UK Dentistry Interviews 2026 – Complete Guide to MMI Questions, Formats & Tips

UK Dentistry School Interviews 2026: Updated Guide for Applicants

Entering the 2026 dentistry application cycle, competition remains fierce, and the interview process continues to develop. This fully updated guide details what to expect, from recent applicant statistics and interview formats at each dental school to new dental schools opening, key dates and timelines, NHS hot topics in dentistry, and tips for preparing for interview success. It provides everything a sixth-form applicant needs to navigate dental school interviews for 2026 entry.

Dentistry Competition by the Numbers: 2024 Cycle Stats

Dentistry is highly competitive. The latest UCAS data (2024 entry cycle) shows that applicants far exceed available places, meaning only a small fraction are ultimately admitted. For example, the University of Sheffield received 940 BDS applications for 2024 entry, yet only 328 candidates (≈35%) were interviewed, with 136 offers made. That equates to roughly 14–15% of applicants receiving an offer in Sheffield’s case.

Similarly, Queen Mary (Barts) had 752 home applicants and interviewed 274 (36%), leading to 148 offers– about 1 in 5 applicants. At Manchester, 780 home applicants were whittled down to 339 interviewees and 107 offers. In short, most UK dental schools see on the order of 8–12 applicants per place, and even strong candidates must impress at interview to secure one of the limited offers.

Takeaway: Dentistry Interview performance is crucial. While roughly one-third to half of interviewed candidates might receive offers, only about 10–20% of total applicants succeed overall. Knowing the odds, it’s essential to prepare thoroughly and understand each school’s selection process.

Interview Formats & Structures at UK Dental Schools (2026 Entry)

Each dental school runs its interviews a bit differently. In 2026, formats continue to vary between Multiple Mini Interviews (MMIs) and traditional panel interviews, with some changes in delivery (many schools have returned to face-to-face, though a few retain online elements). Below is an updated overview by school:

• Birmingham 

  Uses an MMI format, typically with 5–10 stations. Interviews are usually held in person around the February half-term. Expect stations assessing motivation, ethics, communication, etc. (Birmingham advises reflecting on work experience and ethical standards when preparing).

• Bristol

  Conducts a traditional panel interview (∼20 minutes) and notably continues to hold interviews online (via Zoom as of recent cycles). Candidates may be asked to complete pre-interview tasks – previously, Bristol has required a “matchbox” task or a “tell me how” explanatory exercise to assess communication and problem-solving. Be prepared to undertake a brief task or presentation as part of the interview.

• Cardiff

  Uses an MMI with around 10 stations, usually in person. Stations cover a broad range (ethical scenarios, teamwork, manual dexterity, etc.), and often include a short written exercise as well (Cardiff’s format has in the past included a written component alongside verbal stations).

• Dundee

  Recently has run a semi-structured panel interview (3 interviewers, ~40 minutes) which was held online via Blackboard Collaborate in the 2024 cycle Criteria include critical thinking, personal values, and teamwork (Check Dundee’s 2026 entry guidance – they may return to in-person, but the panel style is likely to continue.)

• Glasgow

  Uses an MMI (approx. 7 stations over ~45 minutes) held in January/February. Typically in person, stations assess qualities like ethics, empathy, teamwork, leadership, problem-solving and even manual dexterity or spatial awareness– reflecting the hands-on nature of dentistry.

• King’s College London (KCL)

  Favours an MMI format (historically 5–8 stations). In previous years, King’s has run in-person MMIs at Guy’s Hospital with around six station circuits, each with a different interviewer. For 2024 entry, the exact format was “to be confirmed”, but it’s expected that in-person MMIs will be the norm moving forward. The interview window generally spans December to March. Stations typically cover motivation for dentistry, ethical scenarios, teamwork, communication skills, and a discussion of a case or article (King’s often includes a brief “analysis of a scenario or case study” station)

• Leeds

  Uses an MMI (likely ~7–8 stations) held around February. Leeds typically holds interviews in person on campus. Details for 2026 entry should be checked on Leeds’ website. Still, generally, you can expect a range of MMI stations assessing personal attributes and ethical decision-making (Leeds usually publishes an interview information booklet closer to the time).

