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Learn About Future DocA 5-year BDS programme with graduate entry to Year 2 (effectively 4 years for graduates) for UK and international graduates with biomedical degrees
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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 If you spot something that looks out of date, tell us and we will check it.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
Note: University of Lancashire does not use personal statements or work experience in their selection process for Graduate Entry Dentistry. Selection is based on academic qualifications, UCAT score, academic reference, and interview performance.
The University of Lancashire — formerly the University of Central Lancashire, or UCLan — has renamed itself and now uses lancashire.ac.uk. Applicants still search for “UCLan dentistry”, so we have kept that name on this page; it is the same dental school in Preston. University of Lancashire Graduate Dentistry offers a specialist route into dental school with its own admissions criteria. This guide covers the entry requirements, eligibility, and application process for 2027 entry.
The University of Lancashire School of Dentistry offers a 5-year BDS programme with graduate entry to Year 2 (effectively 4 years for graduates) designed for graduates who already hold a 2:1 degree or above in a Biomedical discipline.
University of Lancashire Graduate Entry Dentistry is primarily available to UK students with one place available on the graduate entry route for an international student. The programme builds on existing scientific knowledge and provides an accelerated path to becoming a qualified dentist.
Considering University of Lancashire Graduate Entry? 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 |
|---|---|
| Degree Classification | 2:1 (Upper Second Class Honours) or above |
| Degree Subject | Biomedical discipline (2:1 Degree in a Biomedical discipline required) |
| Fee Status | Primarily UK students; one international place available |
Unlike some graduate entry programmes, University of Lancashire still requires A-Level qualifications:
| Qualification | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Degree | 2:1 Degree in a Biomedical discipline |
| Number of A-Levels | 3 A-Levels at Grade C or above |
| Subject Requirements | At least 2 must be from Biology, Physics, Chemistry, or Mathematics |
| Not Counted | General Studies is not counted towards A-Level entry |
| Subject | Requirement |
|---|---|
| English | Grade B (Grade 6) or above |
| Mathematics | Grade B (Grade 6) or above |
The programme accepts graduates with degrees in Biomedical disciplines. Examples of suitable subjects include:
If you are unsure whether your degree is suitable, contact the University of Lancashire admissions team directly for clarification before applying.
All applicants to University of Lancashire Graduate Entry Dentistry must sit the UCAT in the same year they apply. The UCAT score is used as part of the selection process for interview invitations.
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Admissions Test | UCAT (University Clinical Aptitude Test) |
| When to Sit | Same year as application (typically July-September) |
| How UCAT is Used | Combined with academic qualifications for selection |
"University of Lancashire Graduate Entry Dentistry is primarily available to UK students, with one place available on the graduate entry route for an international student. The streamlined selection process, no personal statement or work experience required, means your academic record and UCAT performance are what matter most. Focus your preparation accordingly."
— Dr. Ash, Future Doc
University of Lancashire's selection process for Graduate Entry Dentistry differs from many other dental schools. Here's what is and isn't used:
| Selection Factor | Used? |
|---|---|
| Academic Qualifications (Degree, A-Levels, GCSEs) | Yes - Essential |
| UCAT Score | Yes - Essential |
| Academic Reference | Yes - Required |
| Personal Statement | No - Not Used |
| Work Experience | No - Not Used |
| Interview | Yes - MMI Format |
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.
University of Lancashire uses the Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format for Graduate Entry Dentistry. Candidates rotate through several stations, each designed to assess different competencies required for a career in dentistry.
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Format | Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) |
| What's Assessed | Communication, ethical reasoning, problem-solving, motivation, teamwork |
| Academic Reference | Required with application |
Preparing for your University of Lancashire Graduate Entry 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.
University of Lancashire does not use work experience in their selection process for Graduate Entry Dentistry. This means:
While not required for selection, having some understanding of what dentistry involves will help you perform well at interview when discussing your motivation and career goals.
Limited
University of Lancashire Graduate Entry Dentistry is primarily available to UK students with one place available on the graduate entry route for an international student. International applicants must meet the same academic requirements as UK students, including the UCAT, A-Level, and GCSE requirements.
While University of Lancashire does not use personal statements, an academic reference is required with your application. This should come from someone who can comment on your academic abilities and suitability for a demanding healthcare programme.
| Route | UCAS code | Length | Entry requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dental Surgery BDS (graduate entry pathway) | A202 | 4 years | A good honours degree (1st or 2:1) in a biomedical, medical science or health-related subject, plus three A-levels at grade C or above with at least two from Biology, Physics, Chemistry or Mathematics; GCSE English and Maths at grade B. General Studies does not count. BTEC Extended Diploma not accepted |
| Dental Surgery (International Route) | Direct application | 2 years | A separate programme for applicants who already hold an overseas dental qualification — not an undergraduate entry route |
Teaching is based at the Preston campus and in Dental Education Centres, with a small cohort. Students from a dental school outside the UK cannot transfer into the programme. Codes, lengths and requirements above are taken from the university's own course pages.
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.
