Why study this program?
A Doctor of Dental Surgery degree will give you the education and expertise required to practice Dentistry in Canada. Dentistry is a challenging and rewarding profession within the health care field, offering a balanced lifestyle and the opportunity to have a true impact on patients’ quality of life.
Why study Dentistry at the University of Alberta?
The School of Dentistry at the University of Alberta offers a fully accredited program, with state-of-the-art facilities including a full-service dental clinic. We also value giving back and community involvement: our dentistry students become community partners early in their learning by volunteering with non-profit organizations, going on Global Missions, working with children and seniors, and providing services to the public.
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"I can't say enough about what coming to the U of A has done for me. Not only am I learning the skills I need to succeed in my career, but I’m having the time of my life. Even when my studies are done here, I'll always rep that green and gold."– Shahed, from Calgary, is a fourth-year Dentistry student in the Doctor of Dental Surgery program.
Non-Direct Entry
This program does not allow admission directly from high school. See requirements below for more details.
Alberta Grade 12 Preparation: It is recommended that students have the following Grade 12 subjects in order to complete the prerequisites: English Language Arts 30-1, Biology 30, Chemistry 30 and Mathematics 30-1 or 30-2.
Preprofessional Study Time: 2 years
At least 2 years of transferable, postsecondary, full-time study required (60 units, of which 30 units must be taken full-time in two Fall/Winter)
The minimum course-load requirement is 2 academic years of Fall/Winter semesters with a course-load of 30 units each year.
The pre-professional course requirements are:
- General Chemistry (3 units)
- Organic Chemistry (3 units)
- Cell Biology (3 units)
- Microbiology (3 units)
- English (6 units)
- Statistics (3 units)
- Introductory Biochemistry (3 units)
- Human Physiology(6 units)(Physiology 210 or equivalent required)
Additional Requirements:
- Dental Aptitude Test (DAT) written within the last 5 years (at latest, autumn prior to admission).
- Personal Experiences form
- Situational Judgment (Casper) test results
- Personal Interview
- Personal Statement
- Spoken English language proficiency
- Police Information Check (PIC)
- Medical Testing and Immunization
- A Proof of Residency Status may be required.
Admission Selection: Competitive. Applicant profiles are made up of the following:
- Overall GPA achieved on all transferable postsecondary work completed as a full-time student taken during Fall/Winter or Spring Summer Terms. For overall GPA calculation, full-time study is equivalent to a minimum of 18 units of course weight taken during Fall/Winter Terms or 12 units of course weight taken during Spring/Summer Terms.
- Dental Aptitude Test (DAT) scores - Survey of Natural Sciences (SNS), Perceptual Ability Test (PAT), and Reading Comprehension Test (RCT)
- Casper results
- Personal Experiences
- Interview score
- Personal Statement
- Additional assessments as determined by the Admissions Committee
A minimum GPA of 3.3 is required for admission. Students with a GPA of less than 3.3 will not be considered for admission. As well, a minimum of 15 out of 30 score is required in the DAT natural sciences, perceptual ability, and reading comprehension categories.
For more information on the admission requirements for the Doctor of Dental Surgery program, see Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS).
Because the U of A wants you to succeed, our admissions policy ensures that all students, regardless of citizenship, have the language skills they need to understand, participate and learn in our classes. The primary language of instruction in our classes, with the exception of those at the Faculté Saint-Jean, is English. For more information on the English Language Proficiency policy refer to the U of A Calendar. Information on writing ELP examinations is also available.
At the U of A, we are committed to encouraging Indigenous Students in their work towards a degree. Indigenous students have been under-represented in higher education in Canada, thus our policy is aimed at increasing opportunity, with the goal of our Aboriginal student population being representative of the public we serve. For more information on Admission of Indigenous Students refer to the U of A Calendar.
Deadline
Fall application
Domestic: November 1, 2024
International: November 1, 2024
For a complete listing of application and document deadlines refer to the University Calendar.
View costs for:
The Office of the Registrar administers over $52 million each year in scholarships, awards, and financial support for undergraduate students, as well as financial and loan advising. Additional scholarships are also available for specific faculties and programs.
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