How do interviews differ between Glasgow and Plymouth?

Glasgow uses Multiple Mini Interviews: Multiple Mini Interview (MMI). Plymouth uses Multiple Mini Interviews: Five-station MMI (online), ~55 minutes. The format is the same, so the same prep approach applies — practise ethics frameworks, NHS hot topics, and (for MMI) structured 5-7 minute station answers. Interview windows: December – February (Glasgow); February – April (Plymouth).

Where are Glasgow and Plymouth located, and how does that affect cost?

Glasgow is in Glasgow, UK. Plymouth is in Plymouth, UK. Scottish-domiciled applicants funded by SAAS pay no tuition fees at Scottish medical schools — a substantial funding advantage worth tens of thousands of pounds over the degree. Rest-of-UK applicants still pay £9,250/year.

When does each school release decisions?

Glasgow typically releases dentistry decisions March onwards. Plymouth releases dentistry decisions Spring. If one is earlier than the other, you may need to hold a decision while waiting for the second school — be ready to compare in real time.

Dental school comparison

Glasgow vs Plymouth

Glasgow and Plymouth are both UK dental schools, but the path to an offer at each is meaningfully different. Glasgow is based in Glasgow (Scotland) while Plymouth sits in Plymouth (England), and the regional context shapes everything from fee status to NHS-deanery destination. Their A-Level requirements (AAA vs A*AA) place them in slightly different academic-strictness tiers.

Glasgow is the older institution (founded 1879); the other (founded 2007) has shaped its medical school around modern integrated-curriculum thinking.

Side-by-side comparison

Show only differences

Side-by-side comparison: Glasgow and Plymouth.
Comparison field	GlasgowGlasgow	PlymouthPlymouth
Quick comparison
Location	Glasgow, UK	Plymouth, UK
A-Level offer	AAA at A-level including Chemistry and Biology. Resits only with genuine extenuating circumstances.	A*AA – AAB at A-level (offer depends on cohort strength) including grade A in Biology and grade A in a second science from Chemistry / Physics / Mathematics / Psychology
TrueScore	Glasgow TrueScore 1920	Plymouth TrueScore 1990
UCAT home cut-off	~1850+ RUK; Scottish ~1810+	Not published on the current scale. The average thresholds Plymouth published for the 2023-2025 cycles were measured on the retired /3600 four-subtest test and cannot be converted to /2700 - removing a subtest does not scale a score.
Interview format	Multiple Mini Interview (MMI)	Five-station MMI (online), ~55 minutes
Post-interview chance	Scottish: 76/108 = 70%. RUK: 42/70 = 60%. International: 22/27 = 81%.	Home: 132/499 = 26% (2025). Overseas: 8/28 = 29%. Home Foundation Year: 17/104 = 16%.
Decision date	March onwards	Spring

A-Level offer	AAA at A-level including Chemistry and Biology. Resits only with genuine extenuating circumstances.	A*AA – AAB at A-level (offer depends on cohort strength) including grade A in Biology and grade A in a second science from Chemistry / Physics / Mathematics / Psychology
Contextual A-Level offer	-	AAB at A-level for widening-access applicants — A in Biology and A in a second science from Chemistry / Physics / Mathematics / Psychology
Required A-Level subjects	Chemistry and Biology both required at grade A	Biology required at grade A, plus a second science from Chemistry / Physics / Mathematics / Psychology at grade A
A-Level resit policy	Resits considered with extenuating circumstances only.	Resits accepted: with predicted grades, minimum ABB on first sitting (ABC for widening access). If applying with achieved A-level resit grades, first-sitting requirements waived.
GCSE requirements	Six GCSEs at grade 7/A including Mathematics or Physics, plus English Language or English Literature. English accepted at grade 6/B if the other six are at grade 7+.	Seven GCSEs at grade 4/C or above, must include English Language, Mathematics, and either 4-4 Dual Science or two from Biology / Chemistry / Physics
GCSE scoring methodology	-	Used as minimum threshold only — Plymouth does not consider personal statements or work experience when selecting for interview
Scottish Highers	AAAAB at Higher with Biology and Chemistry at grade A, plus Higher Mathematics or Physics, and National 5 English at grade B.	Scottish Highers NOT accepted — Plymouth Dental School requires Advanced Highers only
Scottish Advanced Highers	BB at Advanced Higher; three subjects in S6 must include Advanced Higher Biology and Chemistry.	AAA at Advanced Higher including grade A in Biology and grade A in one further science from Chemistry / Physics / Mathematics / Psychology
International Baccalaureate	36 points overall with 6,6,6 at Higher Level including Chemistry and Biology, plus Mathematics or Physics at Higher Level (Standard Level 6 considered if HL is not possible).	36–38 points overall, with HL 6 in Biology and HL 6 in one further science from Chemistry / Physics / Mathematics / Psychology
Graduate-entry degree requirement	-	Applicants must have achieved or be predicted to achieve a 1st (70%) or higher in a University of Plymouth School of Biomedical Science programme
Alternative qualifications	-	-

