Are you an aspiring dentist? Wondering what your options are for studying Dentistry in the UK? If this is you, you’ve come to the right place!

In this article presented to you by the Singapore Medical Society of the United Kingdom (SMSUK), we will demystify the application process for studying Dentistry in the UK and unpack the differences between studying locally and abroad.

While our name might suggest that we are all medical students, SMSUK in fact comprises both medical and dental students studying all across the UK. Rest assured that this article, written in collaboration with the dental students on our committee, will present a comprehensive and balanced picture of studying Dentistry in the UK!

If you would like to learn more about applying to Medicine in the UK, do read our Ultimate Guide to Applying to Medicine in the UK from Singapore. To find out more about applying to medical or dental school in Singapore, head over to the Complete Guide to NUS Medicine Application or Complete Guide to NUS Dentistry Application respectively.

We hope that these articles will provide deeper insight into the differences between the various education pathways and guide you in making a more informed choice about your university education.

What are the differences between studying Dentistry in the UK and Singapore?

Starting with the most obvious difference, going to the UK for university means packing up and moving far away from your family and friends. You will be immersed in a new culture and will have to form new friendships.

Though this may sound daunting at first, studying abroad also opens doors to new experiences and opportunities, personal growth and independence! Instead of relying on your parents to cook for you and clean up after you, you will now have to take care of your own day-to-day needs, on top of juggling your studies and other commitments.

Another big factor to take into account is the difference in cost. Studying Dentistry in the UK will cost about thrice more than in Singapore. Costs vary between individual universities as well, and we will cover this in greater detail below.

While Dentistry at NUS is a 4-year course, Dentistry courses in the UK are at least 5 years. Though this may initially sound unfavourable, consider that being able to spread out your course content translates into a less hectic, more holistic university experience. This enables you to explore research opportunities, other hobbies and fully engage with the many unique facets of university life.

A Dentistry degree from the UK is more globally recognised as compared to that from NUS. This means you will subsequently be able to practise in more places, such as Australia. This is in contrast to NUS’ Dentistry degree, which is only recognised in Singapore and Malaysia.

Graduating from an overseas dental school also means that you will not be bonded following graduation. You will be able to begin work right away in the private sector, though this must be under conditional registration, i.e. supervision for at least 2 years by a mentor in the clinic you are working at.

Unlike medicine, you do not have to be very familiar with our local healthcare system and structure. Dentists work in small teams with 1-2 nursing assistants on a daily basis, occasionally reaching out to specialists for advice or referrals for more complex cases. Therefore, Dentists will have a relatively easier time transitioning back to our local healthcare system than our medicine counterparts.

As there are significant pros and cons to both studying in Singapore and the UK, take some time to consider what you are looking for in your university education. To help kickstart your thought process, read on to find out more about the UK system and the application process.

How do I choose a university?

Accreditation by SDC

If you are looking to practise in Singapore eventually, you must be registered with the Singapore Dental Council (SDC). Your degree must be on their list of registrable basic dental qualifications.

The list of registrable dental qualifications can be found here.

Course structure for Dentistry

First years will study an introduction to tooth morphology, biomedical sciences and anatomy. Generally, the subjects covered are very similar to what medical students study in their pre-clinical years. You are likely to receive clinical exposure right from Year 1, in the form of an introduction to clinics and clinical skills. You may also work on phantom heads, plastic teeth, or even cadaver teeth. However, any interaction with patients would largely be within the context of assisting senior dental students.

As you progress through the course, you will continue to build on your foundation and knowledge of oral diseases, anatomy and medicine. You will also interact more with patient-volunteers for different procedures.

Year 2 will see your introduction to simple procedures like restorative dentistry, scaling and polishing. In Year 3, you will be exposed to radiology, prosthodontics and constructive dentistry. By Year 3, you will also have your own patients and will see them through their treatment plan, taking turns with your coursemate to be the operating dentist and assistant. Years 4 and 5 aim to consolidate all that you have learnt from Years 1-3 and increase your clinical exposure and experience by working on more complex cases.

Teaching methods

The teaching of theory varies between universities, with the two main methods being Lectures and Problem-Based Learning (PBL).

PBL is a teaching method with a large emphasis on active, self-directed learning and small group work. Students are presented with a case study or ‘problem’, and are required to brainstorm possible hypotheses and solutions. They then gather information from their lectures and online research individually, before coming together as a group to present their findings.

Most universities apply a mixture of both lectures and PBL, though they may lean towards one teaching method more. For example, a university may use daily lectures to deliver content, and then test your understanding through weekly PBL sessions.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements vary between universities. Do visit individual university websites for more specific information. Generally, most universities require AAA for A levels, with an A in Chemistry.

Costs

As mentioned previously, studying Dentistry in the UK is more costly than at NUS. Dentistry in the UK is also more expensive than Medicine in the UK due to pricey clinical equipment, limited dental chairs and early clinical and patient exposure.

