Future Doc offers personalised 1-on-1 support for dentistry applicants, covering UCAT preparation, personal statements, university selection, and interview preparation.
Learn About Future DocA leading Russell Group dental school in the North West, offering excellent clinical training and strong NHS partnerships
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We compile these profiles from each university's own published admissions pages and review them monthly. Entry requirements do change mid-cycle, and universities sometimes publish updates without announcing them.
Use this page to get oriented quickly, build your shortlist, and work out which questions to ask — then confirm the specifics that your application depends on (grades, admissions test, fees, eligibility) directly with the university before you apply. If you spot something that looks out of date, tell us and we will check it.
Last reviewed: October 2026 · Entry year covered: 2027
Considering Liverpool Dentistry? Below is a complete breakdown of entry requirements, admissions criteria, and interview details for the 2026 application cycle.
The University of Liverpool School of Dentistry is one of the UK's most established dental schools, offering a comprehensive five-year BDS programme. As part of a Russell Group university, Liverpool combines excellent academic teaching with extensive clinical experience in a vibrant city setting.
Liverpool Dentistry is known for its strong clinical focus, with students gaining hands-on experience from early in the course. The school has close links with the NHS and offers students diverse patient contact across different clinical settings, preparing graduates thoroughly for careers in all areas of dentistry.
Considering University of Liverpool? Future Doc's Predictable Offer Protocol™ coordinates every element of your application as one interconnected system, from UCAT preparation to university selection to interview readiness. 93% of our students receive at least one offer. Find out how it works.
| Qualification | Requirement |
|---|---|
| A-Level Grades | AAA in 3 A levels taken at one sitting, after two years of study |
| Required Subjects | Biology and Chemistry essential; third subject may be from Arts or Sciences |
| Excluded Subjects | General Studies, Critical Thinking and Vocational/Applied A levels not accepted |
| Practical Endorsement | Pass required for Science A levels with separately graded practical |
| Qualification | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Highers + Advanced Highers | AAAAA at Higher level and AA at Advanced Higher level, including Chemistry and Biology |
Liverpool has specific GCSE requirements that are more demanding than many other dental schools:
All applicants to Liverpool Dentistry must sit the UCAT in the same year they apply. The UCAT score is used alongside academic achievement and the Non-Academic questionnaire to determine which applicants are invited to interview.
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Admissions Test | UCAT (University Clinical Aptitude Test) |
| How UCAT is Used | Combined with academics and Non-Academic questionnaire for interview selection |
| Cut-off Score | Not published — "We do not have a set UCAT cut-off score as this figure will change every year." |
| Contextual UCAT adjustment | Not published for dentistry. Liverpool's School of Medicine publishes a flexible UCAT and interview review for contextual applicants; there is no equivalent published policy for the BDS. |
| SJT Consideration | Band 4 not competitive — "a score of Band 4 in Situational Judgement would however not be deemed a competitive enough score" |
| Selection Process | Applicants meeting academic criteria are sent a Non-Academic questionnaire |
"Liverpool has a unique selection process that includes a Non-Academic questionnaire sent to applicants who meet the academic criteria. This gives you an extra opportunity to demonstrate your motivation and suitability for dentistry beyond the personal statement, which Liverpool doesn't use for shortlisting. Make sure you prepare thoroughly for this questionnaire as it's a key part of their selection."
— Dr. Ash, Future Doc
Note on UCAT scores: The UCAT format changed in July 2025 with the removal of Abstract Reasoning, reducing the maximum score from 3,600 to 2,700. Cut-off scores from previous years may not directly apply to the current format. The competitiveness levels described above are based on relative performance within the applicant pool.
Liverpool uses the Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format. Applicants who meet the academic criteria are first sent a Non-Academic questionnaire to complete, which is then used alongside UCAT scores to select candidates for interview.
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Format | Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) |
| Pre-Interview Stage | Non-Academic questionnaire sent to academically qualified applicants |
| Personal Statement | Not used for shortlisting but may be referred to during interview |
Preparing for your University of Liverpool interview? Future Doc's Think Like a Doctor™ module includes university-specific practice, high-pressure simulations, and an intensive In-Person Interview Day. Our near-100% interview-to-offer conversion rate reflects months of preparation across the full application, not just last-minute coaching. Learn more.
