The University of Queensland

Bachelor of Dental Science (Honours)

Undergraduate
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Details

University Location Brisbane, Queensland
City Population 2.5 million
Student Population 55,441
Int'l Student Population 21,574
Main Campus St. Lucia
Program Campus Herston
Program Duration 5 years
Estimated Annual Tuition AUD$87,824 (2025 fees; subject to increase)
Semester Intake February
Next Available Intake 2026
Application Deadline September 25, 2025*
International Places 40 (40 total)
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Overview

The University of Queensland School of Dentistry is recognized nationally and internationally for providing leading-edge dental education and for its contributions to dental research, which have been independently rated as “above world class.”

According to the 2025 QS World University Rankings by Subject (Dentistry), the University of Queensland is ranked at #2 in Australia and at #36 in the world.

The school is within the UQ Oral Health Centre (UQOHC), located on the UQ Herston campus in Brisbane, alongside the UQ Centre for Clinical Research (UQCCR) and Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital.

The UQ Oral Health Centre is Australia’s largest and most advanced tertiary oral health facility, combining research, education, training, and specialist expertise in patient care. Teaching facilities include clinical simulation areas, preclinical laboratories, lecture/seminar rooms, and research laboratories.

The OHC is a $134-million facility that houses

  • dental services for public and private patients;
  • university dental teaching facilities;
  • research facilities; and
  • Queensland Health oral health services for hospital and special-needs patients.

Here’s a “Day in the Life” of former OzTREKK student (and now UQ Bachelor of Dental Science Honours graduate) Sean Choi!

Program

The UQ Bachelor of Dental Science (Honours) educates the next generation of dental professionals at the UQ Oral Health Centre—the most advanced tertiary oral health facility in Australia.

As a first-year UQ dental student, you will be introduced to dental practice and oral rehabilitation and undertake courses in oral biosciences and biomedical foundations in oral health. The remaining 4 years of the program consist of 3 years of applied dental science and 1 year of extramural clinical practice.

A key part of the teaching at the Oral Health Centre is simulated learning. Your education is aided by 2 preclinical teaching facilities with a combined seating capacity of 161. The simulation facilities are designed to mimic patient care and to provide you with the knowledge and skills across the various disciplines, which will enable you to practice treatments and tooth preparation techniques prior to treating patients during your clinical placement.

You’ll begin your learning journey in the preclinic laboratory from the start of your first year, and from the third year of the program, you’ll continue to link clinical placement with the simulation space. It is in this space that you’ll develop the fine motor skills, and hand-foot and eye coordination, and you’ll establish competency in your work before performing the treatments in the clinic.

Practical training in this space extends across restorative dentistry, orthodontics, endodontics, prosthodontics, oral surgery and pediatric dentistry. Some examples of the wide variety of simulated activities students perform to ensure competency are administering local anesthetic, suturing, denture design, crown preparation and temporary crown fabrication, root canal treatments, and extractions.

Each workstation is equipped with

  • a manikin head with moveable jaw
  • dental suction
  • handpieces
  • water

The space also includes surgical microscopes, intra-oral x-rays, intraoral scanning and CAD-CAM equipment, and a plaster lab. The teaching activities within the pre-clinic space are supported by an extensive dental technical lab that allows technical staff to prepare teaching activities with the assistance of a variety of equipment including 3D printers.

Clinical placements
Clinical work begins in second year and is broadened in the third and fourth years of study. You’ll be assigned patients and will be responsible for their dental care. Clinical work in areas such as general dental practice, operative dentistry, orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, periodontics and prosthodontics is undertaken at the UQ School of Dentistry.

You’ll undertake supervised clinical practice in a range of clinical settings including the Oral Health Centre as well as Queensland government and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Service clinics. During your placements, you’ll have the opportunity to apply your theoretical knowledge acquired through coursework to practice and develop your clinical skills in real life setting. You’ll begin treating patients from Year 2 of the program. During the final year, you’ll undertake a 39-week placement at various dental clinics throughout Queensland.

Admission Requirements

From high school

1. Completed high school diploma
Must have a high school diploma with completed prerequisite subjects: Grade 12 English and chemistry (biology is also recommended) and have attained an average of 90%.

AB – UQ will assess Alberta students based on their top 5 Grade 12 subjects.
BC – UQ will assess BC students on their Language Arts 12 provincially examined subject plus best 3 Grade 12 subjects with 4 credit points.
ON – UQ will assess Ontario students based on their top 6 Grade 12 subjects.

2. UCAT ANZ
You must complete the UCAT ANZ to apply to the UQ BDS program. For information about how to register, visit the booking page on the UCAT website.

 

From university

1. Completed bachelor’s degree
Must have completed at least one year of full-time studies toward an undergraduate degree; completed prerequisite subjects including Grade 12 English and chemistry, or an equivalent or higher-level course at a university level; and have achieved a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.7/4.0 in university studies.

2. UCAT ANZ
You must complete the UCAT ANZ to apply to the UQ BDS program. For information about how to register, visit the booking page on the UCAT website.

Admission Timeline

*Applications for the 2026 intake close September 25, 2025. You are strongly encouraged to apply as early as possible. Only complete applications meeting the minimum entry requirements will be considered for an offer.

Student Reviews

What do OzTREKK students think about studying Dentistry at The University of Queensland? Read on!

