Cardiff Dentistry: Entry Requirements & UCAT Cutoff (2027 Entry)
Last cycle
Cardiff Dentistry at a glance
Entry requirements
Selection · how they rank for interview
All applicants who meet the minimum requirements are scored on achieved grades only:
3- GCSEs - up to 28 points (best seven achieved grades).
- UCAT total splits ties for the interview places.
Thresholds Home ≈27/28
Achieved A-Levels or a degree can add points up to the 28 maximum - the values aren't published, so our rating uses the GCSE component alone.
Full requirements, with sources
A-Levels
GCSE
UCAT
- No minimum SJT requirement.
Age
- You must be 18 on the first day of the programme.2
Resits & reapplying
- Resits aren't accepted - except an honoured offer: if you pass interview, firm Cardiff and miss your grades, your place is held for the following year while you resit.3
- GCSE resits are accepted - they must be achieved by the time you apply.3
- Reapplications are welcome if you meet the minimum entry requirements for the year you apply.3
- Transfers aren't accepted - from UK or international dental schools.3
- If you started a degree and left, you can still apply - with a letter from your university confirming you didn't leave over academic performance or probity concerns.2
Selection & shortlisting
- All applicants who meet the minimum requirements are scored out of 28 points on achieved qualifications, and interview places go from the top down:3
- Achieved A-Levels or a degree can add points up to the 28 maximum - the values aren't published, so our rating uses the GCSE component alone.
- Most interviewees hold the full 28 points - our estimate is that 28 points makes an interview likely (very likely with a UCAT above ~2200), and 27 points needs a UCAT above ~2100.3
- The personal statement and reference are screened, not scored - show commitment to and knowledge of dentistry; work experience isn't essential.1
- You're ranked within your applicant group - Welsh-domiciled, rest-of-UK, contextual, widening participation or Overseas - each with its own cut-off.3
Contextual eligibility
View policy- Who qualifies
You count as contextual here if any one of these applies:
Care-experienced (any time in care)Parenting responsibilitiesYoung / adult carerFree School MealsRefugeeSeeking asylumEstranged from familyOther recognised WP / access scheme- What it changes
Contextual applicants get additional consideration in shortlisting - our estimate is the same point bands with a slightly lower UCAT separator (around 2100 rather than 2200).
Interview & decision
- MMI - short timed stations, in person for Home, online for Overseas, all equally weighted. One station tests manual dexterity (origami, carving, tweezers) but can't alone reject you. Welsh or bilingual interviews available.3
- All interviewed applicants are selected on interview performance alone, UCAT deciding ties. A low Suitability for the Profession score can block an offer.3
- A constructive gap year is welcomed.3
Conditional offer
- Conditional offer: AAA - including Biology and Chemistry. The EPQ isn't considered.1
Cardiff admissions email: dentalcentralenquiries@cardiff.ac.uk
Try our Free University Selector
Enter your GCSEs, A-Levels and UCAT score and the selector will tell you exactly where you have a good chance of landing an interview, with all decisions linked to official university sources.
Frequently asked questions
What UCAT score do you need for Dentistry at Cardiff?
No minimum SJT requirement. Thresholds move with each year's applicant pool - use our free university selector to see where your score is competitive.
What A-Levels do you need for Cardiff Dentistry?
You must be taking Biology and Chemistry, with practical passes. Critical Thinking, General Studies, Citizenship Studies and similar subjects are not accepted.
What are the GCSE requirements for Cardiff Dentistry?
Grade A/7 in Biology and Chemistry (or Double Award science AA/77), plus grade B/6 in English Language. Seven GCSEs in total - English Language plus six others.
How does Cardiff decide who gets a Dentistry interview?
All applicants who meet the minimum requirements are scored out of 28 points on achieved qualifications, and interview places go from the top down: Achieved A-Levels or a degree can add points up to the 28 maximum - the values aren't published, so our rating uses the GCSE component alone.
What is the Dentistry interview like at Cardiff?
MMI - short timed stations, in person for Home, online for Overseas, all equally weighted. One station tests manual dexterity (origami, carving, tweezers) but can't alone reject you. Welsh or bilingual interviews available. All interviewed applicants are selected on interview performance alone, UCAT deciding ties. A low Suitability for the Profession score can block an offer.
Sources
Admissions policies change - always confirm with Cardiff before finalising your UCAS choices.