URGENT what dental uni's should i apply to!!! (low ucat and resit)
Im very upset about the low score and especially sj because i ALWAYS get band 2 atleast.
i dont know what dental school there is even a point in applying to since i am also gonna be resitting bio and chem (as i got CC) so my options are now even more limited.
GCSE's: 3566677778
Honestly any advice would help if you could help me strategically apply.
Thank you
Reply 1
Reply 2
what do you mean by contextual?
and could you expand on what unis i could potentially apply for please
Reply 3
and could you expand on what unis i could potentially apply for please
Contextual meaning, you come from an area of low progression you can check these on the universitas websites usually located under the entry requirements.
6- Year Gateway to Dentistry Bristol
So basically Bristol has a gateway programme a 6-year one the A-Level requirements are: (copied from the Bristol website) - also Bristol does tend to weigh UCAT more than grades however contextual usually lowers UCAT, but if you have anything above a BBC in A-Levels you are not eligible
BBC including B in Biology or Chemistry. Applicants with predicted or achieved grades of AAB or above (or points equivalent), or with A in Chemistry, are not eligible for this course.
Applicants must also meet these requirements
GCSE profile requirements
Standard literacy requirement (4 or C in GCSE English or equivalent) and Standard numeracy requirement (4 or C in GCSE Mathematics or equivalent)
https://www.bristol.ac.uk/study/media/undergraduate/admissions-statements/2025/gateway.pdf
This is there admissions statement for further requirements that would make you eligible this being things such as eligible colleges, postcode, if you live in care etc.
Another course is a foundation year in Leeds, also has extra requirements such as Bristol:
Interdisciplinary Science with Foundation Year BSc
Typical A-level offer
CDD or above excluding Critical Thinking and General Studies. Applicants taking a science A-level (in England) will be required to achieve a pass in the practical element in addition to the standard A-level grade requirement.
GCSE: English, mathematics and science at grade C/4 or above or equivalent. Applicants wanting to progress on to degree courses offered by the Schools of Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Civil Engineering, Computing, Electronic & Electrical Engineering, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering and Physics & Astronomy will need GCSE mathematics at grade B/6 or above, or equivalent.
Like I said Leeds has an additional entry requirements of:
Additional entry criteria
As well as the academic requirements above, you must live permanently in the UK and meet at least one of the following:
•
your permanent address is in a neighbourhood with low progression to higher education (check postcode eligibility)
•
you attended a school that achieved less than the national average of five grade A*-C or 9-4 passes (including English and Maths) at GCSE or attainment 8 score in a state school. We use the All England State-funded attainment 8 score, excluding applicants from selective and/or independent schools
•
you grew up in public care
BDS Dental Surgery with Integrated Foundation Year (University of Plymouth)
BDS Dental Surgery with Integrated Foundation Year is designed to make the study of Dentistry accessible to all individuals. For this reason, you must meet both the academic and non-academic entry requirements in order to be considered for this programme.
Please note the following information concerning academic entry requirements:
•
None of the typical offers listed below are necessarily the threshold for interview selection. Other factors including the number of applications received may influence the threshold for interview selection.
•
Applicants for this course must not meet the A level and GCSE grade requirements for the five-year BDS Dental Surgery (A206) course, including the re-sit policy. However, if you meet either the GCSE or A level requirements for A206 but not the other, then you would be considered for the foundation course. We will only consider an application from each candidate for either BDS Dental Surgery or BDS Dental Surgery with Integrated Foundation Year. Offers will not be made for both programmes.
•
The UCAT is not required for this course.
•
We are unable to consider any applicants who have already completed a first degree.
