University of Manchester (England) Dental School Interview Questions – 2026 Entry

🎓 Introduction

The University of Manchester is home to one of the UK’s largest and most established dental schools, closely linked to the University Dental Hospital of Manchester on the main campus. Manchester is consistently ranked in the UK top 10 for dentistry and offers a five‑year BDS (A206) with strong scientific teaching and early clinical exposure.

Competition, however, is intense. The School has around 67 home places and 4 international places per year, yet receives around 1,000 BDS applications annually.

This blog focuses specifically on University of Manchester Dental School interview questions and the interview process for 2026 entry, using official university information and guidance from the Dental Schools Council (DSC).

🧮 How does Manchester decide who to call for a Dentistry interview?

Manchester uses a multi‑stage selection process for the BDS A206 course:

1. UCAS application & academic requirements

All applications go through UCAS and must meet the October deadline for Medicine and Dentistry (no late applications are considered).

For 2026 entry, the typical A‑level offer is:

• AAA, including Chemistry and Biology/Human Biology (or three sciences, with some combinations excluded, such as Biology + Human Biology).

Applicants who meet the minimum academic requirements progress to the next stage of selection.

2. UCAT requirement

All applicants to the five‑year BDS course must sit the UCAT in the year of application.

Manchester:

• Ranks applicants by their overall UCAT score in the first instance.

• Then allows the Academic Lead for Admissions to review applications holistically, taking other information into account.

The primary data used in this holistic assessment includes:

• Academic achievement (achieved and predicted grades, and going beyond minimum requirements)

• Overall UCAT score and individual subtest scores

• Situational Judgement Test (SJT) band

• Contextual data flags (widening participation / contextual admissions)

Crucially:

• Applicants with UCAT SJT Band 3 or 4 are not considered.

3. UCAT thresholds and holistic review

Manchester publishes its recent UCAT cut‑offs for automatic interview invitation. For example, for 2025 entry:

• Standard applicants: overall UCAT 2840–2950 (cut‑off depends on SJT band)

• WP+ (widening participation plus) applicants: 2750–2800

Applicants above the threshold are automatically invited to interview. Those below may still be considered through holistic assessment where the Academic Lead reviews the full application (grades, UCAT, contextual flags etc) and ranks candidates.

Manchester also participates in the University’s contextual admissions scheme: applicants from disadvantaged backgrounds, lower‑performing schools or with care‑experienced or refugee status may receive additional consideration and sometimes reduced offers.

🧑‍⚕️ How does the Dental School interview for 2026 entry?

As of the 2026 application cycle, Manchester describes the BDS interview as an in‑person Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) for home applicants, held on campus. Overseas‑fee applicants may normally be interviewed online but can attend in person if they wish.

Key features of the Manchester dentistry MMI:

• Format: 5‑station MMI

• Duration: Each station lasts 7 minutes, with a 2‑minute (or longer) gap between stations

• Delivery: Each station has a different interviewer

• Starting point: Your first station is chosen at random, then you rotate round the circuit

• No reading or writing: There is no written component and no advance information for any station.

This is the format the University currently describes for its dentistry interviews; applicants should always double‑check the official Manchester dentistry interview pages for any updates before their own interview date.

💬 What is the Manchester Dentistry interview style?

Manchester is explicit that the interview is “formal, though friendly” and is not an exam in dental science.

Some key points about the style:

• Purpose: To see whether you meet the non‑academic criteria and demonstrate values and behaviours expected of a dental student (aligned with DSC guidance on core values).

• Interviewers: Drawn from university staff, hospital clinicians, patient/lay representatives, current dental students and simulated patients. All receive training in interviewing and equality, diversity and inclusion.

• Tone: Conversational; they want you to talk naturally about your experiences, rather than deliver memorised speeches.

• What impresses them: Spontaneous but well‑reasoned answers, clear communication and reflective insight into your experiences.

Manchester explicitly advises candidates not to over‑rehearse and states that it does not endorse commercial interview coaching courses.

🗓️ When are Manchester Dentistry interviews held?

According to the University of Manchester, dentistry interviews “normally run from January to March”, and you cannot receive an offer without attending an interview.

• Invitations typically go out after UCAS applications and UCAT results have been reviewed.

• Interview details and joining instructions are sent by email to each candidate.

You should therefore keep January–March 2026 as a key period in your diary and avoid booking holidays or major commitments during these months.

📚 What topics are covered in a Manchester Dental School interview?

