Applying to Dental School Strategically Part 3: Where to Apply With a Low UCAT Score
5 days ago by Chris
With the UCAS October 15th deadline soon approaching, narrowing down the 16 dental schools into 4 is a difficult decision. To improve your chances of securing a place in dental school, it is important to use your UCAT scores, predicted or achieved A-Level grades and GCSEs strategically to ensure you apply to dental schools where you are most likely to be offered an interview.
In this blog, we will be focusing on how your UCAT score, achieved before the September 26th UCAT deadline, should help you decide which dental schools to apply to. Using your UCAT score strategically will give you the best chance of obtaining an interview and then a place at dental school.
The 16 dental schools in the UK are: Queen's University Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Dundee, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, King's College London, Barts (Queen Mary), Manchester, Newcastle, Plymouth, Sheffield and the 2 graduate entry schools, Aberdeen and UCLan. The schools that only accept postgraduate entry are UCL and Edinburgh.
In this article, we will detail which universities you should consider with a low UCAT score (1960 and below). Please bear in mind this overview only takes into account your UCAT score. Any additional details are listed in the article below.
In this blog, we will be referencing previous cut-off scores in the old format with the 2025 equivalent out of 2700 in brackets.
Where should I apply?
Here are some dental schools you should consider applying to with a low UCAT score:
Queen's University Belfast
At Queen's University Belfast, applicants are first checked to ensure that the minimum academic requirements are met:
- AAA at A-Level including Biology/Human Biology and Chemistry
- GCSE Grade 4/C in Mathematics if not offered at AS or A-Level
Students are then ranked using UCAT and GCSE results.
Best 9 GCSEs are scored with 4 points for A* (Grade 9), 3 points for A (Grades 7 and 8), 2 points for B (Grade 6) and 1 point for C (Grades 4 and 5). Your UCAT will also be scored by decile, with 9 points awarded for a 10th decile, 8 points for 9th decile, 7 points for 8th decile, 6 points for 7th decile, 5 points for 6th decile, 4 points for 5th decile, 3 points for 4th decile, 2 points for 3rd decile, 1 point for 2nd decile and no points for those in the 1st decile. The Situational Judgement subtest is used for borderline applicants both pre and post-interview.
Previously, the UCAT was only scored out of 6, so QUB's new scoring system marks an increase in weighting on the UCAT. However, QUB should still be a safe choice for students who have a lower UCAT but have better GCSEs to balance the points out.
University of Cardiff
At Cardiff, applicants are first checked to ensure that the minimum academic requirements are met:
- AAA at A-Level including Chemistry and Biology
- At least 7 GCSE passes including Grade 7/A in Biology & Chemistry or Double Award Science, and Grade 6/B in English Language
Cardiff scores Welsh-domiciled students separately to UK students residing outside of Wales (RUK). To select candidates for interview, they score only achieved qualifications, meaning GCSEs. Seven GCSEs are scored with 4 points given for each A*/8-9, 3 for an A/7, 2 for a B/6 and 1 point for a C/4-5. In situations where the number of students with excellent GCSE results exceeds the number of places, the UCAT is used as a tie-breaker. The reference and personal statement will also be reviewed, but with no points assigned. Band 4 in Situational Judgement does not lead to automatic rejection.
Due to the points system, there may not be a set UCAT cut-off, but for 2025 entry, the average UCAT score for non-contextual interviewees was 2737 (2054). The lowest score interviewed was 2040 (1530). As GCSEs have a higher weighting, Cardiff would be an ideal choice for candidates with higher GCSEs (8-9s) and a lower UCAT.
University of Dundee
At Dundee, applicants are first checked to ensure that the minimum academic requirements are met:
- AAA at A-Level including Chemistry and Biology, to be achieved in a single sitting. General Studies is not accepted as the third subject
- GCSE Grade 6/B in English and Mathematics
Interview selection is done holistically based on all academic achievement to date (GCSEs, predicted grades and UCAT).
For 2024 entry, the average UCAT score invited to interview was 2579 (1935) for RUK applicants, 2547 (1910) for Scottish students and 2597 (1948) for international candidates. The lowest non-contextual UCAT score interviewed was 2130 (1598). However, it is important to note that there is no minimum cut-off score, so Dundee would be a good choice for candidates with a lower UCAT but with average or above-average GCSEs.
Barts (Queen Mary)
At Queen Mary's, applicants are first checked to ensure that the minimum academic requirements are met:
- A*AA at A-Level including Chemistry or Biology and one of Chemistry, Biology, Physics and Maths. These must be achieved in a single two-year sitting
- Six GCSE passes at 777666/AAABBB including Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics and English Language or Literature. Double Award Science is accepted in place of Chemistry and Biology
- At least a fourth decile UCAT with Band 3 in the Situational Judgement subtest
Applications will be ranked based on both UCAS tariff scores and UCAT scores in a 50/50 weighting. The UCAS tariff should be 152 (A*AA) or higher.
For 2023 entry, the lowest UCAT score interviewed was 2760 (2070) for home students and 2710 (2033) for international students.
University of Aberdeen (Graduate Entry only)
At Aberdeen, applicants are first checked to ensure that the minimum academic requirements are met:
- 2:1 degree in a medical science or health-related subject
Students are then selected for interview using academic performance and UCAT in a 60:40 weighting.
For 2023 entry, the lowest UCAT score was 2110 (1583) for Scottish students and 2460 (1845) for those from the rest of the UK (RUK). These figures appear to be similar for 2024 entry, but with academic grades scored as well, there isn't a fixed UCAT cut-off. The Situational Judgement subtest is not used except in borderline situations (when two applicants have the same score).
UCLan (Graduate Entry only)
At UCLan, applicants are first checked to ensure that the minimum academic requirements are met:
- 2:1 Degree in a Biomedical discipline
- Three A-Levels at Grade C or above including two of Biology, Chemistry, Maths and Physics
- GCSE English and Mathematics at Grade B
UCLan now requires students to sit the UCAT and states that the highest scoring candidates will be invited to interview between the 15th and 17th December.
Note: UCAT score thresholds do change year-to-year and are impossible to predict with certainty until after the UCAS October 15th deadline.
Achieving a low UCAT score does not mean that you cannot apply to dental school! As you can see, there are opportunities available. If you have achieved a medium or high UCAT score, please see the other blogs in this series:
Interested in medicine? Check out our blog on applying to medical school strategically.
We wish you all the best for your UCAS applications!
Last updated: September 2025
