Application

• What is a competitive GPA?

  • A GPA of 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale is considered competitive, with the exception of Trinity College Dublin and University College Cork, which requires a GPA of 3.3 or above on a 4.0 scale.

    The admissions committees will take into consideration the degree of difficulty involved in the undergraduate degree or high school curriculum, the competitiveness of the school, the course load carried by the student, how the student performed academically, etc.

    Canadian students may find the OMSAS conversion table useful in calculating their GPA.

• Are interviews required by the Irish Dental Schools?

  • University College Cork and Queen’s University Belfast conduct online interviews as part of their selection process. The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland conducts in-person interviews in Canada as part of their selection process. Interviews are not required for those applying to Trinity College Dublin.

• How many North American students are admitted each year?

  • Up to 45 North American students are admitted annually.

• How long is the dental degree course?

  • Five-year programs are offered at University College Cork, Trinity College Dublin, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, and Queens University Belfast.

• What degrees are awarded by the Irish Dental Schools?

  • Successful completion of the dentistry degree courses leads to a Bachelor in Dental Science (B.Dent.Sc.) at Trinity College Dublin and a Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) at University College Cork. Trinity College Dublin awards a Bachelor in Arts (B.A.) in addition to the B.Dent.Sc., at the end of the five years. The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland awards the degree of Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS). Queen’s University awards the degree of Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS).

• What are the tuition fees?

  • The following is a guideline for Annual Tuition Fees for the 2025/26 academic year.

    1. Trinity College Dublin – €55,000 
    2. University College Cork – €49,900
    3. Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland – €61,135
    4. Queen’s University Belfast – £40,600 UK Pounds

    The above fees should be treated as a guideline only and are not official. Tuition fees are subject to annual review.

• Are there any exceptional costs involved with the dentistry course?

  • Yes. Students will be required to purchase books at an approximate cost of €300 (£250 UK Pounds if attending Queens University) per year. Students attending the Royal College of Surgeons, Trinity College Dublin and University College Cork are required to purchase a set of dental instruments. The estimated cost of instruments is €4,000.

• Can I practice in Canada upon graduation?
  • 1. Students who graduate from University College Cork (UCC) or Trinity College Dublin (TCD) can practice in Canada per the Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) as outlined on our Dentistry Program page.
    2. Queen’s University Belfast is not a participant in the reciprocity agreement between the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada (CDAC) and the Dental Council of Ireland. Therefore students graduating from this campus will require additional schooling/examinations to practice in Canada. Please see our Canadian/US Licensing page for more information.
    3. Please contact Atlantic Bridge for further information about the accreditation process with regards to the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.
• What should happen if the mutual recognition agreement ceases to be renewed Or is terminated?

  • Under the terms of the Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA), any student who is enrolled in an accredited program at the time of the MRA being terminated, and proceeds to successfully complete said program, shall be considered to have graduated from an accredited program and shall subsequently benefit from the provisions of the MRA.