•
Applicants must meet the GCSE and Level 3 criteria to meet the academic entry requirements
GCSE
Applicants need to achieve 5 GCSE passes (grade C/grade 4 or higher) which must include the following subjects:
•
English Language
•
Mathematics
•
Two science subjects - either GCSE Double Award Science or two from single award Chemistry, Biology, or Physics
A Level
The typical offer is BBB at GCE A level which must include the following:
•
Grade B in Biology
•
Grade B in a second science from Chemistry, Physics, Maths or Psychology
•
Your third A level can be from any subject area and does not need to be science based. When shortlisting for interview we do not give preference to those who complete three Science A Levels. General Studies is not accepted
All applicants, in addition to meeting or exceeding the published academic criteria above will need to meet a minimum of three of the following contextual indicator options.
Where you are required to provide evidence, please ensure that this is submitted at the same time as your application and no later than the UCAS deadline. We are unable to consider evidence if it is sent to us late.
•
Local to South West Local Living in a local South West region (Devon/Cornwall/Bristol/Dorset/Gloucestershire/Somerset/Wiltshire)
•
POLAR4 Living in a low participation neighbourhood as determined by your postcode (POLAR4 quintiles 1 and 2).
•
Indices of Mass Deprivation Living in an area categorised as being in Indices of Mass Deprivation (IMD) 1–4 or 20% most deprived as determined by your English postcode, Northern Ireland postcode, Scottish postcode, and Welsh postcode.
•
School performance Attended a low performing school/college whilst completing your level 3 qualifications e.g. 16-18 performance in the ‘below’ or ‘well below average’ classification. This must be the school/college where you undertook your level 3 qualifications. If you attend a secondary school or college in England, please visit the Compare School and College Performance gov.uk website. If you attend a secondary school or college in Northern Ireland, Scotland, or Wales, please contact [email protected].
•
UCAT If you have taken the UCAT during your level 3 studies and were entitled to a UCAT bursary please provide evidence at the point of UCAS application to [email protected].
•
EMA or 16–19 bursary Bursary entitlement to be evidenced by an official award letter or a school letter submitted at the point of UCAS application to [email protected].
•
Free school meals Being in receipt of free school meals whilst completing your level 3 qualifications, at the school/college you undertook these qualifications – evidenced by school letter submitted by applicant at the point of application to [email protected].
•
Peninsula Pathways Significant engagement in our Peninsula Pathways programme. Significant engagement includes completion of the five-day summer Work Experience Programme, being a member of the e-Mentoring scheme and attended a minimum of three of the various Peninsula Pathways workshops by the end of Year 12.
•
Estranged from parents For information on how you would evidence this contextual marker please contact [email protected].
•
Refugee/Asylum seeker Evidenced by official document by official documentation/Home Office letter submitted by applicant at the point of application to [email protected].
•
Carer/Care leaver Evidenced by official documentation submitted by applicant at the point of application to [email protected].
I have listed 3, there are 2 more which is the Leeds Standard Entry 5-Years, and Sheffield however they have quite high GCSE requirements, but its good to have a look at these 3 I have left a link below of the 3 universities, if you have anymore questions or help I can help.
https://courses.leeds.ac.uk/3430/interdisciplinary-science-with-foundation-year-bsc#entry
https://www.bristol.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/2025/dentistry/bds-gateway-to-dentistry/#entry-requirements
https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/bds-dental-surgery-with-integrated-foundation-year/bds-dental-surgery-with-integrated-foundation-year-entry-requirements
Reply 4
6- Year Gateway to Dentistry Bristol
So basically Bristol has a gateway programme a 6-year one the A-Level requirements are: (copied from the Bristol website) - also Bristol does tend to weigh UCAT more than grades however contextual usually lowers UCAT, but if you have anything above a BBC in A-Levels you are not eligible
BBC including B in Biology or Chemistry. Applicants with predicted or achieved grades of AAB or above (or points equivalent), or with A in Chemistry, are not eligible for this course.
Applicants must also meet these requirements
GCSE profile requirements
Standard literacy requirement (4 or C in GCSE English or equivalent) and Standard numeracy requirement (4 or C in GCSE Mathematics or equivalent)
https://www.bristol.ac.uk/study/media/undergraduate/admissions-statements/2025/gateway.pdf
This is there admissions statement for further requirements that would make you eligible this being things such as eligible colleges, postcode, if you live in care etc.
