Newcastle University Dentistry Interview Questions 2026 – Complete Guide for BDS A206 Applicants
1. Quick overview of Newcastle Dental School 🦷🏙️
Newcastle University’s School of Dental Sciences is one of the most modern and well‑equipped dental schools in the UK, with newly opened clinical simulation facilities for pre‑clinical training.
The Dental School sits right next to the Dental Hospital in central Newcastle, meaning you’re immersed in a real clinical environment from early in the course. The BDS Dental Surgery degree (UCAS code A206) is a 5‑year programme, with typical A‑level requirements of AAA including Biology and Chemistry for 2026 entry.
Newcastle’s admissions policy is reviewed annually and is based on guidance from the Dental Schools Council and the General Dental Council (GDC). The information below is drawn mainly from:
Newcastle School of Dental Sciences Admissions Policy 2026 Entry (official document)
Dental Schools Council Entry Requirements 2026 guide
Recent Freedom of Information (FOI) responses from Newcastle University
Newcastle’s official BDS course and School pages
2. How does Newcastle decide who to call for a Dentistry interview? 🎯
Newcastle describes a three‑stage selection process for BDS Dental Surgery (A206): shortlisting, interview, and offers.
🔵 Stage 1 – Academic screening
Check your qualifications
Predicted or achieved A‑levels (or equivalent) must meet the academic threshold – usually AAA including Biology and Chemistry.
A minimum pass in GCSE Maths and English is required, but GCSEs are not used to rank applicants.
Resits
GCSE resits are accepted.
A‑level resits are normally only considered for applicants who previously applied to Newcastle Dentistry, and then only on a single resit occasion.
Once you’ve met the academic threshold, further extra A‑levels or A grades do not give extra advantage* in shortlisting.
🟢 Stage 2 – UCAT ranking
Newcastle is part of the UCAT consortium and requires a valid UCAT score for BDS applicants.
Key points (2026 policy + recent FOI data):
UCAT is one of the main criteria for shortlisting BDS applicants.
All applicants who meet academic requirements are ranked by UCAT score.
Interviews are offered until the maximum number of interview slots is filled; there is no fixed published cut‑off, but in practice there is an annual threshold.
Recent FOI replies show standard UCAT cut‑offs (approximate):
2024 entry: 2680 (contextual ~2600)
2023 entry: 2790 (contextual ~2690)
For 2026, the exact cut‑off will depend on how applicants perform in that testing cycle, so aim well above previous thresholds if you can.
What is UCAT?
UCAT (University Clinical Aptitude Test) is a computer‑based test used by most UK medical and dental schools to assess reasoning, decision‑making and professional attributes rather than school knowledge.
🟣 Stage 3 – Personal statement, work experience & references
The Dental Schools Council and Newcastle both emphasise that applicants must show an informed choice to study Dentistry, demonstrated through work experience or other forms of “career exploration”.
For BDS applicants who meet academic and UCAT thresholds, Newcastle:
Reads your personal statement and reference to look for:
genuine interest in Dentistry and understanding of the profession
evidence of teamwork, leadership and contribution to the community
roughly 10 days of relevant work experience or equivalent career exploration (they recognise some students will find clinical shadowing difficult to arrange)
any significant negative comments in the reference
However, for BDS shortlisting is still driven mainly by UCAT score once you meet the academic bar.
🌈 Contextual admissions & PARTNERS
Newcastle uses contextual data through its PARTNERS Programme (widening participation scheme):
Eligible applicants may receive:
a two‑grade reduction in the standard A‑level offer (e.g. from AAA to ABB)
a slightly lower UCAT threshold for interview invitation.
If you think you might be eligible (e.g. state school in a low‑progression area, personal/disadvantage indicators), it’s worth checking the PARTNERS pages carefully.
3. How does the Newcastle Dentistry interview work for 2026 entry? 🎥
For 2026 entry, Newcastle’s official Admissions Policy states that:
It is a semi‑structured panel interview.
It is held online via Zoom.
Two admissions selectors from the School of Dental Sciences conduct the interview.
The interview lasts around 20 minutes.
Selectors can come from dental and non‑dental, clinical and non‑clinical backgrounds, and all are trained in equality and diversity and the School’s admissions policies.
You will be asked to show official photo ID (passport, driving licence, etc.) at the start of the interview.
Importantly, interviewers will not see your predicted/achieved grades or UCAT score. They only have your name and the information necessary for the interview. Final decisions are based solely on your interview performance (subject to meeting conditions of any offer later).
4. What is the Newcastle Dentistry interview style? 🗣️
Panel, not MMI
Newcastle uses a panel interview, not an MMI (Multiple Mini Interview).
