KCL Dentistry Entry Requirements: Kings Dentistry Entry Requirements
- The Medic Life
- 3 days ago
- 15 min read
King's College London Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences is the largest dental school in the UK, producing approximately 150 graduating dentists every year. Based at the iconic Guy's Hospital campus in London Bridge, and part of King's Health Partners — one of Europe's largest academic health science centres — KCL Dentistry offers its students access to an extraordinarily diverse patient population, world-class research infrastructure and internationally renowned clinical faculty.
King's runs two undergraduate dental routes through UCAS: the 5-year BDS (UCAS code A205) for school-leavers and graduates, and the 4-year Graduate/Professional Entry Programme BDS (UCAS code A202) for UK graduates with a Biosciences degree. Both require the UCAT. Both are among the most competitive dental school applications in the UK.
This guide — written by Dr Bakhtar Ahmad, Dentistry Admissions Lead at The Medic Life — covers every aspect of the KCL Dentistry entry requirements for 2026 entry, verified against King's official admissions pages.
"KCL is the school where GCSE grades, the UCAT, and contextual information all work together in the first ranking — and your personal statement and grades only get looked at after you've cleared that initial sift. Understanding the sequence matters. A strong UCAT and a solid GCSE profile are your entry ticket. A well-prepared panel interview is what turns a ticket into an offer." — Dr Bakhtar Ahmad, Dentistry Admissions Lead, The Medic Life
KCL Dentistry Entry Requirements: KCL Dentistry at a Glance — 2026 Entry
Course (standard): BDS Dentistry, 5 years, UCAS code A205
Course (graduate): BDS Graduate/Professional Entry Programme (GPEP), 4 years, UCAS code A202
Enhanced Support Dentistry Programme (ESDP): BDS, 5 years, UCAS code A206 (widening access — see below)
Provider: Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, King's College London
Location: Guy's Hospital Campus, London SE1
Standard A-level offer: A*AA
Admissions test: UCAT (no published threshold; SJT also considered)
Interview: Online panel, 2 interviewers (changed from in-person MMI for 2026 entry)
Resits: Accepted for first resit; second resit usually requires mitigating circumstances
Contextual offers: Not made — standard requirements apply to all
Age minimum: Must be 18 by 1 January of the year the course starts
UCAS deadline: 15 October
KCL Dentistry Entry Requirements: KCL Dentistry A-Level Requirements (A205, 5-Year BDS)
King's requires:
A*AA at A-level, with the following subject requirements:
Grade A in Biology or Chemistry, PLUS
Grade A in one of Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics or Psychology
The A* can be in any of the three subjects (it doesn't have to be Biology or Chemistry)
If Mathematics is used to meet one of the subject requirements, Further Mathematics cannot be the third A-level
EPQ is not considered at any point in the assessment process
All applicants taking linear A-levels in England must pass the practical endorsement in all science subjects (except private candidates who cannot take the practical component)
Grades must be achievable by the beginning of August in the year of entry (to allow for A-level results release)
Which subject combinations work at King's?
First science | Second subject | Third subject | Valid? |
Chemistry (A) | Biology (A) | Any | ✅ |
Biology (A) | Chemistry (A) | Any | ✅ |
Chemistry (A) | Physics (A) | Any | ✅ |
Chemistry (A) | Mathematics (A) | Any (not Further Maths) | ✅ |
Biology (A) | Psychology (A) | Any | ✅ |
Biology (A) | Mathematics (A) | Any (not Further Maths) | ✅ |
KCL Dentistry Entry Requirements: A-levels Resits policy
First resit accepted — completing A-levels within 3 years
Second resit (completing A-levels within 4 years) — usually only considered where there are mitigating circumstances, and will be referred to the Faculty
This is notably more flexible than many other dental schools, which do not accept any resits
Dr Bakhtar's tip: "King's accepting first resits is a meaningful distinction in UK dentistry admissions — most Scottish schools and several English schools won't consider resits at all. If you've had to resit, King's should be on your list. But a resit flag also means your GCSE profile and UCAT become even more important, because the holistic ranking is where you're making the case."
