Please note the course details including entry requirements and application deadlines apply to 2024 entry. Fees supplied apply to students entering King's in 2025. Details for 2025 entry will be published shortly, please check back for more details in the coming weeks.
The Enhanced Support Dentistry Programme is an opportunity for talented students from non- selective state schools within a London borough to pursue a career in dentistry. Students receive additional academic support whilst following the standard five-year Dentistry BDS course. This combines the very latest thinking in dental education with early clinical experience. You will be taught by internationally- renowned staff and exposed to a rich breadth of skills and knowledge in a diverse clinical environment.
The integrated nature of our course means that basic science teaching will relate to clinical practice and clinical teaching will be underpinned by scientific understanding. Our course emphasises whole patient care, which requires consideration of the patients’ total dental and medical needs, rather than just the provision of individual items of treatment.
The Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, and the Institute of Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience are based at the riverside Guy's Campus, next to the Shard.
Home to the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience.
Located near Waterloo Campus and home of continuing medical and dental teaching, as well as a museum dedicated to Florence Nightingale.
Waterloo campus is home of the Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing & Midwifery and facilities for other faculties
Located on the north bank of the River Thames, the Strand Campus houses King's College London's arts and sciences faculties.
In addition, clinical placements are currently based at: Guy’s Hospital; University of Portsmouth Dental Academy; King’s College Hospital, Denmark Hill and West Norwood Health & Leisure Centre; Queen Mary Hospital (Sidcup); Community Clinics as part of King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Please note that locations are determined by where each module is taught and may vary depending on the modules you study.
Reviewed, inspected and accredited by the UK General Dental Council (GDC)
King's is regulated by the Office for Students
Please note that A-level General Studies, Critical Thinking, Thinking Skills and Global Perspectives are not accepted by King's as one of your A levels.
Must include grade A in Biology or Chemistry, in addition to grade B in one of Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics or Psychology. Notes: If Mathematics is being used to meet one of the subject requirements, then we cannot consider Further Mathematics as the third A-Level. If you are taking linear A-levels in England, you will be required to pass the practical endorsement in all Science subjects. This is with the exception of private candidates who are unable to take the practical component. We do not consider the EPQ at any point of the assessment process.
35 points overall or an aggregate score of 17 from three Higher Levels.
Must include grade 6 in Higher Level Biology or Chemistry, in addition to grade 5 in Higher Level in one of Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics or Psychology. Notes: The total point score of 35 includes TOK/EE. For applicants studying the new IB curriculum, we can accept either Mathematics – Analysis and Approaches or Mathematics – Applications and Interpretations. GCSE/IGCSE English Language and Mathematics requirements can be met via IB Standard Level/Middle Years grade 5, if not studied/studying at Higher Level.
GCSE/IGCSE Requirements
English Language and Mathematics grade 6/B.
Notes:
Functional Skills, and Numeracy/Literacy modules studied within an Access to HE diploma, are not accepted for this programme to meet the GCSE/IGCSE requirements.
If you are an international student who does not study GCSEs/IGCSEs or IB Standard Level/Middle Years as part of your qualifications, then we would not expect you to have met this requirement. However, we will look for evidence of the equivalency in your studies.
University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT)
All applicants are required to sit the UCAT (previously known as UKCAT), prior to applying to this programme, and the UCAT must be taken the same year you apply in order to be valid.
We are unable to consider mitigating circumstances related to the UCAT, however, you may be eligible for special arrangements via the UCAT Access Arrangements policy.
Please refer to the UCAT website for all information, including details on registration, test dates and access arrangements, and the website also provides details of the UCAT Test Incident policy.
King’s does not have a threshold UCAT score in any particular year, as it is dependent upon the range of scores received each cohort. The overall UCAT score averaged across the four subtests is given more consideration than the individual subtest scores, and the Situational Judgement Test (SJT) is also taken into account when shortlisting.
Eligibility for the ESDP
To be eligible to be considered for the Enhanced Support Dentistry Programme, you must have attended only non-selective state education within a London borough as determined by the UK government’s Department for Education (DfE), since the age of 11.*
Applicants must have been attending a non-selective state school in a London borough since the age of 11 and will need to list all the schools they have attended since the age of 11 on their UCAS application When the application is received, the schools are checked via the DfE to check if they meet the eligibility, and there is not a published list of schools to consult.
Non-selective state schools are defined as schools where candidates are not required to complete an entry exam in order to compete for a place at the school. State schools are funded by the UK Government and do not charge fees. This includes community schools, free schools, and academies.