Another course is a foundation year in Leeds, also has extra requirements such as Bristol:
Interdisciplinary Science with Foundation Year BSc
Typical A-level offer
CDD or above excluding Critical Thinking and General Studies. Applicants taking a science A-level (in England) will be required to achieve a pass in the practical element in addition to the standard A-level grade requirement.
GCSE: English, mathematics and science at grade C/4 or above or equivalent. Applicants wanting to progress on to degree courses offered by the Schools of Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Civil Engineering, Computing, Electronic & Electrical Engineering, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering and Physics & Astronomy will need GCSE mathematics at grade B/6 or above, or equivalent.
Like I said Leeds has an additional entry requirements of:
Additional entry criteria
As well as the academic requirements above, you must live permanently in the UK and meet at least one of the following:
•
your permanent address is in a neighbourhood with low progression to higher education (check postcode eligibility)
•
you attended a school that achieved less than the national average of five grade A*-C or 9-4 passes (including English and Maths) at GCSE or attainment 8 score in a state school. We use the All England State-funded attainment 8 score, excluding applicants from selective and/or independent schools
•
you grew up in public care
BDS Dental Surgery with Integrated Foundation Year (University of Plymouth)
BDS Dental Surgery with Integrated Foundation Year is designed to make the study of Dentistry accessible to all individuals. For this reason, you must meet both the academic and non-academic entry requirements in order to be considered for this programme.
Please note the following information concerning academic entry requirements:
•
None of the typical offers listed below are necessarily the threshold for interview selection. Other factors including the number of applications received may influence the threshold for interview selection.
•
Applicants for this course must not meet the A level and GCSE grade requirements for the five-year BDS Dental Surgery (A206) course, including the re-sit policy. However, if you meet either the GCSE or A level requirements for A206 but not the other, then you would be considered for the foundation course. We will only consider an application from each candidate for either BDS Dental Surgery or BDS Dental Surgery with Integrated Foundation Year. Offers will not be made for both programmes.
•
The UCAT is not required for this course.
•
We are unable to consider any applicants who have already completed a first degree.
•
Applicants must meet the GCSE and Level 3 criteria to meet the academic entry requirements
GCSE
Applicants need to achieve 5 GCSE passes (grade C/grade 4 or higher) which must include the following subjects:
•
English Language
•
Mathematics
•
Two science subjects - either GCSE Double Award Science or two from single award Chemistry, Biology, or Physics
A Level
The typical offer is BBB at GCE A level which must include the following:
•
Grade B in Biology
•
Grade B in a second science from Chemistry, Physics, Maths or Psychology
•
Your third A level can be from any subject area and does not need to be science based. When shortlisting for interview we do not give preference to those who complete three Science A Levels. General Studies is not accepted
All applicants, in addition to meeting or exceeding the published academic criteria above will need to meet a minimum of three of the following contextual indicator options.
Where you are required to provide evidence, please ensure that this is submitted at the same time as your application and no later than the UCAS deadline. We are unable to consider evidence if it is sent to us late.
•
Local to South West Local Living in a local South West region (Devon/Cornwall/Bristol/Dorset/Gloucestershire/Somerset/Wiltshire)
•
POLAR4 Living in a low participation neighbourhood as determined by your postcode (POLAR4 quintiles 1 and 2).
•
Indices of Mass Deprivation Living in an area categorised as being in Indices of Mass Deprivation (IMD) 1–4 or 20% most deprived as determined by your English postcode, Northern Ireland postcode, Scottish postcode, and Welsh postcode.
•
School performance Attended a low performing school/college whilst completing your level 3 qualifications e.g. 16-18 performance in the ‘below’ or ‘well below average’ classification. This must be the school/college where you undertook your level 3 qualifications. If you attend a secondary school or college in England, please visit the Compare School and College Performance gov.uk website. If you attend a secondary school or college in Northern Ireland, Scotland, or Wales, please contact [email protected].