Costs also vary according to the location of your university - this works out to be upwards of £40,000 pounds per year for London and Scotland and upwards of £35,000 pounds per year in the Midlands. For Northern Ireland, it is upwards of £30,000 pounds per year and for Wales it is upwards of £20,000 pounds per year. Do note that this is just the price of school fees, excluding living expenses.

Location, Accessibility and Pace of Life

Location is a significant factor to consider when choosing a university. Unlike Singapore, where the city centre is modern and easily accessible, the pace of life in the UK can change quite drastically as you move between bigger and smaller cities.

Take some time to consider if you would rather study in a busy city with a bustling scene or if you would be able to adjust to a smaller, quieter town. Remember, you will be based there for 5 years, so where you study matters!

Should I make my choice based on Rankings?

One more thing you may wish to consider is university rankings. Different organisations prioritise different attributes - QS and Times Higher Education prioritise research, while The Guardian values student satisfaction. Keep in mind that these rankings change year on year and are based on surveys. But your personal experience at university will be unique to you, so we would advise against choosing solely based on rankings!

Furthermore, all UK dental students have to fulfil the General Dental Council of UK’s learning objectives and requirements before they can graduate and be qualified under the NHS as a trainee. You can therefore expect similar standards of teaching and examinations across all Dental schools.

I want to study Dentistry in the UK! How do I apply?

The UCAS platform

Applications to all UK universities are done on a central admissions portal called UCAS. You are allowed a total of five choices, but only four of them can be for Dentistry and Medicine, meaning that your final choice has to be of a different course (other than Medicine or Dentistry)

The UCAS deadline for Dental applications is 15 October. However, please check if your own school has an internal deadline, as some items such as testimonials and predicted grades have to be submitted by your school’s teachers or Higher Education department.

Admissions tests

UK universities use one of two admissions tests, the BMAT or the UCAT. Results from both admissions tests are only valid for a year. Most dental schools require UCAT; only the University of Leeds requires BMAT. Do take note that this is different for medical school applications!

UCAT

The most commonly used admissions test is the UCAT, which used to be called UKCAT. There are multiple test dates for you to choose from, and you are only allowed to take the test once per test cycle. One key difference is that your results are released right after your test, which allows you to make a more informed decision on which schools to apply for.

The UCAT is a 2-hour computerised MCQ test, taken at a testing centre. The test is divided into five timed sections: verbal reasoning, decision making, quantitative reasoning, abstract reasoning and situational judgement. None of the sections require any scientific knowledge.

These are some key dates for your reference:

• Registration and booking opens: 1 July
• Testing period: 1 August - 1 October
• Results sent to universities: Early November

To prepare, there are practice tests and question guides available on the official website www.ucat.ac.uk. UCAT practice question books and various online courses are also useful for additional timed practice.

We recommend that you familiarise yourself with the format and online interface of the test, especially the calculator tool. Do also try the practice tests under timed conditions as the UCAT is very time-constrained.

BMAT

The BMAT, used only by the University of Leeds, is a 2-hour long written paper with three sections:

• Logic MCQ
• Science MCQ
• A short essay task

The science section tests O Level knowledge of Chemistry, Biology and Physics. The full timeline for the BMAT can be found online, but these are the key dates:

• Registration opens: 1 September
• Registration deadline - standard fee: 1 October by 17.00 BST
• Final registration deadline - higher (late) fee: 15 October by 18.00 BST
• Test date: 4 November

Notice that the test date is in the middle of the A Level period, meaning that revision for your examinations and BMAT will take place concurrently, so do think ahead and start preparation early! As the test date is after the UCAS submission deadline, your test results will be sent directly to the universities. This means that you do not have the benefit of using your BMAT results to decide if they put you in good stead of scoring an interview place.

To prepare for the BMAT, you can refer to past year papers available at admissionstesting.org, books with BMAT-style practice questions, and online courses.

Personal statement

Your UCAS application will require you to submit a single personal statement that will be assessed by all the universities you apply to, across all courses. This cannot exceed 4,000 characters or 47 lines of text (including blank lines), whichever is reached first.

It would be really helpful if you could share some work experience from an internship in a dental clinic or as a dental assistant, as this would add depth to potential discussion points during your interview! Looking beyond impressing your assessors, work experience allows you to understand first-hand what dentistry is really like and whether or not you will actually enjoy it.

Dentistry is a very niche occupation and the job scope is rigid and structured. Working in a dental clinic provides an avenue for you to speak with dentists and gain invaluable insights into their career.

Strive to demonstrate compassion and a genuine care for others’ wellbeing. Think of a time when you exhibited these traits and illustrate it in an anecdote rather than an unsubstantiated statement.

As dentistry demands a high level of manual dexterity, it would also be beneficial to show that you enjoy hands-on work through certain hobbies such as playing a musical instrument or pottery. Any activity which shows your attention to detail would be useful.