• Liverpool

  Uses an MMI as well. Liverpool’s interviews run from January into March. Notably, Liverpool has recently conducted their MMIs online, with a relatively large number of stations. Reports indicate ~10–12 stations via an online platform, possibly with rest stations included. (Ensure your tech setup is reliable if you interview for Liverpool, and be ready for a mix of interviewers/questions in quick succession.) Topics include ethics, teamwork, communication, and a role-play (Liverpool is known for often incorporating a role-play scenario in its MMI).

• Manchester 

  Runs an MMI with approximately 5 stations, held between January and March. This is typically an in-person MMI circuit. Manchester’s stations are known to cover work experience, ethical dilemmas, teamwork, empathy, hobbies/interests and motivation for dentistry. They emphasise a holistic view of the candidate – expect questions about what you learned from experiences and scenarios testing your interpersonal skills.

• Newcastle

  Uses a traditional panel interview, about 20 minutes long, usually scheduled in December and January. The panel (often two interviewers) will engage in a discussion covering areas like your preparation for dental school, understanding of the profession, resilience, teamwork, and personal qualities. Newcastle’s panel style is structured – they have defined criteria they score you on (e.g. motivation, communication, empathy, integrity). It’s a formal but conversational format rather than rapid-fire questioning.

• Plymouth

  Uses an MMI (about 5 stations), which has been held remotely in recent cycles. Expect the MMI to take place via an online platform (if continuing the approach from 2024–25). Plymouth’s stations cover integrity, motivation and commitment to dentistry, empathy, teamwork, handling stress, self-awareness, and knowledge of the dental profession. Even if remote, treat it like an in-person MMI: dress professionally and be prepared to interact via webcam.

• Sheffield

  Uses a panel interview (often described as “semi-structured panel”), roughly 15 minutes per candidate. These are typically scheduled in the February–March period (Sheffield tends to interview later in the cycle). The panel will usually include two members of staff (and sometimes a current student observer). They will assess motivation for the course, understanding of dentistry issues, ability to think independently and apply knowledge, relevant experiences, and core values. Sheffield’s questions often delve into current issues in dentistry and ethical scenarios, so prepare to discuss topics like NHS dentistry challenges or teamwork examples.

• Queen’s University Belfast (QUB)

  Employs an MMI format. Interviews at QUB usually run from December through March. Stations typically test empathy, problem-solving, moral reasoning, and communication skills. The MMIs are traditionally in person in Belfast. Keep in mind Belfast (like other Northern Irish medical/dental programs) values an understanding of working with diverse communities – you might face questions on how you’d serve patients with different needs or how you handle ethical dilemmas relevant to dentistry.

• University of Central Lancashire (UCLan)

  Uses an MMI, often held in early December. UCLan’s BDS programme is smaller and has historically had a unique intake (for example, focusing on a mix of UK and overseas students). The interview criteria include knowledge of the profession, ethics/professionalism, and teamwork. Expect a friendly atmosphere but rigorous station content. If you’re applying to UCLan, note that they sometimes prioritise applicants with ties to the North West or those who applied via specific routes, but all interviewees face the same MMI station assessments.

Note: The majority of dental schools have now returned to in-person interviews after the pandemic. For 2025 entry, most schools ran face-to-face circuits, with only a handful (like Bristol and Liverpool) sticking to online formats. 

Always check your interview invite for details, as some schools will explicitly instruct you about format and any preparation needed (e.g. Bristol’s pre-interview task).

If your interview is online, the preparation and etiquette should be no less professional than in-person – test your technology, ensure a quiet environment, dress smartly, and be ready to engage through the camera. As UCAS advises, treat an online interview with the same seriousness and preparation as a face-to-face meeting.

New Dental Schools and Added Places for 2026

The 2026 cycle brings expansion in training places as the UK addresses a national shortage of dentists. Notably, a new dental school is set to open as part of the University of East Anglia (UEA) in Norwich. Plans for the Norwich dental school (School of Oral Health) have been approved with government funding. UEA’s new BDS programme aims to admit an initial cohort of around 40 students in 2026, pending final General Dental Council approval. This will be the first new UK dental school in nearly two decades, addressing the “dental desert” in the East Anglia region where currently no local training exists (There are plans to expand to 65 students per year in future as the facility grows) Prospective applicants for 2026 entry should keep an eye out for UEA’s course details – as of writing, the school is in discussions with the GDC to finalize the curriculum. It’s expected that UEA will use an MMI-style interview like other dental schools once it begins recruiting.

