Top UK Dental Schools Ranking (2026 Entry)

Are you planning to apply to dental school in the UK for the 2026 entry year? Selecting the right university is a key part of your dental application journey. With several esteemed institutions across the UK offering BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery) degrees, it’s important to know how they compare based on rankings, entry requirements, facilities, and student satisfaction.

In this guide, we break down the leading UK dental schools ranked for 2026 entry to help you determine which ones best align with your goals and preferences. Whether your focus is on academic achievement, hands-on clinical experience, or entry requirements, you’ll find useful information here.

Why Are Dental School Rankings Important?

Dental school rankings are comprised of a variety of indicators:

• The quality of teaching that a dental school provides, and the breadth of research opportunities available for students to participate in
• Levels of student satisfaction
• Entry requirements for dental school application
• The amount of clinical experience that a dental school offers as part of the BDS course, and the quality of clinical facilities available to dental students.
  

Although rankings shouldn’t be your only deciding factor in which dental schools to apply to, they help you compare options based on which factors are most important to you, including your academic profile, individual preferences of teaching styles and amount of exposure to clinical practice, and your drive to take part in research projects.

Top UK Dental Schools for 2026 (Based on Complete University Guide)

Here is a summary of the top dental schools in the UK for 2025 entry, based on the most recent rankings, entry data, and course structure from Complete University Guide.

1. University of Dundee – School of Dentistry

• Ranking: #1 (Complete University Guide 2026)
• UCAT: High scores are often required (typically above 2600)
• Course Length: 5 years
• Why it stands out: Modern clinical facilities, early clinical exposure from the first year of dental school, and high-quality education and research opportunities.
  

2. University of Liverpool School of Dentistry

• Ranking: #2

• UCAT: Strong UCAT scores expected (2600+ on average)

• Course Length: 5 years

• Why it stands out: Problem-based learning (PBL) approach to teaching, which takes place in small group sessions, early clinical placements, learning alongside dental therapy students, and access to a wide range of research programmes.
  

3. Queen’s University Belfast School of Dentistry

• Ranking: #3

• UCAT: Score is taken into consideration alongside GCSE grades, average to higher scores expected (2300 – 2700)

• Course Length: 5 years

• Why it stands out: Research-intensive dentistry programme, modern clinical facilities, small school size (45 students) which allows for more focused academic development, early clinical placements starting in the first year, and consistently high student satisfaction.

4. University of Glasgow Dental School

• Ranking: #4
• UCAT: Strong UCAT scores expected, cut-off for entry in 2023 was 2630 for applicants from England, and 2290 for Scottish applicants.
• Course Length: 5 years
• Why it stands out: Second-largest dental school in the UK, access to top-class clinical facilities, personal focus on individual development of students from tutors, strong emphasis on interpersonal and communication skills, a mixture of teaching styles including lectures, clinical simulation sessions, and practical classes.

5. Cardiff University – School of Dentistry

• Ranking: #5

• UCAT: Typically, more emphasis is placed on academic grades in scoring applicants; however, average UCAT scores of successful applicants range from 2400-2700.
• Course Length: 5 years

• Why it stands out: As the only dental school in Wales, Cardiff University plays a key part in dental research and education in the area; students are taught through a variety of teaching styles, and by different allied dental professionals such as dentists, dental therapists, and dental hygienists; access to newly-refurbished clinical facilities; there is stronger emphasis placed on theory in the early years and clinical exposure increases throughout the years of dental school.

 6. University of Bristol Dental School

• Ranking: #6
• UCAT: Candidates that meet academic requirements are ranked solely by UCAT scores and top-scoring applicants are invited to interview, with average UCAT scores of accepted applicants being very strong (2800+)
• Course Length: 5 years

• Why it stands out: Integrated teaching style; spiral course structure – once topics are taught, they are revisited throughout the years of dental school so that students’ depth of understanding is constantly developed on; access to several interdisciplinary research opportunities in orthodontics, oral biology, and more; state-of-the-art clinical facilities; extensive clinical exposure; consistently high student satisfaction.
  

7. Queen Mary University of London (Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry)

• Ranking: #7
• UCAT: Applicants scoring in the top 3 deciles will be considered for interview, and will be ranked with subject grades and UCAT scores equally weighted. In 2023, the lowest UCAT score invited for interview was 2720.

