Where are Manchester and Queen Mary (QMUL) located, and how does that affect cost?

Manchester is in Manchester, UK. Queen Mary (QMUL) is in London, UK. Tuition is £9,250/year at both for UK home applicants; the main cost difference is accommodation (London accommodation typically runs 30-50% above the national average).

When does each school release decisions?

Manchester typically releases dentistry decisions Spring. Queen Mary (QMUL) 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

Manchester vs Queen Mary (QMUL)

Manchester and Queen Mary (QMUL) are both UK dental schools, but the path to an offer at each is meaningfully different. Manchester is based in Manchester (England) while Queen Mary (QMUL) sits in London (London), 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.

The interview formats diverge — MMI vs Panel — and the prep approaches for the two are fundamentally different.

Side-by-side comparison

Show only differences

Side-by-side comparison: Manchester and Queen Mary (QMUL).
Comparison field	ManchesterManchester	Queen Mary (QMUL)London
Quick comparison
Location	Manchester, UK	London, UK
A-Level offer	AAA at A-level (no use of predicted grades — Manchester considers achieved grades) including Chemistry and Biology / Human Biology	AAA at A-level (offer and prediction) — single sitting, no more than 2 years. UCAS Tariff minimum 152 (AAA delivers this).
TrueScore	Manchester TrueScore 2110	Queen Mary (QMUL) TrueScore 2210
UCAT home cut-off	2200+ /2700 for an automatic interview invitation (2026 entry, A206).	Expressed as a decile, not a raw score: applications below the fourth decile of the total UCAT do not pass first shortlisting, and clearing it guarantees nothing.
Interview format	Five-station MMI, in person (overseas may attend virtually)	Two-interviewer panel, online (January–February)
Post-interview chance	UK students: 126/351 = 36% (2025). International: 11/15 = 73%.	2025 - All applicants: 182/267 = 68%. Overseas: 13/22 = 59%.
Decision date	Spring	Spring

A-Level offer	AAA at A-level (no use of predicted grades — Manchester considers achieved grades) including Chemistry and Biology / Human Biology	AAA at A-level (offer and prediction) — single sitting, no more than 2 years. UCAS Tariff minimum 152 (AAA delivers this).
Contextual A-Level offer	AAB at A-level for contextual / WP+ applicants	Reduced offer available for East London / contextual applicants
Required A-Level subjects	Chemistry and Biology (or Human Biology) both required	Biology or Chemistry required, plus a second science from Chemistry / Biology / Physics / Mathematics
A-Level resit policy	Only one resit permitted: must obtain grade B on the first attempt. Resitting applicants require AAA with A in one of the two sciences.	Resits only with extenuating circumstances falling under the Equality and Diversity Act 2010
GCSE requirements	Seven GCSEs at grade 7/A or above. English Language, Mathematics, and at least two science subjects at grade 6/B (or 6-6 Dual Science). WP+/WP++: only six GCSEs at grade 7/A required. GCSE resits accepted.	Six GCSEs at grade 7,7,7,6,6,6 (777666) or above, must include Mathematics, English Language or Literature, Biology and Chemistry (or Double Science). GCSEs are not required for graduate applicants.
GCSE scoring methodology	Used only as a minimum threshold — Manchester is UCAT-led with SJT (must be band 1 or 2)	Used as minimum threshold once met — UCAT and UCAS tariff drive the ranking. No longer at a 50:50 UCAS:UCAT weighting.
Scottish Highers	AAAA at Higher by end of S5 (same sitting, first attempt). English Language and any science (Maths, Chemistry or Biology) not taken at Higher/Advanced Higher must be at National 5 grade B or above.	AAA at Higher
Scottish Advanced Highers	At least two Advanced Highers at AA by end of S6. Acceptable combinations: three Advanced Highers AAA inc Chemistry, Biology + one other; OR two Advanced Highers AA + one A2-level A; OR two Advanced Highers AA + one new Higher at A. Scottish Highers required in addition to Advanced Highers.	AA at Advanced Higher
International Baccalaureate	36 points overall, 666 at Higher Level including Chemistry and Biology plus one further HL subject	37 points overall, 666 at Higher Level including Chemistry or Biology, plus one further science from Chemistry / Biology / Physics / Mathematics
Graduate-entry degree requirement	2:1 (Upper-second-class Honours) or above. Applicants ranked by total UCAT + SJT band when highly scoring candidates exceed slots.	2:1 (Upper-second-class Honours) or above. Graduate qualifications scored via QMUL's internal Academic Points system (50/50 UCAT:Academic Points). No GCSE requirement for graduates.
Alternative qualifications	-	-