KCL Dentistry Entry Requirements: KCL Dentistry GCSE Requirements
English Language and Mathematics at grade 6/B
That's the minimum bar — but it's worth understanding that GCSEs are actively scored in the ranking process alongside your UCAT
Higher GCSE grades (and a greater number of strong grades) strengthen your ranking, especially when UCAT scores are close
Functional Skills and Numeracy/Literacy modules within an Access to HE Diploma are NOT accepted to meet GCSE requirements
International applicants without GCSEs — equivalency will be considered
Dr Bakhtar's tip: "KCL's selection process explicitly ranks applicants on GCSE performance, UCAT score, and contextual information in the first sift. A minimal GCSE profile that just clears the 6/B bar is unlikely to rank competitively against applicants with 9s and 8s across seven or eight subjects. Strong GCSEs genuinely matter here, more than the minimum suggests."
KCL Dentistry Entry Requirements: KCL Dentistry IB Requirements
38 points overall (including TOK and Extended Essay) OR an aggregate score of 19 from three Higher Levels
Must include grade 6 at Higher Level in Chemistry or Biology, PLUS
Grade 6 at Higher Level in one of Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics or Psychology
Both IB Mathematics options (Analysis and Approaches; Applications and Interpretation) are accepted
GCSE Mathematics requirement can be met via IB Mathematics Standard Level/Higher Level grade 2 or Middle Years Mathematics grade 5
GCSE English Language can be met via IB Standard Level/Middle Years grade 5 if not studied at Higher Level
KCL Dentistry Entry Requirements: KCL Dentistry Scottish Qualifications
A combination of 3 Scottish Highers plus 2 Scottish Advanced Highers
Higher and Advanced Higher in the same subject cannot both be counted
Must include grade A in Advanced Higher Biology or Chemistry
Plus grade A in an additional Advanced Higher in one of Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics or Psychology
Scottish Nationals at Intermediate 2/Standard Credit Grade 1 or 2/National 5 with B are accepted for English and Maths if not studied at Higher/Advanced Higher level
KCL Dentistry Entry Requirements: KCL Dentistry Alternative Qualifications
Access to Higher Education Diploma
60 credits total, with 45 Level 3 credits: 39 at Distinction, 6 at Merit
Must be a Medicine or Dentistry QAA-accredited Access course from a UK provider
Must include at least 15 Level 3 credits at Distinction in Biology or Chemistry
Plus 15 Level 3 credits at Distinction in one of Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics or Psychology
Functional Skills and Numeracy/Literacy modules are NOT accepted to meet GCSE requirements
Foundation Year programmes (UK)
Welcome at King's — considered on a case-by-case basis, depending on the syllabus
Year 0 or Integrated Foundation programmes at other institutions are not accepted
Non-UK Foundation courses are not accepted
KCL Dentistry Entry Requirements: UCAT Requirements for KCL Dentistry
The UCAT is a compulsory part of both the BDS (A205) and GPEP (A202) applications at King's.
The key rules
UCAT must be sat in the same year as you apply — previous-year scores are not valid
No threshold UCAT score is published — the bar is set each year based on the range of scores in that cohort
The overall average across the four cognitive subtests is given more weight than individual subtest scores
The SJT (Situational Judgement Test) band is also taken into account when shortlisting at King's — unlike some other dental schools which ignore it entirely
Mitigating circumstances related to UCAT are not considered — if you sit the test, you are declaring yourself fit to take it; UCAT Access Arrangements may be available for eligible students
KCL Dentistry Entry Requirements: How KCL uses the UCAT
For the BDS (A205), applications are ranked on:
GCSE/IGCSE performance
UCAT score
Contextual information
After this initial ranking, King's reviews the full application (grades, personal statement, reference) and applies further contextual review before finalising interview eligibility.
For the GPEP (A202), applications are ranked purely on UCAT score first (no GCSEs to score for graduates), then the full application is reviewed.
Dr Bakhtar's tip: "King's is one of the few dental schools where the SJT band is still actively considered. It won't override a strong cognitive UCAT score, but a weak SJT can create a drag on your overall profile in the ranking. Don't neglect SJT preparation on the assumption that 'some schools don't use it' — at King's, it does count."
KCL Dentistry Entry Requirements: How King's Selects Dentistry Applicants
King's uses a staged, holistic selection process:
Stage 1 — Initial ranking: Eligible applicants are ranked on GCSE performance + UCAT score + contextual information
Stage 2 — Full application review: Ranks are refined by reviewing achieved/predicted grades, personal statement and reference
Stage 3 — Further contextual and mitigating circumstance review: To finalise who receives an interview invitation
Stage 4 — Online panel interview: Interviews run December to March; invitations sent with at least 2 weeks' notice via King's Apply
Stage 5 — Offer decisions: Most decisions are held until all interviews are complete; all decisions released by UCAS decision deadline in May
KCL Dentistry Entry Requirements: Admissions statistics (most recent cycle)
From King's own published data:
Applications received: just under 1,000
Interviews conducted: nearly 350
Offers made: ~160 Home-fee + ~15 Overseas-fee
This means roughly 35% of applicants are invited to interview, and of those who interview, approximately 50% receive an offer — making interview performance critical.