Applicants cannot have started or completed a degree before submitting their application, and applicants attending Grammar Schools are not eligible to apply and should apply to the standard Dentistry programme - Dentistry BDS.
*This is with the exception of our K+ Widening Participation students, for whom the London borough requirement is waived.
Overseas fee status
Please note that students with Overseas fee status are ineligible to apply for this programme, irrespective of the criteria above. UKCISA (UK Council for International Student Affairs) has a number of resources to advise you of which fee status category you may fall into dependent on your circumstances, so we would recommend reviewing these prior to making an application. We are unable to complete a fee assessment until we have received an application via UCAS.
Meeting deadlines
In order to enrol onto our programmes, successful offer holders must be able to evidence that they can meet our requirements by the beginning of August in year of entry. Any applicants who feel that they could be eligible for the programme but who will not be able to provide evidence of meeting our requirements by August should instead apply in a later application cycle when they are able to do this.
The Access to Higher Education Diploma must be 60 credits in total.
Access to Higher Education Diploma with 60 credits overall, including 45 Level 3 credits: 33 credits must be from units awarded at Distinction, with 12 at Merit. The Access to Higher Education Diploma must be in Medicine or Dentistry, and must be a QAA accredited course which is studied through a UK Access to Higher Education Diploma Provider, listed on the QAA website here: https://www.accesstohe.ac.uk//en/course-search . The Access Diploma must include 15 Level 3 credits in Biology or Chemistry, and 15 Level 3 credits in one of Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics or Psychology. Notes: Functional Skills, and Numeracy/Literacy modules studied within an Access to HE diploma, are not accepted for this programme to meet the GCSE/IGCSE requirements. Therefore, to apply you must have already achieved the required GCSE/IGCSE English Language and Mathematics grades, or you must list these on your application as currently studying.
Course specific subject requirements are indicated in subject requirements above
English language band: B
Please note that nationals of Majority English Speaking Countries (as defined by UKVI) who have successfully completed high school in the respective country, are not required to complete an English language test. For information on our English requirements and whether you need to complete an English language test, please see our English Language requirements page.
Applications are ranked based on GCSE/IGCSE performance, UCAT score and contextual information. We then review the rest of the application including achieved/predicted grades, personal statement and reference. Further contextual consideration and eligible mitigating circumstances are reviewed to finalise interview eligibility.
The interview period generally runs from December to March, and we aim to send out invites via King's Apply with at least two weeks notice of an interview date. Spaces are limited, therefore, we will consider reschedule requests on a case-by-case basis, however, please note that we may be unable to accommodate all requests.
We generally release a small number of offers throughout the admissions cycle, however, the majority of applicants who are invited to interview will be placed on hold until we have conducted all interviews. All decisions will be released by the UCAS decision deadline in May.
In the most recent admissions cycle for which we have complete data, we interviewed approximately 40 applicants and made around 18 offers on the programme. We received approximately 200 applications.
Further information
Age restrictions
King’s is only able to accept applicants who will be 18 years of age on 1st January on the first year of the Dentistry programmes. This is due to a minimum age requirement for placements. Applicants who will not be 18 by the 1st January of the first year of the degree, should submit an application the following year.
Contextual consideration
We do not make contextual offers for this programme, and all applicants will be required to meet the standard entry requirements. However, as part of the assessment process, we do take into account contextual information to gain a more complete picture of each application. More information can be found on the Contextualised admissions website.
This Enhanced Support Dentistry Programme provides an opportunity for talented students from non-selective state schools within a London borough to pursue a career in dentistry.
Applicants can apply to both A205 (Dentistry BDS) and this programme via the UCAS application system, if they wish to maximise their chances of studying at King's. However, each application is assessed independently and you should ensure that you check the entry requirements and eligibility clearly for both programmes.
Criminal conviction disclosure
Due to the nature of this programme, UCAS requires all applicants to declare on their UCAS application if they have any spent or unspent convictions, cautions or reprimands. All offers of a place, and continued enrolment, are made subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly Criminal Records Bureau) check.
Deferrals
Deferral requests are assessed on a case-by-case basis, and are not guaranteed for this programme.
Applications can be submitted for deferred entry by choosing the appropriate year of entry on the UCAS application.
If your circumstances change and, therefore, you need to request a deferral after an offer has been made, then due to the small number of spaces, we are generally unable to permit these for this programme. Therefore, you should ensure where possible you apply for deferred entry, or you wait to apply in the following year. We understand that a request to defer after offer may be due to extreme unforeseen extenuating circumstances, for example, health reasons, and we will consider each deferral request on a case-by-case basis. However, we reserve the right to decline any post-offer deferral request. Requests should be submitted via a message on King’s Apply with an explanation of the reason for making the request.