Contextual cut-off	2100+ /2700 for WP+ applicants (2026 entry).	-
Scottish (where applicable)	-	-
Rest of UK (where applicable)	-	-
International cut-off	-	-
Graduate cut-off	-	-
SJT band	Band 1 or 2 required.	Band 4 automatically rejected. Used post-interview in offer-making (likely minimal weighting).
UCAT notes	Missing the threshold does not end the application: Manchester says those below it are still assessed holistically, ranked on overall UCAT and then reviewed by the Academic Lead for Admissions against…	Queen Mary states that thresholds cannot be predicted for any individual year, nor derived from previous years - which is why the bar is published as a decile rather than a score. Applicants above the…

Degree awarded	BDS	BDS
Course length	5 years	5 years
Teaching style	Enquiry-based learning + Team-based learning	Integrated
Anatomy teaching	-	-
First patient contact	Year 1	-
Placement geography	Greater Manchester	East London
Named placement sites	University Dental Hospital of Manchester	The Royal London Dental Institute
Intercalation	-	-
Course highlight	-	The Institute of Dentistry moved into the Alexandra Wing of The Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel in 2014 — a £78 million building, the first new dental school built in the UK for over 40 years.

Interview window	February – March	January – February
Interview details	Five-station MMI with each station marked by a separate interviewer. If one station goes badly, recover at the next - interviewers don't know what happened previously. A buzzer signals start/end (7 mi…	Online panel interview with two senior academic/clinical staff, a dental student, or sometimes a lay selector. Split into two parts: (1) questions based on an article given 2 weeks prior; (2) personal…

Specialities	Dentistry (BDS)	Dentistry (BDS)
Established	1908	1843
Course type	Undergraduate	Undergraduate
What makes it different	Soft UCAT threshold - those above always interviewed, those below also considered following holistic assessment. SJT must be band 1 or 2. No use of predicted grades.	Queen Mary applies a fourth-decile minimum on the total UCAT: below it an application does not pass first shortlisting, and clearing it guarantees nothing. The bar is published as a decile rather than…
Official course page	https://www.manchester.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/	https://www.qmul.ac.uk/undergraduate/coursefinder/courses/2026/dentistry/

Manchester

Quick comparison

Location: Manchester, UK
A-Level offer: AAA at A-level (no use of predicted grades — Manchester considers achieved grades) including Chemistry and Biology / Human Biology
TrueScore: Manchester TrueScore 2110
UCAT home cut-off: 2200+ /2700 for an automatic interview invitation (2026 entry, A206).
Interview format: Five-station MMI, in person (overseas may attend virtually)
Post-interview chance: UK students: 126/351 = 36% (2025). International: 11/15 = 73%.
Decision date: Spring

Queen Mary (QMUL)

London

Quick comparison

Location: London, UK
A-Level offer: A*AA at A-level (offer and prediction) — single sitting, no more than 2 years. UCAS Tariff minimum 152 (A*AA delivers this).
TrueScore: Queen Mary (QMUL) TrueScore 2210
UCAT home cut-off: Expressed as a decile, not a raw score: applications below the fourth decile of the total UCAT do not pass first shortlisting, and clearing it guarantees nothing.
Interview format: Two-interviewer panel, online (January–February)
Post-interview chance: 2025 - All applicants: 182/267 = 68%. Overseas: 13/22 = 59%.
Decision date: Spring

Manchester vs Queen Mary (QMUL) - in detail

A-Level and academic profile

Manchester requires AAA at A-level (no use of predicted grades — Manchester considers achieved grades) including Chemistry and Biology / Human Biology.

