UBC’s Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) takes 64 students a year, and about 90% of its domestic seats go to B.C. residents[2]. It doesn’t use Casper, it accepts the US DAT, and its deadline, October 10, is one of the earliest in Canada[3]. The Class of 2030 averaged 87.76% and 25.70 on the DAT[1].
UBC dental school requirements at a glance
| Program | Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD), four years, in Vancouver.[3] |
|---|---|
| University study | 90 UBC-transferable credits (three full-time years) by April 30 of the year you start.[2] |
| Minimum average | 70% (2.8 on 4.0) on all university-transferable work; your worst year can be dropped.[2] |
| Prerequisites | English, general chemistry, biology, organic chemistry and biochemistry, 6 credits each, C- or better.[4] |
| DAT | Canadian or US DAT, written by August 31, 2026; best overall score used.[2] |
| Casper | Not required.[2] |
| Written | Personal statement in AADSAS. No reference letters.[2] |
| Interview | In person, by invitation, February 17 and 19, 2027 ($199 fee).[3] |
| Deadline | October 10, 2026, through ADEA AADSAS only.[3] |
Years of university and GPA
| Minimum university study | Minimum GPA to apply | Average admitted |
|---|---|---|
| 3 years (90 credits) | 70% (2.8) | 87.76% (Class of 2030) |
You need 90 credits of UBC-transferable courses (three full-time years) at a recognized university, finished by April 30 of the year you start[2]. Courses in progress must show on your transcript by January 15, with final grades by May 31[2].
The minimum is an overall average of 70%, or 2.8 on a 4.0 scale, calculated on all university-transferable work since high school, failed courses included[2]. One rule works in your favour: if you have four or more academic years, UBC drops your worst year (September to August), as long as it has at least 24 credits and isn’t your most recent year[2].
The minimum is far below what gets in. Accepted students in the Class of 2030 averaged 87.76%[1]. Archived UBC reports show admitted averages of about 83% in 2010–2011, so the bar has risen by almost five points (see the chart).
UBC: average GPA of admitted students
Admission average, in percent.
| Entering year | Average (%) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 83.41% | [1] |
| 2011 | 83.13% | [1] |
| 2012 | 84.84% | [1] |
| 2013 | 84.34% | [1] |
| 2014 | 86.00% | [1] |
| 2015 | 86.17% | [1] |
| 2016 | 86.05% | [1] |
| 2017 | 85.83% | [1] |
| 2024 | 87.35% | [1] |
| 2025 | 87.73% | [1] |
| 2026 | 87.76% | [1] |
No published figure for missing years (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023).
Prerequisite courses
| Course | Amount | Lab | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | 6 credits | – | Taken in Canada or the US. At UBC, one of ENGL 100, WRDS 150/151 or CAP 100, plus one of ENGL 110, 120 or 121. |
| General chemistry | 6 credits | Yes | For example CHEM 111 and 113, or 121 and 123. |
| Biology | 6 credits | Yes | BIOL 111, BIOL 121 and BIOL 140 or 180 at UBC. |
| Organic chemistry | 6 credits | Yes | For example CHEM 203 with 213 or 205. |
| Biochemistry | 6 credits | – | For example BIOC 202 and 302; at least 3 credits at the 300/400 level. |
You need the equivalent of a UBC C- in each course, with an official letter grade; pass/fail isn’t accepted[4]. All prerequisites must be done by April 30 of the year you start, with no exceptions[4]. Courses from other universities must match UBC’s in content and credits, labs included, so check the BC Transfer Guide or compare course descriptions. UBC doesn’t pre-assess courses[4]. IB, AP and A-Level credits can count[4].
DAT requirements and scores
| DAT required | US DAT accepted | DAT scores used | Casper required |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | Yes | Best overall score within 4 years | No |
| Overall DAT score | |
|---|---|
| Average DAT of accepted students (Class of 2030) | 25.70 |
Canadian DAT sections are scored out of 30. A dash means the school does not publish that figure.
UBC accepts the Canadian or US DAT. For 2027 entry you must write it by August 31, 2026, and official scores must arrive by the October 23 documents deadline. Choose UBC on your DAT registration so scores go straight there[3][2].
- Scores stay valid for four years, and you must declare every DAT you wrote in that window[2].
- If you wrote it more than once, UBC uses your best overall score[2].
- You don’t need the Manual Dexterity part of the Canadian DAT or the Quantitative Reasoning part of the US DAT[2].
UBC reports one combined DAT figure out of 30 for accepted students: 25.70 for the Class of 2030, up from 23.25 two years earlier[1][1]. Older UBC reports gave the Academic Average instead, which sat around 21–22.
UBC: average DAT scores of admitted students
Canadian DAT, scored out of 30.
| Entering year | Academic Average | Perceptual Ability | DAT average | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 20.7 | – | – | [1] |
| 2011 | 20.7 | – | – | [1] |
| 2012 | 21.4 | – | – | [1] |
| 2013 | 22.4 | 22.0 | – | [1] |
| 2014 | – | – | 22.2 | [1] |
| 2015 | – | – | 21.9 | [1] |
| 2016 | – | – | 22.3 | [1] |
| 2017 | – | – | 22.1 | [1] |
| 2024 | – | – | 23.2 | [1] |
| 2025 | – | – | 24.5 | [1] |
| 2026 | – | – | 25.7 | [1] |
No published figure for missing years (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023).
Practise with our free DAT practice tests and the PAT breakdown. If you want a full prep course, try DentPrep.
Casper
UBC’s DMD doesn’t require Casper or any other situational judgement test[2]. Your personal qualities are judged through the personal statement, a global review of your file and the interview.