•
UCAT If you have taken the UCAT during your level 3 studies and were entitled to a UCAT bursary please provide evidence at the point of UCAS application to [email protected].
•
EMA or 16–19 bursary Bursary entitlement to be evidenced by an official award letter or a school letter submitted at the point of UCAS application to [email protected].
•
Free school meals Being in receipt of free school meals whilst completing your level 3 qualifications, at the school/college you undertook these qualifications – evidenced by school letter submitted by applicant at the point of application to [email protected].
•
Peninsula Pathways Significant engagement in our Peninsula Pathways programme. Significant engagement includes completion of the five-day summer Work Experience Programme, being a member of the e-Mentoring scheme and attended a minimum of three of the various Peninsula Pathways workshops by the end of Year 12.
•
Estranged from parents For information on how you would evidence this contextual marker please contact [email protected].
•
Refugee/Asylum seeker Evidenced by official document by official documentation/Home Office letter submitted by applicant at the point of application to [email protected].
•
Carer/Care leaver Evidenced by official documentation submitted by applicant at the point of application to [email protected].
I have listed 3, there are 2 more which is the Leeds Standard Entry 5-Years, and Sheffield however they have quite high GCSE requirements, but its good to have a look at these 3 I have left a link below of the 3 universities, if you have anymore questions or help I can help.
https://courses.leeds.ac.uk/3430/interdisciplinary-science-with-foundation-year-bsc#entry
https://www.bristol.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/2025/dentistry/bds-gateway-to-dentistry/#entry-requirements
https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/bds-dental-surgery-with-integrated-foundation-year/bds-dental-surgery-with-integrated-foundation-year-entry-requirements
thank you SOOOO much you're so kind
Reply 5
no worries, I hope this has helped you!
Reply 6
Im very upset about the low score and especially sj because i ALWAYS get band 2 atleast.
i dont know what dental school there is even a point in applying to since i am also gonna be resitting bio and chem (as i got CC) so my options are now even more limited.
GCSE's: 3566677778
Honestly any advice would help if you could help me strategically apply.
Thank you
Reply 7
I just got my ucat score and it was really low 2320.i don't know if I should apply or not.My gcse were 3A* and 6A.Can someone please help me.
Reply 8
Thank you so much!!!!!!!!
yess i definetly wont give up on applying.
may i ask what schools you're thinking of applying to?
Reply 9
I just got my ucat score and it was really low 2320.i don't know if I should apply or not.My gcse were 3A* and 6A.Can someone please help me.
apply!
Reply 10
yess i definetly wont give up on applying.
may i ask what schools you're thinking of applying to?
yes I am applying to all Scottish unis as I am a Scottish student- Dundee, Aberdeen, St Andrews, Glasgow (risky) what is your thinking? r u applying in England or Scotland
Reply 11
I just got my ucat score and it was really low 2320.i don't know if I should apply or not.My gcse were 3A* and 6A.Can someone please help me.
yes deffo don't give up medicine does not only depend upon UCAT there are MANY other things involved so UCAT only forms a small part of the selection process it is not the be all and end all
Reply 12
im from london but beacuse of how low my stats are and since there are only 2 dental unis here might not even apply here lol
im thinking of newcastle (they have a partners programme into dentistry), bristol, leeds, plymouth and but yur idk fully yet
Reply 13
6- Year Gateway to Dentistry Bristol
So basically Bristol has a gateway programme a 6-year one the A-Level requirements are: (copied from the Bristol website) - also Bristol does tend to weigh UCAT more than grades however contextual usually lowers UCAT, but if you have anything above a BBC in A-Levels you are not eligible
BBC including B in Biology or Chemistry. Applicants with predicted or achieved grades of AAB or above (or points equivalent), or with A in Chemistry, are not eligible for this course.