Please note, second deferral requests will only be considered where the request is due to extreme unforeseen extenuating circumstances, for example, health reasons. We are unable to permit deferral requests that go beyond two years and you would need to apply again.
Fifth choice
A maximum of four choices on the UCAS form may be made for courses which lead to a professional qualification in dentistry. You may add any programme as your fifth choice, however, some programmes will require a personal statement relevant to the programme. The following programmes will consider students with a dentistry focused personal statement without the need for a new statement: Biochemistry, Biomedical Sciences, Chemistry, Global Health & Social Medicine, Molecular Genetics, Pharmacology, Pharmacology & Molecular Genetics, Physics, Physiology or Neuroscience.
Foundation courses
Applicants studying Foundation Year programmes in the UK are welcome to apply for this programme, however, you will also need to meet the ESDP eligibility (see the Eligibility for ESDP section). Foundation programmes from other universities and further education providers in the UK are considered on a case-by-case basis. Whether or not we can consider a particular foundation year as suitable for study at King's depends on the content of the syllabus and modules studied. In the past we have accepted foundation programmes from a number of other institutions.
We are unable to accept Foundation programmes that are integrated as part of a main degree at another institution. These may be called Year 0 or Integrated Foundations. We are also unable to accept non-UK Foundation courses.
Once you have submitted an application, the Admissions Office may contact you via King's Apply to ask for further details on your qualification, such as a list of modules and course specifications.
Graduates
Applicants for this programme who have started or completed a degree are not eligible to apply and should instead apply to Dentistry BDS or Dentistry Graduate/Professional Entry Programme.
Incomplete degree study
Applicants for this programme who have started or completed a degree are not eligible to apply and should instead apply to Dentistry BDS.
Interviews
Interviews are an essential part of the assessment process, and our interviewers are assessing communication skills, exploring general social and ethical issues, normally health related, and assessing the interviewee’s general suitability for the programme and as a health professional, as well as how the interviewee will contribute to the university as a whole.
Interviews are conducted remotely with a panel of two interviewers. In previous years, interviews have taken the form of Multi Mini Interviews (MMIs) in person, with six interviewers.
We operate a “fit-to-sit” policy for interviews, therefore, we are unable to take into account mitigating circumstances for the interview performance. If there are any issues within the interview which you consider affected your performance, you should ensure these are raised with the Admissions team.
Occupational Health clearance
Due to the nature of this programme, all offer holders will be required to complete the Occupational Health Clearance process. Once your application is firmly accepted, the application will be set-up for the Occupational Health Clearance checks. Information is usually sent out by the end of May/early June. Occupational Health Clearance is a requirement for enrolment onto our Dentistry programmes.
Personal Statement
Your personal statement is one of the many factors in the overall assessment of your application. We are looking particularly for evidence of appropriate commitment to, and realistic appreciation of, the academic, physical and emotional demands of a dentistry degree programme and career. We would normally expect that you will have undertaken some work experience in a caring environment and/or observation in a clinical setting. If this is not possible, we look for evidence that you have worked in a setting where you can interact with the general public, e.g. in a pharmacy, check-out or restaurant.
Communication skills and the ability to work successfully in a team are of great importance. We look for applicants who have participated as fully as possible in school or college life, making the most of the opportunities available to them and also demonstrated some experience of society beyond their immediate environment.
Your interests, achievements and contribution to your community are taken into account in addition to academic ability. We aim to ensure that all of our students can cope with the heavy academic workload of the programme and display those professional qualities, skills and attitudes that help to make competent and caring dentistry professional.
We would expect your application to be strongly supported by your referee both in terms of academic achievements/potential and in terms of your character and suitability for dentistry.
Resits
We are able to consider applicants who are resitting their Level 3 qualifications for the first time (i.e. completing A-levels within 3 years).
Applicants resitting for a second time (i.e. completing A-levels within 4 years) are usually only considered where there are mitigating circumstances and will be referred to the faculty.
Transfers
Dental Schools do not accept transfers of students from other schools. This is because the requirements for graduation defined by the GDC are not taught and assessed in a similar order. Government capped places would also be disrupted by student transfers.
Schools may consider transfers for students in unforeseen exceptional circumstances with approval of both the sending and receiving programmes. In most cases the student would need to re-start from year one for the reasons described previously.
DSC encourages prospective students to consider the intensity of oral healthcare courses and their potential geographical distance from their support networks, when applying for dental school.
