University of Alberta Dental School Requirements

The University of Alberta Dental program is one of ten dental programs in Canada.

In 2021, the University of Alberta dental school acceptance rate was 8%. Of the 424 undergraduate students that applied, only 34 were admitted into the program. However, the acceptance rate for applicants who applied from outside of Alberta is significantly smaller at 1.4%. Of the 204 applicants who applied, 3 were admitted to the program.

The Uof A dental school requirements and admission statistics are categorized here in the priority of what an applicant must submit to be considered:

Academic

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

Non-Academic 

1. Dentistry Admission Test (DAT)
2. CASPer Test
3. Personal Statement/ Essays
4. Interview

University of Alberta Dental School Prerequisites:

All students applying to the University of Alberta Dental program must have completed at least 2 years of undergraduate study. They must include the following coursers: 

A minimum requirement for admission is 10 full year course equivalents (or 20 half-year course equivalents), of which 5 full year course equivalents (or 10 half-year course equivalents) must be taken during one Fall/Winter academic year(a Fall/Winter academic year is September to April inclusive).

University of Alberta Dental School Dental School Requirements: GPA Calculation

All postsecondary courses completed as a full-time student will be included in this calculation. 

The grades in the coursework of the current academic year of application are used in the calculation of the applicant’s GPA. Official final transcripts of the current Fall/Winter academic year must be submitted by June 15. Applicants planning to take Spring term courses the year admission is sought must notify the Admissions Office of their registration and provide a final transcript by June 15.

University of Alberta Dental School Dental School Requirements: Dental Aptitude Test (DAT) and CASPer

DAT and CASPer Overview:

DAT Admission Score Statistics:

Dental Admission Test: The DAT must have been written within the last five years. The Survey of Natural Sciences (SNS), Perceptual Ability Test (PAT), and Reading Comprehension Test (RCT) will all be taken into consideration. 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 must be taken for admission to this university. Only the 90-minute situational judgement test is required. The CASPer snapshot will not be taken into consideration by the admissions committee.

Autobiographical Sketch and Personal Statements:

The Personal Experiences section gives you the opportunity to highlight your life experiences that you feel will enhance your application. The Personal Experiences section is comprised of four subsections:

Employment: Include the nature of the work, responsibilities, average hours worked per week, and the total number of verifiable hours worked in each position. (350 characters per entry).  Maximum of 3 entries.

Leadership and/or  Volunteer Experiences: List and briefly describe areas where you have provided a leadership role or volunteer experience. This applies to scholastic, sports, arts, and community activities. Include information on time commitment as well as the total number of verifiable hours committed. (350 characters per entry). Maximum of 3 entries.

Life Experience & Achievements: This section encompasses many domains including, but not limited to, achievements and experiences in education, arts, music, sports, athletics, science, research, languages, communication, cultural and ethnic experiences, and travel. You can include activities that you feel have defined your life. Include a brief description of the time commitment.  One entry allowed.

Personal Highlights: Use this space to highlight something about yourself that has not been previously expressed (1000 characters maximum).  One entry allowed.

You must provide the University of Alberta with the contact information for someone who can confirm the details you have provided for each activity. This contact cannot be yourself and it is recommended that they are not a family member.

University of Alberta Dental School Interview:

Interviews at U of A are in the format of Multiple Mini Interview (MMI). Interviewees will spend ten minutes, at each station with a single interviewer before moving on to another interviewer.

The interviewees are being assessed to determine if they have the personal qualities necessary for the profession. The interview evaluates an applicant’s:

• Maturity 
• Motivation 
• Initiative 
• Ability to communicate 
• Personal qualities and interests

At each station, you will be provided with a question and given two minutes to come up with a response. Afterwards, you will discuss the response with an interviewer for eight minutes before moving on to the next interviewer.

Applicants who participate in the personal interview will also be scheduled for an allotted time that same day to complete a written, personal statement. This statement will allow applicants to respond to specific questions and provide personal information regarding their preparation for and understanding of the dental profession and demonstrate written communication skills.

Those looking for practice can check our posts on both MMI Practice Questions and Standard Interview Practice Questions here. Additionally, The University of Alberta has provided a Sample MMI question here.

Offers of Admission Process:

Of the 31 seats in the program 26 are reserved for Alberta residents, up to 3 spots will be given to non-Alberta Canadian residents and up to 2 spots given to international students (Student Visitors). 

Offers of admission at the University of Alberta will be given out according to the following criteria used to rank the applicants:

1. Overall GPA
2. Dental Aptitude Test (DAT)
3. CASPer Results
4. Personal Experiences
5. Interview score
6. Personal Statement
7. Additional assessments (as determined by the Admissions Committee)

Requirements for other Dental Schools in Canada:

If you would like an in-depth analysis of the dental school requirements for other dental schools in Canada click on the links below:

• University of Toronto (UofT) Dental School Requirements
• University of Western Ontario (UWO) Dental School Requirements
• University of Manitoba (UofM) Dental School Requirements
• University of British Columbia (UBC) Dental School Requirements
• University of Saskatchewan (UofS) Dental School Requirements
• Université Laval Dental School Requirements
• McGill University Dental School Requirements
• Université de Montréal (UdeM) Dental School Requirements
• Dalhousie (Dal) University Dental School Requirements

We also have a comprehensive comparison of all 10 dental school requirements in Canada.