University of Birmingham Dental School Interview Questions (2026 Entry)

Introduction – Birmingham Dental School & Why the Interview Matters 💙🦷

The University of Birmingham School of Dentistry delivers a five‑year BDS Dental Surgery degree taught in the modern Birmingham Dental Hospital and School of Dentistry at Pebble Mill – a £50 million, purpose‑built, integrated dental hospital and dental school that treats over 120,000 patients a year and trains more than 600 students.

Dentistry is one of the most competitive subjects in the UK. Birmingham’s own admissions statistics show hundreds of applicants competing for around 71–72 places each year on the BDS programme. Because of this, the interview is crucial: once you reach this stage, your performance can make the difference between an offer and a rejection.

In this guide, using information from the official University of Birmingham School of Dentistry “Applying to Dentistry”, “Selection for interview”, “Dentistry Interviews”, and BDS Admissions Statistics pages (which the School itself recommends applicants read) and respected sector bodies such as the Dental Schools Council, we will cover:

• How Birmingham decides who to invite to a dentistry interview

• Exactly how the dental interview will run for 2026 entry

• The Birmingham dentistry interview style (MMI)

• When interviews take place

• Topics and qualities assessed

• How many applicants are interviewed and how many receive offers

• A large bank of example Birmingham‑style MMI stations and questions

• When offers are released

• Top preparation tips

• A summary of student comments and applicant impressions

Everything is written in clear UK English and explained in simple terms, so you can use this as a one‑stop companion while you prepare. 🌈

How the University of Birmingham Decides Who to Call for a Dentistry Interview

The University of Birmingham is quite transparent about how it shortlists applicants for a BDS interview, especially on its “Selection for interview – Dentistry” page and the BDS Admissions Statistics document.

For standard UK (home) applicants, the process broadly follows these stages:

1. Academic screening (GCSEs and A levels)

   • You must first meet the minimum academic requirements for the BDS course.

   • Currently this includes:

     • A levels: typically AAA including Chemistry and Biology, taken in one sitting over two years.

     • GCSEs: at least A/8 in Biology and Chemistry* and A/7 in English (Language or Literature) and Mathematics; GCSE resits are not normally accepted.

   • Meeting the minimum grades does not guarantee an interview because the course is oversubscribed.

2. Non‑academic screening: work experience & voluntary activity

   • Applications that pass the academic screen are then checked for evidence of work experience and voluntary work, especially in caring roles or health settings.

   • External summaries of Birmingham’s guidance note that the School encourages at least three days’ work experience in an NHS or mixed dental practice if possible.

   • The aim is to see whether you have explored what dentistry involves and whether you understand the realities of a caring profession.

3. Personal statement review

   • Birmingham explicitly states that the personal statement is used to select for interview, alongside academic and non‑academic criteria.

   • They are looking for:

     • Clear motivation for dentistry and for studying at Birmingham

     • Reflection on work experience or virtual experiences

     • Evidence of teamwork, communication, resilience and responsibility

4. UCAT (University Clinical Aptitude Test)

   • After checking academic and non‑academic criteria, Birmingham uses your UCAT score (the cognitive sections only) to decide whether to invite you to interview.

   • The School states there is no fixed UCAT cut‑off, but the threshold changes each year depending on how competitive the cohort is.

   • The UCAT Situational Judgement Test (SJT) band is not currently used at any stage of selection for the BDS programme, although they note this may change.

5. Contextual and widening participation routes

   • Birmingham runs Pathways to Birmingham programmes and a Contextual Offer scheme that may adjust processes or offers for eligible applicants.

   • Some widening participation candidates receive a guaranteed interview, so they are exempt from the usual scoring process.

In short: grades get you considered, but UCAT, work experience and your personal statement determine whether you’re invited to interview.

How Does Birmingham Interview for Dentistry in 2026? 🗓️

For 2026 entry, Birmingham has published detailed candidate and interviewer briefings on “How will Dental Surgery interviews work?”, which explicitly state that interviews will be held in person at the Birmingham Dental Hospital and School of Dentistry.

Key features for 2026 entry include:

• Location

  • Interviews take place at:
    Birmingham Dental Hospital and School of Dentistry, 5 Mill Pool Way, Birmingham B5 7EG.