If you don't have a suitable qualification for direct entry to a UK university, we can help with our Foundation year courses.
If you have an offer from King's, but English isn't your first language, we have courses to help you.
We will use a delivery method that will ensure students have a rich, exciting experience from the start. Face-to-face teaching will be complemented and supported with innovative technology so that you may also experience elements of digital learning and assessment.
The integrated nature of our course means that basic science teaching will relate to clinical practice and clinical teaching will be underpinned by scientific understanding. Our course emphasises whole patient care, which requires consideration of the patients’ total dental and medical needs, rather than just the provision of individual items of treatment.
Our course has three main components. The first consists of subjects common to medicine and dentistry, progressing from biomedical sciences including behavioural sciences, epidemiology, pathology and microbiology to human disease. The second includes oral and dental aspects of the biological sciences leading to an understanding of the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of oral and dental diseases and disorders, and the effects of systemic disease on the oral and dental tissues. The third covers the clinical and technical aspects of dentistry with the provision of comprehensive oral and dental healthcare for patients of all ages.
Our curriculum enables you to assist in the sustainable oral health care of patients from year one and assume an appropriate level of responsibility for patient care at an early stage. Throughout your degree, the balance of teaching will shift from theoretical and academic science to practical and clinical experience. The final three years of the course are designed to give you extensive clinical exposure with structured placements for practice in the community, as part of a dental team, providing care in diverse settings.
Our working environment is structured into cross-year undergraduate teams so that students benefit from working and studying with the same group of teachers and peers throughout their time at the Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences.
| Course stage | Percentage of time in scheduled learning and teaching activities | Percentage of time in guided independent study | Percentage of time on clinic |
| Year 1 | 30% | 66% | 4% |
| Year 2 | 34% | 56% | 10% |
| Year 3 | 11% | 34% | 55% |
| Year 4 | 16% | 27% | 57% |
| Year 5 | 31% | 7% | 62% |
The timings detailed above are typical and give you a good indication of what to expect. However, they may change if course modules change. You will normally take modules totaling 780 credits over 5 years. Typically, one credit equates to 10 hours of work.
The study time and assessment methods detailed above are typical and give you a good indication of what to expect. However, they are subject to change.
The programme is divided into modules. You will normally take modules totaling 780 credits over 5 years. Year one comprises modules totaling 120 credits Year two comprises modules totaling 120 credits Year three comprises modules totaling 180 credits Year four comprises modules totaling 180 credits Year five comprises modules totaling 180 credits
After a one-week introductory course, you will spend the remainder of year one studying biomedical sciences and topics relevant to the practice of dentistry. Throughout the year, you will be introduced to the clinical aspects of dentistry and dental technology and shown the relevance of basic science. You are required to take the following modules in year one totaling 120 credits:
There are no optional modules for this year.
King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-to-date, innovative and relevant programmes of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for updates.
Please note that modules with a practical component will be capped due to educational requirements, which may mean that we cannot guarantee a place to all students who elect to study this module.
A variety of career pathways are open to new dental graduates. The career path for many graduates is general practice, with others aiming to be consultants in the hospital dental service, senior clinical academics in a teaching hospital, or specialist practitioners. In most cases, newly-qualified graduates will enter practice by way of Dental Foundation Training. Foundation Dentists (FDs) work in a Training Practice under supervision and have a day release course of lectures and demonstrations building on the undergraduate degree and giving instruction in all aspects of practice management. After this year, successful FDs can begin work as an associate in a practice.
The UK tuition fee for the 2025-26 academic year is currently £9,535 per year. This is based on the UK Government's cap.
Additional Costs
In addition to your tuition costs, you can also expect to pay for:
The following gives you an indication of additional costs associated with your course. These costs are not included in your tuition fees: DBS check paid just prior to course entry: Approximate cost (over span of programme): £50.00 - Total: £50.00 DBS ongoing subscription: Approximate cost (over span of programme): £13.00/year after first check - Total: £52.00 Travel between campuses (to Denmark Hill from Guy’s): Approximate cost (over span of programme): Up to £200.00 in each year: 4 and 5 - Total: £400.00 Initial funding of placement travel (can be claimed back): Approximate cost (over span of programme): Around £2,375.00 (Portsmouth) or £98.00 (West Norwood) - Total: £2,375.00 or £98.00 Job hunting expenses: Approximate cost (over span of programme): £200.00 - Total: £200.00 Final year printing of poster for case presentation: Approximate cost (over span of programme): £5.00, Total: £5.00 GDC registration (in year of graduation): Refer to GDC website for prevailing rates - Total: Variable
To find out more about bursaries, scholarships, grants, tuition fees, living expenses, student loans, and other financial help available at King's please visit the Fees and Funding section.
