Study Dentistry Abroad for UK Students
Study dentistry in Europe in English with your A-levels: no UCAT, clinical training on patients and a European dental degree for registration with the GDC.
Dentistry is one of the hardest courses to get into in the UK. The dental schools are few, the cohorts are small and almost every one of them selects by UCAT. If you want to study dentistry abroad, the picture changes. Dental faculties in Bulgaria and the Czech Republic teach the full course in English, admit on school results and put you on real patients in the clinical years.
A dental degree from an EEA country that is listed in the EU qualifications directive is recognised by the General Dental Council in a near-automatic process. Your nationality plays no part in that; the qualification does. You do not sit the Overseas Registration Examination.
Study dentistry in Europe: universities and tuition fees
| Dental school | Country | Programme | Tuition per year | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medical University of Sofia, Faculty of Dental Medicine | Bulgaria | Dental Medicine in English | 10,000 € | The faculty where our founder trained as a dentist, class of 2021 |
| Medical University of Plovdiv | Bulgaria | Dental Medicine in English | 10,000 € | Second-largest city in Bulgaria, large international student body |
| Medical University of Varna | Bulgaria | Dental Medicine in English | 10,000 € | Campus city on the Black Sea |
| Masaryk University, Brno | Czech Republic | Dentistry in English, 5 years | 16,000 € | 25 places a year, one floor of the simulation centre reserved for dentistry |
More dental schools, including faculties outside the EU with lower fees, are in our university finder.
Why UK students study dentistry abroad
The reason is rarely the grades. It is arithmetic: far more qualified applicants than chairs in the clinic. A European dental school gives you the place now. You start in the autumn after your A-levels and you are treating patients under supervision while friends at home are on their second UCAS cycle.
Marcel Kloos, the founder of Medschool Experts, took this route himself. He started dentistry in English at the Medical University of Sofia at the age of 24, graduated in 2021 and is today a federally recognised dentist in Switzerland. The phantom-head courses, the first extraction on a real patient, the Bulgarian classes next to the timetable: we describe them from experience, not from a brochure.
Entry requirements to study dentistry abroad
- A-levels with Biology and Chemistry; IB Diploma or Scottish Advanced Highers as alternatives
- No UCAT
- Some universities set an entrance test in biology and chemistry, and we prepare you for it
- Graduates of a first degree can apply as well; see graduate entry dentistry
- A valid passport; we arrange the student visa and residence permit with you after admission
GDC registration with a European dental degree
Dentists who practise in the UK are registered with the General Dental Council. For holders of a recognised EEA dental qualification the GDC runs a near-automatic recognition process. The UK government extended these arrangements in 2023; they currently run until June 2028, and what applies after that date has not been decided yet. We check the position with you before you enrol and keep you informed during your studies.
Dentists with a degree from outside the EEA register after passing the Overseas Registration Examination or the Licence in Dental Surgery. GDC registration allows you to practise in the UK. For NHS dentistry you additionally join the Performers List of the nation you work in. Dental training posts are not part of the prioritisation rules that apply to medical training since March 2026.
From A-levels to your first patient: the steps
- Step 1: Free consultation. We look at your grades and your budget and name the dental schools where you can start.
- Step 2: Admission. We prepare documents, certified copies and translations and submit your application.
- Step 3: Visa, accommodation and your first days on campus.
- Step 4: Pre-clinical years with phantom-head training, then clinical years on patients.
- Step 5: Graduation and registration with the GDC or the dental regulator of another country.
More guides for UK students
FAQ: study dentistry abroad as a UK student
Can I study dentistry abroad in English?
Yes. Dental faculties in Bulgaria and the Czech Republic, among others, teach the whole course in English. You learn the local language alongside for work with patients.
Is a European dental degree recognised in the UK?
A recognised dental qualification from an EEA country is accepted by the GDC through a near-automatic process without the Overseas Registration Examination. The current arrangements run until June 2028.
Do I need the UCAT to study dentistry in Europe?
No. Our partner universities decide on your school results and, at some faculties, an entrance test in biology and chemistry.
How much does it cost to study dentistry abroad?
Tuition is 10,000 € a year in Sofia, Plovdiv and Varna and 16,000 € a year at Masaryk University in Brno.
How long does it take to study dentistry in Europe?
Five years at Masaryk University in Brno. Programmes in other countries can include an additional pre-graduation internship.
Last reviewed: October 2026
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