King’s Dentistry Interview: King’s Dentistry Interview Questions
- The Medic Life
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
Message from the Founder -> "Welcome! I’m Dr. Bakhtar Ahmad, founder of The Medic Life and a practising UK doctor. In this guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know to succeed in the King’s Dentistry Interview (focusing on Questions) - from format, sample stations, to strategy and real applicant insights. Let’s begin!"
PS: This expert "King’s Dentistry Interview Questions" guide from The Medic Life (experts in Dentistry Interview Tutoring) covers what to expect, common interview questions, and practical tips to help you succeed.
What the interview is — and what to expect at King’s Dentistry Interview?
For the BDS Dentistry programme, KCL first ranks applicants based on GCSE/IGCSE performance, UCAT score and contextual information. Only after that do they review A-Level (or equivalent) grades, personal statement and reference to decide who is invited to interview.
The interview window generally runs between December and March. Invited applicants receive at least two weeks’ notice via the King’s Apply portal.
For 2025/2026 entry, interviews are conducted remotely, with a panel of two interviewers.
In previous years, KCL used a Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format — several short stations each with a different assessor.
The remote-panel format may still follow MMI-style content: structured questions, ethical / social-scenario discussions, situational judgement, assessment of communication & suitability.
King’s Dentistry Interview: What KCL is looking for — attributes & applicant profile?
When you reach interview, KCL assesses more than academic credentials. Key qualities and applicant background the school expects:
Strong communication skills, empathy and maturity — ability to discuss social or health-related issues, show professionalism, and handle sensitive topics.
Realistic understanding of dentistry and commitment — awareness of academic, physical, and emotional demands of a dentistry degree and career.
Demonstrable experience or exposure to caring / public-facing roles — ideally clinical shadowing or work/volunteering in environments where you interact with people (e.g. pharmacy, retail, service roles) if dental shadowing isn’t possible.
Personal qualities beyond academics — teamwork, resilience, empathy, manual dexterity or evidence of fine-motor skills (e.g. hobbies involving hand-eye coordination), leadership or societal contribution.
Academic baseline & aptitude — A-Levels (or equivalent) meeting entry requirements: for standard BDS entry: A*AA including A in Biology or Chemistry + an A in a second relevant subject; plus adequate GCSE/IGCSE.
How to prepare for King’s Dentistry Interview: strategy & approach for King’s
Ensure foundational requirements are met — strong GCSEs/IGCSEs, a competitive UCAT score, and required A-Level or equivalent combination. Without this, you won’t be ranked for interview.
Treat the interview as high-stakes: prepare thoroughly — expect a range of questions: motivation, ethical or social issues, personal suitability, communication and empathy, possibly scenario-based reasoning.
Use real-life examples — from volunteering, work, caring roles or hobbies — to illustrate empathy, communication, responsibility, manual-dexterity, teamwork or resilience. Schools value insight and self-reflection over “textbook” answers.
Practice remote-interview readiness — ensure stable internet, quiet and well-lit environment, good webcam/mic; practice eye-contact, clear speech and calm demeanour as interviews are now online.
Know why you want King’s — understand what makes KCL Dental School distinctive (its facilities, hospital affiliations, course structure, opportunities) and be able to articulate why it aligns with your aspirations.
Practice Questions for King’s Dentistry Interview
Use these to build and rehearse your responses — try timing yourself or doing mock panel interviews.
Motivation & Suitability
Why do you want to study Dentistry — and why at King’s College London specifically?
Why Dentistry rather than Medicine or another healthcare profession?
What aspects of a dentist’s day-to-day work do you think you will find most challenging — and how will you cope?
What do you expect from the Dentistry programme at King’s, and how does that align with your career goals?
Describe any work experience, volunteering or public-facing roles you have — what did you learn, and how has that shaped your decision to study Dentistry?
Which personal qualities or skills do you have that make you suitable for dentistry (e.g. empathy, communication, manual dexterity, resilience)?
What are your weaknesses — and how would you manage/improve them if you join dentistry school?
Ethics, Professionalism & Social Awareness
What does being a “professional dentist” mean to you — beyond technical skills?
Suppose a patient is reluctant to follow your recommended treatment plan due to cost or fear; how would you handle that conversation ethically and empathetically?
What responsibility do dentists have towards public health and societal access to dental care?
How important is prevention (oral hygiene, early intervention, education) in dentistry?
How would you respond if you witnessed unprofessional behaviour by a colleague that could jeopardize patient welfare?
Communication, Empathy & Teamwork
Imagine a nervous or anxious patient — how would you build trust, explain treatment, and calm their fears?
How do you approach explaining complex dental concepts (e.g. treatment plans, risks, prevention) to someone with little or no medical background (child, elderly, someone anxious)?
Describe a time you worked under pressure in a team — what was your role, how did you contribute, and what did you learn?
Can you give an example where you showed empathy or support to someone at a difficult time? What did you learn about yourself?
Reflection, Resilience & Personal Insight
Tell us about a setback or failure you experienced. How did you cope and what did you learn from it?
Describe a hobby or long-term activity that requires fine motor skills or patience (e.g. music, painting, model-making). How is this relevant to dentistry training and practice?
How do you manage stress, workload and maintain personal wellbeing in demanding environments?
Data-/Scenario-Based or Situational Questions (possible tasks)
You are given a short patient case or public-health scenario (e.g. high decay rates in a deprived community). How would you analyse contributing factors and propose a plan or approach as a dentist?
A patient refuses treatment due to financial constraints. How might you balance ethical duty, patient welfare and realistic constraints?
You observe a colleague make an error (non-critical but concerning) in treatment preparation. What would you do? How would you communicate it, ensuring patient safety and professional responsibility?
King’s Dentistry Interview -> FAQs
What are the entry requirements for KCL Dentistry?
Standard entry requires A-Levels at A*AA, including A in Biology or Chemistry plus A in another relevant subject (Biology/Chemistry/Physics/Maths/Psychology) plus satisfactory GCSE/IGCSE results.
Do I need to take the UCAT to apply for KCL Dentistry?
Yes — all applicants must take the UCAT in the same application year. The UCAT score, combined with GCSE results and contextual data, largely determines who is invited to interview.
What is the format of the interview at King’s?
For current cycles, the interview is conducted remotely with a panel of two interviewers. Previously, KCL used an in-person Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format with several short stations.
What do interviewers assess during the KCL Dentistry interview?
They assess communication skills, ethical and social awareness, motivation for dentistry, personal suitability and professionalism, empathy, ability to reason and reflect, and realistic understanding of the demands of the course and career. Work experience or public-facing roles and evidence of interpersonal skills are valued.
How competitive is receiving an offer after interview?
In the most recent admissions cycle, out of just under 1,000 applicants, nearly 350 were interviewed. The school made around 160 home-fee offers and ~15 overseas offers. That suggests roughly half of interviewed candidates may receive an offer — but many factors influence final selection, including interview performance, academic profile, and contextual factors.
Comments