The integrated nature of our course means that basic science teaching will relate to clinical practice and clinical teaching will be underpinned by scientific understanding. Our course emphasises whole patient care, which requires consideration of the patients’ total dental and medical needs, rather than just the provision of individual items of treatment.
The Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, and the Institute of Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience are based at the riverside Guy's Campus, next to the Shard.
Home to the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience.
Located near Waterloo Campus and home of continuing medical and dental teaching, as well as a museum dedicated to Florence Nightingale.
Waterloo campus is home of the Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing & Midwifery and facilities for other faculties
Located on the north bank of the River Thames, the Strand Campus houses King's College London's arts and sciences faculties.
In addition, clinical placements are currently based at: Guy’s Hospital; University of Portsmouth Dental Academy; King’s College Hospital, Denmark Hill and West Norwood Health & Leisure Centre; Queen Mary Hospital (Sidcup); Community Clinics as part of King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Please note that locations are determined by where each module is taught and may vary depending on the modules you study.
Reviewed, inspected and accredited by the UK General Dental Council (GDC)
King's is regulated by the Office for Students
Please note that A-level General Studies, Critical Thinking, Thinking Skills and Global Perspectives are not accepted by King's as one of your A levels.
Must include grade A in Biology or Chemistry, in addition to grade B in one of Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics or Psychology. Notes: If Mathematics is being used to meet one of the subject requirements, then we cannot consider Further Mathematics as the third A-Level. If you are taking linear A-levels in England, you will be required to pass the practical endorsement in all Science subjects. This is with the exception of private candidates who are unable to take the practical component. We do not consider the EPQ at any point of the assessment process.
35 points overall or an aggregate score of 17 from three Higher Levels.
Must include grade 6 in Higher Level Biology or Chemistry, in addition to grade 5 in Higher Level in one of Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics or Psychology. Notes: The total point score of 35 includes TOK/EE. For applicants studying the new IB curriculum, we can accept either Mathematics – Analysis and Approaches or Mathematics – Applications and Interpretations. GCSE/IGCSE English Language and Mathematics requirements can be met via IB Standard Level/Middle Years grade 5, if not studied/studying at Higher Level.
GCSE/IGCSE Requirements
English Language and Mathematics grade 6/B.
Notes:
Functional Skills, and Numeracy/Literacy modules studied within an Access to HE diploma, are not accepted for this programme to meet the GCSE/IGCSE requirements.
If you are an international student who does not study GCSEs/IGCSEs or IB Standard Level/Middle Years as part of your qualifications, then we would not expect you to have met this requirement. However, we will look for evidence of the equivalency in your studies.
University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT)
All applicants are required to sit the UCAT (previously known as UKCAT), prior to applying to this programme, and the UCAT must be taken the same year you apply in order to be valid.
We are unable to consider mitigating circumstances related to the UCAT, however, you may be eligible for special arrangements via the UCAT Access Arrangements policy.
Please refer to the UCAT website for all information, including details on registration, test dates and access arrangements, and the website also provides details of the UCAT Test Incident policy.
King’s does not have a threshold UCAT score in any particular year, as it is dependent upon the range of scores received each cohort. The overall UCAT score averaged across the four subtests is given more consideration than the individual subtest scores, and the Situational Judgement Test (SJT) is also taken into account when shortlisting.
Eligibility for the ESDP
To be eligible to be considered for the Enhanced Support Dentistry Programme, you must have attended only non-selective state education within a London borough as determined by the UK government’s Department for Education (DfE), since the age of 11.*
Applicants must have been attending a non-selective state school in a London borough since the age of 11 and will need to list all the schools they have attended since the age of 11 on their UCAS application When the application is received, the schools are checked via the DfE to check if they meet the eligibility, and there is not a published list of schools to consult.
Non-selective state schools are defined as schools where candidates are not required to complete an entry exam in order to compete for a place at the school. State schools are funded by the UK Government and do not charge fees. This includes community schools, free schools, and academies.
Applicants cannot have started or completed a degree before submitting their application, and applicants attending Grammar Schools are not eligible to apply and should apply to the standard Dentistry programme - Dentistry BDS.
*This is with the exception of our K+ Widening Participation students, for whom the London borough requirement is waived.
