Newcastle Dentistry Interview: Newcastle Dentistry Interview Questions
- The Medic Life
- 1 hour 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 Newcastle Dentistry Interview (focusing on Questions) - from format, sample stations, to strategy and real applicant insights. Let’s begin!"
PS: This expert "Newcastle 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 Newcastle Dentistry Interview?
The dentistry interview for Newcastle’s BDS (Dental Surgery, A206) is conducted via a semi-structured panel interview, not an MMI.
The interview is held online (via Zoom), with two selectors from the School of Dental Sciences conducting the interview.
Interview length is approximately 20 minutes.
Selectors do not have access to your UCAT score or academic grades during the interview — they evaluate you based only on your responses and presentation.
The interview is part of a three-stage selection process: academic screening → UCAT ranking → interview (for those shortlisted).
Newcastle Dentistry Interview -> How candidates are shortlisted: entry requirements & screening
Before interview selection, applicants must pass:
Academic threshold: required A-Level (or equivalent) grades (typically AAA including Biology & Chemistry for BDS).
UCAT test: a valid and competitive UCAT score is essential; Newcastle ranks shortlisted applicants by UCAT (once academic threshold is met).
Relevant experience or insight into dentistry: Newcastle expects evidence of work experience (or alternative ways of understanding the profession), community / volunteer work, leadership or teamwork experience. (About 10 days of relevant experience or equivalent is suggested.)
Personal statement and reference: seen as evidence of motivation, understanding of dentistry, and personal qualities — used alongside UCAT when shortlisting.
If all criteria are met, applicants may receive an interview invitation (slots are limited).
What the Newcastle Dentistry Interview assesses — attributes & skills Newcastle values
During the interview, selectors evaluate candidates across six key domains:
Preparation & motivation — why you want to study dentistry, why Newcastle, and what you know about the course and profession.
Effective learning skills — your study habits, adaptability, ability to learn and grow.
Team-working ability — collaboration, interaction with peers or patients, respect, and interpersonal dynamics.
Personal qualities & resilience — integrity, maturity, self-awareness, ability to cope with stress or setbacks.
Interpersonal & communication skills — clarity of communication, empathy, ability to explain ideas simply, patient interaction.
Empathy, sensitivity, integrity & professionalism — understanding of patients’ needs, ethical awareness, confidentiality, professionalism expected from a dentist.
Because academic records and testing are already considered before interview, the interview focuses heavily on non-academic / human / professional attributes — aiming to identify candidates who will likely succeed both academically and ethically in a dentistry career at Newcastle.
What to expect on the day & logistics for your Newcastle Dentistry Interview
Interviews are usually held between February and March, though invites may go out earlier.
You will be asked to present valid photo ID at the start of the interview (e.g. passport, driving licence).
The interview is conversational and semi-structured — don’t expect rapid-fire MMI-style stations, but be ready for follow-up questions based on what you say.
Interviewers might come from different backgrounds (clinical staff, academic staff, maybe non-clinicians), but all are trained in equality, diversity and the school’s admissions policy.
Newcastle Dentistry Interview: How to prepare — recommended strategy & approach
Understand the course & profession — research what Newcastle’s BDS involves (clinical training, patient care, early exposure), and reflect on why it appeals to you.
Reflect on your experiences — whether it’s dental shadowing, volunteering, caring roles, teamwork in school or work: think about what you learnt and how that shapes your readiness for dentistry.
Prepare examples — for empathy, teamwork, resilience, communication, ethics, responsibility, learning skills. Use real stories rather than rehearsed answers.
Practice communication & honesty — interviewers assess clarity, sincerity, and how you cope under-pressure. In a 20-minute panel interview, genuine, structured answers often work better than memorised speeches.
Familiarise yourself with dentistry-related ethical and professional issues — patient confidentiality, patient consent, health inequalities, NHS values, patient-centred care — these often come up implicitly.
Ensure technical setup (for online interview) — stable internet, quiet environment, good lighting, valid ID ready. Test your setup beforehand.
Example / Practice Questions for Newcastle Dentistry Interview
Use these to mock-practice / reflect ahead of time. They roughly map to the six scoring domains.
Motivation & Understanding
Why do you want to study dentistry — and why at Newcastle University in particular?
What do you think are the biggest challenges facing the dental profession today?
How have your experiences (work, volunteering, observation) shaped your understanding of dentistry?
Teamwork, Communication & Empathy
Describe a time when you worked as part of a team under pressure. What was your role, what happened, what did you learn?
A patient is anxious about dental treatment. How would you explain the procedure in a reassuring, understandable way?
How do you build rapport with people from diverse backgrounds or with different needs?
Resilience, Professionalism & Ethics
Tell us about a time you made a mistake (or saw someone make a mistake) — how did you respond, and what did you learn?
What does “professionalism” mean to you as a future dentist?
How would you handle a scenario where a patient cannot afford the optimal treatment — how would you balance ethical responsibility and patient welfare?
Learning Skills & Personal Qualities
How do you manage your time and prioritise tasks when you have many responsibilities?
What motivates you when things get hard or stressful?
How do you handle criticism or feedback — give an example from your past.
FAQs - What Applicants Often Ask About Newcastle Dentistry Interview
What format is the Newcastle Dentistry interview?
It’s a semi-structured online panel interview (via Zoom) conducted by two selectors; typically lasts about 20 minutes.
Do they test dental knowledge or science at interview?
No — the interview is not a test of dental science or technical dentistry. It focuses on motivation, personal qualities, communication, ethical awareness, empathy, teamwork and professionalism.
What role does the admissions test (UCAT) play?
UCAT is essential for shortlisting — after academic eligibility (A-Level threshold) is verified, UCAT score (plus personal statement/work experience) determines who gets an interview invitation.
Is work experience required to get an interview?
Yes — Newcastle expects applicants to have some relevant career exploration or work experience (ideally ~10 days) or equivalent evidence of insight into dentistry or caring/ teamwork settings.
When are interviews held and when will results be given?
Interviews for 2026 entry are usually between February and March. Applicants are typically informed of outcome by end of March or early April.