How Do You Pay for Dental School?

10 April 2026

How do you pay for dental school?

It’s a question we get asked a lot. Of course, this typically isn’t a subject everyone wants to talk about—but most applicants want to know the answers!

university of melbourne dentistry student
Melbourne DDS graduate Alannah

Wanting to study dentistry in Australia or New Zealand is one thing, but how do you actually pay for it?

Funding a career in dentistry is expensive, but lots of North American students find a way to do it.

Meet Alannah, a former OzTREKK student and University of Melbourne Doctor of Dental Surgery graduate. Here, she chats about her experiences and breaks down how you can make it happen. There are many factors to consider when you’re thinking about studying abroad: tuition, living arrangements, utilities, groceries and entertainment—just to name a few.

Alannah details her expenses into three categories: tuition, living expenses, and entertainment for the duration of her four-year degree.

She discusses how she was able to apply for provincial loans and offers financial tips and tricks to consider before deciding if Australia is right for you.

Updated October 20, 2022.

Dental Schools in Australia and New Zealand

OzTREKK represents dental schools in Australia and in New Zealand, and each offers forward-thinking teaching and research, incredible practical placements and simulation clinics, and state-of-the-art facilities.

Graduate Pathway
If you’ve completed an undergraduate degree and have written the Canadian Dental Aptitude Test or American Dental Admissions Test (DAT), you are eligible to apply to graduate-entry dental degrees (Otago’s graduate-entry Bachelor of Dental Surgery does not require the DAT). These programs are 4 years in length.

Undergraduate Pathway
Students are eligible to apply for undergraduate-entry degrees straight from high school, with a partially finished undergraduate degree, or with a completed undergraduate degree! These programs do not require a DAT and are 5 years in length.

Get the admissions requirements for each dental program!

Start your application to Australia & New Zealand dental schools!

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Would you like more information about studying dentistry in Australia or New Zealand? Contact OzTREKK’s Dentistry Admissions Team at dentistry@oztrekk.com to learn more!

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