Dental Schools in Canada Requirements

Last Updated on August 12, 2023 by Oluwajuwon Alvina

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How to Get into Dental School in Canada

Many students prefer to pursue dental studies in Canada, as it is considered one of the leading countries in this field. The education system in Canada is also internationally known for its quality and development.

In addition to this, Canadian medical universities are enjoying a well-known reputation due to their institutions and facilities, from modern laboratories equipped with the latest technology and other very excellent infrastructure.

Dental Schools In Canada Requirements

Pre-admission Requirements

There are certain basic pre-dental education courses (maths and sciences) that must be completed before enrolment in dental school. However, advanced biology and physics are typically not required. Since these requirements vary from school to school, it is essential that you contact the appropriate school(s) to determine specific admission requirements.

One simple way to obtain this information is to visit dental school Web sites to obtain a list of course requirements. Access a list of Canadian dental schools.

You should know that one admission requirement for all Canadian dental schools are the submission of Dental Aptitude Test (DAT) scores. The DAT is administered by the Canadian Dental Association (CDA) to evaluate general academic ability, comprehension of scientific information, two- and three-dimensional visual perception and manual dexterity. Learn more about the DAT.

While all Canadian dental schools require applicants to submit DAT scores as part of the admission process, the test results are only one factor considered in evaluating the admission potential of an applicant.

It’s important to note that registration for the DAT is not an application to dental school. To complete an application for entry to a dental school, contact the school(s) of your choice directly and return the completed application according to the instructions given by the school(s) you are applying to.

University of Toronto Dental Schools Requirements

 Completion of 3 years of a full time undergraduate study
 Completion of required courses listed on the school website
 Minimum GPA of 3.0 (8 on the McMaster scale)
o The accepting average for the 2015 admission cycle was 3.85 (~10.8 on the McMaster scale)
 Completion of DAT within 2 calendar years of the application deadline
o Mean DAT scores: Academic Average (AA)  22, Perceptual Ability Test (PAT)  21
 Proficient in written and spoken English

To be eligible for admission into the dentistry program applicants must:

• Complete three years of university education (i.e. at least 15 full year courses or equivalent by the end of May 2021
• Complete the following five prerequisite courses by end of May 2021:

1. One full year course (or two half year courses) in general biochemistry. This course should cover protein chemistry and the chemistry of other biomolecules, cellular metabolism and molecular biology.
2. One full year course (or two half year courses) in general mammalian (human or animal) physiology. This course should cover the following systems: musculoskeletal system; haemostasis mechanisms; haematopoietic system; nervous system; immune system; cardiovascular system; renal physiology; neurophysiology; endocrinology and gastrointestinal physiology.
3. Two additional full year courses (or four half year courses) in Life Sciences. (For example: anatomy, biochemistry, biology, botany, genetics, immunology, microbiology, molecular genetics/biology, neuroscience, nutritional Sciences, pharmacology, toxicology, physiology, zoology).
4. One full year course (or two half year courses) in a Humanities or Social Science. (For example – Humanities: art history, classics, East Asian studies, English, history, languages, music, near & middle eastern studies, philosophy. Social Sciences: anthropology, economics, geography, management, political science, religious studies, sociology).

• Achieve a minimum overall grade point average of 3.0 (4.0 scale) for all university work. A grade point average of 3.0 (i.e. B) at the time of application does not, however guarantee selection. It should be noted that the 180 applicants invited for an interview in the last several years had an average GPA of 3.85.

University of Western Ontario Dental Schools Requirements

Western University Dental Schools Requirements

 Completion of final year or in completion of final year of undergraduate degree program leading to a
four-year undergraduate degree
 Completion of required courses listed on the school website with a minimum grade of 74.5% (8 on the
McMaster Scale)
 Minimum average of 80% (10 on the McMaster scale) in each year of the two academic years
considered
o The class average based on the 2 best undergraduate years for the class of 2018 was 89%
(~11 on the McMaster scale)
 Completion of DAT
o Mean DAT score: Reading 22, Academic Average(AA)  21

University of Manitoba Dental Schools Requirements

How long does it take Dental School to complete

 A minimum of 4-5 years depending on whether students pursue a dental specialty
 There are nine nationally recognized dental specialties in Canada:

 Dental Public Health: www.caphd.ca
 Endodontics: www.caendo.ca
 Oral Maxillofacial Surgery: www.caoms.com
 Oral Medicine and Pathology: www.cda-adc.ca/jcda/vol-69/issue-9/568.pdf
 Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology: http://caomr.org
 Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics: www.cao-aco.org
 Pediatric Dentistry: www.capd-acdp.org
 Periodontics: www.cap-acp.ca
 Prosthodontics: www.prosthodontics.ca

Financial and Time Commitment

Attending dental school is a huge financial and time commitment. You will spend a minimum of 4-5 years at dental school so it is important to ensure the school you choose to attend is the right school for you. Most universities offer virtual tours of campuses on their websites. Take the time to learn everything you can about campus life. If possible, visit the campuses of the dental schools you wish to attend.