Liverpool expects applicants to demonstrate knowledge of and insight into the profession. Candidates are expected to show a range of skills and experience.
A-Level Resits Not Accepted
GCSE resits are accepted but results must be in place at the time of application. Liverpool does not accept A-level resits or consider applicants who have retaken either Year 12 or Year 13. Only module resits taken within the normal two-year A-level period are acceptable. Liverpool also does not consider applicants who achieved less than BBB at their first A level sitting.
Yes
Re-applicants are welcome to apply again. You should demonstrate how your application has improved and show continued commitment to dentistry.
Accepted
International students can apply to the BDS programme. International fees apply and places may be limited. Check the university website for current international fee information.
Liverpool's BDS course page states that you "may automatically qualify for reduced entry requirements through our contextual offers scheme" — up to a two-grade reduction from the standard AAA, applied automatically from your UCAS data with no separate application. Liverpool does not publish a dentistry-specific figure, so the exact grades will depend on your circumstances. The full picture is set out in the section below.
A contextual offer is an adjustment a university makes for applicants whose circumstances have made their education harder than the grades alone suggest. Universities use them because they recognise that two students with the same predicted grades have not always had the same run at them. They are a formal, published part of the admissions process — not a favour, and not something you have to argue for.
What the adjustment actually is varies by school, and it matters more than most applicants realise. Depending on where you apply, qualifying can mean: a lower grade offer; being ranked against other widening participation applicants rather than the whole field; a guaranteed or prioritised interview; a lower admissions test threshold or extra shortlisting points; relaxed GCSE or subject requirements; or access to a separate gateway or foundation year route.
Liverpool is worth reading carefully, because its medicine and dentistry positions are not the same. The School of Medicine publishes a detailed contextual data policy with hard numbers in it. Dentistry does not have an equivalent document — what the BDS course page offers is the university-wide contextual offers scheme.
You do not have to apply for this. Qualification is automatic from the data on your UCAS form. If you qualify, Liverpool may reduce the grades it asks of you by up to two, and — for medicine — may relax its GCSE scoring bar as well.
| How it helps | What that means for you |
|---|---|
| Dentistry BDS (A200): up to a two-grade reduction | The BDS course page states you “may automatically qualify for reduced entry requirements through our contextual offers scheme”, with the university-wide scheme giving up to a two-grade reduction from the standard AAA including Chemistry and Biology. No separate application, and no dentistry-specific grade figure is published — so treat “up to” as doing real work in that sentence. |
| Medicine: a capped number of reduced offers | For 2026 entry the School of Medicine stated it intended to make up to 50 reduced contextual offers, up to two grades below the standard offer, to the most competitive eligible applicants. That cap is the most useful and least-known fact about Liverpool contextual admissions: it is a competition for a limited number of reduced offers, not an entitlement. |
| Medicine: a relaxed GCSE bar | Eligible medicine applicants need 12 points on the School's GCSE scoring system instead of the usual 15. English Language and Maths must still be at grade 6. |
| Medicine: flexibility on UCAT and interview score | The School reviews each eligible application to decide whether to accept a reduced UCAT score or reduced interview performance. How much flexibility is given is set annually, once all scores are in. |
| Foundation (Year 0) routes into both degrees | The Foundation to Human and Animal Health Professions year leads on successful completion to Year 1 of Medicine and Surgery MBChB (A100) or to the Dental Surgery BDS. Entry is 5 GCSEs at grade 6/B including Maths, English Language, Biology and Chemistry (or dual/combined science) — no A-levels and, for the medicine route, no UCAT. The medicine Year 0 is taught at Carmel College, St Helens. |
| Money attached to the dentistry foundation route | Scholarships listed for the dentistry Year 0 include the Bloomberg Scholarship (£5,000/yr), Nolan Scholarships (£5,000/yr, first-in-family), the Cowrie Foundation Scholarship (up to £8,000/yr, Black African or Caribbean heritage) and the Care Leavers' Opportunity Bursary (£3,000/yr). Care leavers on the medicine route may receive £3,000/yr and estranged students £1,000/yr. |
One practical note: the School of Medicine's contextual data policy is republished each cycle at the same web address, and a 2027-entry version supersedes the 2026 one quoted above. If the 50-offer cap or the 12-point GCSE figure matters to your decision, check the current version before you apply.
