Requirements for Dental Schools in Canada: Complete Guide

This is the most comprehensive and accurate information that can be found on the internet regarding the admission requirements for each of the 10 dental schools in Canada. Every year 25% of applications to dental schools are rejected because not all the requirements are met.

The admission requirements are similar between the different dental schools and are categorized here in the priority of what an applicant must submit to be considered:

Academic

  1. Minimum number of years of undergraduate study required
  2. Pre-requisite courses
  3. GPA

Non-Academic 

  1. Dental Admission Test
  2. CASPer Test
  3. Personal Statement/ Essays
  4. Interview

Each dental school in Canada has different requirements within each of the above categories.

This blog post compares and contrasts the dental school admission requirements for all 10 dental schools in Canada in one place to help you determine which school is the best fit for you. It will also help guide your undergraduate studies by helping you to figure out which courses you should be taking.

Those interested in seeing the dental school requirements for the American Universities click on this link.

If you would like an in-depth analysis of the dental school requirements for a specific dental school in Canada including average admitted GPA and DAT scores as well as detailed information about the interview, autobiographical sketch, and admissions weighting statistics, click on the links below:

Requirements for Dental Schools in Canada: Prerequisite Courses

All students applying to each of the Canadian dental schools must meet certain prerequisite course requirements. The number in the box represents the length of study for each prerequisite (0.5 indicates a half-course and 1 indicates a full course).

Prerequisite CourseUofTUWOUofAUofMUBCUofSLavalMcGillUdeMDal
Organic Chemistry0.50.5110.50.50.50.51
General Chemistry1110.51111
Biology11111111
Physics111.511.51
Biochemistry10.50.51110.5
Physiology11111
Life Science2
MicroBiology0.50.50.5
Nutrition0.5
Humanities or Social Sciences1112
Writing Course1
English111
Statistics0.5
Mathematics11

Each dental school requires that you take each prerequisite course for a certain number of credits. Some dental schools only require a half-year course, others require a full year (2 half-year courses) course of study. 

Requirements for Dental Schools in Canada: Undergraduate and GPA Requirements

UofTUWOUofAUofMUBCUofSLavalMcGillUdeMDal
Minimum Years of Undergrad Study3422332402
Minimum GPA to apply3.03.73.0N/R2.83.0N/RN/RN/RN/R
Average GPA of accepted students3.943.93.873.92*N/R3.7N/R3.82N/RN/R
Lowest GPA Admitted3.85N/R3.74N/RN/R3.3N/RN/RN/RN/R
N/R means the information is Not Released by the University
* University of Manitoba uses a 4.5 GPA scale

If you’re looking for tricks to improve your undergraduate grades check out our post on the top study habits to get maximum grades in minimum time!

Requirements for Dental Schools in Canada: DAT and CASPER Requirements

UofT UWO UofA UofM UBC UofS Laval McGill UdeM Dal
CASPer Required
DAT Required
U.S. DAT Accepted
Mean Academic Average Score22.021.0N/R20.6N/R19.0N/RN/RN/RN/R
Mean Perceptual Ability Test21.020.022.121.1N/R19.6N/RN/RN/RN/R
N/R means the information is Not Released by the University

Dentistry Admission Test:

  • Some dental schools in Canada take into consideration only specific sections
  • If an applicant has taken the DAT multiple times, some Universities will take the highest score and some will use the most recent scores

Students looking to test their knowledge in preparation for the DAT can click on this link to access our free practice tests for both the Canadian DAT and American DAT. For those looking for DAT prep courses, we recommend those offered by the Princeton Review. They are a reputable long standing company that offers a variety of different course options to meet individual needs.

CASPer Test:

  • The Canadian Professional Health Sciences test (CSP10201) is the required CASPer test for dental schools requiring the CASPer 

Each university has different deadlines for CASPer and DAT submissions. Use the links at the bottom of this post to access specific information on the University you are looking to apply to.

