New Zealand Dental School Rankings 2027
New Zealand has a single dental school — the University of Otago BDS in Dunedin. With one national provider there is no league table to compute, so instead of ranking we profile Otago honestly against the same quality measures we use elsewhere: graduate outcomes, student satisfaction, entry standards, continuation and research quality.
Every domestic dentist trained in Aotearoa qualifies through Otago. See the full NZ dental schools guide.
What the NGMP Score measures
The NGMP Score rates a dental school out of 100 on the things that define a strong dentistry degree: graduate outcomes, student satisfaction with teaching and support, entry standards, continuation (how many students stay and complete) and research quality.
In the UK, where dozens of dental schools compete, this produces a genuine ranking. In New Zealand there is only one provider, so a comparative league table would be meaningless. Instead we apply the same quality lens to Otago BDS below, so you can weigh the programme on its merits and understand its entry route — not against rivals that do not exist here.
New Zealand’s only dental school, 2027 Entry
One dental school, scored on the same 0–100 NGMP Score we use everywhere else — Otago's standing across the QS and ShanghaiRanking (ARWU) global dentistry rankings. With a single national provider there is no league table to climb, but the score shows how Otago rates worldwide. Its full profile follows.
| # | School | Location | NGMP Score/100 | Predicted UCAT-ANZ using TrueScore |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Otago — Dentistry (BDS) | Dunedin | 82.7 | — |
NGMP Score (0–100) is the Quality Consensus of Otago's QS and ARWU global dentistry positions. TrueScore shows “—” because UCAT-ANZ was removed from BDS admissions from the 2025 intake.
University of Otago — Dentistry (BDS)
Aotearoa New Zealand's only dental school · established 1907
Year 1 via HSFY; Years 2–5 at the Faculty of Dentistry, Dunedin (no branch-campus split).
Seven prescribed papers shared with MBChB; pass all (avg ≥65%, none below 60% first attempt).
Removed from BDS admissions from the 2025 intake onwards (confirmed via OIA).
All shortlisted applicants (~350 across categories), late Sep / early Oct. Required for every category.
How selection works. You complete Health Sciences First Year at Otago's Dunedin campus — the same seven-paper prescription as the MBChB pathway. The Dental Admissions Committee may set a minimum academic threshold each year to receive an interview invitation. Unlike Otago MBChB (where HSFY and Graduate categories have no interview), every BDS category is interviewed. Final selection combines academic score and a structured Zoom interview; the published weighting formula is not disclosed.
Equity pathways. Māori and Pacific applicants are supported under the same Te Kauae Paraoa policy as MBChB and ranked within a separate sub-pool. A Rural Origins equity group applies, and government-funded rural places are allocated in BDS to support the rural oral-health workforce.
Graduate route. Applicants with a relevant NZ first degree completed within three years prior (minimum weighted GPA 5.0/9.0) can apply under the Graduate category — no UCAT, Zoom interview required. Graduates of Auckland BHSc or BSc (Biomedical Sciences) are eligible. See our graduate-entry dentistry guide.
The NGMP Score (0–100) rates graduate outcomes, student satisfaction, entry standards, continuation and research quality. With a single national provider there is no comparative ranking to display — the profile above replaces the league table used on the UK page.
Score tiers explained
In a multi-school country, dental programmes fall into the bands below by NGMP Score. Otago BDS — a long-established, research-active national school dating to 1907 — would sit in the upper bands on these measures, but with no competing provider there is no comparative position to assign in New Zealand.
Top tier
NGMP Score 75+The strongest schools — top graduate outcomes and student satisfaction, the highest entry standards, and among the most competitive to enter.
Upper tier
60–74.9Strongly rated on outcomes, satisfaction and teaching, with competitive entry standards.
Mid tier
45–59.9Solid, well-established programmes that rate respectably across every measure — realistic, high-quality choices for most applicants.
Emerging tier
Below 45Lower on current measures — often the newest schools. A blank score means the school is too new to have published outcomes data yet (not a quality judgement).
Otago BDS entry route at a glance
| Factor | University of Otago BDS |
|---|---|
| Programme length | 5 years (Year 1 HSFY + Years 2–5 BDS in Dunedin) |
| Year-1 route | Health Sciences First Year — 7 prescribed papers (shared with MBChB) |
| HSFY pass standard | Average ≥65%, no paper below 60% at first attempt |
| Admissions test | UCAT-ANZ not required (removed from 2025 intake onwards) |
| Interview | Structured Zoom videoconference, late Sep / early Oct — required for all categories |
| Selection basis | Academic score + interview combined (weighting not published) |
| Equity sub-schemes | Māori & Pacific (Te Kauae Paraoa); Rural Origins equity group |
| Applications | Open 1 July, close 13 August; outcomes advised by ~18 December |
| Regulator | Dental Council of New Zealand (DCNZ) |
Domestic intake numbers are set by Council annually and not separately published; up to 20 international places per year. Approximately 350 applicants are shortlisted for interview across all categories.
Frequently asked questions
Plan your Otago BDS application
With one national dental school, your HSFY academic score and structured Zoom interview decide everything. Get the entry route and interview format right from the start.