Manchester does not test A‑level science knowledge at interview. Instead, the MMI focuses on your attributes, insight and judgement.

From the Dental School’s official guidance, common areas include:

• Ability to communicate – clarity, structure, listening and responding.

• Motivation for dentistry – why dentistry (not medicine, not another career), what attracts you to Manchester.

• Previous experience – work experience and volunteering, including what you learned and how it influenced you.

• Ethical and professional issues – your ability to summarise both sides of a dilemma and justify your view while respecting others.

In line with Dental Schools Council advice on core values for dental students, you can also expect themes such as:

• Empathy and respect for patients

• Teamwork and leadership

• Honesty, integrity and professionalism

• Resilience and ability to cope with stress

• Commitment to learning and improvement

“Hot topic” dentistry themes

A current Manchester BDS student, Anna‑Maria, describes how she prepared for her interview by reading about key issues such as:

• NHS vs private dentistry

• NHS banding system and Units of Dental Activity (UDAs)

• Water fluoridation

• Amalgam restorations and their environmental impact

• The continuing effects of COVID‑19 on dental services

These are excellent examples of broader health‑policy and public‑health topics you should understand at a basic level. You don’t need specialist knowledge, but you should be able to:

• Explain what the issue is (in simple terms)

• Discuss advantages and disadvantages

• Relate it to patient care, access and fairness

📊 How many applicants receive an interview and an offer?

Manchester publishes detailed application statistics for recent cycles. For the BDS A206 course:

• There are around 67 home places and 4 international places each year.

• For 2025 entry, the School received 824 applications (home + overseas).

• 366 applicants were shortlisted for interview.

• 137 offers were made.

That means, for 2025 entry:

• Roughly 44% of applicants were invited to interview (366 / 824).

• About 37% of interviewed applicants received offers, or around 17% of all applicants.

These figures change slightly each year, and Manchester stresses they should not be used to predict the future exactly. But they do show that:

• Reaching interview is a significant achievement.

• Once you’re at interview, the odds improve – you’re competing against a smaller, pre‑selected group.

🦷 Example Manchester Dentistry MMI stations and practice questions

Manchester does not release its actual MMI stations or questions. The examples below are invented practice stations, based on the themes the University publishes and on national guidance for dental interviews. They are not official and are not based on any confidential material.

Use them to practise timing, structure and reflection – not as a “spot the question” exercise.

Station 1 – Motivation for Dentistry & Insight into the Profession

Theme: Why dentistry, why Manchester, and what you understand about the career.

Possible questions:

1. Why do you want to study Dentistry at the University of Manchester?

2. Tell me about a specific moment that confirmed to you that dentistry was the right career path.

3. What do you think will be the most rewarding aspect of being a dentist? And the most challenging?

4. How does the role of a general dental practitioner differ from that of a hospital‑based specialist?

5. Dentistry can be stressful and emotionally demanding. What strategies will you use to look after your own wellbeing?

6. If you could change one thing about the way dental care is delivered in the UK, what would it be and why?

Station 2 – Communication & Empathy (Role‑play)

Theme: Explaining, listening and showing empathy in a short interaction. Remember Manchester’s emphasis on natural, conversational communication.

Sample scenario A – Nervous patient

You are a dental student seeing a patient who is very anxious about having a filling. The actor playing the patient has had a bad experience in the past.

Practice prompts:

• How would you begin the conversation?

• What specific phrases or techniques would you use to reassure them?

• If they still refuse treatment, what would you do next?

Sample scenario B – Appointment running late

You have kept a patient waiting for 25 minutes. They are frustrated and say they feel disrespected.

Practice prompts:

• What would you say first?

• How would you balance apologising with explaining the pressures on the clinic?

• How might you prevent similar situations in future?

Sample scenario C – Breaking minor bad news

A patient hoped to have a certain cosmetic procedure on the NHS, but they are not eligible.

Practice prompts:

• How would you explain the decision fairly and sensitively?

• How could you check they have understood?

Station 3 – Ethics & Professionalism

Theme: Reasoning through dilemmas using principles such as autonomy, beneficence, non‑maleficence and justice, and the GDC’s standards for dental professionals.

Practice questions:

1. A 15‑year‑old patient asks you not to tell their parents about a treatment they need. How would you approach this situation?

2. You notice a colleague consistently cutting corners with infection‑control procedures. What should you do?

3. Is it ever acceptable for NHS dentists to prioritise private patients? Explain your reasoning.

4. A patient insists on having all their problem teeth removed even though good restorations are possible. How do you balance patient choice against your duty of care?