• In‑person only

  • Birmingham’s Dentistry Interviews page is clear that online or telephone interviews are not offered, and alternative dates are not normally available.

• Overall time on site (~2.5 hours)

  • The candidate briefing outlines a 2.5‑hour slot, broken down into:

    • 30 minutes – registration and ID checks

    • 60 minutes – your interview (MMI circuit)

    • 60 minutes – a tour plus time to talk to current dental students

• Number and length of stations

  • Birmingham’s general Dentistry Interviews page describes an MMI made up of 5–10 mini‑interviews lasting 5–10 minutes, with 1–2 assessors at each station.

  • However, the interviewer briefing for 2026 specifies that this year there will be 4 stations, each taking around 10 minutes, with sessions for interviewers running over half‑days.

  • In practice, you should expect a compact in‑person MMI with four longer stations, but always follow the structure in your official invitation if details change.

• What you need to bring & how to present yourself

  • Valid photo ID is compulsory – if you don’t have this, you must let them know at least a week in advance.

  • Dress code is “appropriate but comfortable”; the School explicitly reassures applicants that school uniform is acceptable and you do not need to buy new clothes just for the interview.

• Health, accessibility & extenuating circumstances

  • Birmingham references the HEOPS Dental Students Fitness Standards and encourages you to contact them if you’re unsure about meeting the physical or mental demands of dentistry.

  • Requests for reasonable adjustments must be made by early February 2026, and by attending the interview you are declaring that you are fit to take part.

• Timing of decisions

  • The School states it will aim to contact all applicants within four weeks of interview dates with a decision.

Their own guidance emphasises that the interviews are designed to be “challenging but fun” and that they want to get to know you, not a memorised script, so try not to over‑rehearse word‑for‑word answers.

What Is the University of Birmingham Dentistry Interview Style? (MMI Explained) 🎤

Birmingham uses a Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format for BDS Dentistry.

What is an MMI?

An MMI is a bit like an academic obstacle course:

• Instead of one long conversation with a panel, you complete a series of short “stations” (mini‑interviews).

• Each station focuses on a specific skill or quality, for example ethical reasoning, communication or manual dexterity.

• You rotate around the circuit, meeting different assessors.

• You are scored separately at each station, and these scores are combined to give an overall interview score.

This format allows Birmingham to test a wide range of attributes that matter in dentistry and reduces the impact of one bad question or a nervous start.

What does Birmingham assess at MMI stations?

The official Dentistry Interviews page lists the qualities they may assess during MMIs:

• Motivation for a career in dentistry

• Communication skills

• Empathy

• Self‑insight (how well you know your strengths, weaknesses and limits)

• Ethical reasoning

• Manual dexterity (fine hand skills)

• Leadership and teamwork

They reiterate that no prior dental knowledge is required – you won’t be asked to diagnose complex X‑rays or recite detailed anatomy.

Importantly, the assessment is values‑based: Birmingham wants future dentists who will embrace healthcare values such as respect, compassion, resilience and commitment to quality of care, as well as having strong academic ability.

When Are University of Birmingham Dentistry Interviews Held?

The official Dentistry Interviews page states that interviews take place during February half‑term week, and that invitations continue to be sent out until all places are filled.

For 2026 entry, the interviewer briefing specifies exact dates:

• Monday 16 February – Friday 20 February 2026, at Birmingham Dental Hospital and School of Dentistry.

Other key timing points:

• Unsuccessful applicants (not invited to interview) are usually informed by mid‑January, according to the Dentistry Interviews page.

• All interview decisions are made within around four weeks of the interview dates, with decisions appearing on UCAS Hub.

Always check your UCAS and University of Birmingham emails regularly; your invitation will give the final word on dates and times.

What Topics Are Covered in a Birmingham Dental School Interview?

Based on official Birmingham guidance plus summaries from trusted interview resources, you should be ready for the following broad themes:

1. Motivation for Dentistry & Insight into the Profession

   • Why dentistry, and why Birmingham?

   • What is the day‑to‑day life of a dentist like?

   • What do you know about the structure of the BDS course at Birmingham?