For a side-by-side view of how every school handles this, see every UK medical and dental school's widening participation scheme.
| Fee Status | Annual Tuition |
|---|---|
| UK (also applies to Channel Islands, Isle of Man and Republic of Ireland) | £10,050 per year, full-time |
| International | £52,550 per year, full-time |
Both figures are Liverpool's own published rates for the BDS, and the course page states explicitly: "The fees shown are for the academic year 2027/28." Verified from the Dental Surgery BDS fees page.
Liverpool advises that tuition fees may increase each year for both UK and international students. Separate reduced rates apply if you take a year abroad or a year in industry (£2,010 for a year in industry; £1,505 UK / £26,275 international for the year in China).
The BDS programme at Liverpool uses an integrated curriculum that combines scientific learning with clinical experience from early in the course:
Core biomedical sciences integrated with early clinical skills. Students learn anatomy, physiology, and basic dental sciences while beginning to develop clinical skills in simulation laboratories.
Increased patient contact and clinical experience. Students treat patients under supervision at the Liverpool University Dental Hospital and in community settings, developing skills across all areas of dentistry.
Extensive clinical practice preparing students for independent practice. Students manage their own patient lists, complete comprehensive treatments, and prepare for foundation training.
Applying to dental school requires more than meeting the minimum entry requirements. Here are practical steps to strengthen your application:
For an overview of all UK dental schools and how they compare, see the UK Dental Schools hub page.
Liverpool does not publish a specific UCAT cut-off score — "we do not have a set UCAT cut-off score". However, as a competitive dental school, a strong UCAT score will improve your chances of receiving an interview invitation, and Liverpool states that "a score of Band 4 in Situational Judgement would however not be deemed a competitive enough score". The UCAT is used alongside academic qualifications and the Non-Academic questionnaire for selection.
Liverpool sends a Non-Academic questionnaire to applicants who meet the academic criteria. This questionnaire replaces the personal statement for shortlisting purposes and asks about your experiences, motivation, and suitability for dentistry. It's an important part of the selection process.
Liverpool does not use the personal statement to shortlist for interview. However, your personal statement may be referred to during the interview itself, so it's still important to write a strong statement.
GCSE resits are accepted if results are in place at application. However, Liverpool does not accept A-level resits or consider applicants who have retaken Year 12 or Year 13. Only module resits taken within the normal two-year A-level period are acceptable. Liverpool also does not consider applicants who achieved less than BBB at their first A level sitting.
Liverpool requires a minimum of 8 GCSEs with at least 5 at grade A/7 and 3 at grade B/6. English Language, Maths and Science must be at B/6 or above. These requirements are stricter than many other dental schools.
Focus on four areas: achieve strong academics (meeting the specific GCSE and A-Level requirements), prepare thoroughly for the UCAT, complete the Non-Academic questionnaire carefully when invited, and gain meaningful work experience that you can reflect on at interview. Most applicants treat these as separate tasks, which is why the national success rate is just 15%. Future Doc's Predictable Offer Protocol coordinates every element as one interconnected system, which is why 93% of their students receive at least one offer.
Most applicants treat the dental school application as a series of separate hurdles: the UCAT, personal statement, work experience, university selection, and interviews. They try to solve each one independently. This creates a fragmented approach where the pieces never add up.
Future Doc works differently. Through the Predictable Offer Protocol, a dedicated coach who knows your complete profile coordinates every element of your application as one interconnected system. Every decision is made with the full picture in mind.
The result: 93% of our students receive at least one offer. If they don't, they come back next year for free.
Find Out How It Works
Last updated: February 2026. Information verified against University of Liverpool admissions pages and Dental Schools Council guidance.
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