Dentistry is explicitly excluded. The University of Lancashire runs a university-wide widening participation scheme called the Fair Access Scheme, and its own page lists the courses that are left out of it. Dental Surgery BDS is one of them, alongside Dental Therapy BSc (Hons), Clinical Dental Technology BSc (Hons) and Pharmacy MPharm (Hons). If you are applying to this course, the Fair Access Scheme does nothing for you.
This matters because the Fair Access Scheme page is prominent, generous-sounding and easy to find — a 16 UCAS point reduction on eligible courses, a £500-a-year bursary, a Sanctuary Scholarship. A dentistry applicant could reasonably read it and assume it applies. It does not. There is no contextual grade reduction, no separate widening participation pool, no lower UCAT threshold and no guaranteed interview published for the graduate-entry BDS at this university.
The graduate-entry BDS page itself publishes no widening participation scheme of any kind. UCAT is used to rank applications before interview with no published contextual adjustment.
| Course | Fair Access Scheme position |
|---|---|
| Dental Surgery BDS | Excluded from the Fair Access Scheme. No contextual offer, no lower UCAT threshold, no guaranteed interview. |
| Dental Therapy BSc (Hons) | Excluded from the Fair Access Scheme. |
| Clinical Dental Technology BSc (Hons) | Excluded from the Fair Access Scheme. |
| Medicine MBBS | Included, at half rate. The university states: “Our Medicine degrees are included but offers will only be reduced by a maximum of 8 UCAS points” — one A-level grade, against the 16 points available on most other courses. All other entry requirements, including the Chemistry and science subject requirements, must still be met in full. The MBBS course page also says a weighting is applied to applicants who meet the School of Medicine's widening participation criteria, but neither the criteria nor the size of the weighting is published. |
| Most other undergraduate courses | Included. A reduced entry offer of 16 UCAS points, plus a £500-a-year bursary (£750 in Year 3) for free school meals and refugee applicants with household income under £25,000. |
The absence of a scheme does not mean your circumstances are irrelevant — it means this university will not adjust its offer for them, so you should place your widening participation effort elsewhere. Concretely:
See every UK medical and dental school's widening participation scheme to compare what each one actually gives you.
| Fee Status | Annual Tuition |
|---|---|
| Home (UK) students | £10,050 — the UK government fee cap for 2027/28. The university has published its own rate only up to 2026/27 (£9,790) |
| International students | 2027/28: TBC. The university publishes a rate only for 2026/27, when the BDS was £44,500 per year |
The Dental Surgery BDS course page advertises August and September 2027 start dates but publishes tuition figures only for 2025/26 (UK £9,535) and 2026/27 (UK £9,790, international £44,500). We have not published a 2027/28 international figure because the university has not set one. The university's own wording is that UK tuition fees are subject only to annual increase in line with UK Retail Price Index inflation and increases permitted by the UK Government.
Graduate entry does not mean graduate funding. Check your Student Finance England entitlement carefully before you commit — if you already hold an undergraduate degree, your access to a tuition fee loan for a second one is restricted, and dentistry is a long, expensive course to part-fund.
There may also be additional costs not covered by tuition. The university publishes these separately; ask about instruments, equipment and placement travel before you accept an offer.
The 5-year BDS programme with graduate entry to Year 2 (effectively 4 years for graduates) at University of Lancashire is designed to recognise and build upon your prior biomedical academic experience:
Accelerated biomedical sciences building on your degree knowledge, introduction to dental sciences, and early clinical skills development in simulation labs.
Increased clinical exposure and patient contact. Students begin treating patients under supervision while continuing theoretical learning.
Extended clinical practice across all areas of dentistry. Students manage more complex cases and develop independence in clinical decision-making.
Comprehensive clinical practice preparing students for independent practice. Students manage their own patient lists and complete complex treatments with decreasing supervision.
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.
University of Lancashire Graduate Entry Dentistry is primarily available to UK students with one place available on the graduate entry route for an international student. International applicants must meet the same academic requirements, including UCAT, A-Level, and GCSE requirements or their international equivalents.
No, University of Lancashire does not use work experience in their selection process for Graduate Entry Dentistry. Selection is based on your academic qualifications, UCAT score, academic reference, and interview performance.
No, University of Lancashire does not use personal statements in their selection process for Graduate Entry Dentistry. However, an academic reference is required with your application.
You need 3 A-Levels at Grade C or above, with at least 2 from Biology, Physics, Chemistry, or Mathematics. General Studies is not counted towards A-Level entry. This is in addition to your degree qualification.
Yes, all applicants must sit the UCAT in the same year they apply. The UCAT score is used as part of the selection process for determining interview invitations.
Since University of Lancashire doesn't use work experience or personal statements, focus on achieving a strong UCAT score and ensuring your degree is in a relevant Biomedical discipline with a 2:1 or above. Your A-Level and GCSE grades also matter. For interview preparation, working with experienced admissions experts like . 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: March 2026. Information verified against University of Lancashire admissions pages and Dental Schools Council guidance.
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