You speak to the same two selectors for the full interview.
The interview is “semi‑structured” – there is a set structure and scoring domains, but the conversation can develop naturally with follow‑up questions.
A Newcastle “Preparing for your interview” leaflet (originally produced for earlier cycles) explains that they try to keep the feel of the interviews informal and often base questions on your personal statement so they can get to know you as a person.
Students posting on The Student Room have also described Newcastle as one of their calmer, more conversational interviews, where they felt able to show their personality.
The six scoring domains 🌟
At the end of the interview, each selector independently scores you against six domains, using a structured mark scheme:
Preparation and motivation for dental school
Why Dentistry? Why Newcastle? What have you done to explore the profession?
Effective learning skills
How you learn, manage time, and adapt your study strategies.
Team working
Working with others, leadership, following instructions and resolving conflict.
Personal qualities and resilience
Integrity, perseverance, dealing with setbacks, self‑awareness.
Interpersonal and communication skills
Listening, explaining clearly, building rapport, non‑verbal communication.
Empathy, sensitivity, integrity and professionalism
Understanding patients’ feelings, maintaining confidentiality, ethical reasoning, acting in line with GDC and NHS values.
Each response contributes to these domains rather than being marked as isolated “right or wrong” answers.
5. When are Newcastle Dentistry interviews held? 📅
For 2026 entry, Newcastle states that:
Interviews are usually conducted between February and March, and
You book your slot online from a list of available times.
Some external preparation sites note that in previous years, interviews have run from December through to March, with invites going out from late autumn onwards. Ultimately, the exact dates will depend on the admissions cycle – always follow the dates in your UCAS and Newcastle emails.
6. What topics are covered in the Newcastle Dental School interview? 📚
The topics align closely with the six scoring domains, Newcastle’s values (linked to the NHS Constitution) and the GDC Safe Practitioner Framework.
Expect questions from the following areas:
🔵 Motivation for Dentistry & for Newcastle
Why you want to study Dentistry rather than another healthcare profession.
What attracts you specifically to Newcastle’s BDS course (teaching style, early clinical exposure, simulation facilities, electives, research strengths).
How your work experience or career exploration confirmed this choice.
🟢 Understanding the profession & NHS issues
What dentists actually do day‑to‑day in primary care, hospital and community settings.
The difference between NHS and private dentistry, access issues and health inequalities.
Awareness of current challenges in NHS dentistry (e.g. patient access, funding models, preventive focus, impact of ageing population).
You don’t need to be an expert in policy; they want to see you’ve thought about the realities of working in the NHS and can discuss them sensibly.
🟣 Learning, time management & study skills
How you organise revision; how you adapt when a topic is difficult.
Experience of independent learning, group projects, or teaching others.
🟡 Teamwork, leadership & contribution to the community
Times you’ve worked effectively in a team (sports, school projects, part‑time work, volunteering).
How you show leadership and also when you’ve been a good team member.
🟠 Personal qualities, resilience & wellbeing
Handling stress (e.g. exams, responsibilities, caring roles).
Dealing with failure, feedback and criticism.
Maintaining work‑life balance and looking after your mental health.
🟤 Communication & dealing with patients
Explaining complex ideas in simple language.
Communicating with anxious or upset patients, children, people with communication difficulties, or those who are angry or dissatisfied.
⚪ Ethics, empathy & professionalism
Common themes include:
Consent and confidentiality.
What it means to act professionally as a student dentist.
Empathy – understanding a patient’s perspective and acting sensitively.
💠 Work experience, hobbies & manual skills
Reflecting on what you observed during shadowing, volunteering or employment.
Hobbies that show manual dexterity (e.g. art, musical instruments, craft, sport) or commitment and teamwork.
7. How competitive is Newcastle Dentistry? (Interviews & offers) 📊
Newcastle’s BDS course is capped at around 71 places per year.
Recent FOI responses show the following for home + international applicants:
2024 entry:
Total applicants: 811
Interviews: 343 home (including 115 contextual) + 10 international ≈ 353 interviews
Offers: 106 home (59 contextual) + 9 international ≈ 115 offers
Roughly 44% of applicants were interviewed, and about one‑third of interviewees received an offer.
2023 entry:
Total applicants: 803
Interviews: 213 home + 12 international ≈ 225 interviews
Offers: 121 home + 5 international ≈ 126 offers
Around 28% of applicants were interviewed, and about 56% of interviewees gained an offer.
2022 entry (partial data):
Interviews: 242 home + 14 international ≈ 256 interviews
Offers: 100 home + 4 international ≈ 104 offers
So roughly 41% of interviewees received an offer.