2. Communication and Empathy

   • Handling nervous, upset or angry patients

   • Explaining treatment options in simple language

   • Showing you can listen as well as talk

3. Ethical Reasoning & Professionalism

   • Scenarios around consent, confidentiality, honesty, NHS resources or safeguarding

   • Applying principles from the General Dental Council’s “Standards for the Dental Team”, such as putting patients’ interests first and maintaining professional behaviour.

4. Teamwork, Leadership & Resilience

   • Working with dental nurses, hygienists, therapists and other professionals

   • Managing disagreements or conflict

   • Coping with setbacks and stress during the course

5. Manual Dexterity

   • Practical tasks or discussion of activities that show fine motor skills (e.g., musical instruments, art, sewing, model‑making, baking decoration).

6. Observation, Problem‑Solving & Data Interpretation

   • Interpreting simple charts, timetables, posters or brief written information

   • Prioritising patients or tasks based on given information

7. NHS Dentistry & Public Health

   • Challenges around access to NHS dentistry, prevention strategies (e.g. sugar reduction, fluoridation), health inequalities in oral health.

8. Reflection on Work Experience & Personal Growth

   • What you learned from observing in a dental practice or healthcare setting

   • How experiences influenced your view of dentistry and your own skills

You are not expected to know everything about clinical dentistry, but you should be able to think clearly, communicate respectfully, justify your decisions, and reflect on your experiences.

How Many Applicants Receive a Birmingham Dentistry Interview – and How Many Get Offers? 📊

The BDS (A200) Admissions Statistics 2024–25 document on the University of Birmingham website gives a clear picture of recent competitiveness.

For the 5‑year BDS programme:

• Number of places

  • 2025 entry: 71 home places (up to 4 may be offered to international students)

  • Similar numbers (71–72) in previous years

• Recent cycles (BDS A200)

  2025 entry (interviews held Feb 2025)

  • Applications (total): 791

  • Interviews (total): 317

  • Offers (total): 141

  • Places: 71

  2024 entry

  • Applications (total): 937

  • Interviews: 320

  • Offers: 140

  • Places: 72

  2023 entry

  • Applications (total): 1050

  • Interviews: 317

  • Offers: 136

  • Places: 71

From these figures we can see that, in recent years:

• Roughly 30–40% of applicants are invited to interview

• Around 13–18% of all applicants receive an offer

• About 40–45% of interviewees secure an offer

So, once you reach interview, your chances improve significantly – nearly 1 in 2 interviewees go on to receive an offer.

The same statistics document confirms that:

Offers are made based solely on interview ranking – previous academic achievement and UCAT scores are not used when deciding who to offer places to (although all offers remain conditional on grades, DBS and health/immunisation requirements).

This means the MMI is effectively the final academic hurdle: doing well on the day really matters.

Example University of Birmingham Dentistry Interview Stations & Questions (Practice Bank) 🎯

The School does not publish official questions, but between their own list of attributes, Birmingham’s MMI structure and insights from FOI statistics and reputable interview guides, we can infer the types of stations you’re likely to face.

Below is a set of Birmingham‑style practice stations and questions. These are not official questions – they are created for preparation based on the themes Birmingham says it assesses.

1. Motivation for Dentistry & “Why Birmingham?” 💙

Station style: Traditional Q&A, 8–10 minutes.

Sample questions:

1. What originally drew you to dentistry rather than medicine, pharmacy or another healthcare career?

2. Talk me through a specific moment that convinced you dentistry is right for you.

3. Why have you applied to the University of Birmingham in particular? Mention aspects of the course, the Dental Hospital setting, or the city.

4. How does the Birmingham BDS course’s mix of early clinical exposure and simulation suit your learning style?

5. What do you think will be the most rewarding parts of a career in dentistry?

6. What do you think will be the most challenging, and how will you deal with that?

7. How have you tested your interest in dentistry beyond work experience (e.g. reading, webinars, online resources)?

8. If you could only highlight one strength that makes you a good fit for Birmingham’s BDS programme, what would it be and why?

2. Understanding the Profession & the Dental Team

Station style: Discussion of scenarios and knowledge of roles.

