The demand for healthcare professionals is high around the world, and especially for dentists. As oral health is important for everyone, we need a lot of experts to look after it. For that reason, a degree in dentistry can provide great career options and a lot of personal satisfaction. If you’re looking for a good place to get one, we can help. To guide you towards a globally accredited, top-quality qualification, we've explored the best universities for dentistry in the UK.
University of Dundee
According to the Complete University Guide League Tables 2024, Dundee is the best place to study dentistry in the UK. While this is not definitive, the university is also rated highly by other authorities on the subject. Both the 2024 Times Good University Guide and Guardian University Guide rank it as the third best for dentistry in the country.
Studying at the University of Dundee School of Dentistry means studying in a real dental hospital. In addition to state-of-the-art facilities in which you can develop your dentistry knowledge and abilities – picture practising your skills on 3D-printed teeth – you could find the opportunity to try them out on patients who need your help. You may even attend clinics held by experienced professionals from the very start of your studies.
Courses range from a five-year undergraduate BDS degree (Bachelor of Dental Surgery) to dentistry doctorates. If you want to study at postgraduate level, you could take one of several master's courses, certificates or diplomas.
Want to know what doing that might be like? Find out what to expect when studying dentistry.
University of Glasgow
The Glasgow Dental Hospital and School at the University of Glasgow has long enjoyed a reputation as one of the best places to study dentistry in the UK. The school has been at the forefront of dental education since its establishment in 1879, and is home to about 400 undergraduate students every year. Today, each of the Complete University Guide, Times Good University Guide and Guardian University Guide rate it in the top five dental schools in the country, with the former two putting it in second place.
Glasgow offers both undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications in dentistry, including taught and research degrees. Taught master’s degrees allow you to specialise in endodontics, oral and maxillofacial surgery, and oral sciences. Research degrees are offered at PhD level, including in oral sciences and community oral health.
The university as a whole is internationally renowned. Both the QS World University Rankings 2024 and the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024 place it in the top 100 globally. On the latter list, that puts it among the top 10 in the UK.
Does studying here appeal to you? Discover more about it with our Glasgow student guide.
Queen's University Belfast
Queen's University Belfast also enjoys a high ranking for its dentistry programmes, being placed first in the UK by the Times Good University Guide. In addition, it is ranked second by the Guardian University Guide and fifth by the Complete University Guide.
Notably, the institution is a member of the Russell Group of universities, which is something that is greatly desired by international students around the world. This prestigious position is reinforced by the university’s overall rankings – it places just outside the top 200 of both the QS and Times Higher Education rankings.
Unlike some universities, Queen's does not offer a large number of dentistry courses. Instead, it puts its focus into a highly respected undergraduate degree. As the centre of dental education in Northern Ireland, it has a great responsibility to prepare its students well. Having done so for more than a century, it has built an extremely strong reputation.
Learn more about university life in the country with our guide to studying in Northern Ireland.
University of Bristol
The University of Bristol is the only other institution to have a dental school in the top five of the Complete University Guide, Times Good University Guide and Guardian University Guide lists. It is also another that is a member of the highly regarded Russell Group. Both the Times Higher Education World University Rankings and QS World University Rankings feature it in their top 100, with the latter placing it just outside the top 50.
The Bristol Dental School is part of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Bristol. The school is fully integrated into the University of Bristol Dental Hospital, and has been training dentists since the start of the 20th century.
In 2023, it moved into a brand new facility in the centre of the city. With cutting-edge learning and teaching spaces, it is a great place to study dentistry, as well as to practise it. Members of the local community visit regularly to receive treatment.
Undergraduate courses at the school include its flagship BDS programme and a three-year BSc in Dental Hygiene and Therapy. Postgraduate programmes can lead to a certificate, MSc or doctorate. If you specialise in orthodontics, Bristol's DDS (Doctorate in Dental Surgery) will allow you to study it to the highest level.
However far you pursue your dental education, it will offer a bright future. Explore where studying dentistry can take you.
King's College London
King's College London is especially well regarded for its research in the dental field. That is one reason why QS ranks it as the best place in the UK to study dentistry, and the ninth best in the world. Better yet, both QS and Times Higher Education rate the university in the top 40 globally.
Study at the Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences here, and you will learn from experts who are continually pushing forward the boundaries of dental science. Researchers at King's work actively on the challenges of global oral health, and innovative measures to treat it. If you find that inspiring, this might be the place for you.
Courses at King's range from undergraduate to doctoral level, and are all run from the university's highly advanced Centre of Dental Education. Whether you are studying the standard undergraduate BDS degree, or one of the numerous specialist programmes offered at postgraduate level, you will have access to some of the newest dental technologies and thinking around.
These are just some of the best universities for dentistry in the UK. You can explore others with our list of institutions that offer dentistry degrees in the UK. For more advice and information on studying in the country, take a look at our guides to the top universities in the UK and the top medical schools in the UK.
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