Skip to main content
UK Dentistry · 2027 Entry

Cardiff Dental School

2027 Entry Requirements & Interview Format

Cardiff University School of Dentistry in Cardiff asks 2027-entry dentistry applicants for AAA at A-level. Its published home UCAT threshold was ~2080+/2700 for non-contextual RUK (interview-receiver minimum ~1510+/2700). Cardiff holds multiple mini interviews (MMI): February 2027.

Location
Cardiff, UK
Established
1883
Interviews (2027 entry)
February 2027
Decisions (2027 entry)
Spring
Cardiff — The Main Building of Cardiff University

Photo: Jeremy Segrott (from Cardiff, Wales, UK) / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0 · cropped

Photo: Colin Smith · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Photo: Martin Speck · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Photo: Athena's Pix (Back, but give me time!) profile at Flickr website · CC BY 2.0

Student life

Still deciding where to apply? Hear it from a student who's there

Start here
Overview

About Cardiff

Wales-based dental school with a GCSE-driven scoring system and an MMI mapped to GDC professional attributes.

What makes Cardiff different

Application score calculated /28 from 7 GCSEs (8/9/A* = 4 pts, etc.) - must include biology and chemistry. Welsh-domiciled and contextually eligible applicants get extra consideration.

Cardiff course & teaching

Case-based curriculum. Five-year BDS with case-based learning. Clinical placements at Cardiff University Dental Hospital and South Wales community sites.

Cardiff research strengths

Cardiff is strong in these research areas:

  • Oral microbiology
  • Tissue engineering
  • Restorative dentistry
  • Periodontology

Intercalation at Cardiff

Optional - selective.

How the Cardiff interview runs

Format: Multiple Mini Interviews (MMI), in person (overseas online)

MMI format with stations testing motivation for dentistry, communication, ethics and understanding of the Welsh healthcare context. Topics often signposted in advance.

Cardiff intake

~70 home + ~10 international places per year for BDS Dentistry.

Where Cardiff is

Cardiff University School of Dentistry was founded in 1883 and is based in Cardiff.

Programmes offered:

  • Dentistry (BDS)
Practise

Practise the Cardiff interview with an AI interviewer

These are real recordings of the interviewers you would meet, from a panel of 50 photoreal faces. Speak your answers out loud, get pressed with follow-ups, and receive rubric-scored feedback about two minutes after you finish, with a replay of your answers.

Try the AI interviewer
TrueScore

Predicted UCAT for Cardiff

TrueScore

Moderate confidence

What is TrueScore?

A data-driven estimate of the UCAT score you'll likely need to be invited to interview at Cardiff for 2027 entry entry — based on its published cut-offs and recent admissions data. Treat it as a target to aim past, not a guarantee.

  • Home1510
  • Contextual1700
  • Rest of UK2080
  • International1900

Cardiff's TrueScore is 1510. Build a week-by-week UCAT plan that works back from your test date — free for the first two weeks.

Entry requirements

What you need to apply to Cardiff

Cardiff at a glance

Cardiff University School of Dentistry Dentistry — 2027 entry at a glance
A-level offerAAA
UCAT (home)~2080+/2700 for non-contextual RUK (interview-receiver minimum ~1510+/2700)
NGMP TrueScore (2027 entry)1510+ predicted for interview (home tier)
Interview formatMultiple mini interviews (MMI)
Intake~70 home + ~10 international places per year for BDS Dentistry
Cardiff University School of Dentistry Dentistry entry requirements — 2027 entry
A-Level requirementsAAA at A-level (offer only — no prediction requirement) including Biology and Chemistry. Practical pass required for any science A-level taken.
Contextual A-Level offerWelsh-domiciled and contextually eligible applicants get additional consideration plus 2 extra points in the scoring system. Some widening-participation programmes receive guaranteed interviews.
Required A-Level subjectsBiology and Chemistry both required
A-Level resit policyA-level resits not considered (2026 entry), except for firm offer-holders who miss offers — they are given one year to resit while retaining the offer
GCSE requirementsMinimum 7 GCSEs at grade 4/C or above. Grade 6/B required in English Language. Biology and Chemistry both required at GCSE level. GCSE resits accepted (English Language any time).
Scottish HighersAAAAA at Higher including two sciences from Biology, Chemistry or Physics
Scottish Advanced HighersAA at Advanced Higher including Biology and Chemistry
International Baccalaureate35 points overall, 766 at Higher Level (Chemistry required)
UCAT Selection at Cardiff
SJT band

Not used any more

UCAT used as tiebreaker when number of equally-scoring applicants exceeds interview places (most recent years). 28/28 GCSE score generally guarantees consideration regardless of UCAT.

Cardiff University School of Dentistry Dentistry — other selection criteria, 2027 entry
SJT BandNot used any more
Specialities offeredDentistry (BDS)
Work experiencePersonal statement must show evidence of commitment to a career in dentistry, qualities and skills required, and knowledge of the dental profession.
Interview

How Cardiff interviews applicants

Cardiff University School of Dentistry Dentistry interview — 2027 entry
FormatMultiple Mini Interviews (MMI), in person (overseas online)
Interview window (2027 entry)February 2027
Decision date (2027 entry)Spring
Post-interview chancesTotal: 128/319 = 40% (2025). Home: 117/298 = 39%. International: 11/21 = 52%.
Tutor insight
The interviews for Cardiff this year required the preparation of a 3-dimensional model out of pasta of an animal that represents your personality. - Cardiff covers GDC-mapped attributes: communication, teamwork, problem solving, ethical awareness, ability to think on your feet. Don't be surprised by unusual or off-the-wall questions - they aim to see how you respond under pressure.
Practice

Practise for your Cardiff interview

PrometheusQuestion Bank485 dentistry questions inside

Interview questions matched to Cardiff

Two questions our tutors flagged as a strong fit for Cardiff’s interview style. Try answering them out loud, then open Prometheus for the model answers and follow-up tips.

HardPanel · OxbridgeQ1

Assisted Suicide – Ethical Views on the Tony Nicklinson Case

What are your thoughts on the Tony Nicklinson assisted suicide case?

Likely follow-up · What are the main ethical arguments for and against assisted dying?

3 expert tips in Prometheus
EasyPanelQ2

Qualities of a Good Team Player

What are the qualities of a good team player?

Likely follow-up · Give an example of when you were an effective team player.

3 expert tips in Prometheus
Get support

Apply to Cardiff with confidence

We've helped students into Cardiff and other UK dentistry schools — get tailored support for each stage of the application.

Sources

Where Cardiff's figures come from

Checked field-by-field against Cardiff University School of Dentistry's official course page on 14 August 2026.

FAQ

Cardiff — frequently asked questions

Home applicants: ~2080+/2700 for non-contextual RUK (interview-receiver minimum ~1510+/2700); average interviewee ~2030+/2700. International applicants: Different scoring system for overseas. UCAT used as tiebreaker when number of equally-scoring applicants exceeds interview places (most recent years). 28/28 GCSE score generally guarantees consideration regardless of UCAT.

Apply to Cardiff with confidence

We've helped students turn their UCAT, personal statement and interview prep into offers from Cardiff and other UK dentistry schools.