Which Universities Accept Dentistry Resits?

Can you get into dentistry with resits?

Potentially, yes. Some schools consider retaken A-Levels, while others restrict the number of sittings, require grades to be achieved together, or expect a particular grade profile before the resit. Dentistry is highly competitive, so meeting a minimum policy is the beginning of the assessment, not a guarantee of an interview.

Dental schools to investigate as a resit applicant

For applicants with retaken qualifications, begin by checking the published rules for Birmingham, Cardiff, Dundee, Liverpool, Plymouth and Queen's Belfast. Policies can differ by home, international, graduate and widening-participation route.

• Birmingham and Cardiff: check their academic screen and how UCAT is used if applicants are otherwise qualified.
• Dundee: review the combined academic and UCAT approach, plus domicile-specific rules.
• Liverpool, Plymouth and Queen's Belfast: confirm resit wording, minimum science grades and whether GCSE scoring changes your competitiveness.

What a strong dentistry resit application needs

Most standard offers are AAA or A*AA and commonly require Chemistry and Biology. Alongside academics, expect the UCAT, strong GCSEs, evidence of informed dental work experience and a convincing interview. A resit year is a useful opportunity to improve the element that was limiting your first application, rather than only repeating the same strategy.

Questions to ask every admissions team

1. Are A-Level resits accepted for this BDS course?
2. Must all three A-Levels be achieved in one sitting or within two years?
3. Is there a minimum first-sitting grade or a limit on attempts?
4. Are resit applicants considered in the same UCAT pool?
5. Do you need to declare the resit in a particular part of the application?

Plan your choices around the whole profile

Do not choose solely on an old UCAT cut-off. Some dental schools rank mainly by UCAT; others combine the test with academic or GCSE scoring. SJT can also matter. Use your score to shortlist sensible options, then validate every requirement on the university's own site.