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Our School

The School of Dentistry is located in the University Dental Hospital on Cardiff University’s Heath Park campus, a 53-acre site shared with the University Hospital of Wales.

This means our students gain early clinical exposure, treating real patients in a range of different scenarios under the guidance of experienced professionals.

From the moment you step inside our doors, you'll have everything you need to become the best dental professional you can be; a vibrant student community, state-of-the-art facilities, exceptional teaching and a supportive learning environment.

We are lucky in Cardiff; the University Hospital of Wales is home to its own dental hospital which offers a variety of bespoke treatment options and specialities that you can’t find in many other areas in Wales. It means that you get exposed to so many more things than you might elsewhere. It is so rewarding to see the real difference we can make to patients and their families.
Elana Phillips Dental Therapy and Dental Hygiene undergraduate student

Why study with us

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£2.2 million clinical simulation suite

Our £2.2 million state-of-the-art simulation suite will prepare you perfectly for delivery of dental care to patients in modern clinics.

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Early clinical exposure

You'll be taught in the University Dental Hospital, where you'll gain valuable clinical exposure working in a range of scenarios with experienced and supportive staff.

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Firm choice

As part of our offer to you, if you choose us as your firm university choice we promise to save your place for the following year’s entry if you miss your offer grades to allow you to resit your exams.

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Fully funded places available

A full NHS bursary, including tuition fees and non-repayable bursary for living costs, is available for BSc Dental Therapy and Hygiene students and DipHE Dental Hygiene students.

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Top 10

The only Dental School in Wales and Top 10 for dentistry in the UK (The Complete University Guide 2022).

Courses

Entry year

Dental Hygiene (DipHE)

Full time, 2 years

Delivered at the only dental school in Wales, our Dental Hygiene course is accredited by the General Dental Council.

Dental Surgery (BDS)

Full time, 5 years

Our BDS programme is delivered in the University Dental Hospital, where students benefit from state-of-the-art training facilities and early clinical exposure.

Dental Therapy and Dental Hygiene (BSc)

Full time, 3 years

Delivered at the only dental school in Wales, our Dental Therapy and Hygiene course is accredited by the General Dental Council.

Our talks

An introduction to studying dentistry, dental hygiene and dental therapy

Professor Mike Lewis offers you an insight into what studying dentistry, dental hygiene and dental therapy at Cardiff is like; including tips and hints into how to apply, what happens with our selection process and how to find out more.

Studying dentistry

Our students discuss what it's like studying dentistry at the only dental School in Wales. At the end of this five-year programme, you will have the knowledge, skills and behaviours needed to register with the General Dental Council (GDC). This will allow you to complete your Dental Foundation Training (DFT) year, and join the professional world of dentistry.

Studying dental therapy and dental hygiene

Our students discuss what it's like studying dental therapy and dental hygiene here at Cardiff University. Our Dental Therapy and Dental Hygiene course will enable you to qualify to practise as a hygienist or a therapist as it is recognised by the General Dental Council.

Universal Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT)

If you're thinking of applying to study dentistry, this short video offers official advice about how best to go about preparing to sit the UCAT, an admissions test used in the selection process by UK medical and dental schools. It shows the tools available to help you prepare and suggests a rough timeline for you. You can refer to key dates for UCAT.

Facility and location

Hands-on experience

Studying at the only dental hospital in Wales, you will have the opportunity to serve and manage a diverse group of patients with a wide range of dental diseases.

Clinical skills are developed in the School’s state of the art clinical skills laboratory, a facility that closely simulates the real clinical experience, allowing you to prepare and practice for patient care before going out into our many placement areas. This will support your understanding of how your role fits into the dental team. You will be taught by a dedicated team of academic clinical staff and consultants within the dental hospital and clinical staff working in the primary care environment.

Cardiff University has fantastic Phantom Head facilities which you begin using in year 2 all the way through to year 4 and there are always drop-in sessions available if you wish to expand your clinical skills. A unique thing about my programme is that in year 1 you are able to access the anatomy centre which means you get the opportunity to learn anatomy on cadavers rather than from a textbook which not many other dental schools can offer.
Emily Fell Dentistry (BDS) undergraduate student

Discover more

We have one of the highest employability records within competitor dental schools in the UK

Our courses

We offer undergraduate training opportunities for students in dentistry, dental hygiene and dental therapy.

Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine is an inter-disciplinary research field, combining life sciences, biomaterials and engineering, with an aim to regenerate, repair or replace damaged and diseased cells, tissues or organs.

Our research

Our world renowned research delivers improvements to the health and wellbeing of society.

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Global opportunities

Enhance your student experience at an international level, through the pursuit of various study, work and volunteering schemes available across the world.

The thing that sets Cardiff apart is that rare combination of excellent facilities with knowledgeable and amicable staff. There’s a real family feel, which helps to give us students an unparalleled learning experience, which in turn allows us all to enjoy what we do.
Emyr Meek Dentistry (BDS) undergraduate student

Explore Cardiff University

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Student support

Get free, impartial and confidential advice on disability and dyslexia, money, careers, counselling and more.

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Guaranteed accommodation

If you arrive in September, you're guaranteed a single occupancy room, and you'll be allocated with other first-year students.

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Student life

Learn more about our sport and recreation, free language programmes, living costs, learning support and the Students' Union.

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Living costs

See how far your money goes by using our living costs calculator.

Next steps

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View our dentistry courses

Explore our courses

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Download our brochure

Explore our dentistry undergraduate programmes for 2020/2021 entry.

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Contact us

Ask a question via our enquiry form and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

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How to apply

Everything you need to know about applying to study with us.


HESA data: Copyright Higher Education Statistics Agency Limited 2020. The Higher Education Statistics Agency Limited cannot accept responsibility for any inferences or conclusions derived by third parties from its data. Data is from the latest Graduate Outcomes Survey 2017/18, published by HESA in June 2020.