Sample questions:

1. Describe the roles of dentists, dental therapists and dental hygienists, and how they work together in a practice.

2. How does a general dental practice fit into the wider NHS system?

3. What are some differences between working in NHS practice, private practice and hospital dentistry?

4. What does “scope of practice” mean, and why is it important that dental professionals work within it?

5. How might technology (for example digital scanners or AI‑assisted radiograph interpretation) change the way you practise in the future?

3. Communication & Empathy (Role‑play) 💬

Station style: Short role‑play with an actor or assessor, followed by reflection.

Possible scenarios:

1. A patient is extremely anxious about having a tooth removed. Show how you would explain the procedure and reassure them.

2. A parent is upset that their child needs multiple fillings and feels guilty. You need to explain the situation and offer support without blaming them.

3. A patient has missed two appointments because of work commitments. Explore why this is happening and agree a realistic plan together.

4. A colleague sighs and appears impatient with a nervous patient. How would you address this professionally while maintaining a good working relationship?

Reflective follow‑ups might include:

• How did you adapt your language to this patient?

• What did you find most difficult about that interaction?

• How would you know if you had communicated successfully?

4. Ethics & Professionalism (GDC Principles) ⚖️

Station style: You read a short scenario and then discuss your approach.

Example scenarios and questions:

1. You notice another student copying notes from a previous year’s OSCE station in detail, despite clear rules against this. What would you do?

2. A 15‑year‑old asks you for tooth whitening and insists they don’t want their parents to know. How would you handle consent and confidentiality here?

3. A patient insists on a purely cosmetic treatment you believe is not in their best interests and may cause harm. How do you balance patient autonomy with beneficence (doing good)?

4. You suspect a child is being neglected at home after you see repeated untreated decay and bruising. What steps should you take, and why?

5. A friend on the course posts a photo from clinic on social media where a patient might be identifiable. How would you respond?

6. A vulnerable adult appears confused when signing a consent form for an extraction. What should you consider before proceeding?

5. Teamwork, Leadership & Resilience 🤝

Station style: Question‑and‑answer plus reflection on past experiences.

Sample questions:

1. Tell us about a time you worked in a team and things did not go to plan. What did you learn?

2. Describe a situation where you had to take the lead unexpectedly. How did you handle it?

3. Conflict is inevitable in a busy dental practice. How would you manage a disagreement between two colleagues that is affecting patient care?

4. Dentistry can be stressful. How do you currently manage stress during exams, and how might that need to change at dental school?

5. Give an example of constructive feedback you’ve received. How did you respond, and what did you change afterwards?

6. Imagine you fail an assessment in first year. How would you approach this setback?

6. Manual Dexterity & Practical Skills ✂️🎨

Station style: Practical task or structured discussion.

Possible tasks or questions:

1. You are given a sheet of card and asked to fold and cut a simple 3D shape following written instructions. You must talk through your thought process as you work.

2. You are handed a piece of string and a few beads and asked to thread them to copy a pattern within a time limit.

3. Talk about a hobby that demonstrates fine hand skills – for example, playing an instrument, model‑making, calligraphy, sewing or cake decorating. What have you learned from it?

4. How have you developed your hand–eye coordination over time, and why is this important in dentistry?

5. If you discovered that your manual skills were weaker than you hoped, how would you go about improving them before you start clinical work?

7. Observation, Data Interpretation & Prioritisation 📈

Station style: You’re shown a simple dataset, timetable or image and asked to interpret it.

Example tasks:

1. You are shown a mock practice timetable for a day with several emergency cases and routine check‑ups. Which patients would you prioritise and why?

2. You’re given a bar chart comparing rates of dental decay in different age groups across two regions. What trends do you notice, and what might explain them?

3. You analyse an NHS poster about sugary drinks aimed at teenagers. What works well? What could be improved to make it more effective?

4. You are given a list of four tasks (e.g. sterilising instruments, calling a patient back, completing notes, assisting in an emergency). In what order would you complete them, and why?

8. NHS Dentistry & Public Health 🌍

Station style: Discussion of current issues.

