If you’re planning to pursue a career in dentistry, you need to be aware of the admission requirements for dental courses in Canada. Knowing the entry criteria for dental schools in Canada is important if you want to make a profession out of practising dentistry. Grades, standardised test results, essays, letters of recommendation, personal interviews, and other supplementary materials may all play a role in the admissions process, depending on the institution. You may better plan your educational path and apply to dental school with the knowledge you get from researching the prerequisites for admission. However, getting admitted into a dental school in Canada can be a challenging task, as the admission process is highly competitive and rigorous.
To help you make a well-informed choice about your future, we’ll go through the specifics of applying to dentistry school in Canada, including what each individual institution or university requires.
University of Alberta Dental School Requirements
| University Name | University of Alberta Dental School |
|---|---|
| Location | Edmonton, AB |
| Dental Doctoral Degree | DDS |
| Tuition | $37,716 |
| Class Size | 30 |
| Number of Applicants | 307 |
| No. of Qualified Applicants | 151 |
| Students Admitted | 32* |
| Enrollment Rate | 10.4% |
Table 2: Academic Admission Requirements
| Undergraduate Degree | 2 years of university education with required pre-requisite courses |
|---|---|
| Academic Average Minimum GPA | 3.5 |
| Lowest GPA of Accepted Applicants | 3.52 |
| Average GPA of Accepted Applicants | 3.80 |
Table 3: Pre-Requisite Courses
| Biology | 1 half-year course with no lab component |
|---|---|
| Microbiology | 1 half-year course with no lab component |
| Intro. Biochemistry | 1 half-year course with no lab component |
| Human Physiology | 1 full-year or 2 half-year courses with no lab component |
| Statistics | 1 half-year course with no lab component |
| English | 1 full-year or 2 half-year courses with no lab component |
| General Chemistry | 1 half-year course with no lab component |
| Organic Chemistry | 1 half-year course with no lab component |
Table 4: Non-Academic Admission Requirements
| DAT Required | Yes |
|---|---|
| American DAT Accepted | No |
| Manual Dexterity (DAT) Required | No |
| Casper Required | Yes |
| Personal Essays Required | Yes |
| Reference Letters Required | No |
| Interviews Conducted | Yes |
| Dental Aptitude Test (DAT) Minimum Score | 15 |
University of Toronto (UofT) School of Dentistry Admission Requirements
University of Toronto (UofT) School of Dentistry
Table 1: Admission Statistics
| Statistics | Numbers |
|---|---|
| Number of Applicants | 560 |
| Candidates Interviewed | 180 |
| Students Admitted | 96 |
| Enrollment Rate | 17% |
Table 2: Academic Requirements
| Requirements | Details |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate Degree | Applicants must have successfully completed at least three years of university education, and all required pre-requisite courses. There is no preferred degree that will increase the chance of admission. |
| Academic Average | Minimum GPA to apply: 3.0; Lowest GPA of Accepted Applicants: 3.85; Average GPA of Accepted Applicants (2022): 3.94. The University of Toronto requires a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 on the 4.0 scale to apply for the DDS program. Applicants who have completed four or more years of university education will have their lowest scoring academic year dropped from GPA calculations as long as the lowest scoring year is not the most recent year of study. |
| Pre-Requisite Courses | The following courses are required to apply to the University of Toronto’s DDS program: General Biochemistry (1 full-year or 2 half-year courses); General mammalian (human or animal) physiology (1 full-year or 2 half-year courses); Life Sciences (2 full-year or 4 half-year courses), including Anatomy, Biochemistry, Biology, Botany, Genetics, Immunology, Microbiology, Molecular genetics/biology, Neuroscience, Nutritional sciences, Pharmacology, Toxicology, Physiology, or Zoology; Humanities or Social Sciences (1 full-year or 2 half-year courses), including Anthropology, Art history, Classics, East Asian studies, English, History, Languages, Music, Near and Middle Eastern studies, Philosophy, Economics, Geography, Management, Political science, Religious studies, or Sociology. |
Table 3: Non-Academic Admission Requirements
| Requirements | Details |
|---|---|
| DAT Required | All applicants must write either the Canadian or American DAT. The test must be written within two years of the application deadline. Applicants may re-write the DAT if needed, and the University of Toronto School of Dentistry will consider the highest score within the two-year window for application purposes. |
| American DAT Accepted | Yes |
| Manual Dexterity Required | As of 2022, the manual dexterity (MDT) section of the DAT is not required for admission purposes. |
| CASPer Required | The University of Toronto requires the CASPer test as part of the application process. The CASPer test is booked and written online, and test dates are available from August to November. It is important to note that CASPer test results are valid for one admission cycle. For applicants who are re-applying, the test must be rewritten. |
