125 mock: upgrade within 7 days of your feedback and it becomes the first hour of any package, so the full £125 comes off.
Does Queens Belfast offer a foundation or gateway year for Dentistry?
No, Queens Belfast does not offer a foundation or gateway year for Dentistry.
No. Queen's Belfast offers only the standard five-year BDS (A200). Its widening-access route is the Pathway Opportunity Programme (POP) for eligible Northern Ireland students, which gives a guaranteed interview and an offer up to one A-level grade lower (AAB), rather than a separate foundation year.
Is the personal statement assessed for Dentistry at Queens Belfast?
No, Queens Belfast does not formally score the personal statement for Dentistry applicants.
Personal statements are not scored as part of the selection process and the following general factors are taken into account when considering applications (i) Candidates are expected to state explicitly that Dentistry is their career choice. (Please note that an applicant cannot normally be considered for both Medicine and Dentistry).
Do you need to be 18 to study Dentistry at Queens Belfast?
No, Queens Belfast accepts Dentistry applicants who are under 18.
It is not possible to admit students on to the five-year programme under the age of 16.
How much does Dentistry at Queens Belfast cost for international students?
International students pay £41,500 per year for Dentistry at Queens Belfast.
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