How many dental schools are there in Queensland?

Three: the University of Queensland (5-year undergraduate BDSc(Hons) in Brisbane), Griffith University (a sequential BDOH-then-DMD route on the Gold Coast) and James Cook University (5-year undergraduate BDS in Cairns).

Which Queensland dental school has the highest ATAR cut-off?

UQ’s Bachelor of Dental Science (Honours) carries one of the highest dental ATAR cut-offs in the country at around 99.00, alongside the UCAT-ANZ and an MMI.

Can I get into Queensland dentistry without sitting the UCAT-ANZ?

Yes — at James Cook University. JCU’s BDS in Cairns selects on a written application and interview only, with no UCAT-ANZ or GAMSAT requirement, reflecting its rural and tropical-health workforce mandate.

How does the Griffith BDOH-to-DMD pathway work?

Griffith runs a Bachelor of Dental Health (Oral Health) that can articulate into its graduate Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD), giving a sequential route to full dental registration across roughly 75 combined places on the Gold Coast.

Does JCU prioritise rural applicants for dentistry?

Yes. JCU Cairns has a clear rural and northern-Australia workforce mandate. Its selection (written application plus interview) is designed to identify applicants likely to practise in regional, rural and remote communities.

Australian Dentistry · Entry Guide

Dental schools inQueensland

3 schoolsGAMSAT / UCAT-ANZ pathways

Queensland's three dental schools span every Australian pathway. UQ runs a 5-year undergraduate BDSc(Hons) (~65 places) with one of the country's highest ATAR cut-offs (~99.00) plus UCAT-ANZ and MMI. Griffith offers a sequential BDOH-then-DMD route at the Gold Coast (~75 combined places). James Cook University in Cairns runs a 5-year undergraduate BDS (~40 places) selecting on written application and interview only — no UCAT or GAMSAT — with a clear rural workforce mandate.

Overview

Studying dentistry in Queensland

Queensland is the most diverse dental landscape in Australia, with three schools covering all the major entry models. UQ in Brisbane is the high-ATAR undergraduate route; Griffith on the Gold Coast runs a sequential Bachelor of Dental Health (BDOH) that can articulate into the graduate DMD; and JCU in Cairns is built around a tropical and rural-workforce mission, selecting on written application and interview rather than the UCAT-ANZ or GAMSAT. Domestic places are Commonwealth Supported (CSP) with HECS-HELP deferral. JCU’s far-north placements and Griffith’s articulated pathway give applicants flexible ways into the profession.

Funding + places. Domestic places are Commonwealth Supported (CSP) with HECS-HELP deferral. UQ BDSc(Hons): ATAR ~99.00 + UCAT-ANZ + MMI (~65 places). Griffith: sequential BDOH → DMD (~75 combined places). JCU Cairns BDS: written application + interview, no UCAT/GAMSAT (~40 places), rural-workforce mandate.

Schools

Dental schools in Queensland

3 dental schools in Queensland — click any school for the full profile including admission tests, ATAR, interview format and place types.

UQ Dental

St Lucia · Established 1936

No interview — ATAR threshold then UCAT-ANZ aggregate ranking

JCU Dental

Cairns · Established 2009

Kira Talent one-way recorded interview (online, ~30-60 min)

Griffith Dental

Gold Coast · Established 2004

GUDAP — Griffith University Dental Admissions Process (multi-station scenario interview, online via SAMMI)

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

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Reviewed by Isaac Butler-King, medical student at the University of Glasgow. Last reviewed: 12 July 2026