| Personal Essays Required | Two pieces |
Western Dental School Requirements
Admissions Statistics
| Criteria | Numbers |
| Location | London, Ontario |
| Dental Doctoral Degree | Doctor of Dental Surgery |
| Tuition (Year One) | $52,883.05 |
| Class Size | 56 |
| Mission Statement | “We develop in dental professionals the knowledge and skills to provide exemplary care to the diverse communities that we serve. We will influence the future of oral health care through scholarly inquiry, innovation, and research.” |
| Number of Applicants | 536 |
| Candidates Interviewed | 197 |
| Students Admitted | 56 |
| Enrollment Rate | 10.4% |
Table 1: Undergraduate Degree
| Requirement | Description |
|---|---|
| Completion | Applicants must have either completed or be in their final year of a four-year undergraduate program. |
| Preferred Degree | There is no preferred degree that will increase the chance of admission. |
Table 2: Academic Average
| Requirement | Description |
|---|---|
| Minimum Average | 80% |
| Average of Accepted Applicants | 83% to 95% |
| Calculation | A minimum 80% average in the BEST TWO undergraduate years, each with a full course load, is required. |
| Course Load | Each year, a full course load (5 full courses or equivalent) must have been completed from September to April. |
| Published Course Levels | Each year, 3 full courses (or equivalent) must be completed with published course levels at or above the year of study. If the year of study is 4 or above, the published course level must be year 3 or above. |
| Important Notes | Courses taken during the current application cycle are not eligible towards the average calculation. Courses taken in the Spring/Summer terms are not eligible towards the average calculation. Averages are calculated based on percentage grades. For universities that use the letter scale, the OMSAS conversion scale is used to convert grades to percentages. |
Table 4: Pre-Requisite Courses
| Requirement | Description |
|---|---|
| Organic Chemistry | 1 half-year course, lab component not required |
| Physiology* | 1 full-year course OR 2 half-year courses, lab component not required |
| Biochemistry* | 1 half-year course, lab component not required |
| *To ensure you are taking an approved course, please consult these documents put forth by Western University (September 2021): 1. Physiology Pre-Requisites 2. Biochemistry Pre-Requisites | |
| Important Notes | Pre-requisite courses do not need to have been taken during the best two years presented for average calculations. You may retake a prerequisite course. Doing so will not negatively impact your application. |
Non-Academic Admission Requirements:
Table 5: DAT
| Requirement | Description |
|---|---|
| DAT Required | ✓ (Most Recent) |
| American DAT Accepted | ✓ |
| Manual Dexterity (DAT) Required | ✕ |
| Minimum Score | Mean Perceptual Ability Score: 21.0; Mean Reading Comprehension Score: 21.0 |
| Consideration of Scores | Western University will consider the most recent DAT score for application purposes. |
| Thresholds | Based on the caliber of each applicant pool, Western University determines the yearly DAT score thresholds to assess applicants. For the 2020-2021 application cycle, Western University set their minimum DAT threshold as follows: 19.0 for Perceptual Ability and Reading Comprehension. |
| Important Notes | The manual dexterity portion of the DAT is not required for Western University. |
Table 6: Academic Admission Requirements
| Requirements | Details |
| Undergraduate Degree | Completed or in final year of a four-year undergraduate program |
| Academic Average | Minimum average of 80% in the best two undergraduate years with each year containing a full course load and three full courses completed with published course levels at or above the year of study |
| Pre-Requisite Courses | Successful completion of one half-year Organic Chemistry course and one full-year Physiology course (or two half-year courses) or one half-year Biochemistry course |
Table 7: Non-Academic Admission Requirements
| Requirements | Details |
| Dental Aptitude Test (DAT) | Must write either the Canadian or American DAT, with a minimum threshold for Perceptual Ability and Reading Comprehension scores |
| Manual Dexterity (DAT) | Not required |
| CASPer | Required starting in 2022 |
| Personal Essays | Autobiographical Sketch and Personal Statement are required |
| Reference Letters | Not required |
| Interviews Conducted | Selected candidates are invited to an interview based on academic performance, DAT scores, and Personal Essays. |
University of British Columbia School of Dentistry Admission Requirements
Table 1: UBC Dental School Academic Requirements
| Requirements | Details |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate Degree | Applicants must have completed at least three years of university education, and all required pre-requisite courses. |
| Academic Average | Minimum GPA to apply: 70%. |
| Average GPA of Applicants: 83.02%. | |
| Average GPA of Accepted Applicants: 86.24%. | |
| Postsecondary Courses | All postsecondary courses (including failed courses) are used towards GPA calculations. |