Contextual cut-off	-	-
Scottish (where applicable)	~1920+ /2700	-
Rest of UK (where applicable)	~1970+ /2700	-
International cut-off	~1920+ /2700	-
Graduate cut-off	-	-
SJT band	No use of SJT in selection	No use of SJT in selection
UCAT notes	No SJT use. 2025 data not until December.	The SJT is not used under the selection policy. The UCAT must be sat in the year of application and is used by the Admissions Advisory Panel alongside academic qualifications to select for interview;…

Degree awarded	BDS	BDS
Course length	5 years	5 years
Teaching style	Integrated	Integrated
Anatomy teaching	-	-
First patient contact	Year 2	Year 1
Placement geography	Glasgow and the west of Scotland	Devon and Cornwall
Named placement sites	Glasgow Dental Hospital & School	Portland Square (Plymouth main campus), Devonport Dental Education Facility, Derriford (Plymouth), Exeter Dental Education Facility, Truro Dental Education Facility
Intercalation	-	Selected students may intercalate between year 3 and year 4, taking a one-year MSc in the Plymouth research laboratories.
Course highlight	A mandatory elective study period includes international options.	Won a Times Higher Education Award in 2023 for contribution to the community.

Interview window	December – February	February – April
Interview details	Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) circuit. Personal statement and reference must meet minimum requirements for shortlisting; stations probe motivation, ethics and reflection.	Online MMI format. 5 stations of ~11 minutes each by 4 different interviewers. Each station has a 'red flag' section - Yes/No reflecting suitability for the programme. One MMI station dedicated to a m…

Specialities	Dentistry (BDS)	Dentistry (BDS)
Established	1879	2007
Course type	Undergraduate	Undergraduate
What makes it different	Wholly UCAT-based shortlisting once minimum PS and reference requirements are met. Personal statement is reviewed prior to offer-making but not formally scored.	Interview-score-based offer making. Personal statements and work experience are NOT considered for interview selection - UCAT and academic minimums alone determine who reaches interview.
Official course page	https://www.gla.ac.uk/undergraduate/degrees/dentistry/	https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/bds-dental-surgery

Glasgow

Quick comparison

Location: Glasgow, UK
A-Level offer: AAA at A-level including Chemistry and Biology. Resits only with genuine extenuating circumstances.
TrueScore: Glasgow TrueScore 1920
UCAT home cut-off: ~1850+ RUK; Scottish ~1810+
Interview format: Multiple Mini Interview (MMI)
Post-interview chance: Scottish: 76/108 = 70%. RUK: 42/70 = 60%. International: 22/27 = 81%.
Decision date: March onwards

Plymouth

Quick comparison

Location: Plymouth, UK
A-Level offer: A*AA – AAB at A-level (offer depends on cohort strength) including grade A in Biology and grade A in a second science from Chemistry / Physics / Mathematics / Psychology
TrueScore: Plymouth TrueScore 1990
UCAT home cut-off: Not published on the current scale. The average thresholds Plymouth published for the 2023-2025 cycles were measured on the retired /3600 four-subtest test and cannot be converted to /2700 - removing a subtest does not scale a score.
Interview format: Five-station MMI (online), ~55 minutes
Post-interview chance: Home: 132/499 = 26% (2025). Overseas: 8/28 = 29%. Home Foundation Year: 17/104 = 16%.
Decision date: Spring

Glasgow vs Plymouth - in detail

UCAT thresholds compared

Glasgow's published UCAT threshold for home applicants is around 1850, while Plymouth sits at approximately 2023.

The 173-point spread matters: Glasgow offers slightly more headroom for an average-strong UCAT, while Plymouth expects performance closer to the national 75th-90th percentile.

A-Level and academic profile

Glasgow requires AAA at A-level including Chemistry and Biology. Resits only with genuine extenuating circumstances.

Plymouth requires A*AA – AAB at A-level (offer depends on cohort strength) including grade A in Biology and grade A in a second science from Chemistry / Physics / Mathematics / Psychology.

Plymouth is the stricter A-Level offer; Glasgow is slightly more forgiving. If your predicted grades are borderline, Glasgow carries the lower academic-rejection risk pre-interview.

GCSE profile matters at both schools — Glasgow: Six GCSEs at grade 7/A including Mathematics or Physics, plus English Language or English Literature. English accepted at grade 6/B if the other six are at grade 7+.

Plymouth: Seven GCSEs at grade 4/C or above, must include English Language, Mathematics, and either 4-4 Dual Science or two from Biology / Chemistry / Physics. Used as minimum threshold only — Plymouth does…

Interview formats

Both Glasgow and Plymouth use MMI interviews, so the underlying prep approach is the same — practise ethics frameworks, NHS hot-topic answers and (for MMI) structured station responses against a timer.

That said, the specifics differ slightly: Glasgow runs multiple mini interview (mmi); Plymouth runs five-station mmi (online), ~55 minutes. Mock practice tailored to each school's exact format is the highest-leverage prep.

Interview windows: Glasgow interviews in December – February; Plymouth in February – April.