Requirements for Dental Schools in Canada: Interview and Autobiographical Sketch

UofTUWO UofA UofMUBCUofSLavalMcGillUdeMDal
Autobiographical Sketch Required
MMI Interview
Traditional Interview

All dental schools in Canada require an interview in their admission process, which is granted to the most qualified applicants. There are two main types of interviews, multi-mini interviews and traditional interviews. If you are looking for interview practice check out our posts on both MMI Practice Questions and Standard Interview Practice Questions.

Some Universities require specific autobiographical sketches, with their own unique questions, to be completed by applicants. 

Requirements for Dental Schools in Canada: Final Admission Decisions

Every dental school weighs each section of your application differently when making the final admission decisions. This will play a large role in your application process and should be taken into consideration. All this information can be found above in any of the links listed for the university you are interested in.

In-Depth Look at the Requirements for Each Dental School in Canada:

If you would like an in-depth view of the dental school requirements for a specific dental school in Canada, including average admitted GPA and DAT scores as well as detailed information about the interview, autobiographical sketch, and admissions weighting statistics, click on the links below:

For those interested in applying for Canadian medical schools check out our page on the requirements for medical schools in Canada.


FAQ:

What GPA do you need for admission to dental schools in Canada?

The lowest GPA admitted to a dental school in Canada ranges 3.3-3.7 depending on which school. To get in with a low GPA the other aspects of the application must be exceptional. A competitive GPA for admission, which is the average GPA of admitted students, is between 3.7-3.95 depending on the school.

Is math required for dentistry in Canada?

Math is not a requirement for admission for most dental schools in Canada. However, two dental schools: Université Laval and Université de Montréal do require university level math as a prerequisite. Both of these Universities are French-speaking.

How many students apply to dental school each year in Canada?

In 2020 there were approximately 4,000 applicants to all dental schools in Canada combined for 523 spots.

What are the entry requirements for dentistry in Canada?

The admission requirements are similar between the different dental schools: prerequisite courses, GPA requirements, DAT and CASPer testing, as well as interviews and personal statements.

Is dental or medical school harder?

Both medical and dental schools are very competitive to get into. From the perspective of admission rates, medical school is harder to be admitted to than dental school. There are more medical schools than there are dental schools, but there are far more applicants to medical schools than there are to dental schools.

Is it hard to get into dental school in Canada?

Dental schools in Canada are extremely competitive. Successful applicants must meet a significant number of requirements before even being considered including prerequisite courses, GPA requirements, DAT and CASPer testing, as well as interviews and personal statements.

What is the minimum GPA for dental school in Canada?

The lowest admitted GPA of any dental school candidate in Canada is 3.3 from the University of Saskatchewan. However, competitive applicants regularly received a GPA between 3.7-3.95. 

How many years does it take to be a dentist?

All dental schools in Canada, with one exception, are 4 years. The Université de Montréal dental program is 5 years because it accepts applicants straight out of high school.

Do you have to take the MCAT for dental school?

No. Students are not required to take the MCAT for admission to any dental schools. Instead, prospective applicants must complete the Dental Admission Test (DAT). The DAT is similar in content to the MCAT but different in format.

Do you need Biology for Dentistry?

Yes. Most dental schools in the United States and Canada will require at least one full year of biology courses as a part of their prerequisites.

What high school courses are needed to become a dentist in canada?

There are no prerequisite high school courses needed to become a dentist in Canada. Only university-level courses are taken into consideration when applying.

What undergraduate degree is best for dental school in canada?

The undergraduate degree that you can get in Canada has no effect on the likelihood of gaining entrance into a dental school. The undergraduate degree best for an individual student is the one that satisfies all prerequisite course requirements and allows the applicant to get the highest GPA possible.

This Post Has 3 Comments

  1. ahmed

    this is very thorough; i appreciate the effort you put into making this.

  2. jamie

    when you are talking about GPA requirements in university – are you talking about all 4 yrs of uni or final 2?

  3. Amin ullah

    Last smster of bs dental want Ms in canada

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