Queen Mary (QMUL) requires A*AA at A-level (offer and prediction) — single sitting, no more than 2 years. UCAS Tariff minimum 152 (A*AA delivers this).

Queen Mary (QMUL) is the stricter A-Level offer; Manchester is slightly more forgiving. If your predicted grades are borderline, Manchester carries the lower academic-rejection risk pre-interview.

GCSE profile matters at both schools — Manchester: Seven GCSEs at grade 7/A or above. English Language, Mathematics, and at least two science subjects at grade 6/B (or 6-6 Dual Science). WP+/WP++: only six GCSEs at grade 7/A required.

GCSE resits… Queen Mary (QMUL): Six GCSEs at grade 7,7,7,6,6,6 (777666) or above, must include Mathematics, English Language or Literature, Biology and Chemistry (or Double Science). GCSEs are not required for graduate applicants…

Interview formats

Manchester uses MMI (Five-station MMI, in person (overseas may attend virtually)); Queen Mary (QMUL) uses Panel (Two-interviewer panel, online (January–February)). These two formats reward different skills — MMI emphasises breadth, station-recovery and structured answers under time pressure, while Panel rewards depth and consistency.

If your strengths lie in conversational depth, Queen Mary (QMUL) may suit you more. If you prefer discrete capsule answers under time pressure, Manchester is the better fit.

Interview windows: Manchester interviews in February – March; Queen Mary (QMUL) in January – February.

Curriculum and teaching style

Manchester runs a PBL curriculum; Queen Mary (QMUL) runs a Integrated curriculum. The teaching philosophies are different — Manchester leans on small-group case-based learning from year 1, while Queen Mary (QMUL) uses a more traditional lecture-led structure.

Specifics: Five-year BDS with PBL. Clinical placements at Manchester Dental Hospital and Greater Manchester community sites. Five-year BDS at Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry. Clinical placements at Royal London Dental Hospital and East London community

Intake size: Manchester — ~85 home + ~15 international places per year for BDS Dentistry.; Queen Mary (QMUL) — ~80 home + ~20 international places per year for BDS Dentistry (Barts and The London).. A larger cohort means more peer breadth; a smaller cohort means more tutor contact.

Post-interview offer rate

Manchester: UK students: 126/351 = 36% (2025). International: 11/15 = 73%. Queen Mary (QMUL): 2025 - All applicants: 182/267 = 68%. Overseas: 13/22 = 59%.

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

Manchester: Soft UCAT threshold - those above always interviewed, those below also considered following holistic assessment. SJT must be band 1 or 2. No use of predicted grades.

Queen Mary (QMUL): Queen Mary applies a fourth-decile minimum on the total UCAT: below it an application does not pass first shortlisting, and clearing it guarantees nothing. The bar is published as a decile rather than a score because the boundary moves with each cohort, and Queen Mary states thresholds cannot be predicted from previous years.

Higher predicted grades do not compensate. SJT band 4 automatically rejected.

Which is right for you?

For applicants with predicted A-Level grades at the lower end of the AAA-A*AA range, Manchester is the lower-risk academic option. Regionally, the choice often comes down to cost of living and NHS-deanery preferences — Manchester feeds into the England foundation programme network; Queen Mary (QMUL) into the London network.

If you learn best in small-group case discussion, prefer Manchester; if you prefer lecture-led foundations, the other suits better. 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

Neither school publishes a single fixed UCAT cut-off; both use UCAT as part of a composite shortlisting score alongside GCSE and personal-statement weighting. Manchester guidance: 2200+ /2700 for an automatic interview invitation (2026 entry, A206).. Queen Mary (QMUL) guidance: Expressed as a decile, not a raw score: applications below the fourth decile of the total UCAT do not pass first shortlisting, and clearing it guarantees nothing..

