BDS (Hons) Dentistry Bachelor's degree at the University of Birmingham
BDS (Hons) Dentistry at University of Birmingham. Studying at the Edgbaston campus, students work towards a Bachelor's degree with Honours over five years of full-time study, taught in English, with the course sitting within the Medicine & Dentistry field.
About this course
Our BDS Dental Surgery is designed to facilitate the development of core real-world clinical skills and patient care experiences. From the provider’s course page.
BDS (Hons) Dentistry is a Bachelor's degree (BDS (Hons)) at the University of Birmingham, based in Edgbaston campus. It runs 5 years, studied full-time.
For Medicine and dentistry graduates from this provider, 80% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 100% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £36,500. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Medicine & Dentistry, see the sections below.
Course evidence score
The arithmetic mean of the official measures available for this course: NSS satisfaction, graduate activity and continuation.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Stronger evidence Published sample: 280. Cohort 2022-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 80% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 99% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
Year 1 6 modules
- Academic Skills and ProfessionalismCore
- Body SystemsCore40 credits
- Craniofacial AnatomyCore40 credits
- Dental Application of Biological ScienceCore10 credits
- Introduction to Cells and TissuesCore20 credits
- Law and EthicsCore10 credits
Year 2 5 modules
- Behavioural Management and the Foundations of Clinical PracticeCore40 credits
- Oral Biology, Microbiology and ImmunologyCore20 credits
- Professionalism and Preparing for Clinical PracticeCore
- Public Health and EpidemiologyCore20 credits
- Simulated Clinical Procedures and Dental Materials ScienceCore40 credits
Year 3 5 modules
- Human DiseasesCore40 credits
- Individually Tailored Component - The ElectiveCore
- Introduction to Clinical PracticeCore40 credits
- Professionalism and TeamworkCore
- Restorative Dentistry Specialty TeachingCore40 credits
Year 4 6 modules
- Clinical Patient CareCore40 credits
- Dental Public Health and Behavioural ScienceCore20 credits
- Fixed Prosthodontics and EndodonticsCore20 credits
- Integrated Paediatric Specialty TeachingCore20 credits
- Oral Pathology and Oral Medicine Specialty TeachingCore20 credits
- Professionalism, Interpersonal and Emotional SkillsCore
Year 5 5 modules
- Advanced Clinical PracticeCore50 credits
- Advanced Specialty TeachingCore40 credits
- Final BDSCore20 credits
- Professionalism and the Transition to Independent PracticeCore
- Transition to Independent PracticeCore10 credits
Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
Across the five years, the course moves through a structured progression of study areas, such as core theory, research & methods, applied practice, specialist options, an independent project, and professional skills. Core theory covers the scientific and clinical foundations that underpin dental practice, while research & methods introduces the skills needed to interpret evidence and think critically about clinical decisions. Applied practice is where the emphasis on real-world clinical skills and patient care becomes most direct, giving students structured opportunities to put learning into practice. Specialist options allow some tailoring of study towards particular areas of interest within dentistry, and the independent project gives students the chance to work in depth on a self-directed piece of work. Professional skills run throughout, reflecting the fact that dentistry is a regulated profession requiring not just technical competence but communication, ethics, and professional judgement. Teaching and learning are delivered in English at the Edgbaston campus on a full-time basis, with the qualification awarded being the BDS (Hons).
Who it's for
This course suits someone who is comfortable with close, hands-on work and who wants a career built on direct contact with patients rather than one confined to a lab bench or a desk. If you're the kind of person who is methodical, doesn't mind repetition until a skill is right, and can stay calm and reassuring when someone else is anxious, that mindset will serve you well here. A genuine interest in how the body works, particularly in the mouth, teeth and jaw, needs to sit alongside an interest in people themselves, their worries, their history, their day-to-day comfort, since patient care is central to the course rather than incidental to it. Studying dentistry at this level involves a long commitment: five years of full-time study, much of it building towards supervised clinical practice with real patients, so resilience and sustained motivation matter as much as academic ability. Most entrants come in with A-levels or equivalent (96% of accepted students in recent years), typically within the 160–175 UCAS tariff band, reflecting the academic demands of the course, though this describes what students have typically held rather than a fixed requirement. It suits people who like structure and clear standards, since dentistry is a regulated profession with defined competencies to meet, but who also enjoy the more creative, practical problem-solving that comes with working with your hands on delicate, detailed tasks.
