Public Dental Coverage Gap
Adult dental care is largely excluded from Medicare in Australia. What does this mean for patients, and how do you weigh it as an ethical issue?
Likely follow-up · What is the Child Dental Benefits Schedule?
Step-by-step: entry requirements, admission-test prep, personal statement, interview format and the key deadlines.
Open the guide →Format breakdown, school-specific sample questions, FAQs and prep tips from tutors who interviewed here.
Read the guide →UQ's 5-year undergraduate Bachelor of Dental Science (Hons) (BDSc) is co-located with the Oral Health Centre at Herston, distinguished by the most ATAR-competitive dental program in Australia and a no-interview UCAT-ranked selection model.
UQ Dental is the most ATAR-competitive dental program in Australia: 99.00 adjusted ATAR floor with 99.95 median offer rank (2026 intake). No interview — selection runs on the ATAR hurdle + UCAT-ANZ aggregate. Co-located with the Oral Health Centre at Herston — Queensland's largest dental teaching facility.
Integrated curriculum. 5-year undergraduate Bachelor of Dental Science (Honours). Years 1-2 foundations and pre-clinical simulation at St Lucia. Years 3-5 clinical placements at the Oral Health Centre Herston and across Queensland Health community dental sites. No interview — final selection is ATAR threshold + UCAT-ANZ aggregate.
UQ Dental has notable research strength in Oral cancer, Dental materials, Craniofacial development, Periodontal disease.
UQ Dental interviews via No interview — ATAR threshold then UCAT-ANZ aggregate ranking. UQ Dent does not interview. Step 1: applicants must hit adjusted ATAR ≥ 99.00. Step 2: all qualifying applicants are ranked directly on UCAT-ANZ aggregate; ATAR acts as a hurdle, not a differentiator. UCAT section scores may separate tied applicants. ATSI Admissions Scheme applicants are exempt from UCAT-ANZ.
2025 intake: 75 admitted total (QTAC); ~60% international. International total program fee AUD $94,856.
Founded in 1936, based in St Lucia. Programmes offered: Oral Surgery, Orthodontics, Paediatric Dentistry, Dental Research, Public Dental Health.
UQ Dental has no interview — selection is the 99.00 adjusted ATAR hurdle plus UCAT-ANZ aggregate ranking. That makes UCAT preparation the single highest-leverage activity for serious applicants once the ATAR threshold is in sight. Section scores can break ties at the very top. ATSI Admissions Scheme applicants are exempt from UCAT.
Two questions our tutors flagged as a strong fit for UQ Dental’s interview style. Try answering them out loud, then open Prometheus for the model answers and follow-up tips.
Adult dental care is largely excluded from Medicare in Australia. What does this mean for patients, and how do you weigh it as an ethical issue?
Likely follow-up · What is the Child Dental Benefits Schedule?
What does it take to become a registered orthodontist in Australia, and how is this regulated?
Likely follow-up · What is the typical pathway through Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons (RACDS)?
We've helped students into UQ Dental and other Australian dentistry schools — get tailored support for each stage of the application.
Hit the UCAT cut-off for UQ Dental with one-to-one tutoring from top scorers.
Learn morePractise the No interview — ATAR threshold then UCAT-ANZ aggregate ranking format with students who interviewed at UQ Dental.
Learn moreGet your personal statement reviewed by successful applicants.
Learn moreWe've helped students turn their UCAT, personal statement and interview prep into offers from UQ Dental and other Australian dentistry schools.