Dental School Information

If you're looking for more information, contact the SSSC.

Dentistry is fast becoming a popular profession for Undergraduate Science Students. Like medical schools, dental schools look for well rounded students with outstanding academic and personal profiles. Admission is competitive, so prepare early. 

In general, most Bachelor of Science degrees in Biology and Biochemistry provide you with the pre-requisites for dental school but you should check the websites of the schools that interest you to make sure that you are prepared. Your first year physics, chemistry and biology courses are usually included in pre-requisites, and the material covered also helps prepare you for your Dental Aptitude Test (DAT).

For more information and specific details, visit the links below for the ten dental schools in Canada:

If you are interested in studying dentistry in French, there are two school which offer a completely French program:

Admission Requirements for Dental Schools in Canada

  • Alberta

    • 1 semester of cell biology

    • 1 semester of microbiology

    • 1 semester of chemistry

    • 1 semester of organic chemistry

    • 1 semester of biochemistry

    • 2 semesters of English

    • 1 semester of statistics

    • 2 semesters of human physiology

    • Cut off GPA = 3.5

    • Minimum grade requirement for a pre-requisite course is a C-

    • DAT required

    • CASPer required

    Click here for more information.

  • British Columbia

    • 2 semesters of biology

    • 2 semesters of chemistry

    • 2 semesters of biochemistry

    • 2 semesters of organic chemistry

    • 2 semesters of English

    • Cut off GPA = 2.8

    • Lowest academic year dropped from calculation if 4 or more years completed (year dropped cannot be your most recent year of study)

    • Minimum grade requirement for a pre-requisite course is a UBC C- (55-59%)

    • SAT/UNS grades are not accepted for pre-requisite courses

    • DAT required 

    Click here for more information.

  • Manitoba

    • 2 semesters of biology

    • 2 semesters of chemistry

    • 2 semesters of physics

    • 2 semesters of organic chemistry

    • 2 semesters of English

    • 2 semesters of biochemistry

    • 2 semesters of humanities/social sciences

    • GPA is adjusted (in 2022 the minimum core course average for Manitoba applicants' GPA = 3.80, and Out-Of-Province applicants' GPA = 3.85)

    • SAT/UNS grades will not be considered for meeting admission requirements

    • Manual Dexterity score required

    • DAT required (in 2022 the minimum DAT average for Manitoba applicants' score = 19.50, and Out-Of-Province applicants' score = 22.50)

    Click here for more information.

  • Dalhousie

    • 2 semesters of biology w/ labs

    • 2 semesters of chemistry w/labs

    • 2 semesters of physics w/labs

    • 2 semesters of organic chemistry w/labs

    • 1 semester of biochemistry

    • 1 semester of microbiology

    • 2 semesters of human physiology

    • 2 semesters of English

    • 4 semesters of humanities/social sciences

    • DAT required

    Click here for more information.

  • Toronto

    • 2 semesters of biochemistry

    • 2 semesters of human/mammalian physiology

    • 4 semesters of life sciences (please see their website for examples of courses that fall within this category)

    • 2 semesters of humanities/social sciences

    • Cut off GPA = 3.0 [In the past, interviewees had a minimum GPA = 3.85] 

    • DAT required

    • CASPer required

    Click here for more information.

  • Western

    • 1 semester of organic chemistry

    • 1 semester of biochemistry

    • 2 semesters of human/mammalian physiology

    • Cut off GPA = 3.7

    • Minimum of 80% average in the applicant's two best academic years (can be any of the years of a four-year Undergraduate degree) 

      • Only one two-semester course may be a SAT/UNS grade in each of the two years considered

    • DAT required

    • CASPer required

    Click here for more information.

  • McGill

    • 2 semesters of biology w/labs

    • 2 semesters of chemistry w/ labs

    • 2 semesters of physics w/labs (1 semester of calculus can count towards half of the credits required for physics)

    • 1 semester of organic chemistry w/labs

    • 1 semester each of biochemistry, mammalian physiology, and cell biology & metabolism are recommended

    • DAT required (except for the fall 2023 and fall 2024 applications)

    • CASPer required

    • Science pre-requisites CANNOT be SAT/UNS (except during the Winter 2020 semester)

    Click here for more information.

  • Saskatchewan

    • 2 semesters of biology w/ labs

    • 1 semester of chemistry w/labs

    • 1 semester of organic chemistry w/labs

    • 1 semester of physics w/labs

    • 1 semester of biochemistry

    • 1 semester of metabolic biochemistry

    • 2 semesters of physiology

    • 1 semester of nutrition

    • 1 semester of microbiology

    • 2 semesters of social sciences/humanities

    • A cumulative weighted average of 75% over the best two years

    • Minimum grade of 70% on each pre-requisite course

    • DAT required (in the past, successful Saskatchewan applicants' score = ~17.00, and successful Out-Of-Province applicants' score = ~20.00)

    Click here for more information.

    Last updated 08/10/2023

Dental Admissions Test (DAT)

The DAT is a 3-hour long, computerized test that evaluates general academic ability, comprehension of scientific information, two- and three-dimensional visual perception and manual dexterity. It costs ~500 CAD to write and takes place in February and November, with registration in July. There are 4 sections:

  • Natural Sciences
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Perceptual Ability Test
  • Manual Dexterity Test*

*The Manual Dexterity Test is not routinely required and is available for an extra fee. It is not required for Ontario Dental Schools.

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