Sample questions:

1. Why are many patients struggling to access NHS dental care, and what solutions do you think might help?

2. What is water fluoridation, and why is it sometimes controversial?

3. Give two realistic ways you, as a dental student and future dentist, could help reduce oral health inequalities in a city like Birmingham.

4. How might the cost‑of‑living crisis affect patients’ oral health and their attendance at the dentist?

5. In your opinion, how should limited NHS resources be prioritised between routine care and cosmetic treatments?

9. Work Experience & Reflection

Station style: Open questions about your experience.

Sample questions:

1. Describe one patient encounter you observed that really stuck with you. What did you learn from it?

2. What surprised you most about the realities of working in a dental practice compared with what you expected beforehand?

3. Did anything you observed make you question whether dentistry was right for you? How did you resolve these doubts?

4. How have you demonstrated initiative during your work experience or voluntary work?

5. Give an example of when you saw excellent teamwork in the practice – what were each person’s contributions?

10. “Curveball” & Personal Insight Questions 🌈

Birmingham emphasises that you may face unexpected questions and should try not to over‑script your answers.

Possible questions:

1. If you could change one thing about UK healthcare, what would it be and why?

2. Describe a non‑academic achievement you’re proud of. What skills did it require?

3. If your friends had to describe you in three words, what would they say – and do you agree?

4. Tell us about a time you challenged something you felt was unfair.

5. Dentists are sometimes stereotyped as only doing “drills and fillings”. How would you explain the broader value of dentistry to someone with that view?

Use these question sets to practise aloud under timed conditions, focusing on structure (beginning–middle–end), clarity, and reflection, not memorised speeches.

When Are University of Birmingham Dentistry Offers Released?

Offer timing can vary slightly each year, but current official guidance says:

• Interviews for 2026 entry run 16–20 February 2026.

• Birmingham aims to communicate outcomes within four weeks of the interview dates – so most applicants can expect decisions to appear on UCAS Hub in March.

• Applicants who are not invited to interview are usually notified by mid‑January.

• As with all UK universities, final decision deadlines are governed by UCAS rules for October‑deadline courses, but Birmingham often responds earlier where possible.

All offers are conditional on:

• Achieving the required A‑level or equivalent grades

• Satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks

• Meeting health and immunisation requirements for clinical work

Top Tips for the Birmingham Dentistry Interview (2026 Entry) 💡

These tips combine official University advice, GDC expectations and best practice from dental interview educators.

1. Start with the official Birmingham pages

Before anything else, read:

• “Applying to Dentistry”

• “Selection for interview – Dentistry”

• “Dentistry Interviews”

• “How will Dental Surgery interviews work?”

• The BDS Admissions Statistics PDF

These pages (all on the University of Birmingham website) tell you exactly how they shortlist, how the MMI is run, what dates to expect and how offers are made. Interview guides and forums are helpful, but the University’s own site is the definitive source.

2. Understand the MMI format – and practise moving on

Because Birmingham scores each station separately, one weaker station does not ruin your entire interview.

• Practise short, focused answers (around 1–2 minutes each).

• After each mock station, get used to “parking” mistakes and moving on with confidence to the next station.

• If you tend to ramble, practise using simple structures such as “Point – Example – Reflection”.

3. Reflect deeply on your own experiences

Birmingham explicitly uses your personal statement and work experience in selection, and interviewers will often explore what you wrote.

Ask yourself:

• What did I observe in practice that showed good communication or teamwork?

• When did I see professional behaviour that impressed me?

• What aspects of dentistry looked more challenging than I expected?

Write short bullet‑point reflections, not scripts, and rehearse speaking about them naturally.

4. Revise ethical principles using GDC “Standards for the Dental Team”

You do not need to memorise every word, but reading the GDC’s Standards will help you answer ethical and professionalism questions clearly.

Focus on:

• Putting patients’ interests first

• Effective communication and valid consent

• Maintaining confidentiality and professionalism, on and offline

• Raising concerns if patients are at risk

When answering ethical scenarios, explain:

1. What the main issue is

2. Which principles are involved

3. What steps you would take and why

5. Practise explaining things in simple, friendly language

Dentistry requires you to explain complex information in plain English. For practice:

• Take a dental topic (e.g. tooth decay, fluoride, brushing technique) and explain it to:

  • a 10‑year‑old

  • a non‑scientist adult

• Avoid jargon and check you’re being clear, not patronising.