Similar to Medicine, Dentistry is very science-orientated. You could give an example to show the interviewer your love for the subject or how you enjoy learning about human anatomy. In addition, your assessor would be curious about your interest towards the oral environment. A bonus point to cover would be why the study of the oral environment interests you more than the study of the body holistically. Try to explain why you gravitate towards Dentistry more than Medicine through a positive personal account, rather than taking the negative approach of focusing on why you did not choose Medicine.

Most importantly, the overall impression which you want to give your assessor is that you are passionate about Dentistry. The course is long and arduous. You will need a strong drive to push you through the course as well as to thrive in a career which requires life-long learning.

Interview

There are generally three ways universities conduct interviews:

• Some universities send interview teams to Singapore or neighbouring Southeast Asian countries,
• Some may allow video call interviews
• Some may require you to fly to the UK

In the unfortunate event that your interviews are spaced out and held in the UK, and the universities are unable to reschedule them, be prepared to stay in the UK for an extended duration or make multiple trips.

Please note that due to the Covid-19 pandemic, interview arrangements in 2020 and 2021 may differ from those outlined above.

Interview formats

Again, this varies between universities. Most adopt a panel interview, followed by Multiple Mini Interviews (MMI). These can be done one after the other on the same day, or on different days.

Panel interviews are what you probably think of first as a traditional interview. You may be interviewed by professors, dentists or even senior dental students. Expect basic questions related to your interest in Dentistry, experiences, hobbies, and the like, as the interviewers are trying to get to know you better as a person. You will also likely be asked to elaborate on the contents of your personal statement.

As its name suggests, MMIs comprise a number of stations, and the specific number varies between universities. Each station seeks to evaluate a different skill or attribute of the interviewee, such as:

• Communication skills
• Data interpretation
• Approach to teamwork
• Knowledge of ethics in healthcare

You may be given a scenario which you will have to respond to by saying what you will do or by role-playing. An example of a scenario is: A child has a decayed tooth but is crying and refuses to take it out. What would you do?

Note that standard interview questions such as those in panel interviews may also be asked during the MMI.

Preparing for your interviews

Interviews can be stressful, so to reduce some of the pressure that comes with being put on the spot, do prepare beforehand.

Take some time before the interview to think through your answers to the more standard questions so that you avoid stumbling over your words and can present your best coherent and confident self! If you can, practise with a teacher, family member or friend and actually say your answers out loud. The more times you repeat interviewing, the more natural and convincing you will sound.

Anything that you write about in your personal statement can also be asked about, so be very familiar with it! Be ready to elaborate on a book that you wrote about, or about your takeaways from your work experience. On the topic of learning experiences, interviewers look out for students who are self-aware. Do your best to demonstrate your ability to reflect on the experiences you have had and how you have grown in the process.

Do prior research on the individual university, such as its course structure, and even its clubs and societies. This shows that you have carefully considered what it would be like to study there and demonstrates your enthusiasm, dedication, and seriousness.

It would also be good to keep yourself abreast of current research, healthcare, and social issues. Being able to discuss these topics with your interviewer would show that you are a driven, independent learner and are capable of thinking critically and empathetically.

Finally, most universities will get back to you on their final decisions within a few weeks. If you do get rejected, you may request for feedback from the admissions team, which may help in the future! The universities’ decisions will show up on the UCAS portal, where you have to either accept or reject their offer.

If you do get a place, congratulations! Begin getting the necessary documentation ready so you can apply for your visa in due course.

What can I do now while deliberating whether to go to the UK?

Our top tip would be to shadow a dentist in a clinic and reflect on whether you can see yourself being in that same position in the future.

Other practical steps to take now are volunteering, speaking with dentists or seniors studying Dentistry and reading up on the courses that interest you. Some websites SMSUK recommends are:

• BrightSparks
• The Student Room

Our very own SMSUK website (www.smsuk.com/media) also has an updated 2020 Freshers’ Pre-departure Guide and University Information Booklet with comprehensive explanations of all you need to know!

You may also find it helpful to speak with current students at the different universities to get a first hand account of what studying there is like.

How can SMSUK help me?

Don’t hesitate to reach out to us at SMSUK if you need any help. As a student-led organisation, we represent the interests of Singaporean and Singapore-educated students studying Medicine and Dentistry in the UK. We will be able to put you in touch with our university representatives who can answer your university-specific questions.

Do also look out for our annual Pre-University talks held at many Junior Colleges. During these Pre-University talks, we outline the application process and studying experience in the UK, and hold interactive question and answer sessions.

We understand that going abroad for such a prolonged period of time may sound daunting. SMSUK thus seeks to provide support for your academic and career development, and also to foster intercollegiate and intercity friendships between our members.

With over 1200 students and alumni in our SMSUK family who have walked the path before you, rest assured that you will certainly find your footing and settle into a new home.

Connect with us:

Website: www.smsuk.com

Email: executivesecretary@smsuk.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/smsunitedkingdom/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/smsunitedkingdom94/

SMSUK endeavours to provide accurate and up-to-date information. If you would like to suggest any corrections, please contact editor@smsuk.com.