| Minimum Academic Years and Credits | A minimum of 3 academic years and 90 credits of transferrable university work. |
| Prerequisite Courses | Biology, Biochemistry, English, Chemistry, Organic Chemistry |
| Minimum grade of C- or equivalent. | |
| Pass/Fail grades are not accepted. | |
| Applicants with four or more years of education | The lowest scoring academic year dropped from GPA calculations provided the lowest scoring year is not the most recent year of study. |
Table 2: UBC Dental School Non-Academic Requirements
| Requirements | Details |
|---|---|
| Dental Aptitude Test (DAT) | All students applying to UBC Dentistry must write either the Canadian or American DAT. The test must be written within four years of the application deadline. Manual dexterity not required. |
| CASPer | The University of British Columbia does not require the CASPer test as part of the application process. |
| Personal Statement | Applicants are required to submit a Personal Statement outlining why they wish to pursue a career as a dentist. |
| Reference Letters | UBC requires two letters of reference from either academic or professional referees. |
| Referees can include a science professor and healthcare professional – someone who knows the applicant well but is not a relative nor a family-friend. | |
| Dental Shadowing Hours | Not required, but highly recommended to have at least 30 hours of shadowing. |
| Interviews | Invitations are sent out 1-5 days prior to the interview. Selected candidates will be invited to an interview based on their application, including cognitive and global parameters. |
| The interview process is comprised of two parts: Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) and Small Group Interview (SGI). There is a $150 interview fee for those selected. |
McGill Dental School Requirements
Table 1: McGill Dental School Admission Requirements for Undergraduate Degree
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Completed Years of University Education on a Full-Time Basis | 4 years |
| Required Pre-Requisite Courses | – 2 half-year courses OR 1 full-year course of Biology with Lab Component Required |
| – 2 half-year courses OR 1 full-year course of General Chemistry with Lab Component Required | |
| – 1 half-year course of Organic Chemistry with Lab Component Required | |
| – 2 half-year courses OR 1 full-year course of Physics with Lab Component Required | |
| – *A half-year Calculus course may be used to satisfy half of the Physics requirement. | |
| Eligibility for Quebec Residents | Completed a 90-credit bachelor’s degree with DEC |
| Preferred Degree | None |
Table 2: Academic Average for McGill Dental School Admission
| Applicant Residency | Average cGPA of Interviewed Applicants | Average cGPA of Accepted Applicants |
|---|---|---|
| Quebec Residents | 3.89 | 3.84 |
| Out-Of-Province Residents | 3.91 | 3.83 |
| International Residents | 3.92 | 3.89 |
Table 3: Prerequisites for McGill Dental School Admission
| Pre-Requisite Course | Lab Component Required | Number of Credits Required |
|---|---|---|
| Biology | ✓ | 2 half-year courses OR 1 full-year course |
| General Chemistry | ✓ | 2 half-year courses OR 1 full-year course |
| Organic Chemistry | ✓ | 1 half-year course |
| Physics | ✓ | 2 half-year courses OR 1 full-year course |
| *Calculus | Half-year course |
Table 4: Non-Academic Admission Requirements for McGill Dental School
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| DAT Required | Canadian or American DAT, manual dexterity portion not required |
| Minimum Score on the DAT | Minimum score of 15 out of 30 on the Perceptual Ability (PAT) section to be considered for admission |
| Casper Required | Casper test is required as part of the application process |
| Supporting Documents | Academic Workbook, Curriculum Vitae (CV), List of Verifiers for significant CV entries |
| Interviews Conducted | In-person Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format |
| Interview Selection Criteria and Weights | Academic Average – 70% Weight, Casper score – 20% Weight, Curriculum Vitae – 10% Weight |
University of Manitoba Dental School Requirements
Table 1: Required Pre-Requisite Courses
| Course | Lab Component Required | Number of Credits Required |
|---|---|---|
| Biology | ✓ | 2 half-year courses OR 1 full-year course |
| Biochemistry | ✓ | 2 half-year courses OR 1 full-year course |
| English | ✕ | 2 half-year courses OR 1 full-year course |
| General Chemistry | ✓ | 2 half-year courses OR 1 full-year course |
| Organic Chemistry | ✓ | 2 half-year courses OR 1 full-year course |
| Physics | ✓ | 2 half-year courses OR 1 full-year course |
| Social Sciences/Humanities | ✕ | 2 half-year courses OR 1 full-year course |
Table 2: Academic Admission Requirements
| Requirement | Description |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate Degree | Completed at least two years of university education and all required pre-requisite courses. Completed a minimum of 24 new and graded credits during each of the two years during the Fall and Winter terms. No preferred degree that will increase chance of admission. |