KCL Dentistry Entry Requirements: Personal statement at interview
While the personal statement is not scored in the initial ranking, King's is explicit that they are looking for:
Evidence of commitment to, and realistic appreciation of, dentistry as a career
Work experience in a caring environment and/or observation in a clinical setting (or, where not possible, work involving public interaction — pharmacy, hospitality, retail)
Communication skills and teamwork
Participation in school/college life and wider society
Interests, achievements, and community contribution
KCL Dentistry Entry Requirements: KCL Graduate/Professional Entry Programme (GPEP, A202)
The 4-year GPEP is King's dedicated graduate-entry BDS — UK applicants only (international students cannot apply to this route).
Who is eligible?
A minimum 2:1 (upper second class honours) undergraduate Bachelor's degree in a Biosciences subject, OR
A 2:2 (lower second class honours) plus a postgraduate degree with at least a Merit grade in a Biosciences subject
The degree must be Biosciences, with at least two-thirds of modules in the Biosciences area
No A-level or GCSE qualifications required (the degree is the academic criterion)
How are GPEP applications ranked?
For A202, the initial ranking is purely on UCAT score (there are no GCSEs to score for graduates). Full applications are then reviewed before interview invitations are issued.
KCL Dentistry Entry Requirements: GPEP admissions statistics (most recent cycle)
Applications received: just over 300
Interviews conducted: ~60
Offers made: ~20
This is an acceptance rate of approximately 6–7% of applicants — even tighter than the standard BDS. A strong UCAT is essential.
Can you apply to both?
Yes. You can apply to both A205 (BDS) and A202 (GPEP) via your UCAS application simultaneously, if you meet the eligibility requirements for both. Each application is assessed independently. Graduates who wish to maximise their chances at King's should consider this strategy.
Important: The GPEP commences in mid-August — earlier than the standard BDS programme.
KCL Dentistry Entry Requirements: KCL Dentistry Contextual Admissions and Widening Access
King's takes a nuanced approach to contextual admissions for dentistry:
Contextual offers are NOT made — all applicants must meet the standard A*AA (or equivalent) entry requirements
However, contextual information is taken into account holistically as part of the ranking and review process to gain a more complete picture of each application
For the GPEP (A202), contextual consideration is not applied at all — this is a graduate programme assessed on academic and UCAT merits alone
Enhanced Support Dentistry Programme (ESDP, A206)
This is King's dedicated widening-access dental pathway:
A 5-year BDS programme open to students from non-selective state schools within a London borough
Has different entry requirements and selection processes from the standard BDS
Applicants can apply to both A205 and A206 if they meet the eligibility criteria for both
Visit the KCL ESDP page for full eligibility details
KCL Dentistry Entry Requirements: Kings Dentistry Entry Requirements - Postgraduate
The question "Kings dentistry entry requirements postgraduate" often refers to two different things:
Graduate route into undergraduate BDS: This is the 4-year GPEP (A202) described above — a 2:1 Biosciences degree, UCAT, and panel interview. Applications via UCAS.
Postgraduate dentistry at King's: The Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences offers a wide range of postgraduate programmes for qualified dentists — including MClinDent specialty training programmes, MSc degrees (e.g. Implantology, Paediatric Dentistry, Endodontics, Orthodontics), Research MPhil/PhDs, and CPD-level certificates. These are clinical and academic programmes for GDC-registered dentists and are applied for directly through King's, not via UCAS.
If you are a qualified dentist seeking postgraduate specialty training or an academic programme, visit the KCL Faculty of Dentistry postgraduate pages directly.
KCL Dentistry Entry Requirements: Other Important KCL Dentistry Admissions Rules
The UCAS 4-choice rule for dental courses
A maximum of four UCAS choices can be made for courses leading to a professional qualification in dentistry. Your fifth UCAS choice can be any other programme. King's notes that several non-dental KCL programmes will consider a dentistry-focused personal statement without requiring a new statement — including Biochemistry, Biomedical Sciences, Chemistry, Global Health & Social Medicine, Molecular Genetics, Pharmacology, Physiology and Neuroscience.
