Cost of Dentistry Studies in the UK

Cost of Dental Studies in the UK for International Students: Pre-arrival Cost, Tuition Fees, and Cost of Living 

The dentistry field is quite expensive to study in the UK. Thus, it is important to manage a budget for the same. This includes visas, tuition costs, housing, food, transportation, and other living expenses. 

If not planned, international students may struggle to complete their dental studies due to financial hurdles. Continue reading to learn how to budget dental studies in the UK. The article covers the costs of dentistry course fees in the UK, including pre-arrival costs, tuition fees, and living expenses.  

Overview

Before reading the details about all the costs involved in studying dentistry in the UK. Here are some pointers for an overall understanding.

Dentistry Course Fees: Pre-arrival cost in the UK

The pre-arrival cost to study dentistry in the UK includes the following:

• Entrance test fees 
• Application fees 
• Student visa
• Healthcare surcharge 
• Flight ticket

Entrance test fees 

Before sending out their college applications, international students need to apply for entrance tests like the University Clinical Aptitude Test or UCAT or the BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT). Most dental schools in the UK need UCAT while the University of Leeds requires students to sit for BMAT. The fees for UCAT are 142 USD* whereas for BMAT the fees are 113 USD*. Students have to pay an extra 34 USD* for late registration. 

Since courses are taught in English, international students are required to answer English proficiency tests like IELTS or TOELF. Depending on the location of the test center, the TOEFL might cost 180 to 325 USD* and the IELTS can cost 245 to 255 USD*.

Application fees

All dental schools in the UK accept applications through UCAS. The application fee for a single dental school is 25 USD* and 32 USD* for multiple schools. Looking at the struggles of students, Gyanberry has launched admission counseling services. Students can use these services to improve their chances of getting into dental schools in the UK.

Student visa

The first thing students should do after getting accepted to a dental school is to apply for a student visa. Since dentistry is higher education, students should apply for Tier 4 (General) student visas. It is ideal to apply 6 months before the start date of the course. Applicants must also submit copies of bank statements showing enough cash for one academic year of tuition. The entire visa application process costs 447 USD*.  

Healthcare surcharge 

Besides visas, international students need to apply for a healthcare surcharge. It entitles students to use the NHS health services in the UK at no extra expense, just as permanent residents of the country. The cost of it depends on the length of the visa. Dentistry students need to pay 768 USD*/year as the healthcare surcharge.

Flight ticket

The cost of a flight ticket (one way) depends on the country from which the student travels. For example, for Indian students, the one-way ticket from Delhi to the UK can cost 550 USD* to 1,280 USD* (Make My Trip).

Tuition fees in the UK

The General Dental Council (GDC) accredits dental schools in the UK. Also, these universities listed in the table below belong to the Russell Group. They are all recognized as world-class research-intensive dental universities. Except for the first two, the rest of the dental colleges in the UK offer BDS programs along with a variety of MSc specializations in dentistry. The table below lists all the best dental schools in the UK along with their tuition fees. 

*Note: All prices mentioned in the USD are for reference only. Exchange rates may vary from time to time and from country to country.

The cost of a master’s specialization in dentistry in the UK ranges from 23,250 to 66,738 USD*/year.   

Cost of living in the UK

It is not cheap to study in the UK. The cost of living in the UK for international students depends on the city in which they choose to live in. The cost differs from one city to another. For example, Belfast, Newcastle, and Coventry are cheaper cities compared to London (the capital city of the UK). Thus carefully planning the living cost can help students a lot with their budget. Here is an overview of the average cost of living in the UK and the different expenses that come under it.

Let us start with the rent and accommodation costs for international dental students in the UK. The accommodation cost varies with the type, university, and geographical location. Students can choose college housing, which usually includes utility bills and is expensive (493 to 738 USD*/month). If students cannot find university accommodation, then they can go for private accommodation. It is cheaper but might not include utilities like gas, electricity, and water (394 to 652 USD*/month).

It is cheaper to buy ingredients and cook from scratch than to go for ready meals. Most universities serve cafeteria food in their canteens. The cost of food can vary from 2,364 to 2,952 USD*/year. Transportation on a student bus pass is quite cheap and usually costs 468 USD*/year. Students should also consider the cost of books, utilities, insurance, mobile, internet, and personal expenses. Any additional costs, such as movies, pubs, or leisure activities, are optional for students to consider. Scholarships are also available to help students pay for their tuition and living expenses.

*Note: All prices mentioned in the USD are for reference only. Exchange rates may vary from time to time and from country to country.