Dentistry
Discover your potential and take your education further by joining our innovative school with a family-feel.
Transforming the future of dental care
The School of Dentistry is located in the University Dental Hospital on Cardiff University’s Heath Park campus, a 53-acre site shared with the University Hospital of Wales.
We’re united by one goal – to improve the future of dental care across Wales, the UK and beyond.
Thanks to our strong links with the NHS, you’ll be immersed in real-world clinical experiences where you’ll put your skills to the test in a supportive, safe environment. And it’s not just about becoming a dental professional. You can shape the future of oral health through research too.
Join our collection of brilliant minds all working to make the world a better place, from preventing tooth decay in children and making dentistry more patient friendly to - believe it or not - reducing violent crime on the streets of Cardiff and changing attitudes towards alcohol.
We are lucky in Cardiff; the University Hospital of Wales is home to its own dental hospital which offers a variety of bespoke treatment options and specialities that you can’t find in many other areas in Wales. It means that you get exposed to so many more things than you might elsewhere. It is so rewarding to see the real difference we can make to patients and their families.
Why study with us
£2.2 million clinical simulation suite
Our £2.2 million state-of-the-art simulation suite will prepare you perfectly for delivery of dental care to patients in modern clinics.
Early clinical exposure
You'll be taught in the University Dental Hospital, where you'll gain valuable clinical exposure working in a range of scenarios with experienced and supportive staff.
Firm choice
As part of our offer to you, if you choose us as your firm university choice we promise to save your place for the following year’s entry if you miss your offer grades to allow you to resit your exams.
Fully funded places available
A full NHS bursary, including tuition fees and non-repayable bursary for living costs, is available for BSc Dental Therapy and Hygiene students and DipHE Dental Hygiene students.
Top 4 in the UK
for Dentistry (The Complete University Guide 2025)
Top 50 in the world
for Dentistry (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024)
Courses
Entry year
Studying dentistry
Our students discuss what it's like studying dentistry at the only dental School in Wales. At the end of this five-year programme, you will have the knowledge, skills and behaviours needed to register with the General Dental Council (GDC). This will allow you to complete your Dental Foundation Training (DFT) year, and join the professional world of dentistry.
Studying dental therapy and dental hygiene
Our students discuss what it's like studying dental therapy and dental hygiene here at Cardiff University. Our Dental Therapy and Dental Hygiene course will enable you to qualify to practise as a hygienist or a therapist as it is recognised by the General Dental Council.
Universal Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT)
If you're thinking of applying to study dentistry, this short video offers official advice about how best to go about preparing to sit the UCAT, an admissions test used in the selection process by UK medical and dental schools. It shows the tools available to help you prepare and suggests a rough timeline for you. You can refer to key dates for UCAT.
Facility and location
Heath Park Library
Located in Cochrane BuildingA 24 hour library and study space available to all students located on Heath Park Campus.
Brian Cooke Library
Located in The School of DentistryThe Brian Cooke Library is located in the School of Dentistry and provides a study space and reading material for dentistry students.
The School of Dentistry
The School of Dentistry is situated in the same building as the University Dental Hospital and is where most of your learning will take place.
IV Lounge
Located in Heath Park CampusLocated at The University Hospital of Wales, the IV lounge is a space for all students to catch up on work and unwind.
Learning beyond the classroom
Studying at Cardiff is so much more than lecture theatres and textbooks.
You’ll safely practice your clinical skills in our dental simulation suite, on mannequins that are fondly known as ‘phantom heads’, before getting stuck into real clinical scenarios with a range of patients thanks to our strong links with the NHS.
You’ll also embark on clinical placements in Wales, where you’ll be surrounded by an experienced team of clinicians, supporting you to become the best dental professional you can be.
These practical, real-world experiences will make sure you’re fully prepared for life as a dental professional, and have the clinical skills and confidence to excel in whatever career route you choose.
Cardiff University has fantastic Phantom Head facilities which you begin using in year 2 all the way through to year 4 and there are always drop-in sessions available if you wish to expand your clinical skills. A unique thing about my programme is that in year 1 you are able to access the anatomy centre which means you get the opportunity to learn anatomy on cadavers rather than from a textbook which not many other dental schools can offer.
Your career
Once you have qualified as a dental professional, there are a number of different career options open to you. On qualification, you are able to register with the General Dental Council and work in various areas of the dental sector to include general dental practice, community dental clinics, general hospitals and dental schools.
There are also opportunities in the armed forces and a variety of masters level programmes if you are interested in postgraduate study.
Discover more
The thing that sets Cardiff apart is that rare combination of excellent facilities with knowledgeable and amicable staff. There’s a real family feel, which helps to give us students an unparalleled learning experience, which in turn allows us all to enjoy what we do.
Explore Cardiff University
Next steps
View our dentistry courses
Explore our courses
Download our brochure
Explore our dentistry undergraduate programmes for 2020/2021 entry.
Contact us
Ask a question via our enquiry form and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
How to apply
Everything you need to know about applying to study with us.
HESA data: Copyright Higher Education Statistics Agency Limited 2020. The Higher Education Statistics Agency Limited cannot accept responsibility for any inferences or conclusions derived by third parties from its data. Data is from the latest Graduate Outcomes Survey 2017/18, published by HESA in June 2020.
Undergraduate
Join a community of open-minded thinkers and doers, where everyone is empowered to reach their full potential. Together, we’ll work hard to build a better future—for you and the wider world.
Undergraduate prospectus 2025
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Contact us
Get in touch if you have a question about studying with us.