Study BDS/MDS in the UAE – Top Courses, Fees, Eligibility, Scholarships, and Career Scope
Dentistry is one of the most popular degrees in the United Arab Emirates. Unlike some countries, such as the United States and Canada, where a bachelor’s degree is required for admission to dental schools, the UAE accepts students who have finished a 10+2 education along with a one-year foundation course. The undergraduate courses offered by UAE dental colleges typically last five to six years, whereas graduate dental specialties often last three years. Many institutions require students to do a one-year foundation course before being admitted to their BDS programs. By 2027, the UAE Dental Devices Market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.15 percent. Read to find out about the best dentistry courses (BDS/MDS) in UAE for international students.
Overview of Dentistry Courses (BDS/MDS) in UAE
The following table contains highlights of dentistry studies in the UAE.
| Undergraduate Courses | BDS, DMD, or DDS |
| Post-graduate Courses | MDS, MSD, MS/MSc |
| Post-graduate specializations | Oral Surgery, Prosthodontics, Periodontology, Endodontics, Dental Public Health, Operative Dentistry, Oral Biology, Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery |
| Average fees for bachelor’s in dentistry | 24,026 to 34,304 USD*/year |
| Average fees for master’s in dentistry | 24,734 to 55,104 USD*/year |
| Dental degree accrediting body | Commission For Academic Accreditation (CAA) |
| Entrance exams | EmSAT |
| Licensing exams | Dubai Health Authority (DHA) exam, Ministry of Health (MOH) Exam and Department of Health (DOH) exam |
| Average salary of dentists in the UAE | 157,473 USD*/year |
| Medium of instruction | English |
Best Dentistry Courses (BDS/MDS) in UAE
Dentistry courses in UAE are offered at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. The undergraduate course in Dentistry is called BDS, Bachelor of Dental Surgery. Postgraduate courses in Dentristry are offered in MDS and MS degrees. There are several specializations for students to choose from.
- MDS in Oral Surgery,
- MDS in Prosthodontics,
- MDS in Periodontology and MDS in Endodontics
- MSD in Dental Public Health,
- MSD in Operative Dentistry,
- MSD in Oral Biology,
- MSD in Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery,
- MSD in Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopedics,
- MSD in Pediatric Dentistry
Here is a list of best universities in UAE for dental courses.
| University Name | Bachelor’s courses | Tuition Fees (USD*/year) | Master’s Courses | Tuition Fees (USD*/year) |
| University of Sharjah | BDS | 31,302 | MDS | 46,283 |
| Gulf Medical University | BDS | 34,304 | MDS | 42,022 |
| RAK Medical and Health Sciences University | BDS | 24,230 | NA | NA |
| University of Science And Technology of Fujairah | BDS | 25,864 | NA | NA |
| Boston University Dubai | DMD | 24,026 | MSD | 24,734 |
| Ajman University | BDS | 27,810 | MS | 38,115 |
| The European University College | NA | NA | MS | 55,104 |
| Mohammed Bin Rashid The University of Medicine And Health Sciences Mbru | NA | NA | MS | 50,367 |
The application to most of the courses opens in the fall. There is no centralized application system so students need to apply to colleges individually. Students can apply via Gyanberry, which offers admission and consultancy services for bachelor’s and master’s dental programs in the UAE. The admission process to dental schools in the UAE can be summarized as below:
University of Sharjah
The University of Sharjah is a residential university with over 18229 students living on campus. Students have access to extraordinary campus resources for studying medicine and a big international student community. BDS at the University of Sharjah will take a total of six years ( 1 Foundation yr. + 5 yrs. +1 yr. of clinical practice). The intake of new students happens in the fall. The fee for studying BDS is about USD 31,000 per year.
For MDS in different specializations, the duration of the program is three years and the intake happens in fall and spring. Different specializations offered by the University of Sharjah are MDS in Oral Surgery, MDS in Prosthodontics, MDS in Periodontology, and MDS in Endodontics. The average fee per year is USD 43,000.
Gulf Medical University
Gulf Medical University offers an undergraduate competency-based dental program Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS), a one-year dental internship program, and two postgraduate master’s programs in periodontology and endodontics.
The Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) is a 5-year undergraduate competency-based program spanning over 10 semesters, offering a total of 190 credits. All applicants must complete 18 years of age on or before the 31st of December in the year of admission for student visa purposes. The average fee per year is USD 34,000. MDS programs at GMU are three years in duration. They are available in specializations – MDS in Periodontics and MDS in Endodontics.
RAK College of Dental Sciences (RAKCODS)
The Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) is a five-year program offered by RAK College of Dental Sciences (RAKCODS) since 2007. The program is accredited by the Ministry of Education, UAE.
The dental curriculum at RAKCODS is community-based. It provides learning opportunities for students to acquire fundamental knowledge and clinical skills relevant to oral health care. The average annual tuition fee is USD 24,230. The university does not provide a master’s degree in dentistry.
Admission Requirements and Eligibility to Study Dentistry in the UAE
Admission requirements for a bachelor’s degree in dentistry:
- High school diploma with an average of 85% and above in science subjects
- All applicants must complete 18 years of age on or before the 31st of December in the year of admission for student visa purposes.
- Official transcripts
- EmSAT score of Language English for 1100 or IELTS score of 6.0
- EmSAT score of 800 for the Arabic Language (if applicable)
- EmSAT score of 900 in mathematics or equivalent, and 900 in two of the three science subjects chemistry, biology, or physics
- Proof of funds for tuition fees and living costs
- University entrance test (if applicable)
- Medical certificate from a certified UAE medical center
Admission requirements for a master’s degree in dentistry:
- A bachelor’s degree in dentistry with a GPA of 3.0 or more from an accredited university
- EmSAT score of 1400 in the English Language or IELTS score of 6.0
- Proof of funds for tuition fees and living costs
- Recommendation letters
- Medical certificate from a certified UAE medical center
- Personal interview
Students must take the Emirates Standardized Test (EmSAT) in the UAE to be considered for admission to a dentistry university. EmSAT tests the students on these subjects: Arabic, English, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Computer Science. It’s a computer-based test that’s largely employed by public institutions, but it’s also used by most private universities as part of their admissions process.
Career Scope
Most dentists upon graduation go for their private practice but the typical employers for dentistry graduates are.
- National and global health charities
- Private hospitals
- Teaching and education
- The armed forces
- Universities and clinical research organizations.
Jobs in the market directly related to a degree in dentistry include
- Dental hygienist
- Dental technician
- Dental therapist
- Dentist (Private Practice)
- Dentist (with a hospital)
- Anatomical pathology technologist
- Health improvement practitioner
- Health service manager
- Higher education lecturer
- Medical sales representative
- Teaching laboratory technician
The average salary of a dentist in the UAE is USD 157473.