History of the College
The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland School of Dentistry in its inaugural year starting Fall 2025, will equip students to deliver excellence in dental care for patients in the community, improving their oral and general health. This innovative five or six year Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) programme will ensure RCSI graduates are clinically competent, and aware of their professional responsibilities and their role in the wider healthcare system.
RCSI has a strong heritage in dental education and training, running an undergraduate dental school for close to 100 years and granting a License in Dental Surgery. Theodore Stack, the first Professor of Dentistry in either England or Ireland was appointed at RCSI in 1884.
Good dental healthcare provision is essential to both dental health and general health. Ireland and many countries face an acute shortage of dentists. RCSI will explore the potential to offer a Degree in Dental Surgery, which would educate and train students in a bespoke, primary care, patient-oriented setting to deliver the best training and improvements in oral health. Through a community-based approach to dental education, our graduates will be ready to work in the primary care environment where they will practice.
RCSI Dentistry Prospectus
Entry Requirements
RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences uses the Casper Situational Judgement Test (SJT) as part of the admissions process for students applying for entry to the Medicine and Dentistry program. Applicants who have or will have completed their degree by summer 2027 are NOT required to complete Casper. Applicants applying to both Medicine and Dentistry are only required to complete the Casper test once, as the results will be used for both applications. A fee of $85 USD is required to register for the exam. Information on how to register for the test will be provided after you submit your application.
Applicants who pass RCSI’s initial evaluation will be invited to an in-person interview. Atlantic Bridge will provide specific guidance on your eligibility based on the information you submit on your Application Request Form.
Candidates are strongly advised to present some dental practical/shadowing experience on their CV/Resume and preferably a Letter of Recommendation from a practicing dentist.
More information about Entry Requirements can be found on the RCSI Dentistry page.
Undergraduate Degree
Applicants who hold (or expect to hold by September of the year of entry) an undergraduate degree with a significant science component, including courses in Chemistry and Biology are eligible to apply to the 5-year dentistry program. Applicants must meet the minimum undergraduate cGPA of 3.0 (for Canadian applicants, please see the OMSAS conversion table for GPA calculation). More information about Entry Requirements can be found on the RCSI Dentistry page.
One or More Years of University
Applicants currently attending University who will have completed a minimum of 1 year of study in a science degree are eligible to apply to the Dentistry program. Candidates must have completed university-level Biology and Chemistry courses with competitive grades. Eligibility for either the 5-year or 6-year program will be determined by the Admissions Committee.
Six Year track with IB diploma
Applicants must present a minimum score of 38 IB Diploma points (inclusive of bonus points).
The IB Diploma must comprise a minimum of six subjects* (three subjects at Higher Level and three subjects at Standard Level), which must include English, Mathematics** and at least one Higher Level laboratory science subject (Chemistry, Biology or Physics).
*All IB Diploma subject examinations must be taken within two consecutive academic years (i.e. school years 11 and 12). Any repeat examinations taken outside of these two years will not be considered.
**Both Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches and Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation are acceptable for application to RCSI.
Five Year track with IB diploma
Applicants must present a minimum score of 38 IB Diploma points (inclusive of bonus points).
The IB Diploma must comprise a minimum of six subjects* (three subjects at Higher Level and three subjects at Standard Level), which must include Chemistry at Higher Level (with a minimum score of 5) and another laboratory science subject (Biology or Physics) or Mathematics** at Higher Level. If Mathematics is presented with Chemistry at Higher Level, another laboratory science subject (Biology or Physics) must also be presented at Standard Level.
*All IB Diploma subject examinations must be taken within two consecutive academic years (i.e. school years 11 and 12). Any repeat examinations taken outside of these two years will not be considered.
**Both Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches and Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation are acceptable for application to RCSI.
Six Year Track with a High School Diploma (NEW!)
Canadian High School Diploma: Applicants must present a minimum average score of 85% in their top five Grade 12 academic subjects, which must include minimum scores of 80% in (a) Biology, (b) Chemistry and (c) one of Physics, Mathematics or Calculus.
US High School Diploma: Applicants must present a cGPA of 3.5, including minimum GPA of 3.0 in (a) Biology, (b) Chemistry and (c) one of Physics, Mathematics or Calculus.
SAT/ACT requirement: Please note that students who are applying to RCSI via Atlantic Bridge (who are resident in the United States of America in the year of application) and are applying directly from high school are required to submit either an ACT or SAT score. Applicants must present either a minimum ACT score of 25, or a minimum SAT score of 1,200.
Why study Dentistry at RCSI?
> Small group teaching: Our approach to small group teaching supports curriculum delivery, and enables you to get to know your lecturers and receive regular feedback in a supportive learning environment.
> Early patient contact: Early patient contact is one of the standout characteristics of the programme. Students experience contact with patients from Year 1 on allowing for the early development of clinical and communication skills under close supervision.
> State-of-the-art facilities: RCSI’s Simulated Dental Learning Environment (SDLE) enables students to develop and consolidate their clinical skills in a safe, low-risk environment before going on to treat actual patients.
> Community focus: Students engage closely with local communities throughout the course which develops professionalism and social accountability skills and gives a deep understanding of the needs and demands of different groups in the population.
> Multidisciplinary environment: Study alongside your future colleagues in Medicine, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy and Advanced Therapeutic Technologies, ensuring that the multidisciplinary nature of patient care is reflected in your education at RCSI.
> Career readiness: Students develop transferable skills for lifelong learning and a career in dentistry, and you will also receive intensive support in choosing your own future career path.
About the Program
The five-year full-time programme will be underpinned by a curriculum built on the award-winning Peninsula Dental School programme at the University of Plymouth.
It uses a blend of teaching and learning methods, combining clinical skills training with the acquisition of knowledge, skills and professional attributes. Students will experience contact with patients from their first year, giving them the chance to develop their clinical and communication skills at the earliest opportunities.
The first two years will lay down the scientific and technical foundations upon which the later, more clinically intensive years of the course are built. Across Years 2 to 5, students will gain extensive experience of a wide range of oral and general dental conditions, with continued reference to the scientific base underpinning dental practice.
Learn more about the program on RCSI’s website!
**Please click HERE for detailed information about the accreditation process with regards to RCSI.