5. Discuss an ethical issue in dentistry that you have read about recently (for example, access to NHS dentistry or water fluoridation).

6. What does professionalism mean to you as a future dental student?

Station 4 – Teamwork, Leadership & Resilience

Theme: Working with others in clinical teams and handling pressure.

Practice questions:

1. Tell me about a time you worked in a team that did not go well. What happened, and what did you learn?

2. How would you handle a disagreement with another dental student during a group project?

3. Describe a situation where you had to lead or take initiative, even if you did not have an official leadership role.

4. Dentistry involves dealing with complications. How would you respond if a procedure you were observing did not go as planned?

Station 5 – NHS & Dental “Hot Topics”

Theme: Awareness of the wider healthcare context, especially the NHS. You don’t need to be an expert – just informed and reflective.

Practice questions:

1. What are the main differences between NHS and private dentistry, from both the patient’s and dentist’s perspectives?

2. Explain, in simple terms, what the NHS dental banding system and UDAs are, and why they have been criticised.

3. Should the government expand water fluoridation schemes across the UK? Why or why not?

4. Why has access to NHS dentistry become a major issue in recent years, and what might help improve it?

5. How did COVID‑19 affect dental services, and what ongoing challenges has it created?

6. What are the pros and cons of amalgam fillings compared with composite fillings?

(Notice how many of these topics align with the areas recommended by Manchester’s own BDS student blogger.

Station 6 – Manual Dexterity & Hobbies

Manchester does not run a “practical test” in the interview, but they may ask about activities that show fine motor skills, attention to detail and perseverance.

Practice questions:

1. Which of your hobbies best demonstrates manual dexterity, and how? (e.g. musical instruments, drawing, sewing, model‑making, baking)

2. Describe a time you practised a physical skill over many months. How did you stay motivated?

3. Dentistry involves close‑up, repetitive tasks. What have you done that shows you can cope with this?

Station 7 – Prioritisation & Decision‑making (Verbal Scenario)

Remember: Manchester states there is no reading or writing component, so any prioritisation station would be delivered verbally by the interviewer.

Example scenario:

You are a foundation dentist in a busy NHS practice. The receptionist tells you there are several patients waiting:
– A child in pain whose filling has fallen out
– An adult with a routine check‑up
– A patient who is late but needs an urgent prescription
– A nervous patient booked for a long appointment

Practice prompts:

1. How would you decide the order in which to see these patients?

2. What factors would influence your decisions (clinical and non‑clinical)?

3. How would you communicate any delay to patients who have to wait longer?

📤 When are offers released?

Manchester’s Decision and feedback page explains that:

• Interviewers complete assessment forms, but no decision is given on the day.

• All information is collated later, and the Academic Lead for Admissions makes the final decision.

• Decisions (conditional offers or rejections) are released through UCAS, and the School aims to notify applicants by spring each year.

In practice, this usually means decisions arriving between March and April, although exact dates vary by year. Forum discussions (e.g. on The Student Room) suggest applicants often hear in this time frame, but only UCAS and the University can provide definitive timing.

🌟 Top tips for the University of Manchester Dental School interview

Here are targeted tips, combining official Manchester advice with student insight and national best practice.

1. Anchor your preparation in official guidance

• Start by reading Manchester’s “Application process: BDS Dentistry” pages, the UCAT section and the Interviews page in full.

• Then look at the Dental Schools Council “core values and attributes” booklet to understand what all UK dental schools are looking for.

2. Practise talking, not reciting

Manchester explicitly prefers spontaneous, well‑thought‑out answers. To practise:

• Use the practice questions above with friends, family or a teacher.

• Aim for structured but natural answers (e.g. Situation–Action–Result–Reflection).

• Record yourself; check for clarity, speed and filler words (“um”, “like”).

3. Build a basic understanding of key dental issues

Following the current student blog, make brief notes on:

• NHS vs private dentistry

• NHS bands and UDAs

• Water fluoridation and prevention

• Amalgam vs composite fillings

• Access to NHS dentistry and waiting times

• Impact of COVID‑19 on dental services

You only need GCSE‑level understanding, but you should be able to explain each topic in simple language and express a balanced view.

4. Reflect deeply on your experiences

For every piece of work experience or volunteering, be ready to answer:

• What did I see?

• How did it make me feel?