• Course Length: 5 years
• Why it stands out: Great location in London; recognised to have a strong history of academic and research excellence; integrated curriculum with early clinical exposure; one of the largest medical and dental schools in the UK; great student support available through academic mentoring; modern clinical facilities available for students.
  

8. Newcastle University Dental School

• Ranking: #8
• UCAT: Applicants who meet minimum academic requirements are ranked based on UCAT scores, with top-scoring candidates then invited for interviews. In 2020, the UCAT cut-off was 2600.
• Course Length: 5 years

• Why it stands out: Modern and well-equipped clinical facilities are available to students; blended teaching styles are used throughout the course, but especially Enquiry-Based Learning (EBL) which allows students to be proactive in their own learning; early clinical experience from the first year that begins with shadowing senior students; excellent graduate prospects with many students going on to working in private practice or in the NHS.

9. University of Birmingham Dental School

• Ranking: #9
• UCAT: Bottom 25% of candidates are rejected, with the remaining candidates being considered for interview based on the rest of their application. Generally, strong UCAT scores are required, with the cut-off score in 2024 for invitation to interview being 2780
• Course Length: 5 years

• Why it stands out: World-class clinical facilities, traditional course structure with a focus on theory and scientific foundation of practice within the first two years of dental school; broad variety of research opportunities available to students; involvement in public health initiatives and promotion of oral health in the local population.
  

10. University of Leeds – School of Dentistry

• Ranking: #10
• UCAT: University of Leeds historically used the BMAT exam to score its applicants, however has recently switched to the UCAT, therefore there is limited information available on threshold and average scores. What is known is that once academic grades are scored (with GCSEs being heavily considered), UCAT scores are added to this and the top-ranked candidates are invited to interview.
• Course Length: 5 years

• Why it stands out: Leeds University is the only dental school in the UK to offer a joint Master and Bachelor of Dentistry degree; renowned for its proficient alumni and for excellence in research; integrated curriculum with early clinical exposure from the first year; state-of-the-art clinical facilities available for students to access; focus on innovation and developing expertise in digital dentistry.
  

11. University of Manchester Dental School

• Ranking: #11
• UCAT: Applicants with SJT Bands 1 and 2 are prioritised as part of the ranking for interview invitation, with the overall threshold UCAT score being 2760 in 2024.
• Course Length: 5 years

• Why it stands out: strong cutting-edge research focus in areas such as stem cell research, genetics, and clinical trials; students begin gaining clinical experience from the first year of the course; enquiry-based learning which teaches students to be proactive and take responsibility for their learning; close links with NHS trusts which allows students to gain clinical experience in a range of different environments such as dental hospitals, community outreach clinics, and specialist clinics.

12. King’s College London Dental School

• Ranking: #12

• UCAT: Traditionally high UCAT scores required, with average scores of candidates invited to interview being 2700-2900 in recent years.

• Course Length: 5 years

• Why it stands out: Largest dental school in the UK with 150 dental students per year; strong reputation for teaching excellence and consistently ranks highly in global dentistry degree rankings; innovative research opportunities especially in areas such as craniofacial biology, mucosal and salivary biology, and population health; world-class clinical facilities and simulation labs; based in central London with access to a diverse patient demographic; strong academic support system.

13. University of Sheffield Dental School

• Ranking: #13

• UCAT: High UCAT scores required, with average scores of candidates invited to interview being 2600-2800.

• Course Length: 5 years

• Why it stands out: integrated teaching approach with early clinical exposure; modern clinical facilities including haptic technology for virtual reality simulation, which allows students to enhance their skills before starting clinical practice with patients; access to a variety of research opportunities, including projects in digital dentistry, among others.

14. University of Plymouth Dental School

• Ranking: #14

• UCAT: The UCAT cut-off score each year is 2300, however average to higher UCAT scores are preferred, with the average UCAT score of candidates invited for interviews being 2500-2600.

• Course Length: 5 years

• Why it stands out: Known for its pioneering primary care model which allows students to develop social awareness and engage with local communities in practice; early clinical exposure from the first year of the course; state-of-the-art facilities; consistently high student satisfaction; research-rich environment.

15. University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) Dentistry

• Ranking: #15

• UCAT: There is limited information available on specific cut-off scores required for invitation to interview; however, average to high UCAT scores are generally required (2500+). Please note that UCLan hold its internal entrance exam as part of the application process, from which the scores are used for further selection criteria.