Overseas fee status
Please note that students with Overseas fee status are ineligible to apply for this programme, irrespective of the criteria above. UKCISA (UK Council for International Student Affairs) has a number of resources to advise you of which fee status category you may fall into dependent on your circumstances, so we would recommend reviewing these prior to making an application. We are unable to complete a fee assessment until we have received an application via UCAS.
Meeting deadlines
In order to enrol onto our programmes, successful offer holders must be able to evidence that they can meet our requirements by the beginning of August in year of entry. Any applicants who feel that they could be eligible for the programme but who will not be able to provide evidence of meeting our requirements by August should instead apply in a later application cycle when they are able to do this.
The Access to Higher Education Diploma must be 60 credits in total.
Access to Higher Education Diploma with 60 credits overall, including 45 Level 3 credits: 33 credits must be from units awarded at Distinction, with 12 at Merit. The Access to Higher Education Diploma must be in Medicine or Dentistry, and must be a QAA accredited course which is studied through a UK Access to Higher Education Diploma Provider, listed on the QAA website here: https://www.accesstohe.ac.uk//en/course-search . The Access Diploma must include 15 Level 3 credits in Biology or Chemistry, and 15 Level 3 credits in one of Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics or Psychology. Notes: Functional Skills, and Numeracy/Literacy modules studied within an Access to HE diploma, are not accepted for this programme to meet the GCSE/IGCSE requirements. Therefore, to apply you must have already achieved the required GCSE/IGCSE English Language and Mathematics grades, or you must list these on your application as currently studying.
Course specific subject requirements are indicated in subject requirements above
English language band: B
Please note that nationals of Majority English Speaking Countries (as defined by UKVI) who have successfully completed high school in the respective country, are not required to complete an English language test. For information on our English requirements and whether you need to complete an English language test, please see our English Language requirements page.
Applications are ranked based on GCSE/IGCSE performance, UCAT score and contextual information. We then review the rest of the application including achieved/predicted grades, personal statement and reference. Further contextual consideration and eligible mitigating circumstances are reviewed to finalise interview eligibility.
The interview period generally runs from December to March, and we aim to send out invites via King's Apply with at least two weeks notice of an interview date. Spaces are limited, therefore, we will consider reschedule requests on a case-by-case basis, however, please note that we may be unable to accommodate all requests.
We generally release a small number of offers throughout the admissions cycle, however, the majority of applicants who are invited to interview will be placed on hold until we have conducted all interviews. All decisions will be released by the UCAS decision deadline in May.
In the most recent admissions cycle for which we have complete data, we interviewed approximately 40 applicants and made around 18 offers on the programme. We received approximately 200 applications.
Further information
Age restrictions
King’s is only able to accept applicants who will be 18 years of age on 1st January on the first year of the Dentistry programmes. This is due to a minimum age requirement for placements. Applicants who will not be 18 by the 1st January of the first year of the degree, should submit an application the following year.
Contextual consideration
We do not make contextual offers for this programme, and all applicants will be required to meet the standard entry requirements. However, as part of the assessment process, we do take into account contextual information to gain a more complete picture of each application. More information can be found on the Contextualised admissions website.
This Enhanced Support Dentistry Programme provides an opportunity for talented students from non-selective state schools within a London borough to pursue a career in dentistry.
Applicants can apply to both A205 (Dentistry BDS) and this programme via the UCAS application system, if they wish to maximise their chances of studying at King's. However, each application is assessed independently and you should ensure that you check the entry requirements and eligibility clearly for both programmes.
Criminal conviction disclosure
Due to the nature of this programme, UCAS requires all applicants to declare on their UCAS application if they have any spent or unspent convictions, cautions or reprimands. All offers of a place, and continued enrolment, are made subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly Criminal Records Bureau) check.
Deferrals
Deferral requests are assessed on a case-by-case basis, and are not guaranteed for this programme.
Applications can be submitted for deferred entry by choosing the appropriate year of entry on the UCAS application.
If your circumstances change and, therefore, you need to request a deferral after an offer has been made, then due to the small number of spaces, we are generally unable to permit these for this programme. Therefore, you should ensure where possible you apply for deferred entry, or you wait to apply in the following year. We understand that a request to defer after offer may be due to extreme unforeseen extenuating circumstances, for example, health reasons, and we will consider each deferral request on a case-by-case basis. However, we reserve the right to decline any post-offer deferral request. Requests should be submitted via a message on King’s Apply with an explanation of the reason for making the request.
Please note, second deferral requests will only be considered where the request is due to extreme unforeseen extenuating circumstances, for example, health reasons. We are unable to permit deferral requests that go beyond two years and you would need to apply again.