Overall, with ~71 places and roughly 800+ applicants most years, the overall success rate is under 10%, so performing well at interview is crucial.
8. Example Newcastle Dentistry interview questions (by domain) 📝
Below is an extensive list of example panel questions, inspired by the official Newcastle domains and by reputable preparation sites such as BlackStone Tutors, Medfully, Medic Mind and TheUKCATPeople.
These are not guaranteed actual questions, but they reflect the style and content you should be ready for.
8.1 Preparation & motivation for Dental School 💙
What first made you seriously consider a career in Dentistry?
What specific features of Newcastle’s BDS course appeal to you?
How does Dentistry suit your strengths and personality better than Medicine or another healthcare profession?
Tell us about one experience that confirmed for you that Dentistry is the right choice.
What do you think will be the most rewarding and the most challenging aspects of being a dentist?
How have you explored the profession beyond formal work experience (e.g. podcasts, online talks, reading, virtual work experience)?
What do you know about the structure of the BDS course at Newcastle (pre‑clinical, clinical years, simulation facilities, electives)?
Where do you see your dental career 10 years after graduation?
8.2 Effective learning skills & academic readiness 💚
How do you usually approach learning a difficult topic in a science subject?
Give an example of a time you had to change your study strategy because something wasn’t working.
Dentistry involves a lot of self‑directed learning. How will you keep yourself motivated over five demanding years?
Tell us about a time you taught or explained a concept to someone else – what did you learn from that?
How do you balance school work with other commitments (e.g. part‑time job, sports, caring responsibilities)?
8.3 Teamwork & leadership 💜
Describe a situation where you worked effectively as part of a team. What was your role?
Tell us about a time when you disagreed with a team‑mate. How was it resolved?
Have you ever had to lead a group (in sport, school, work or volunteering)? What did you find most difficult about leading others?
What does good teamwork look like in a dental practice setting?
Which other professionals do dentists regularly work with and how might you contribute to that team?
8.4 Personal qualities & resilience 🧡
What personal qualities do you think are essential for a dentist, and where have you demonstrated them?
Describe a setback or disappointment you have experienced. How did you cope, and what did you learn?
Give an example of a time when you had to juggle several responsibilities and still perform well.
Dentistry can be emotionally and physically demanding. How do you look after your own wellbeing?
Think of a dentist (or other professional) you have shadowed or observed. What impressed you about their behaviour? Is there anything you would have done differently?
8.5 Interpersonal & communication skills 💬
Why are communication skills so crucial in Dentistry?
How would you explain root canal treatment to a nervous patient with no scientific background?
Imagine a patient is angry because they have had to wait a long time. How would you handle the situation?
Tell us about a time when your communication skills made a real difference to an outcome.
What challenges do you think arise when communicating with children, older adults, or people whose first language is not English?
8.6 Empathy, integrity & professionalism ⚖️
What does the word empathy mean to you, and how is it different from sympathy?
A patient refuses a treatment that you think is clearly in their best interest. How should the dental team respond?
What do you understand by informed consent?
Why are confidentiality and trust so important in the dentist–patient relationship?
Do you think newly qualified dentists should be required to work in the NHS for a set period? Discuss the arguments for and against.
What role does the GDC play in protecting patients and regulating dentists?
8.7 NHS & wider healthcare topics 💷
What do you see as the main challenges currently facing NHS dentistry?
How could dentists contribute to tackling oral health inequalities in the UK?
Do you think prevention should receive more emphasis than treatments in dental services? Why/why not?
How might digital technology (e.g. CAD/CAM, digital scanning, AI) change dentistry over the next 20 years?
8.8 Work experience, hobbies & manual dexterity 🎨
Tell us about your work experience or volunteering. What did you learn about the role of a dentist – beyond just what they do with teeth?
Did anything surprise or concern you during work experience, and how did you process that?
Which hobbies demonstrate your manual skills and coordination? How might these skills transfer to Dentistry?
How do your extracurricular activities (sport, music, art, clubs) show that you would be a well‑rounded dental student?
Use these questions to practise aloud, ideally with a friend, teacher or mentor acting as the interviewer.
9. When are Newcastle Dentistry offers released? 🎉
According to the official Admissions Policy 2026:
Interview scores are used as the sole basis for deciding who receives an offer (subject to you later meeting the academic conditions).
Newcastle aims to contact all applicants by the end of April, and
All offers and unsuccessful decisions are made by the relevant UCAS deadline.