1/8

“I love the small class sizes”

Like: services provided, staff, welcoming environment. Nothing to dislike. I love the small class sizes, the course load is manageable and the professors and instructors are always helpful. You'll feel super welcomed and right at home with other Canadians :)

I love the small class sizes

Like: services provided, staff, welcoming environment. Nothing to dislike. I love the small class sizes, the course load is manageable and the professors and instructors are always helpful. You’ll feel super welcomed and right at home with other Canadians 🙂

Anonymous
The University of Queensland, 2023
Anonymous
The University of Queensland, 2023

“…possibly the best dental school campus and learning environment in the world”

Gives hands on experience right away, possibly the best dental school campus and learning environment in the world. Area is very beautiful and older students always willing to assist you, and so many Canadians here. Love the hands on experience, coordinators are very nice and helpful, program gets right into the meat of dentistry very early.

…possibly the best dental school campus and learning environment in the world

Gives hands on experience right away, possibly the best dental school campus and learning environment in the world. Area is very beautiful and older students always willing to assist you, and so many Canadians here. Love the hands on experience, coordinators are very nice and helpful, program gets right into the meat of dentistry very early.

Jacob T
Bachelor of Dental Science (Honours)
The University of Queensland, 2023
Jacob T
Bachelor of Dental Science (Honours)
The University of Queensland, 2023

“I love the faculty and how helpful they are.”

I love the faculty and how helpful they are. I dislike that there is a separate campus for dentistry students. I like that I get to do hands on learning in the first year of my program. I dislike that I have to take Bio and Chem in first year and not just dentistry courses. Talk to a lot of people in first year including upper years because it will all help you in the future.

I love the faculty and how helpful they are.

I love the faculty and how helpful they are. I dislike that there is a separate campus for dentistry students. I like that I get to do hands on learning in the first year of my program. I dislike that I have to take Bio and Chem in first year and not just dentistry courses. Talk to a lot of people in first year including upper years because it will all help you in the future.

Chahat S
Bachelor of Dental Science (Honours)
The University of Queensland, 2023
Chahat S
Bachelor of Dental Science (Honours)
The University of Queensland, 2023

“…the program gets you clinically prepared as soon as first year”

UQ facilities are very advanced especially when it comes to dentistry, and the program gets you clinically prepared as soon as first year. However, some theory-based courses are a bit annoying due to their lack of relevance to my degree. I like the types of procedures we are actually able to do compared to other dentistry programs in first year. Australia is a lot more similar to North America than you think, so don't expect to be too far out of your comfort zone.  

…the program gets you clinically prepared as soon as first year

UQ facilities are very advanced especially when it comes to dentistry, and the program gets you clinically prepared as soon as first year. However, some theory-based courses are a bit annoying due to their lack of relevance to my degree. I like the types of procedures we are actually able to do compared to other dentistry programs in first year. Australia is a lot more similar to North America than you think, so don’t expect to be too far out of your comfort zone.

 

Sid M
Bachelor of Dental Science (Honours)
The University of Queensland, 2023
Sid M
Bachelor of Dental Science (Honours)
The University of Queensland, 2023

“The supervisors and teachers are great”

Great facilities on campus and there are many clubs and events going on. I like that there are two campuses, one for just dental students so there's never a huge rush there. The supervisors and teachers are great and the class size is good with many students. I would however like for after-hour clinic sessions like in Canadian and American dental schools. Practice wax carving.

The supervisors and teachers are great

Great facilities on campus and there are many clubs and events going on. I like that there are two campuses, one for just dental students so there’s never a huge rush there. The supervisors and teachers are great and the class size is good with many students. I would however like for after-hour clinic sessions like in Canadian and American dental schools. Practice wax carving.

Sahej K
Bachelor of Dental Science (Honours)
The University of Queensland, 2023
Sahej K
Bachelor of Dental Science (Honours)
The University of Queensland, 2023

“I like the vibe of the campus”

I like the vibe of the campus and the focus in our university programs. I like the class sizes and materials, but I dislike the organization of the class as it seems my previous university in Canada was much more organized.

I like the vibe of the campus

I like the vibe of the campus and the focus in our university programs. I like the class sizes and materials, but I dislike the organization of the class as it seems my previous university in Canada was much more organized.

Kyrollos G
Bachelor of Dental Science (Honours)
The University of Queensland, 2023
Kyrollos G
Bachelor of Dental Science (Honours)
The University of Queensland, 2023

“UQ has a really nice facilities”

UQ has really nice facilities with lots of great, caring professors.

UQ has a really nice facilities

UQ has really nice facilities with lots of great, caring professors.

Ting-Yu L
Bachelor of Dental Science (Honours)
The University of Queensland, 2022
Ting-Yu L
Bachelor of Dental Science (Honours)
The University of Queensland, 2022

“We have amazing, top-class facilities with instructors who are always available to help.”

Studying dentistry at UQ has been such a rewarding experience. I have the pleasure of studying with classmates coming from so many diverse backgrounds. Because of strong emphasis on hands-on clinical activities here at UQ, we have learned to work as a team, with each of us precisely aware of our role, whether that may be assisting, operating, or being a patient. We have amazing, top-class facilities with instructors who are always available to help.... I look forward to spending the next 4–5 years with my amazing cohort.

We have amazing, top-class facilities with instructors who are always available to help.

Studying dentistry at UQ has been such a rewarding experience. I have the pleasure of studying with classmates coming from so many diverse backgrounds. Because of strong emphasis on hands-on clinical activities here at UQ, we have learned to work as a team, with each of us precisely aware of our role, whether that may be assisting, operating, or being a patient. We have amazing, top-class facilities with instructors who are always available to help…. I look forward to spending the next 4–5 years with my amazing cohort.

Sean C.
Bachelor of Dental Science Honours
The University of Queensland, 2018
Sean C.
Bachelor of Dental Science Honours
The University of Queensland, 2018