Fifth choice
A maximum of four choices on the UCAS form may be made for courses which lead to a professional qualification in dentistry. You may add any programme as your fifth choice, however, some programmes will require a personal statement relevant to the programme. The following programmes will consider students with a dentistry focused personal statement without the need for a new statement: Biochemistry, Biomedical Sciences, Chemistry, Global Health & Social Medicine, Molecular Genetics, Pharmacology, Pharmacology & Molecular Genetics, Physics, Physiology or Neuroscience.
Foundation courses
Applicants studying Foundation Year programmes in the UK are welcome to apply for this programme, however, you will also need to meet the ESDP eligibility (see the Eligibility for ESDP section). Foundation programmes from other universities and further education providers in the UK are considered on a case-by-case basis. Whether or not we can consider a particular foundation year as suitable for study at King's depends on the content of the syllabus and modules studied. In the past we have accepted foundation programmes from a number of other institutions.
We are unable to accept Foundation programmes that are integrated as part of a main degree at another institution. These may be called Year 0 or Integrated Foundations. We are also unable to accept non-UK Foundation courses.
Once you have submitted an application, the Admissions Office may contact you via King's Apply to ask for further details on your qualification, such as a list of modules and course specifications.
Graduates
Applicants for this programme who have started or completed a degree are not eligible to apply and should instead apply to Dentistry BDS or Dentistry Graduate/Professional Entry Programme.
Incomplete degree study
Applicants for this programme who have started or completed a degree are not eligible to apply and should instead apply to Dentistry BDS.
Interviews
Interviews are an essential part of the assessment process, and our interviewers are assessing communication skills, exploring general social and ethical issues, normally health related, and assessing the interviewee’s general suitability for the programme and as a health professional, as well as how the interviewee will contribute to the university as a whole.
Interviews are conducted remotely with a panel of two interviewers. In previous years, interviews have taken the form of Multi Mini Interviews (MMIs) in person, with six interviewers.
We operate a “fit-to-sit” policy for interviews, therefore, we are unable to take into account mitigating circumstances for the interview performance. If there are any issues within the interview which you consider affected your performance, you should ensure these are raised with the Admissions team.
Occupational Health clearance
Due to the nature of this programme, all offer holders will be required to complete the Occupational Health Clearance process. Once your application is firmly accepted, the application will be set-up for the Occupational Health Clearance checks. Information is usually sent out by the end of May/early June. Occupational Health Clearance is a requirement for enrolment onto our Dentistry programmes.
Personal Statement
Your personal statement is one of the many factors in the overall assessment of your application. We are looking particularly for evidence of appropriate commitment to, and realistic appreciation of, the academic, physical and emotional demands of a dentistry degree programme and career. We would normally expect that you will have undertaken some work experience in a caring environment and/or observation in a clinical setting. If this is not possible, we look for evidence that you have worked in a setting where you can interact with the general public, e.g. in a pharmacy, check-out or restaurant.
Communication skills and the ability to work successfully in a team are of great importance. We look for applicants who have participated as fully as possible in school or college life, making the most of the opportunities available to them and also demonstrated some experience of society beyond their immediate environment.
Your interests, achievements and contribution to your community are taken into account in addition to academic ability. We aim to ensure that all of our students can cope with the heavy academic workload of the programme and display those professional qualities, skills and attitudes that help to make competent and caring dentistry professional.
We would expect your application to be strongly supported by your referee both in terms of academic achievements/potential and in terms of your character and suitability for dentistry.
Resits
We are able to consider applicants who are resitting their Level 3 qualifications for the first time (i.e. completing A-levels within 3 years).
Applicants resitting for a second time (i.e. completing A-levels within 4 years) are usually only considered where there are mitigating circumstances and will be referred to the faculty.
Transfers
Dental Schools do not accept transfers of students from other schools. This is because the requirements for graduation defined by the GDC are not taught and assessed in a similar order. Government capped places would also be disrupted by student transfers.
Schools may consider transfers for students in unforeseen exceptional circumstances with approval of both the sending and receiving programmes. In most cases the student would need to re-start from year one for the reasons described previously.
DSC encourages prospective students to consider the intensity of oral healthcare courses and their potential geographical distance from their support networks, when applying for dental school.
If you don't have a suitable qualification for direct entry to a UK university, we can help with our Foundation year courses.
If you have an offer from King's, but English isn't your first language, we have courses to help you.
We will use a delivery method that will ensure students have a rich, exciting experience from the start. Face-to-face teaching will be complemented and supported with innovative technology so that you may also experience elements of digital learning and assessment.