Students posting online report that offers often arrive during March and April, sometimes in batches, with rejections sent around the same period. Always rely on UCAS Track and official Newcastle emails as your definitive source.
10. Student comments on the Newcastle Dentistry interview 💬
While detailed interview content can’t be shared, a few themes emerge from student comments and official representatives:
A Newcastle University representative on The Student Room confirms that the interview is a 20‑minute semi‑structured panel, scored across the six domains listed above, with interviewers unaware of your UCAT and grades.
Some applicants describe the Newcastle Dentistry interview as one of their calmest and most friendly, saying they felt able to show their personality rather than just recite rehearsed answers.
Several online guides written with input from Newcastle students emphasise that selectors are genuinely interested in your motivation and reflections, not trick questions.
Takeaway: expect a professional but warm conversation focused on who you are, how you think, and how you reflect on your experiences.
11. Top tips for your Newcastle Dentistry interview (2026 entry) ✅
Here are focused, Newcastle‑specific tips to help you prepare.
11.1 Build everything around the six domains
Use the six domains as your revision checklist:
Motivation & preparation
Learning skills
Teamwork
Resilience & personal qualities
Communication
Empathy & professionalism
For each domain, prepare 2–3 short examples from your life (school, work, volunteering, family responsibilities, hobbies).
💡 Try the STAR technique for structuring answers:
Situation – Task – Action – Result.
One clear story per answer is better than listing lots of small events.
11.2 Know your application inside out
Re‑read your UCAS personal statement and any work experience reflections you’ve written.
Be ready to talk about anything you mentioned – books, podcasts, projects, jobs, sports, music.
Think less about “what you did” and more about what you learned and how you changed.
11.3 Understand Newcastle specifically 🔵
Because interviewers will expect you to know why Newcastle, do your homework:
Course structure (early clinical contact, simulation facilities, electives & intercalation).
Location and what attracts you about studying in Newcastle as a city.
The Dental School’s strengths in research and clinical training.
Avoid generic lines like “it’s a good university” – be specific.
11.4 Stay up‑to‑date with NHS dentistry & ethics
Spend some time reading about current issues in NHS dentistry, e.g. access to care, contract reforms, prevention vs treatment, sugar tax and public health.
Skim the GDC’s “Standards” and NHS Constitution values so you can link your answers to professionalism, respect, compassion and putting patients first.
You’re not expected to be an expert – they just want informed, thoughtful opinions.
11.5 Practise online, not just in person 💻
Because the interview is on Zoom:
Test your camera, microphone and internet well beforehand.
Practise looking at the camera, not your own image, so you appear more engaged.
Check your background is tidy and not distracting.
Have your photo ID ready where you can see it but not fiddle with it.
11.6 Be structured but not robotic
It’s fine to pause briefly and think before answering.
Aim for clear, medium‑length answers (roughly 1–2 minutes each).
If you realise you’ve gone off track, it’s okay to say, “Let me rephrase that more clearly,” and start again.
The selectors want to see how you think, reflect and communicate, not how well you memorise scripted speeches.
11.7 Look after yourself
Get enough sleep the night before – easier said than done, but it makes a huge difference.
Eat something light before your interview.
Plan something relaxing for afterwards so you’re not endlessly replaying the conversation in your head.
Remember: many strong applicants don’t receive offers, not because they’re not capable, but because places are limited. Doing your best at interview is a success in itself.
12. Final thoughts
Newcastle University (England) Dental School is competitive but transparent. For 2026 entry, you know:
how you’ll be shortlisted (academics → UCAT → personal statement/work experience)
what the interview format is (online, semi‑structured panel, 20 minutes, six domains)
when interviews and offers are likely to happen
and roughly how many applicants are interviewed and offered a place.
If you focus your preparation around the six domains, your reflections, and a solid understanding of NHS dentistry, you’ll give yourself an excellent chance of performing at your best on the day.
You’ve got this. 🦷✨
References
Newcastle University School of Dental Sciences – Admissions Policy 2026 Entry (BDS A206) – official document outlining shortlisting, interview format, UCAT use and offer process.Newcastle University
Dental Surgery BDS (A206) – Newcastle University course page, entry requirements and course overview.Newcastle University
Dental Schools Council – Entry Requirements for UK Dental Schools: 2026 Entry, Newcastle University Dental School section (online panel interview, AAA offer, UCAT, PARTNERS).Dental Schools Council
Newcastle School of Dental Sciences – Facilities and Undergraduate Study pages, describing simulation facilities, clinical training and work experience advice.Newcastle University
Dental Schools Council – general guidance on work experience and interviews, emphasising informed choice and reflection over checklists.Dental Schools Council
