How are GCSEs weighted at Plymouth vs UCLan (Graduate Dentistry)?

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 UCLan (Graduate Dentistry) — GCSE English Language and Mathematics at grade 6/B or above.

Where are Plymouth and UCLan (Graduate Dentistry) located, and how does that affect cost?

Plymouth is in Plymouth, UK. UCLan (Graduate Dentistry) is in Preston, 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?

Plymouth typically releases dentistry decisions Spring. UCLan (Graduate Dentistry) 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

Plymouth vs UCLan (Graduate Dentistry)

Plymouth and UCLan (Graduate Dentistry) are both UK dental schools, but the path to an offer at each is meaningfully different. Both sit in England, so location and clinical-placement breadth are similar — the differentiation comes from selection methodology, interview style and curriculum philosophy.

Their UCAT thresholds are remarkably close (within ~2 points), so the deciding factors are GCSE weighting, interview format and personal-statement use. Their A-Level requirements (A*AA vs CCC) place them in slightly different academic-strictness tiers. UCLan (Graduate Dentistry) is the older institution (founded 1828); 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: Plymouth and UCLan (Graduate Dentistry).
Comparison field	PlymouthPlymouth	UCLan (Graduate Dentistry)Preston
Quick comparison
Location	Plymouth, UK	Preston, 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	CCC at A-level minimum (in addition to degree) including 2 of Biology / Physics / Chemistry / Mathematics
TrueScore	Plymouth TrueScore 1990	UCLan (Graduate Dentistry) TrueScore 1810
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.	Lowest UCAT score for 2025 entry: ~1810+ /2700
Interview format	Five-station MMI (online), ~55 minutes	MMI for both UK and international applicants
Post-interview chance	Home: 132/499 = 26% (2025). Overseas: 8/28 = 29%. Home Foundation Year: 17/104 = 16%.	38/120 = 32% (2025).
Decision date	Spring	Spring

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	CCC at A-level minimum (in addition to degree) including 2 of Biology / Physics / Chemistry / Mathematics
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	Biology required at grade A, plus a second science from Chemistry / Physics / Mathematics / Psychology at grade A	At least 2 of Biology / Physics / Chemistry / Mathematics
A-Level resit policy	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.	Not applicable to graduate entry.
GCSE requirements	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 English Language and Mathematics at grade 6/B or above
GCSE scoring methodology	Used as minimum threshold only — Plymouth does not consider personal statements or work experience when selecting for interview	-
Scottish Highers	Scottish Highers NOT accepted — Plymouth Dental School requires Advanced Highers only	-
Scottish Advanced Highers	AAA at Advanced Higher including grade A in Biology and grade A in one further science from Chemistry / Physics / Mathematics / Psychology	-
International Baccalaureate	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	2:1 (Upper-second-class Honours) or above in a Biomedical discipline. UK and international applicants accepted — only one offer per cycle goes to an international applicant.
Alternative qualifications	-	Personal statements no longer used in selection. UCAT + degree class + MMI drive the ranking.

Contextual cut-off	-	-
Scottish (where applicable)	-	-
Rest of UK (where applicable)	-	-
International cut-off	-	~1810+ /2700 (same as home threshold; only 1 international offer per year)
Graduate cut-off	-	-
SJT band	No use of SJT in selection	Not specified - selection is UCAT + academic + interview
UCAT notes	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;…	Personal statements no longer used. Slight variation in stats across sources (32 vs 38 offers).

Degree awarded	BDS	BDS
Course length	5 years	4 years (graduate entry, direct into 2nd BDS)
Teaching style	Integrated	Integrated
Anatomy teaching	-	-
First patient contact	Year 1	-
Placement geography	Devon and Cornwall	Lancashire and Cumbria
Named placement sites	Portland Square (Plymouth main campus), Devonport Dental Education Facility, Derriford (Plymouth), Exeter Dental Education Facility, Truro Dental Education Facility	Blackpool Dental Education Centre, Morecambe Dental Education Centre, Accrington Dental Education Centre, Carlisle Dental Education Centre
Intercalation	Selected students may intercalate between year 3 and year 4, taking a one-year MSc in the Plymouth research laboratories.	-
Course highlight	Won a Times Higher Education Award in 2023 for contribution to the community.	The course recruits 29 students a year.

Interview window	February – April	Spring
Interview details	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…	MMI for both UK and international applicants. About 32-38 offers from 120 interviews (around 30%). Personal statements no longer used in selection; performance is driven by UCAT and interview.

