Applicants need to achieve 5 GCSE passes (grade C/grade 4 or higher) which must include the following subjects: 

Experience in lieu of Level 3 entry requirements 
At least 2 years in practice experience as a qualified and registered Dental Nurse (proof may be required at the time of application). Applicants must have 2 years’ experience at the point of application, in addition to an A Level in Biology at grade C or above.

A Level
CC at GCE A Level, which must include A-Level Biology.

We are only able to consider Level 3 qualifications completed within five years of the start of the application cycle. For example, qualifications completed since 2016 would still be valid when applying in September 2021. 

BTEC National Extended Diploma
Grades Distinction, Merit, Merit in a predominantly science subject area. However, we strongly advise applicants to complete a National Diploma in addition to an A-Level in Biology as below, rather than a National Extended Diploma award. 

BTEC National Diploma
Grades Distinction, Merit from a Science related subject, in addition to an A-Level in Biology at grade C. 

City & Guilds Extended Diploma in Dental Nursing 
Grade Distinction in addition to an A Level in Biology at grade C. 

Access to Higher Education Diploma
Pass a 60 credit Access to Higher Education Diploma in a relevant subject, such as Science, Combined Studies, Natural Sciences, or Nursing.

To include 45 Level 3 credits, with 15 graded Merit and 30 grade Pass.

Applicants applying with an Access to Higher Education Diploma must also have completed an A Level in Biology at grade C.

International Baccalaureate
24 overall with grade 4 or above in a Higher Level science. Other subjects to include English, Mathematics and one Science subject.

GNVQ and AGNVQ
Passes in Science subjects.

We welcome applicants with international qualifications. To confirm whether your qualification will be considered, please contact meddent-admissions@plymouth.ac.uk. 

All teaching at our school is in English, so if you are an international applicant you must have a suitable English Language qualification. If you are unsure whether your English Language qualification is suitable, please contact meddent-admissions@plymouth.ac.uk.

The University will no longer accept the IELTS indicator (online test). All applicants will have to take the IELTS test at an approved centre.

Applications should be made through UCASby the published deadline. This is typically the 15th January. 

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 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, and full details can be found on the Medicine and Dentistry selection and admissions process page.

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.

Full details of our selection and admissions process can be found here. 

Students must be 18 years old or over at the start date of this programme.

Please view our Student Conduct and Fitness to Practise page.

Graduates should be in practice in the UK whilst undertaking the programme and hold GDC registration. Places are allocated on a first come first served basis subject to graduates fulfilling the above pre-requisites and Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry English language requirements.

As a dental practitioner, you should also have full professional indemnity and normally at least two years of clinical experience (full time equivalent). 

If you meet the above entry requirements you will be required to attend an interview. 

If your first language is not English you will be required to provide evidence of competence in English language. The minimum acceptable English language requirement for postgraduate courses is IELTS 6.5 overall, in both cases with minimum 5.5 across all four components (listening, reading, speaking, writing). Other acceptable tests and scores include PTE Academic: 61, with minimum 51 across all four components (listening, reading, speaking, writing).

Accreditation of prior certificated learning (APCL) and accreditation of prior experiential learning (APEL) refer to the process by which previous formal certificated learning and informal non-certificated learning can be awarded credit towards modules within the sphere of Higher Education. Credit for prior learning, whether certificated or experiential, may count towards the requirements for the named award. The maximum amount of credit for prior learning (certificated or experiential) claimed towards the award is 120 credits. To qualify for the award of a masters degree, your dissertation must be completed at the University of Plymouth. If you are seeking credit (whether certificated or experiential), you will normally be required to apply for such credit on receipt of an offer of a place on the programme. Requests for APCL if you are already on a programme will be considered provided that you submit the request in the session before you would normally begin the module/stage for which you are seeking credit. In the case of requests for APEL, this would be at least six months prior to the beginning of the session before you would normally begin the module(s)/stage against which you are seeking credit.

The University of Plymouth is committed to providing equality for all irrespective of age, disability, ethnicity (including race, colour and nationality), gender, gender reassignment, religion or belief, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity and will work to ensure that all students, employees and visitors, as well as those who apply or seek to apply to work or study at the University, are treated fairly and are not subjected to discrimination by the University on any of these grounds (University Equality and Diversity Policy, Revised April 2011).

We welcome applications from people with disabilities who will be considered on the same academic grounds as other potential students. Considerations about individual needs arising from disability will be made separately, and we will strive to meet an individual disabled student's needs wherever possible and in consultation with Disability Services. 

We welcome applicants with international qualifications. To view other accepted qualifications please refer to our tariff glossary.