Careers & job market
Dentistry graduates move into a profession with a defined route into practice, and national data across Medicine & Dentistry courses gives a sense of the landscape graduates enter. Nationally, 89% of graduates across Medicine & Dentistry courses were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, and 75% of working graduates were in highly skilled work or further study. Continuation into further years of study is also high nationally, with 90% of students continuing past their first year, whether still enrolled or having completed. On earnings, national Graduate Outcomes/LEO data (not specific to this university or a guaranteed outcome for any individual) shows starting salaries 15 months after graduation of £27,000–£32,000, rising to £24,650–£34,800 after three years, and £29,325–£41,400 after five years. These figures describe national patterns across the field rather than promises tied to this particular course, and individual outcomes will vary depending on specialisation, location and further training undertaken after qualifying.
University & format
The University of Birmingham is a public, research-intensive Russell Group university founded in 1900, based at its Edgbaston campus, with 30,832 students studying across the institution. The BDS (Hons) Dentistry course (UCAS code A200) is delivered full-time over five years, entirely in English. The university holds a Silver rating in the Office for Students' TEF 2023 for teaching quality and is. As a recognised UK degree-awarding body, its degrees are nationally recognised, and its Russell Group membership reflects its status among research-intensive UK universities.
Student satisfaction
How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.
Share of students responding positively.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
- 2027 entryCompleted applications can be submitted
Your application needs a reference before you can send it.
- 2026 entryFinal date for 2026 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2027 entryEarly equal-consideration deadline
18:00 UK time for Oxford, Cambridge and most medicine, dentistry and veterinary courses.
- 2026 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
Provider-published requirement; check the linked course page before applying.
Entry & how to get in
Who gets in
What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.
UCAS tariff of entrants
Grades are the A-level equivalent of each points band. Tap a band to check your own chances below.
Qualifications held on entry
| Qualification | Share |
|---|---|
| A-levels or equivalent | 96% |
| a previous degree | 4% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Accepted students typically held strong UCAS tariffs. Check how your predicted grades compare and whether a contextual offer applies.
Will you get in? Plot your grades
Pick your predicted A-levels and watch your UCAS points land on the real spread of students admitted to this course.
Each bar is the share of admitted students in that UCAS-points band (lower → higher). Grades show the A-level equivalent.
Based on the official admitted-student tariff distribution. Many universities make contextual (reduced-grade) offers, so a result below the range doesn’t rule you out.
How to apply
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course (code A200). One application covers up to five choices.
- 2Write your personal statement
A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.
- 3Submit by 15 October 2026, 18:00 UK time
UCAS equal-consideration deadline for Oxford, Cambridge and most medicine, dentistry and veterinary courses. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
- 4Sit any admissions test & interview
Courses with the October deadline often need an admissions test (e.g. UCAT, BMAT or a subject test) and interviews, register early and prepare.
- 5Reply to your offers
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
- 6Results day & confirmation
On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Provider fee page (England 2026/27 cap where not stated).
Check fees at University of Birmingham →For students who normally live in England
2026/27 Student Finance England figures. Maintenance support is means-tested and this two-point view is not an entitlement calculator. The course total uses its published length and home fee where both are available; a missing full-time fee uses the clearly labelled England-cap scenario, while part-time fees and unknown lengths are never guessed. Use the official calculator. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use separate systems: SAAS, Student Finance Wales, and Student Finance NI.
Starting on or after 1 January 2027?
The Lifelong Learning Entitlement is a separate system. A new learner’s tuition entitlement is currently stated as £39,160 (about 480 credits at 2026/27 fee levels), subject to prior study and eligibility. Check the official LLE guide.
Paying for it
- Tuition Fee Loan: can cover eligible tuition up to the applicable limit and is paid straight to the provider.
- Maintenance Loan: up to £10,830/yr away from home outside London (England, 2026/27), means-tested on household income.
- Repayment: 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below it; written off after 40 years.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
England figures shown; Scotland, Wales & NI run their own schemes, check gov.uk.
Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
That does not mean no funding exists. Check the university directory for current amounts, eligibility and application dates.
National funding for this subject
- NHS Bursary: Eligible medical and dental students can receive NHS support in the later years of study. Official guidance
We only display a named award when its provider source identifies the award and who it is for.
Still deciding what to study?
StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.
Careers & earnings
What Medicine & Dentistry graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
Graduate earnings: this course
| When | Median | Typical range | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 months after | £36,500 | £32,000 – £40,000 | 280 |
| 3 years after | £47,000 | £39,500 – £52,500 | 545 |
| 5 years after | £52,000 | £46,500 – £59,000 | 575 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Stronger evidence. Published sample: 280. Cohort 2022-23.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
- 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
- 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in medicine & dentistry · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior / LeadLeading work and people · 5–10 yrs
- 4Head of / ExpertSenior leadership or deep expertise · 10+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs Medicine & Dentistry nationally
National figures for Medicine & Dentistry graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.