This will help you in communication role‑play stations.

6. Don’t neglect manual dexterity

If Birmingham sets a manual dexterity station, they are not expecting perfection, but they do want to see:

• That you can follow instructions carefully

• That you stay calm and methodical under time pressure

• That you can reflect afterwards (“I realised I rushed the first step… next time I’d…”)

Keep doing hobbies that use fine motor skills (art, music, needlework, model kits, baking decoration) and think about how they’ve developed your precision and patience.

7. Stay informed about NHS dentistry and oral health

You do not need to be an expert policy‑maker, but being vaguely aware of:

• Current issues with access to NHS dentists

• The importance of prevention (sugar reduction, toothbrushing, fluoridation)

• How social factors (poverty, education, housing) affect oral health

will help you give thoughtful, balanced answers at public‑health‑style stations.

8. Plan the practicalities so you’re not stressed on the day

• Work out your transport route to the Dental Hospital and allow generous extra time.

• Bring: photo ID, a watch (non‑smart), and anything specified in your invitation.

• Eat and hydrate beforehand; bring water and a small snack if allowed.

Being calm and comfortable will help you perform at your best.

9. Be yourself – but your most professional self

Birmingham repeatedly tells candidates not to over‑rehearse scripted answers.

Aim to be:

• Authentic – let your genuine reasons for dentistry show

• Professional – polite, respectful, appropriately dressed

• Positive – even when discussing difficulties or setbacks

Remember that assessors are asking themselves: “Would I be happy for this person to treat my family one day?”

What Do Students and Applicants Say About the Birmingham Dental Interview? 🎓

While you should treat online posts cautiously, summaries from applicant forums and interview guidance sites give a sense of the “feel” of the Birmingham MMI:

• Friendly but fast‑paced: Candidates often describe staff and assessors as approachable and professional, but comment that the hour of stations goes by very quickly.

• Well‑organised day: The structured timetable – registration, tour, then MMI – and the presence of student ambassadors helping candidates find stations and answering informal questions tend to be seen positively.

• Values‑focused questions: Applicants report being asked more about motivation, ethics, communication and insight than about hard science.

• Time pressure: Many mention that the biggest challenge is managing time within each station while still giving reflective answers.

Current students also emphasise, in blogs and interviews about studying dentistry at Birmingham, that the interview is designed to see whether you’ll thrive in a busy clinical environment where teamwork, resilience and communication are as important as academic ability.

Final Thoughts

The University of Birmingham Dental School interview is competitive but transparent. If you:

• Understand how you were selected for interview

• Know the MMI format and what skills it assesses

• Can talk authentically about your motivation, experiences and values

• Have considered core ethical principles and NHS issues

• Practise staying calm and reflective under timed conditions

…then you will be in a strong position to turn your February MMI into a March offer. 🌟

Remember: once you reach interview, Birmingham bases offers solely on your performance on the day, so every bit of preparation you do now is an investment in your future as a dentist.

You’ve already done brilliantly to be thinking this far ahead – keep going, keep practising, and back yourself. 🦷💙

References

(Official and authoritative sources used in this guide – always check the latest versions.)

• University of Birmingham – Applying to Dentistry (including “Selection for interview – Dentistry” and “Dentistry Interviews” pages). University of Birmingham

• University of Birmingham – How will Dental Surgery interviews work? (candidate FAQ, 2026 entry). University of Birmingham

• University of Birmingham – Dental Surgery BDS (A200) Course Page (entry requirements and UCAS information). University of Birmingham

• University of Birmingham – BDS (A200) Admissions Statistics 2024–25 PDF. University of Birmingham

• University of Birmingham – Birmingham Dental Hospital and School of Dentistry (campus and building information).

• Dental Schools Council – UK Dental School Entry Requirements booklet. Dental Schools Council

• General Dental Council – Standards for the Dental Team and related guidance. General Dental Council

• Blue Peanut Medical – Birmingham Dental School Interview Questions (2026 Entry) (for corroborating dates, themes and applicant perspectives; not an official university source). Blue Peanut Medical