Your PAth to Dentistry

This page is intended as a guide for students who would like to move into dentistry after finishing their degree in NUI Galway.

Ireland

Abroad

Useful links

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Ireland

To work as a Dentist, you must first register with or be licensed by the regulatory authority in the country in which you wish to practise. National dental associations will be able to provide information on dentistry in their countries. 

For Ireland, this is the Dental Council of Ireland - registration details and application forms for memberships are available here.

In Ireland, there are 3 institutions where you can study Dentistry.

Apply through the CAO for UCC and TCD

Apply through UCAS for QUB (see below).

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Abroad

UK

Applications are through UCAS. Please note that you are permitted a maximum of four choices on the UCAS form for Dentistry. The deadline for applications is 15th October. 

On qualifying and before being able to practice, dentists must register with the General Dental Council, the profession's governing body.

Some UK institutions use a pre-entrance test: UKCAT Test takes place on various dates. Register online from May but before mid September, and take test before deadline in October. Test centres in Ireland include Galway. Practice questions online. 

The following UK institutions have graduate-entry 4-year courses (application through UCAS):

University of Liverpool and  University of Central Lancashire   

Kings College London  (UKCAT required)

Peninsula Dental School (Universities of Exeter & Plymouth) 

Aberdeen University (new course - not fully accredited until first students graduate) (UKCAT required)

There are 13 institutions in the UK (including QUB) that have 5-year programmes on offer.  They are listed on the BDA careers website and on UCAS.

Please note:

In the majority of cases, you will not be accepted onto the course without a police check and a Hepatitis B immunisation.

Some books in the Information Room that may be of assistance include Writing a Personal Statement, Getting into Dentistry (UCAS), The Times Good University Guide.

Your personal statement is extremely important. All look for some work experience in a dental practice. Tips for personal statements include: reasons for choosing Dentistry, work experience, team & leadership experience, manual dexterity and other information e.g, what you enjoy doing. 

As part of your application through UCAS, you also need to provide an academic reference - if you are not finished your degree it is essential that your expected results are included in the reference.

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EU

Some countries in Europe have Dentistry courses available through English.

Note: you will also have language classes in the early years of the programme (with the exception of Malta).

Some of the courses available are:

Czech Republic 
Hungary (see Dentistry links on right)
Latvia
Lithuania
Malta
Poland

Resources in the Information Room

Details were correct at time of writing - August 2012. The Career Development Centre offers advice and information in good faith and based on the best information available to it. The Service does not accept any responsibility for any decisions made by individuals based on such advice or information. The Career Development Centre does not take responsibility for the contents of any sites linked to from its pages.
Please check with individual universities before applying for courses.

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