Manchester uses Multiple Mini Interviews: Five-station MMI, in person (overseas may attend virtually). Queen Mary (QMUL) uses Panel interview: Two-interviewer panel, online (January–February). The two formats reward different skill sets. Plan separate prep streams for each, with at least 3 full mock interviews per format before sitting either. Interview windows: February – March (Manchester); January – February (Queen Mary (QMUL)).

Manchester requires AAA offer (AAB contextual). No use of predicted grades. Must include chemistry and biology. Only one resit permitted: B grade on first attempt + A*AA resit with A* in one of the sciences.. Queen Mary (QMUL) requires A*AA in single sitting, no more than 2 years. Must include biology or chemistry + second science from chemistry/biology/physics/maths. Resit only with extenuating circumstances under Equality and Diversity Act 2010.. Most successful applicants achieve these grades on first sitting with strong predicted grades from their school. Resit policies differ: Manchester — Resits accepted.. Queen Mary (QMUL) — Resits considered with explanation..

Manchester — Seven GCSEs at grade 7/A or above. English Language, Mathematics, and at least two science subjects at grade 6/B (or 6-6 Dual Science). WP+/WP++: only six GCSEs at grade 7/A required. GCSE resits accepted. Used only as a minimum threshold — Manchester is UCAT-led with SJT (must be band 1 or 2) Queen Mary (QMUL) — Six GCSEs at grade 7,7,7,6,6,6 (777666) or above, must include Mathematics, English Language or Literature, Biology and Chemistry (or Double Science). GCSEs are not required for graduate applicants. Used as minimum threshold once met — UCAT and UCAS tariff drive the ranking. No longer at a 50:50 UCAS:UCAT weighting.

Manchester's selection methodology: Academic minimums + UCAT cut-off + MMI. SJT band 1 or 2 expected. Queen Mary (QMUL)'s selection methodology: UCAT + academic + MMI. SJT used post-interview. Strong East London 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.

Manchester: UK students: 126/351 = 36% (2025). International: 11/15 = 73%.. Queen Mary (QMUL): 2025 - All applicants: 182/267 = 68%. Overseas: 13/22 = 59%.. 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%.

Manchester runs a PBL curriculum. Queen Mary (QMUL) runs a Integrated curriculum. The teaching philosophies differ — pick the style that matches how you learn best. Manchester specifics: Five-year BDS with PBL. Clinical placements at Manchester Dental Hospital and Greater Manchester community sites. Queen Mary (QMUL) specifics: Five-year BDS at Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry. Clinical placements at Royal London Dental Hospital and East London 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

ManchesterEntry requirements, interview format and key dates in full

Queen Mary (QMUL)Entry 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.

Manchester vs Queen Mary (QMUL)

Side-by-side comparison

Manchester vs Queen Mary (QMUL) - in detail

A-Level and academic profile

Interview formats

Curriculum and teaching style

Post-interview offer rate

What makes each distinctive

Which is right for you?

Common questions

What UCAT score do I need for Manchester vs Queen Mary (QMUL)?

How do interviews differ between Manchester and Queen Mary (QMUL)?

What A-Level grades do Manchester and Queen Mary (QMUL) require?

How are GCSEs weighted at Manchester vs Queen Mary (QMUL)?

How does each school actually shortlist applicants?

Which has a higher post-interview offer rate, Manchester or Queen Mary (QMUL)?

Where are Manchester and Queen Mary (QMUL) located, and how does that affect cost?

When does each school release decisions?

What curriculum style do Manchester and Queen Mary (QMUL) use?

Should I apply to both Manchester and Queen Mary (QMUL)?

Where to go next

Other dental school comparisons