Age restriction
King's requires all BDS applicants to be 18 years of age by 1 January in the year their course starts. This is due to minimum age requirements for clinical placements. Applicants who will be under 18 on this date should apply the following year.
Deferrals
Deferral requests are assessed on a case-by-case basis
Overseas fee-paying applicants cannot normally defer, except for military/national service
Home fee-paying applicants can apply for deferred entry, or request a deferral after an offer has been made
Second deferrals are only considered for extreme unforeseen extenuating circumstances (e.g. health reasons)
No deferrals beyond two years — you would need to reapply
Criminal conviction disclosure
UCAS requires all applicants to declare any spent or unspent convictions, cautions or reprimands. All offers are subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
KCL Dentistry Entry Requirements: Health Clearance and Vaccinations
All offer holders must complete the Occupational Health Clearance process before enrolling:
Process begins when your application is firmly accepted; information sent by end of May/early June
There may be vaccination requirements as part of this clearance
Failure to comply with occupational health requirements may result in suspension of enrolment or inability to complete the programme
Occupational Health Clearance is a mandatory condition of enrolment
KCL Dentistry Entry Requirements: FAQs
What A-level do you need for King's dentistry?
For the 5-year BDS (A205) at King's College London, you need:
A*AA at A-level
Must include grade A in Biology or Chemistry, PLUS grade A in one of Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics or Psychology
The A* may be in any subject — it does not need to be Biology or Chemistry
If Mathematics is used as one of your subject requirements, Further Mathematics cannot be your third A-level
General Studies and EPQ are not considered at any stage
You must also hold GCSE English Language and Maths at grade 6/B
Alternative qualifications:
IB: 38 points (or 19 from three HLs), including HL 6 in Chemistry or Biology + HL 6 in one further science/maths/psychology
Scottish: 3 Highers + 2 Advanced Highers, including A in Advanced Higher Chemistry or Biology + A in one additional Advanced Higher (Bio/Chem/Maths/Physics/Psychology)
Access to HE: 60 credits (45 at L3, with 39 Distinction/6 Merit), in Medicine or Dentistry, QAA-accredited
Resits: King's accepts first resits (completing A-levels within 3 years). Second resits usually require mitigating circumstances.
How hard is it to get into KCL dentistry?
Very competitive — but winnable with the right preparation.
In the most recently published admissions cycle, King's received just under 1,000 applications for its 5-year BDS. Around 350 applicants were invited to interview, and approximately 160 Home-fee and 15 Overseas-fee offers were made — giving a total interview rate of roughly 35% and a post-interview offer rate of approximately 50%.
In practice, the barriers are: meeting the A*AA with the correct subject combination, a competitive GCSE profile (6/B minimum, but high grades actively improve ranking), a strong UCAT (both cognitive total and SJT are scored at KCL), and a confident online panel interview.
The GPEP route is even more selective: roughly 6–7% of applicants receive an offer.
KCL Dentistry is difficult to get into — but it rewards applicants who understand and prepare for King's specific selection method. Dr Bakhtar Ahmad and the team at The Medic Life help applicants build applications that are genuinely competitive at this level.
What is the 2% rule at KCL?
The 2% rule at King's College London is an academic classification rule — not an admissions rule. It applies to students who are already enrolled at KCL and concerns degree classification.
Under the 2% rule, students whose overall composite score (C-score) falls within 2% of a higher degree classification boundary may be eligible to be upgraded to the next class, provided they also meet the minimum criteria (such as a required number of credits at the higher classification level).
For example, a student with an overall mark fractionally below the threshold for a 2:1 might be reviewed under this rule and potentially awarded a 2:1 rather than a 2:2.
Key points:
This rule applies to enrolled students' degree outcomes, not to the admissions process
It is not universal across all KCL programmes — professional courses may have their own progression and classification standards
It does not affect or lower the A*AA entry requirement for Dentistry
Students should refer to their programme handbook and the Faculty of Dentistry's specific regulations for how classification is applied to BDS programmes
If you're an applicant asking about this rule because you've heard it might affect a graduate's degree classification in the context of the GPEP route (which requires a 2:1), the 2% rule could mean that a graduate whose institution applied a similar rule ended up with a 2:1 that KCL will consider at face value. Always confirm your final degree classification directly with KCL admissions if you are borderline.
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