Work out your pay
Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.
What happened to 100 students?
Choose an outcome to translate the published percentage into a simple 100-person view. Each dot represents one percentage point, not an individual tracked student.
were in work or further study
15 months after graduation
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2022-23. Stronger evidence. Published sample: 280. Cohort 2022-23. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.
Value compared with similar courses
How this course’s 5-year median earnings compare with Medicine & Dentistry courses at the same study level.
Compared with 804 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.
UK occupations graduates enter
Published graduate destinations, joined conservatively to UK SOC 2020, ONS pay and Skills England demand.
- Other Health ProfessionalsSOC 2020 225 · 95% of published destinations · ASHE median £42,902
Discover Uni JOBLIST/JOBTYPE; ONS ASHE 2025 provisional, all employee jobs; Skills England Occupations in Demand 2025. SOC is shown only for an exact normalised label match; demand is shown only at exact four-digit SOC. Published sample: 70; response rate: 55%. Pay describes the occupation across workers, not a guaranteed graduate salary.
Is BDS (Hons) Dentistry worth it?
Yes, for most students BDS (Hons) Dentistry is well worth it. On its graduates’ median earnings, the course is worth about +£231,050 more over the first ten years of work than going straight to a job, after the fees you pay.
Cumulative earnings vs. going straight to work at 18, counting tuition and 5 years of wages given up while studying. The line clears zero around year 10.5. This is a simplified gross-earnings comparison, not a forecast of cash loan repayments.
Model: this course’s own median graduate earnings (Graduate Outcomes / LEO) above the £24,000 non-graduate baseline (ONS), net of £9,790/yr over 5 years (published course home fee). Eligible England-domiciled students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan; repayments are 9% only on income above the threshold, with anything left written off after 40 years. That makes the cash flow different from conventional commercial debt. Opportunity cost assumes £18,000 gross earnings forgone in each study year; figures are nominal and exclude tax, living costs, investment returns and loan interest. A simplified estimate. Earnings and actual fees vary by graduate, provider, fee status and UK nation.
Job market & outlook
How Medicine & Dentistry graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
How AI is changing the work
AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.
What AI takes off your plate
- Routine information gathering
- First-draft writing and summaries
- Standard analysis and admin
- Repetitive processing tasks
More human than ever
- Judgement and original thinking
- Working with and leading people
- Owning and sense-checking AI output
- Ethics and accountability
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where Medicine & Dentistry graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.
Roles graduates go into
Where they work
- The NHS
- Private practice
- Research & academia
- Public health
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit Medicine & Dentistry graduates.
Medicine-Focused Veterinary Surgeon | Patient Care LeaderMedivet & PartnersMedicine Service Delivery Manager - Operations ImprovementNHSMedicine Occupational Therapist - StaffordshirePulse HealthcarePart-Time Palliative Medicine Consultant | 1-in-5 On-CallEvora Hospice (formerly Southern Area Hospice Services)Consultant Medicine - ElderlyPertemps Medical ProfessionalsSpecialty Doctor in Acute MedicineTriple West MedicalIs this course right for you?
The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.
Student finance
Published home tuition is £9,790/year for this course. If you normally live in England, eligible students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, plus a Maintenance Loan for living costs. Under Plan 5 you repay 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below that, and the balance is written off after 40 years.
Where graduates go
80% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £36,500. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.
Your entry chances
Use the UCAS points calculator above to see how your predicted grades compare with admitted students, and whether a contextual offer could apply.
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 8.9 out of 10: NSS 86.7% · in work or study 80% · continued 99%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
The University of Birmingham
Medicine and dentistry across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around Edgbaston campus
1,313 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
Police.uk street-level API. Approximate locations, not confined to campus. England, Wales and Northern Ireland; not Scotland.
Is Medicine & Dentistry right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to University of Birmingham from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is set per course by University of Birmingham; international fees are typically £12,000–£30,000/year for classroom subjects and higher for lab/clinical ones. You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.
English language
Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.
Student visa
You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.
Scholarships & funding
Many universities offer international/global scholarships (often £2,000–£6,000/yr), check University of Birmingham’s funding pages.
Living costs
Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.
Working while you study
A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.
Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with University of Birmingham and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at University of Birmingham
Common questions
How competitive is entry?
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates go on to do?
What will it cost me?
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