Tuition fees across Canada continue to rise and you will most likely need to obtain student loans to finish your degree. Learn what the tuition fees are for the dental schools you want to apply to. Research what financial support options are available to you, either through personal savings, scholarship and bursaries or through federal and provincial student loans.

Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) Web site offers information and resources about the financial assistance options available to Canadians wishing to obtain post-secondary education in Canada.

Canada Student Loan Program:
http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/learning/canada_student_loan/cslp.shtml

The most important dental universities in Canada

Indeed, dentistry in Canada is a highly desirable option for international students. However, it is important to have a dentist degree in one of the best schools and colleges out there.

Do you want to know the most important Canadian universities of dentistry to continue your studies in?

We show you a list that will benefit you and support your final choice…

It is very important to ensure that the college or university you want to enroll in allows international students to study because many of them are open only to Canadians or foreigners residing in Canada.

British Columbia University in Canada

As a matter of fact, the University of British Columbia (UBC) is a global center for teaching, learning, and research.

Moreover, this university has a good ranking in its academic field: geography, mineral and mining engineering, as well as mathematical disciplines. However, it is one of the best Canadian universities to study dentistry.

This college offers PhD and master’s degree programs in dentistry in various disciplines.

University of Montreal

The University of Montreal (UdeM) is one of the five largest universities in Canada (the second largest university by number of students).

Meanwhile, it is considered the most important university in the French-speaking world in terms of numbers of international students as well as the quality of scientific research.

Furthermore, it ranks among the top 100 universities in the world and enjoys a good reputation in the field of dentistry due to the efficiency of its graduates.

This college offers PhD, master’s and bachelor’s degree programs in dentistry in various disciplines.

McGill University

Located in Montreal, McGill University is among the most prestigious universities in Canada.

Besides, it attracts thousands of international students from more than 150 countries every year. The highest percentage of PhD students is from any other Canadian research university.

McGill University owes this reputation and standing to more than 50 research centers and institutes. In addition to more than 400 very rich study programs and a thriving alumni network of 250,000 people worldwide.

University of Western Ontario

As a matter of fact, the University of Western Ontario is one of the best universities in Canada.

Likewise, the university attracts students who have a great ambition and desire to study, share knowledge and leadership in international societies.

Moreover, students from 117 countries have the opportunity to gain classroom experiences. Basically, it has more than 277,000 graduates worldwide.

Obviously, students at this university make a balance between academic achievement and opportunities to participate in sports, volunteer and social activities.

Dalhousie University

Dalhousie University is one of the leading universities in Canada. Indeed, it is one of the oldest Canadian universities and is widely recognized for academic quality and teaching, as well as giving it a wide range of educational and research opportunities.

Basically, the Dalhouse House has been located in Halifax, Canada since 1818. Besides, it attracts outstanding students from all over the world.

University of Alberta

Indeed, the University of Alberta is one of the best universities in Canada and among the world’s leading research universities.

Likewise, it has a distinguished reputation in the humanities, creative arts, business, engineering as well as health sciences, with more than 250,000 graduates around the world.

Saskatchewan University

Likewise, Saskatchewan University (USask) is one of the oldest and most distinguished universities in Canada.

Basically, USask is founded in 1907. Indeed, USask is one of the few universities that hold several Research Chairs of Excellence in Canada.

Moreover, an important note for international students: It has been found that the University of Saskatchewan’s College of Dentistry has stopped accepting the admission of foreign non-Canadian students.

University of Manitoba

The University of Manitoba is the first university in western Canada. Moreover, it is founded 140 years ago and located in the heart of the country.

As a matter of fact, it is the largest university in the region, the most research-intensive. Moreover, it has more than 60 diplomas and degrees in several professional disciplines such as medicine, law as well as engineering.

Conditions and requirements for studying dentistry

Obviously, conditions for students accepting to study dentistry in Canada vary from university to another. However, they are generally divided into 4 groups:

Eligibility criteria

As a matter of fact, most provinces require at least two years of post-secondary education. On the other hand, most colleges require candidates to pursue some basic science courses before starting their program to prepare for dental study.

Since these requirements differ from one faculty to another,it is best to check the college’s website for more details.

School Results

Obviously, medical schools carefully consider academic outcomes when evaluating candidates for admission to their program.

As an illustration, selection boards look at the Minimum Cumulative Progress (MCP) to determine whether candidates have good study habits and an intellectual ability to study in the field of medicine and dentistry.

Biography or short text

Indeed, candidates have the opportunity to stand out from the crowd by providing the selection committee with a brief memo or a short biographical text depicting their personality and achievements.

Moreover, it should include things like paid jobs, volunteering, research, additional courses, hobbies, sports, prizes, scholarships, etc. …

Recommendation letters

As a matter of fact, most Canadian dental schools require a letter of recommendation. Basically, the Selection Committee provides additional information about the type of student who may become a candidate.

In addition, candidates may be required to take language tests such as TOEFL, CAEL, and others.

At last, for detailed information on admission requirements for a specific medical school, please visit its website.

Acceptance test

On the other hand, some dental universities also use the results of the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) and the Admission Test (CASPer).

What do we mean by these two tests?