Applicants must also meet these requirements
GCSE profile requirements
Standard literacy requirement (4 or C in GCSE English or equivalent) and Standard numeracy requirement (4 or C in GCSE Mathematics or equivalent)
https://www.bristol.ac.uk/study/media/undergraduate/admissions-statements/2025/gateway.pdf
This is there admissions statement for further requirements that would make you eligible this being things such as eligible colleges, postcode, if you live in care etc.
Another course is a foundation year in Leeds, also has extra requirements such as Bristol:
Interdisciplinary Science with Foundation Year BSc
Typical A-level offer
CDD or above excluding Critical Thinking and General Studies. Applicants taking a science A-level (in England) will be required to achieve a pass in the practical element in addition to the standard A-level grade requirement.
GCSE: English, mathematics and science at grade C/4 or above or equivalent. Applicants wanting to progress on to degree courses offered by the Schools of Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Civil Engineering, Computing, Electronic & Electrical Engineering, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering and Physics & Astronomy will need GCSE mathematics at grade B/6 or above, or equivalent.
Like I said Leeds has an additional entry requirements of:
Additional entry criteria
As well as the academic requirements above, you must live permanently in the UK and meet at least one of the following:
•
your permanent address is in a neighbourhood with low progression to higher education (check postcode eligibility)
•
you attended a school that achieved less than the national average of five grade A*-C or 9-4 passes (including English and Maths) at GCSE or attainment 8 score in a state school. We use the All England State-funded attainment 8 score, excluding applicants from selective and/or independent schools
•
you grew up in public care
BDS Dental Surgery with Integrated Foundation Year (University of Plymouth)
BDS Dental Surgery with Integrated Foundation Year is designed to make the study of Dentistry accessible to all individuals. For this reason, you must meet both the academic and non-academic entry requirements in order to be considered for this programme.
Please note the following information concerning academic entry requirements:
•
None of the typical offers listed below are necessarily the threshold for interview selection. Other factors including the number of applications received may influence the threshold for interview selection.
•
Applicants for this course must not meet the A level and GCSE grade requirements for the five-year BDS Dental Surgery (A206) course, including the re-sit policy. However, if you meet either the GCSE or A level requirements for A206 but not the other, then you would be considered for the foundation course. We will only consider an application from each candidate for either BDS Dental Surgery or BDS Dental Surgery with Integrated Foundation Year. Offers will not be made for both programmes.
•
The UCAT is not required for this course.
•
We are unable to consider any applicants who have already completed a first degree.
•
Applicants must meet the GCSE and Level 3 criteria to meet the academic entry requirements
GCSE
Applicants need to achieve 5 GCSE passes (grade C/grade 4 or higher) which must include the following subjects:
•
English Language
•
Mathematics
•
Two science subjects - either GCSE Double Award Science or two from single award Chemistry, Biology, or Physics
A Level
The typical offer is BBB at GCE A level which must include the following:
•
Grade B in Biology
•
Grade B in a second science from Chemistry, Physics, Maths or Psychology
•
Your third A level can be from any subject area and does not need to be science based. When shortlisting for interview we do not give preference to those who complete three Science A Levels. General Studies is not accepted
All applicants, in addition to meeting or exceeding the published academic criteria above will need to meet a minimum of three of the following contextual indicator options.
Where you are required to provide evidence, please ensure that this is submitted at the same time as your application and no later than the UCAS deadline. We are unable to consider evidence if it is sent to us late.
•
Local to South West Local Living in a local South West region (Devon/Cornwall/Bristol/Dorset/Gloucestershire/Somerset/Wiltshire)
•
POLAR4 Living in a low participation neighbourhood as determined by your postcode (POLAR4 quintiles 1 and 2).
•
Indices of Mass Deprivation Living in an area categorised as being in Indices of Mass Deprivation (IMD) 1–4 or 20% most deprived as determined by your English postcode, Northern Ireland postcode, Scottish postcode, and Welsh postcode.