Curriculum and teaching style

Both schools deliver a PBL-style curriculum, so day-to-day study habits will feel similar across years 1-3.

Specifics: Five-year BDS built around problem-based learning. Clinical placements at Glasgow Dental Hospital and West-of-Scotland community sites. Five-year BDS with PBL. Plymouth Peninsula Dental School - clinical placements across South-West community sites.

Intake size: Glasgow — ~75 places per year (Scottish + RUK + small international).; Plymouth — ~75 home places per year for BDS Dentistry (smaller cohort, regional focus).. A larger cohort means more peer breadth; a smaller cohort means more tutor contact.

Post-interview offer rate

Glasgow: Scottish: 76/108 = 70%. RUK: 42/70 = 60%. International: 22/27 = 81%. Plymouth: Home: 132/499 = 26% (2025). Overseas: 8/28 = 29%. Home Foundation Year: 17/104 = 16%.

Post-interview odds give you the clearest signal of how competitive each school is at the final stage — a school with a 60% post-interview success rate is structurally easier to convert than one at 25%, even if the interview thresholds look identical on paper.

What makes each distinctive

Glasgow: Wholly UCAT-based shortlisting once minimum PS and reference requirements are met. Personal statement is reviewed prior to offer-making but not formally scored.

Plymouth: Interview-score-based offer making. Personal statements and work experience are NOT considered for interview selection - UCAT and academic minimums alone determine who reaches interview.

Which is right for you?

If your UCAT lands below the UK median (~1880/2700), Glasgow is the more realistic firm-choice option. For applicants with predicted A-Level grades at the lower end of the AAA-A*AA range, Glasgow is the lower-risk academic option.

Regionally, the choice often comes down to cost of living and NHS-deanery preferences — Glasgow feeds into the Scotland foundation programme network; Plymouth into the England network.

Your firm/insurance choice should ultimately weight: where your UCAT and predicted grades sit relative to each school's threshold, which interview format you can prepare for most credibly, and where you'd actually want to live for five years.

Common questions

Glasgow's typical home cut-off is around 1850, while Plymouth sits at approximately 2023 — a 173-point spread. That's a meaningful gap; Glasgow is materially more accessible for an average-to-good UCAT, while Plymouth expects performance closer to the top 25% of test-takers. Cut-offs change year on year and vary by tier — check each school's latest published threshold before submitting your UCAS form.

Glasgow requires AAA including chemistry and biology. Resit only with genuine extenuating circumstances.. Plymouth requires A*AA – AAA offer (AAB widening access - A in biology + second science). Including biology and a second science from chemistry/physics/maths/psychology. Resit (with predicted grades): minimum ABB on first sitting (or ABC WP).. Most successful applicants achieve these grades on first sitting with strong predicted grades from their school. Resit policies differ: Glasgow — Resits considered with extenuating circumstances only.. Plymouth — Resits accepted..

Glasgow — Six GCSEs at grade 7/A including Mathematics or Physics, plus English Language or English Literature. English accepted at grade 6/B if the other six are at grade 7+. Plymouth — Seven GCSEs at grade 4/C or above, must include English Language, Mathematics, and either 4-4 Dual Science or two from Biology / Chemistry / Physics. Used as minimum threshold only — Plymouth does not consider personal statements or work experience when selecting for interview

Glasgow's selection methodology: UCAT + academic + MMI. Strong Scottish + RUK focus. Personal statement reviewed but not scored. Plymouth's selection methodology: UCAT + academic + MMI. Strong South-West focus. Understanding each school's exact algorithm is the single highest-leverage piece of pre-application research — it tells you whether your profile is competitive before you spend an application choice.

Glasgow: Scottish: 76/108 = 70%. RUK: 42/70 = 60%. International: 22/27 = 81%.. Plymouth: Home: 132/499 = 26% (2025). Overseas: 8/28 = 29%. Home Foundation Year: 17/104 = 16%.. Post-interview odds tell you how competitive each school is at the final stage. Two schools with similar UCAT thresholds can have very different post-interview rates — a school with a 60% post-interview success rate is structurally easier to convert than one at 25%.

Glasgow runs a PBL curriculum. Plymouth runs a PBL curriculum. Both schools deliver teaching in the same broad style, so day-to-day study habits will feel similar. Glasgow specifics: Five-year BDS built around problem-based learning. Clinical placements at Glasgow Dental Hospital and West-of-Scotland community sites. Plymouth specifics: Five-year BDS with PBL. Plymouth Peninsula Dental School - clinical placements across South-West community sites.

You can — UCAS allows 4 medicine/dentistry choices in total, so listing both is feasible if your profile fits each school's selection algorithm. Apply to both only if your UCAT, GCSE and predicted-grade profile is competitive against each school's published weighting. A common mistake is using two of your four slots on similar schools when a more spread-out portfolio (one safe + one stretch) would maximise overall offer probability.

Where to go next

GlasgowEntry requirements, interview format and key dates in full

PlymouthEntry requirements, interview format and key dates in full

Other dental school comparisons

School data reviewed by the NextGen MedPrep editorial team — last reviewed 19 September 2026.