Specialities	Dentistry (BDS)	Graduate Entry Dentistry (BDS)
Established	2007	1828
Course type	Undergraduate	Graduate Entry
What makes it different	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.	Both UK and international applicants accepted - only one offer made each year to an international applicant. 2025: 353 applicants, 120 interviews, 38 offers (32%). Personal statements no longer used.
Official course page	https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/bds-dental-surgery	https://www.lancashire.ac.uk/

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

UCLan (Graduate Dentistry)

Preston

Quick comparison

Location: Preston, UK
A-Level offer: CCC at A-level minimum (in addition to degree) including 2 of Biology / Physics / Chemistry / Mathematics
TrueScore: UCLan (Graduate Dentistry) TrueScore 1810
UCAT home cut-off: Lowest UCAT score for 2025 entry: ~1810+ /2700
Interview format: MMI for both UK and international applicants
Post-interview chance: 38/120 = 32% (2025).
Decision date: Spring

Plymouth vs UCLan (Graduate Dentistry) - in detail

UCAT thresholds compared

Plymouth's published UCAT threshold for home applicants is around 2023, while UCLan (Graduate Dentistry) sits at approximately 2025.

Their UCAT bars are statistically indistinguishable (within 2 points), so the UCAT is unlikely to be your differentiator between them.

A-Level and academic profile

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.

UCLan (Graduate Dentistry) requires CCC at A-level minimum (in addition to degree) including 2 of Biology / Physics / Chemistry / Mathematics.

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

GCSE profile matters at both schools — 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… UCLan (Graduate Dentistry): GCSE English Language and Mathematics at grade 6/B or above.

Interview formats

Both Plymouth and UCLan (Graduate Dentistry) 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: Plymouth runs five-station mmi (online), ~55 minutes; UCLan (Graduate Dentistry) runs mmi for both uk and international applicants. Mock practice tailored to each school's exact format is the highest-leverage prep.

Interview windows: Plymouth interviews in February – April; UCLan (Graduate Dentistry) in Spring.

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 with PBL. Plymouth Peninsula Dental School - clinical placements across South-West community sites. Four-year accelerated graduate-entry BDS. Preston-based with clinical placements across Lancashire NHS sites.

Intake size: Plymouth — ~75 home places per year for BDS Dentistry (smaller cohort, regional focus).; UCLan (Graduate Dentistry) — ~30-50 places per year (small graduate-entry cohort).. A larger cohort means more peer breadth; a smaller cohort means more tutor contact.

Post-interview offer rate

Plymouth: Home: 132/499 = 26% (2025). Overseas: 8/28 = 29%. Home Foundation Year: 17/104 = 16%. UCLan (Graduate Dentistry): 38/120 = 32% (2025).

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

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.

UCLan (Graduate Dentistry): Both UK and international applicants accepted - only one offer made each year to an international applicant. 2025: 353 applicants, 120 interviews, 38 offers (32%). Personal statements no longer used.

Which is right for you?

For applicants with predicted A-Level grades at the lower end of the AAA-A*AA range, UCLan (Graduate Dentistry) is the lower-risk academic option. Both schools sit in the same England foundation-programme catchment, so post-graduation training paths overlap heavily.

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

Plymouth's typical home cut-off is around 2023, while UCLan (Graduate Dentistry) sits at approximately 2025 — a 2-point spread. The spread is small enough that other factors (GCSE weighting, interview score, contextual flags) usually dominate the firm/insurance decision. Cut-offs change year on year and vary by tier — check each school's latest published threshold before submitting your UCAS form.

Plymouth uses Multiple Mini Interviews: Five-station MMI (online), ~55 minutes. UCLan (Graduate Dentistry) uses Multiple Mini Interviews: MMI for both UK and international applicants. 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: February – April (Plymouth); Spring (UCLan (Graduate Dentistry)).

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).. UCLan (Graduate Dentistry) requires 2:1 in biomedical discipline. GCSE English and maths grade B. CCC at A-level including 2 from biology/physics/chemistry/maths.. Most successful applicants achieve these grades on first sitting with strong predicted grades from their school. Resit policies differ: Plymouth — Resits accepted.. UCLan (Graduate Dentistry) — Not applicable to graduate entry..

Plymouth's selection methodology: UCAT + academic + MMI. Strong South-West focus. UCLan (Graduate Dentistry)'s selection methodology: UCAT + degree class + interview. Strong North-West regional 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.

Plymouth: Home: 132/499 = 26% (2025). Overseas: 8/28 = 29%. Home Foundation Year: 17/104 = 16%.. UCLan (Graduate Dentistry): 38/120 = 32% (2025).. 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%.

Plymouth runs a PBL curriculum. UCLan (Graduate Dentistry) runs a PBL curriculum. Both schools deliver teaching in the same broad style, so day-to-day study habits will feel similar. Plymouth specifics: Five-year BDS with PBL. Plymouth Peninsula Dental School - clinical placements across South-West community sites. UCLan (Graduate Dentistry) specifics: Four-year accelerated graduate-entry BDS. Preston-based with clinical placements across Lancashire NHS 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

PlymouthEntry requirements, interview format and key dates in full

UCLan (Graduate Dentistry)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.