The UWA Dental School is WA’s only tertiary dental training centre, offering aspiring and existing dentists a range of practical and innovative postgraduate courses in a high-tech dental teaching and learning facility.

The graduate Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) program extends over 4 years and is clinically focused with early clinical contact and exposure to research activity. The Doctor of Clinical Dentistry (DClinDent) postgraduate speciality training extends over 3 years, offering programs in Dento-maxillofacial Radiology, Endodontics, Orthodontics, Periodontics, Prosthodontics, Paediatric Dentistry and Oral Medicine. These programs enrich the training environment at the School, and offer opportunities for advanced patient care. 

The School operates the Oral Health Centre of WA (OHCWA), a centralised public tertiary referral centre and dental teaching hospital, where eligible patients are treated on behalf of the State Government of WA. OHCWA offers a full range of general and speciality dental services to the Western Australian community, and we are proud of the high standard of care provided by our clinicians, dental clinical assistants and laboratory technicians.

“We strive to integrate education, research and clinical care; so our graduates can serve both individual patients and communities. Dentists also need skill sets and knowledge which enable them to participate with other health care professionals, to holistically cater for health needs of the Western Australian, Australian and overseas communities.”

PROFESSOR HIEN NGO, DEAN AND HEAD, UWA DENTAL SCHOOL, AND DIRECTOR, ORAL HEALTH CENTRE OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

Our vision, mission and motto

Our Vision

To be recognised internationally as a contemporary, progressive, innovative and vibrant centre of excellence in dentistry.

Our Mission

To achieve excellence in dental education, research and oral health care to the benefit of our local community and the advancement of dentistry globally.

Our Motto

 Achieve excellence, pursue impossible.

Courses

Doctor of Dental Medicine

You’ll be based at the Oral Health Centre of Western Australia, a high-tech dental teaching hospital and learning facility on the UWA Health campus in Nedlands. You will learn by treating patients under close supervision by highly experienced and skilled tutors, or by observing general and specialist dentists treating a wide range of dental conditions. Successful graduates can register with the Dental Board of Australia as a dentist and enter the profession immediately.

university of western australia dentistry entry requirements

Bachelor degree holders or students who are in their first bachelor’s degree may be eligible to apply for graduate entry into the Doctor of Medicine (MD) or the Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD). Students who are in progress of their first bachelor’s degree may apply during their final year, with any course offer being conditional on completion of all bachelor’s degree requirements by 31 December of the application year.

Graduate entry into the MD and DMD is a competitive process based on GPA, GAMSAT (or equivalent) score and an interview process. Places are limited and are awarded to the highest-ranking applicants.

Eligibility requirements

To be considered for admission into the MD or DMD, an applicant must have:

• a bachelor’s degree, or an equivalent qualification, as recognised by UWA. Recognised bachelor’s degrees are those conferred by Australian universities or higher education institutions recognised by the Australian Qualifications Framework or the National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (NOOSR). While academic results from postgraduate study will be taken into account, postgraduate studies undertaken without a bachelor’s degree cannot be accepted as an equivalent qualification
• the equivalent of HMS Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 5.5, and
• a Graduate Medical School Admissions Test (GAMSAT) overall score of at least 55 for the MD, 50 for the DMD and no section score less than 50 for domestic applicants.

International applicants for the MD or DMD may sit the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) in place of the GAMSAT and require an overall minimum MCAT score of 492 with no section under 123, or a minimum GAMSAT score of 50 with no section under 50.  International applicants for the DMD may submit Canadian or American Dental Association Dental Admissions Test results (DAT/CDAT). Refer to information below regarding Graduate Admissions Tests for further details.

Applicants are initially ranked according to GPA and GAMSAT/MCAT/DAT (equally weighted), with the highest-ranking applicants being offered an interview.  Due to COVID19 disruptions the usual interview process for International students is under review.  Applicants will be provided with updated information as it becomes available.

After the interviews, candidates will be ranked by GPA, GAMSAT/MCAT/DAT and interview score (equally weighted), with the highest-ranking applicants being offered a place. Rural applicants will be ranked based on GAMSAT, GPA interview and rurality rating (equally weighted).