•
School performance Attended a low performing school/college whilst completing your level 3 qualifications e.g. 16-18 performance in the ‘below’ or ‘well below average’ classification. This must be the school/college where you undertook your level 3 qualifications. If you attend a secondary school or college in England, please visit the Compare School and College Performance gov.uk website. If you attend a secondary school or college in Northern Ireland, Scotland, or Wales, please contact [email protected].
•
UCAT If you have taken the UCAT during your level 3 studies and were entitled to a UCAT bursary please provide evidence at the point of UCAS application to [email protected].
•
EMA or 16–19 bursary Bursary entitlement to be evidenced by an official award letter or a school letter submitted at the point of UCAS application to [email protected].
•
Free school meals Being in receipt of free school meals whilst completing your level 3 qualifications, at the school/college you undertook these qualifications – evidenced by school letter submitted by applicant at the point of application to [email protected].
•
Peninsula Pathways Significant engagement in our Peninsula Pathways programme. Significant engagement includes completion of the five-day summer Work Experience Programme, being a member of the e-Mentoring scheme and attended a minimum of three of the various Peninsula Pathways workshops by the end of Year 12.
•
Estranged from parents For information on how you would evidence this contextual marker please contact [email protected].
•
Refugee/Asylum seeker Evidenced by official document by official documentation/Home Office letter submitted by applicant at the point of application to [email protected].
•
Carer/Care leaver Evidenced by official documentation submitted by applicant at the point of application to [email protected].
I have listed 3, there are 2 more which is the Leeds Standard Entry 5-Years, and Sheffield however they have quite high GCSE requirements, but its good to have a look at these 3 I have left a link below of the 3 universities, if you have anymore questions or help I can help.
https://courses.leeds.ac.uk/3430/interdisciplinary-science-with-foundation-year-bsc#entry
https://www.bristol.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/2025/dentistry/bds-gateway-to-dentistry/#entry-requirements
https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/bds-dental-surgery-with-integrated-foundation-year/bds-dental-surgery-with-integrated-foundation-year-entry-requirements
Hello again
,So related to this list I wanted to ask if being eligible for a contextual offer can bypass being a retake candidate.
Because I do meet the criteria for the contextual offers for all these unis however it says that Plymouth doesn’t accept a level resits I’m honestly really worried
Also when providing evidence for apply with contextual offer do I just apply normally and they will know?
Or do I have to like email them and tell them I applied and can get a contextual offer.
Thank you
Reply 14
Some universities don't allow retake as contextual, but the best thing is to contact the uni's via email and give them all your achievements and state that your contextual they should usually get back to you within the next day or could take around a week, as it is UCAS season. However I say you email them very soon asking briefly not detailed about what you want to ask them, as sometimes if your email is long they will only read the first sentence and they tend to give a response that way different to your initial question. So best thing is email them ASAP as they can take long to reply as they are currently receiving a lot of emails.
Reply 15
Some universities don't allow retake as contextual, but the best thing is to contact the uni's via email and give them all your achievements and state that your contextual they should usually get back to you within the next day or could take around a week, as it is UCAS season. However I say you email them very soon asking briefly not detailed about what you want to ask them, as sometimes if your email is long they will only read the first sentence and they tend to give a response that way different to your initial question. So best thing is email them ASAP as they can take long to reply as they are currently receiving a lot of emails.
Ohh okay thank youu
Reply 16
But where I don't know if I'll be accepted
Reply 17
https://www.themedicportal.com/application-guide/ucat/where-to-apply-with-a-low-ucat-score-for-dentistry/
Reply 18
I’ve actually been very passionate about wanting to do dentistry for years now. My grade prospects aren’t the best but don’t go assuming that I’m just applying for money because this isn’t a spontaneous decision and I am very well aware of how hard the content is however I actually enjoy it. So I’m not going to give up on trying to pursue it.
Please think properly before commenting thoughtless things.
Quick Reply
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