• What did I learn about dentistry / patients / myself?

• How has it influenced my decision to study dentistry?

Manchester cares less about how many days you have done and more about how thoughtfully you reflect on them.

5. Understand contextual admissions (especially if you’re WP‑flagged)

If you come from a school with lower average results, a disadvantaged postcode, are care‑experienced or have refugee status, Manchester’s contextual admissions scheme may:

• Offer you a reduced grade offer

• Consider your achievements in the context of your circumstances

• Provide travel support for interview

Knowing this can boost your confidence – interviewers are trained to bear your context in mind.

6. Look after yourself before and during the interview

Taking inspiration from Anna‑Maria’s tips:

• 🧘‍♀️ Pause before answering – it’s better to think for a few seconds than rush.

• ❓ If you don’t hear or understand the question, politely ask for it to be repeated.

• 💧 Bring a water bottle – nerves and constant talking dry your mouth.

• 😴 Rest properly the day before; cramming all night is counter‑productive.

• 👔 Wear smart but comfortable clothes that help you feel confident and professional.

7. On the day: stay present, station by station

Because the MMI is five short stations, a single imperfect station won’t necessarily stop you getting an offer.

• Mentally “reset” between stations; don’t carry mistakes forward.

• Use the 2‑minute break to breathe, sip water and smile.

• Remember that interviewers are trained to be fair and want you to succeed.

🧑‍🎓 Student comments on the Manchester Dentistry interview

The most helpful public, university‑approved insight comes from Anna‑Maria, a current BDS student, writing on the official Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health blog:

• She describes her Manchester interview as an in‑person MMI at the Stopford Building, reinforcing what the admissions pages say.

• She prepared by using an MMI book, researching current dental topics and practising questions with family.

• Her tips emphasise taking time before you answer, asking for clarification when needed, bringing water and not putting too much pressure on yourself.

• She also reminds readers that her experience might not match the current process exactly, and to rely on the University’s official pages for up‑to‑date guidance.

On forums such as The Student Room, applicants typically use the Manchester Dentistry threads to share application timelines and moral support, and are explicitly told not to share interview questions, which helps maintain fairness for everyone.

✅ Final checklist before your Manchester Dentistry interview

Before interview day, make sure you can confidently say yes to the following:

• I understand how Manchester selects applicants (UCAS, A‑levels, UCAT, contextual data).

• I know the basic structure of the MMI: 5 stations, 7 minutes each, 2‑minute gaps, no reading/writing.

• I can explain clearly why I want to study dentistry, and why at Manchester.

• I have reflected on my work experience and volunteering, with concrete examples.

• I’ve read about key NHS and dental “hot topics” and can give a balanced view.

• I’ve practised ethical reasoning, communication and teamwork questions out loud.

• I know roughly when interviews (Jan–Mar) and offers (by spring) happen, so I’m ready for the timeline.

If you can tick these off, you’re in a strong position to show Manchester that you have the values, insight and resilience to thrive as a BDS student. Keep your answers honest, reflective and patient‑centred – and remember, they already believe you have academic potential, or you wouldn’t have been invited. 🌟

📚 References

(All links are to authoritative or official sources; many are from the University of Manchester’s own Dentistry pages.)

1. University of Manchester – Application process: BDS Dentistry (How to apply, UCAS, interviews, statistics, FAQs). Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health

2. University of Manchester – UCAT for Dentistry (use in selection, holistic assessment, SJT policy). Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health

3. University of Manchester – BDS Dentistry (first‑year entry, 2026 course profile and entry requirements). The University of Manchester

4. University of Manchester – Dentistry Interviews (format, topics, preparation and dates). Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health

5. University of Manchester – Application statistics for BDS Dentistry (applications, interviews, offers, UCAT thresholds). Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health

6. University of Manchester – Decision and feedback (offers and timing). Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health

7. University of Manchester – Contextual admissions (contextual flags, offers and interview considerations). The University of Manchester

8. University of Manchester – “Applying for dentistry: how I prepared for my interview” – student blog by Anna‑Maria Sturki. BIOLOGY, MEDICINE AND HEALTH BLOG

9. Dental Schools Council – Dental school entry requirements & 2026 entry requirements booklet. Dental Schools Council

10. Blue Peanut Medical & other UK dentistry interview guides – general information on UK dentistry MMIs and practice questions. Blue Peanut Medical

Good luck with your Manchester Dentistry interview – you’ve got this. 🦷💜