With the global demand for healthcare professionals, including dentists, it’s not surprising that international students are drawn to study dentistry. A degree in dentistry provides good career options and some interesting areas of specialisation. If you’re an aspiring dental student, then you’ll likely be looking for a globally accredited, high-quality degree from a top-rated institution. This is what is on offer when studying in the UK. We focus our attention on the top universities for dentistry in the UK.
University of Glasgow
The Glasgow Dental Hospital and School at the University of Glasgow enjoys a reputation as the top institution to study a Bachelor of Dentistry in the UK. The school has been at the forefront of dental studies since its establishment in 1879 and is home to about 400 students studying dentistry each year. The Complete University Guide League Tables 2022 rate the university at number one for dentistry in the UK. This number one rating is also endorsed by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2021.
The university offers undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications in dentistry, including taught and master’s degrees. Taught master’s degrees to include specialisations in endodontics, oral and maxillofacial surgery, and oral sciences. Research degrees are offered at the PhD level, including in oral sciences and community oral health.
The University of Glasgow is also internationally regarded having achieved Five QS stars and ranked in the top 100 universities worldwide by the QS World University Rankings 2022. Similarly, the university was placed in the top 100 globally on the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2022.
Find out what to expect when you study for a degree in dentistry.
University of Manchester
The Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health at the University of Manchester boasts the number two dentistry programme in the whole of the UK according to the Complete University Guide League Tables 2022. The university also enjoys a top 10 ranking in the UK for dentistry on the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2022. In addition, the university sits comfortably in the top 100 worldwide for the subject.
The university offers a bachelor of dentistry and a BSc in Oral Health Science at the undergraduate level. There are also several taught master’s degree programmes available including:
- Dental public health
- Restorative dentistry
- Endodontics
- Paediatric dentistry
- Oral and maxillofacial surgery
For students wanting to pursue a PhD degree, the school has qualifications in focused areas or research covering:
- Orthodontics
- Prosthodontics
- Clinical dentistry
- Dental health sciences
Get familiar with the undergraduate grading system in the UK.
Newcastle University
Newcastle University holds the distinction of a top-five ranking for dentistry in the UK on the Complete University Guide League Tables 2022. Another endorsement is a position in the top 25 for the subject on the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2022. This is backed up by the QS World University Rankings 2021. The university is rated in the top 10 in the UK and as a top 100 global university.
The university has over 125 years of experience teaching and researching in the field. Added to this is an active clinical component that is integrated into the academic programme, whilst also delivering services to the local community. Newcastle University boasts some impressive facilities dedicated to dentistry that include a dedicated oral sciences laboratory and a laboratory for dental materials science.
The university offers a BDS degree at the undergraduate level, with a focus on key clinical skills as the base of study with progression to advanced practical training. Additionally, there is a diverse postgraduate offering, with specialisations including clinical implant dentistry and restorative dentistry.
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University of Bristol
The University of Bristol is a well-known and highly regarded member of the Russell Group of universities. The university is rated as a top 10 institution for dentistry in the UK and in the top 20 overall by the Complete University Guide League Tables 2022. The institution is also ranked as a top 100 institution by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2022 and the QS World University Rankings 2022.
The Bristol Dental School is part of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Bristol. The school is also fully integrated into the University of Bristol Dental Hospital and has been training dentists since the start of the 20th century. In 2019 the school introduced a new and advanced BDS programme and a BSc in Dental Hygiene and Therapy. Postgraduate programmes are offered at certificate, MSc and doctoral level, including a DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) Orthodontics in Dental Surgery.
Wondering where studying for a degree in dentistry can take you?
University of Sheffield
The University of Sheffield enjoys a high ranking for its dentistry programmes, ranked at 7th in the UK by the Complete University Guide League Tables 2022. The institution is also a member of the Russell Group, much sought after by international students. This prestige is reflected in the university’s ranking by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2022 in the top 150 globally and in the top 100 in the world by the QS World University Rankings 2022.
The School of Clinical Dentistry at the university offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees and continuing professional development programmes. Qualifications include a BSc in Bio-Dental Science and Technology and a higher education diploma in dental hygiene and dental therapy. The school is also highly regarded for its research into dental and oral health and sustainable dentistry.
These are just some of the best institutions for dentistry in the UK. You can explore other universities offering degrees in dentistry in the UK. For further research on studying in the UK, you may find our guides to the top universities in the UK, famous alumni from UK universities, and the most popular undergraduate and postgraduate courses in the UK helpful.
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