| Academic Average | No minimum overall GPA requirement. Adjusted GPA calculated as follows: <br>For applicants with 2 years of university education: (2 x average of core prerequisite courses) + (1 x average of lower year) + (3 x average of better year) all divided by 6 <br> For applicants with 3+ years of university education: (2 x the average on the core prerequisite courses) + (0 x the average on lowest year) +(3 x the average on best year) + (1 x the average on each remaining full academic year of studies) all divided by number of courses as appropriate |
| Minimum Core Prerequisite Course Average Threshold | The University of Manitoba Faculty of Dentistry determines a minimum core prerequisite course average threshold each year to be considered for admission. A list of the core courses required can be found below. |
Table 3: DAT and CASPer Requirements
| Requirement | Description |
|---|---|
| DAT Required | All students applying to UManitoba Dentistry must write the Canadian DAT. The test must be written within three years of the application deadline. The manual dexterity portion of the DAT is not required. |
| Minimum Score in Perceptual Ability Section of DAT | Applicants must have a minimum score of 14 in the Perceptual Ability section of the DAT to be considered for admission. |
| CASPer Required | The CASPer test is part of the application process. |
Table 4: Non-Academic Admission Requirements
| Requirement | Description |
|---|---|
| Personal Essays Required | Applicants are required to submit personal essays. |
| Reference Letters Required | Letters of reference are not required. |
| Interviews Conducted | Selected candidates are invited to an interview conducted in April. The interview is conducted in-person, with a panel of 2 people, and is a maximum of 35 minutes. |
| Autobiographical Sketch | Applicants who identify as a Special or Canadian Indigenous applicant must submit an Autobiographical Sketch explaining why the applicant merits consideration for the category. |
University of Saskatchewan Dental School Requirements
University of Saskatchewan Dental School
Table 1: Undergraduate Degree Requirements
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Education Level | Applicants must have completed at least three years of university education |
| Preferred Degree | No preferred degree that will increase the chance of admission |
Table 2: Academic Average Requirements
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Minimum GPA to Apply | 75% |
| Average GPA of Accepted Applicants (Saskatchewan Residents) | 88.82% |
| Average GPA of Accepted Applicants (Out-Of-Province Residents) | 93.66% |
| Minimum Overall GPA | 75% over the best TWO academic years of study |
| Minimum Credit Requirement | 30 credits in each of the 3 years |
| Courses Excluded | Courses taken during the application year cannot be included as part of academic average calculations |
Table 3: Pre-Requisite Courses
| Course | Lab Component Required | Number of Credits Required |
|---|---|---|
| Biology | ✓ | 1 full-year OR 2 half-year courses |
| Biochemistry | ✕ | 1 full-year OR 2 half-year courses |
| General Chemistry | ✓ | 1 half-year course |
| Organic Chemistry | ✓ | 1 half-year course |
| Microbiology | ✕ | 1 half-year course |
| Nutrition | ✕ | 1 half-year course |
| Physics | ✓ | 1 half-year course |
| Physiology | ✕ | 1 full-year OR 2 half-year courses |
| Social Sciences/ Humanities | ✕ | 1 full-year OR 2 half-year courses |
Table 4: Non-Academic Admission Requirements
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| DAT Required | ✓ |
| American DAT Accepted | ✕ |
| Manual Dexterity (DAT) Required | ✕ |
| Casper Required | ✓ |
| Personal Essays Required | ✕ |
| Reference Letters Required | ✕ |
| Interviews Conducted | ✓ |
Table 5: DAT Requirements
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Test Type | Canadian DAT |
| Validity | Test must be written within three years of the application deadline. |
| Minimum Requirements | Applicants must achieve the minimum requirements in each of the following categories: |
| Academic Average Score | 15 |
| Perceptual Ability Score | 14 |
| Reading Comprehension Score | 14 |
Table 6: CASPer Requirements
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Test Type | CASPer test |
| Validity | Results are valid for one admission cycle. For re-applicants, the test must be rewritten. |
| Test Dates | Available from August to November |
Table 7: Supporting Documents
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Personal Statements | Not required |
| Letters of Reference | Not required |
| Shadowing Hours | Not required |
Table 8: Interviews
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Invitations | Selected candidates are invited to an interview based on academic performance and DAT scores. Invitations are emailed out by early March. |
| Interview Format | Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format |
| Duration | Each station is 10 minutes in duration, with 2 minutes to read a question and formulate a response, and 8 minutes to discuss the answer with the interviewer. |
| Rotations | Candidates will rotate through a series of stations, each with a single interviewer. |
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