The integrated nature of our course means that basic science teaching will relate to clinical practice and clinical teaching will be underpinned by scientific understanding. Our course emphasises whole patient care, which requires consideration of the patients’ total dental and medical needs, rather than just the provision of individual items of treatment.
Our course has three main components. The first consists of subjects common to medicine and dentistry, progressing from biomedical sciences including behavioural sciences, epidemiology, pathology and microbiology to human disease. The second includes oral and dental aspects of the biological sciences leading to an understanding of the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of oral and dental diseases and disorders, and the effects of systemic disease on the oral and dental tissues. The third covers the clinical and technical aspects of dentistry with the provision of comprehensive oral and dental healthcare for patients of all ages.
Our curriculum enables you to assist in the sustainable oral health care of patients from year one and assume an appropriate level of responsibility for patient care at an early stage. Throughout your degree, the balance of teaching will shift from theoretical and academic science to practical and clinical experience. The final three years of the course are designed to give you extensive clinical exposure with structured placements for practice in the community, as part of a dental team, providing care in diverse settings.
Our working environment is structured into cross-year undergraduate teams so that students benefit from working and studying with the same group of teachers and peers throughout their time at the Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences.
| Course stage | Percentage of time in scheduled learning and teaching activities | Percentage of time in guided independent study | Percentage of time on clinic |
| Year 1 | 30% | 66% | 4% |
| Year 2 | 34% | 56% | 10% |
| Year 3 | 11% | 34% | 55% |
| Year 4 | 16% | 27% | 57% |
| Year 5 | 31% | 7% | 62% |
The timings detailed above are typical and give you a good indication of what to expect. However, they may change if course modules change. You will normally take modules totaling 780 credits over 5 years. Typically, one credit equates to 10 hours of work.
The study time and assessment methods detailed above are typical and give you a good indication of what to expect. However, they are subject to change.
The programme is divided into modules. You will normally take modules totaling 780 credits over 5 years. Year one comprises modules totaling 120 credits Year two comprises modules totaling 120 credits Year three comprises modules totaling 180 credits Year four comprises modules totaling 180 credits Year five comprises modules totaling 180 credits
After a one-week introductory course, you will spend the remainder of year one studying biomedical sciences and topics relevant to the practice of dentistry. Throughout the year, you will be introduced to the clinical aspects of dentistry and dental technology and shown the relevance of basic science. You are required to take the following modules in year one totaling 120 credits:
There are no optional modules for this year.
King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-to-date, innovative and relevant programmes of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for updates.
Please note that modules with a practical component will be capped due to educational requirements, which may mean that we cannot guarantee a place to all students who elect to study this module.
A variety of career pathways are open to new dental graduates. The career path for many graduates is general practice, with others aiming to be consultants in the hospital dental service, senior clinical academics in a teaching hospital, or specialist practitioners. In most cases, newly-qualified graduates will enter practice by way of Dental Foundation Training. Foundation Dentists (FDs) work in a Training Practice under supervision and have a day release course of lectures and demonstrations building on the undergraduate degree and giving instruction in all aspects of practice management. After this year, successful FDs can begin work as an associate in a practice.
The UK tuition fee for the 2025-26 academic year is currently £9,535 per year. This is based on the UK Government's cap.
Additional Costs
In addition to your tuition costs, you can also expect to pay for:
The following gives you an indication of additional costs associated with your course. These costs are not included in your tuition fees: DBS check paid just prior to course entry: Approximate cost (over span of programme): £50.00 - Total: £50.00 DBS ongoing subscription: Approximate cost (over span of programme): £13.00/year after first check - Total: £52.00 Travel between campuses (to Denmark Hill from Guy’s): Approximate cost (over span of programme): Up to £200.00 in each year: 4 and 5 - Total: £400.00 Initial funding of placement travel (can be claimed back): Approximate cost (over span of programme): Around £2,375.00 (Portsmouth) or £98.00 (West Norwood) - Total: £2,375.00 or £98.00 Job hunting expenses: Approximate cost (over span of programme): £200.00 - Total: £200.00 Final year printing of poster for case presentation: Approximate cost (over span of programme): £5.00, Total: £5.00 GDC registration (in year of graduation): Refer to GDC website for prevailing rates - Total: Variable
To find out more about bursaries, scholarships, grants, tuition fees, living expenses, student loans, and other financial help available at King's please visit the Fees and Funding section.
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Fourth year dental student Matthew Billington tells us about his journey from football to dentistry.
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