Personal statement, references and shadowing
- Personal statement: why you want to be a dentist, written in your AADSAS application[2].
- References: not requested. Letters sent anyway aren’t reviewed[2].
- Dental shadowing: not required, but UBC highly recommends at least 30 hours by the time you apply[2].
The UBC dental interview
| Interview format | Applicants interviewed | Entering class size |
|---|---|---|
| In person, with dentists and faculty who haven’t seen your file | 100 (Class of 2030) | 64 |
UBC shortlists applicants based on the whole application, academic and non-academic. Interviews are in person and mandatory, run by teams of general dentists and faculty who haven’t seen your file or grades, and cost $199[2]. For 2027 entry they are on Wednesday, February 17 and Friday, February 19[3]. Applicants who aren’t invited aren’t considered further[2].
About 100 applicants were interviewed for the Class of 2030[1]. Out-of-province applicants may be able to do their interview at another dental school that uses the CDA structured interview[2]. Our interview questions are good practice.
How UBC chooses
UBC says admission rests mainly on academic ability and personal qualities, judged from grades, aptitude tests, interviews and an overall assessment of your fit. It doesn’t publish weights[2].
Where you live matters: about 90% of domestic seats go to in-province applicants (B.C., Yukon, Nunavut and the Northwest Territories), who must show a valid BC Services Card by the deadline[2]. Offers go out in March; accepting one means paying an $11,250 non-refundable deposit within two weeks[2]. Deferrals are possible only in special circumstances, for one year[2].
Key dates for 2027 entry
- May 12, 2026AADSAS application opens[3]
- August 31, 2026Last day to write the DAT[3]
- October 10, 2026Application deadline[3]
- October 23, 2026Documents due: transcripts, DAT scores, proof of residency[3]
- February 17 and 19, 2027In-person interviews[3]
- March 2027Offers; $11,250 deposit within two weeks[2]
AADSAS gives a 25% discount on each Canadian school to offset the exchange rate. Transcripts from outside Canada and the US need a WES or ICES evaluation[2].
Out-of-province, international and Indigenous applicants
- Out-of-province Canadians compete for about 10% of domestic seats; 12 of the 64 students in the Class of 2030 came from outside B.C.[2][1]
- International applicants are considered and need an English test if they studied in a non-English-speaking country. None were accepted for the Class of 2030[2][1].
- Indigenous applicants: up to three seats per cycle are reserved. Applicants must meet the minimum average but can be considered below the competitive cut-off[3].
UBC dental school admission statistics
UBC posts a summary for each class. For the Class of 2030 (entering 2026), 444 applications met the requirements, 100 applicants were interviewed and 64 were accepted: 52 from B.C. and 12 from other provinces[1]. That is up from 268 applications for the Class of 2028, two years earlier[1].
UBC: applicants, interviews and admitted students
Each point is one entering class, as reported by the school.
| Entering year | Applicants | Interviewed | Admitted | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 222 | 120 | 48 | [1] |
| 2011 | 267 | 121 | 48 | [1] |
| 2012 | 304 | 121 | 48 | [1] |
| 2013 | 341 | 120 | 48 | [1] |
| 2014 | 337 | 90 | 47 | [1] |
| 2015 | 359 | 91 | 48 | [1] |
| 2016 | 338 | 96 | 58 | [1] |
| 2017 | 338 | 95 | 58 | [1] |
| 2024 | 268 | 120 | 64 | [1] |
| 2025 | 348 | 100 | 64 | [1] |
| 2026 | 444 | 100 | 64 | [1] |
No published figure for missing years (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023).
Frequently asked questions
What average do you need for UBC Dentistry?
The minimum is 70%, but the Class of 2030 averaged 87.76%.[1]
Does UBC Dentistry drop your worst year?
Yes, if you have four or more years. The year must have at least 24 credits and can’t be your most recent year.[2]
Does UBC Dentistry require Casper?
No. UBC’s DMD doesn’t use Casper.[2]
Does UBC accept the US DAT?
Yes. UBC takes the Canadian or US DAT and uses your best overall score.[2]
When is the UBC Dentistry deadline?
October 10, 2026 for 2027 entry, with the DAT written by August 31.[3]
Does UBC take out-of-province dental students?
Yes, but only about 10% of domestic seats; 12 of 64 students in the Class of 2030 were from outside B.C.[1]
Sources
- UBC Faculty of Dentistry: DMD admissions statistics
- UBC Faculty of Dentistry: DMD admission procedures
- UBC Faculty of Dentistry: applying to the DMD program
- UBC Faculty of Dentistry: DMD required courses
Figures were checked against these sources on November 4, 2026. Dental schools change their rules every cycle, so confirm on the official site before you apply.
I think UBC recently made a change to their “years of study” requirement to 4 years. On their website, they said you need to complete “90 credits” (essentially 3 years of studies) before the August of the application year (not admission year). But overall, this post summarizes the requirements very well (much better than their website haha).
Hi Eugene. They do say that 90 credits must be completed by August of the application year. We interpreted that to mean that by the end of the academic year you applied in (i.e. 2020-2021 cycle) you must have completed 90 credits (3 years of study). This means that while you are completing your 3rd year of study in an undergraduate program your are eligible to apply. This is possible because by the end of that application year you will have completed 90 credits. That being said, the information on their website may be interpreted in a different way. We will follow up with the University to double-check this requirement. Thank you for your kind words about our post!
hi, where is this table from?
All information is gathered from reputable sources and compiled in tables to make it easier to understand and read. If you have specific information regarding a certain statistic feel free to ask us
Hi, i was wondering what would be the pathway for an internationally educated nurse? Please guide. Thank you