• Course Length: 4 years postgraduate course

• Why it stands out: UCLan offers a graduate-entry BDS degree course which allows graduate students to qualify over a shorter 4-year course; students gain clinical experience in community-based dental education centres made to bridge the disparity in dental health provision in local areas; there are only 29 places on the programme, which allows students to benefit from highly focused support; excellent career prospects as graduates are qualified to work as dentists in the UK as well as abroad.

UCAT Scores for Dental Schools – What to know for 2026 Application

Understanding the UCAT requirements of different dental schools will be very important in determining which schools to apply to, in order to maximise your chances of being successful in your application.

Here is a quick look at what kind of UCAT scores are usually expected by top UK dental schools:

University	UCAT Score Range (Estimated)
Dundee	2600+
Liverpool	2600+
Queen’s University of  Belfast	2300 – 2700
Glasgow	2600+ for England-based applicants, and 2200+ for Scottish applicants
Cardiff	2500 – 2700
Bristol	2800+
Barts	2700+
Newcastle	2600+
Birmingham	2700+
Leeds	No data available yet as of 2025
Manchester	2700+
Kings College	2800+
Sheffield	2600+
Plymouth	2500+
UCLan	2500+

Note: These figures are based on previous cycles and are subject to change. Always refer to the official universities’ websites for updates.

How to Choose the Right Dental School for You

When comparing dental schools, it would be helpful to consider the following:

1. Entry Requirements

• GCSE and A-level subject requirements, and how much GCSE grades are weighted in the selection process for the interview
• UCAT cut-offs or averages – achieving a lower UCAT score than what you would have hoped for does not mean that dental school is out of your reach! By considering which dental schools place less emphasis on UCAT scores than others, you can be strategic in your choice of universities to apply to.
• Work experience or volunteering expectations that universities may have
  

2. Teaching Style and Course Structure

• Integrated vs. traditional curricula – if you are someone who prefers to understand foundational sciences and theory well before real-world application, consider whether traditional curricula may be better suited to your preferences, and vice versa with integrated curricula.
• Problem-Based Learning (PBL) approaches – if you are someone who prefers small group teaching to discuss real-world cases over traditional theory-based lectures, consider whether dental schools that offer PBL approaches may be preferable.
• Early clinical exposure – while most UK dental schools begin a certain level of clinical exposure from the first or second year of the course, there are some universities that reserve clinical practice to the third year of the programme and onwards. Start to think about what level of clinical exposure you’d prefer in your initial years of dental school, and apply accordingly.

• Clinical Facilities – consider visiting dental schools’ open days and take time to visit the clinical facilities and simulation labs that students have access to. If you are interested in learning about the available equipment or any specific training technology, don’t be afraid to ask whether students have access to this! If you are unable to go to open days, feel free to get in touch online with the universities’ admissions teams to pose your questions.
  

3. Location of the University and Cost

• It is recommended, if you have the opportunity, to visit open days of the universities that you are interested in applying to – the dates of which can be found on the universities’ websites. By doing this, not only do you get a real feel of the university and the campus environment, but also of the surrounding area. Whether you prefer living in a city or in a more rural location, the locations of UK dental schools can be very varied in that aspect.
• Consider accommodation, travel, and living expenses
  
  

Interview Style at Top Dental Schools

Most top dental schools use MMI (Multiple Mini Interview) formats, which test several areas of practical and interpersonal skills.

Here’s what to expect:

• Discussing ethical scenarios
• Manual dexterity tasks
• Communication roleplays
• Discussing and analysing NHS dentistry hot topics (disparities in access to dental care, NHS/private balance, preventative care etc)
• Your motivation to study dentistry, and which skills you believe are important in order to do this
  

To prepare effectively, explore MedicHut’s Dental Interview Preparation Course, designed for MMI and panel interviews.

Final Thoughts – Applying to Top Dental Schools in 2026

The UK offers some of the best dental schools globally, but competition is fierce. With the right UCAT score, a strong academic record, relevant work experience, and excellent interview performance, you’ll be in a good position to succeed in gaining entry into one of the top UK dental schools.

MedicHut supports students through every stage of the dentistry application process, from UCAT tutoring, work experience, and personal statement help, to mock interviews and application strategy planning.

If you’re aiming for one of the top-ranked UK dental schools in 2026, get in touch to boost your chances of success.