In addition, the government and the Dental Schools Council have signalled interest in expanding dental training in other regions. Bangor (North Wales) has been floated as another potential site for a new dental school, though no programme there is confirmed for 2026 entry. Wales currently only has one dental school (Cardiff), so future developments in Bangor could further increase places, but likely after 2026.

There are also initiatives to expand allied dental training: The University of Lincoln, for example, is opening the Lincolnshire Institute of Dental and Oral Health in 2026. This is not a BDS programme, but a centre to train dental hygienists/therapists (30 students in its first year) and upskill dental nurses. The long-term hope is that Lincoln could eventually host a whole dental school. For now, Lincoln’s development reflects a broader trend of bolstering the dental workforce pipeline.

What this means for applicants: More places nationally should gradually improve odds, but new schools will still be competitive. If applying to a brand-new programme like UEA, research it thoroughly – being knowledgeable about why that region needs dentists and showing enthusiasm for joining a new course can help in an interview. Also, keep in mind that regulators must approve new schools, so always have a couple of established dental schools in your UCAS choices as well.

Key Dates and Dentistry Interview Timeline (2025–2026)

Mark your calendar: For 2026 entry, the UCAS application deadline for dentistry (as with Medicine, Veterinary and Oxbridge) will be 15 October 2025 (typically 18:00 UK time). All aspiring dentists must apply by this early deadline.

After applications are submitted in October, dental schools begin shortlisting candidates (using criteria like UCAT scores, academic grades, personal statements, etc.). Interview invitations usually start going out from November onward. The interview season then runs roughly from December 2025 through March 2026:

• Some schools interview very early (Nov/Dec). For instance, it’s not uncommon for Cambridge (for affiliated applicants) or a few dental schools to hold the first interviews in late November or early December. Many candidates will have their first interview in December, before the winter holidays.

• The bulk of dental school interviews takes place in January and February 2026. Plan for a busy period in the New Year – multiple invites can come in clustered, and you’ll want to schedule practice and prep over the winter break. (Note: You may have little choice in interview dates; some universities assign you a slot, while others let you choose from given dates. Respond promptly to invites to secure a suitable date.)

• A few schools run interviews as late as March 2026. For example, Sheffield traditionally schedules interviews in February and March, and Queen’s Belfast often continues into March. By the end of March, essentially all interviews will be completed across the UK.

Interview timing: Many universities spread interviews over several days or weeks. You might have a morning or afternoon slot. If an interview is in person, factor in travel time; if it’s online, ensure you log in early. Always read the instructions: some online interviews will require you to show ID or do a system check beforehand. For instance, universities using Zoom or Blackboard may send a link with a specific login procedure – follow any technical guidelines to avoid mishaps.

Results: After your interview, when can you expect to hear back? This varies. Some dental schools operate a rolling admissions model – they may notify successful candidates within a couple of weeks of their interview (especially if your interview was early in the cycle). Others, however, wait until all interviews conclude to make decisions so they can rank all candidates. In practice, this means you might interview in December but not get an offer or rejection until late March. Don’t be disheartened if you don’t hear immediately – often, “no news is good news” as you remain under consideration until the end.

Finally, remember to schedule around important dates: A-Level mocks or January exams might clash with interviews, so communicate with your school/college early. Universities will usually accommodate rescheduling an interview if it coincides with a crucial exam, but you’ll need to inform them promptly and provide evidence if required.

NHS Policy Changes & Hot Topics for 2026 Dentistry Interviews

Interviewers love to see that candidates are aware of current issues and debates in dentistry. The 2025–2026 cycle has several hot topics that could well come up in interview questions or prompts. Here are key issues to understand and form opinions on:

• NHS Dental Contract Reforms

  In mid-2025, the government announced proposed changes to the NHS dental contract – the first significant reforms in 17 years. These changes (currently under consultation) aim to improve patient access, especially for those with urgent or high needs. Proposals include a “time-limited care pathway” for patients with complex dental decay (providing standardised fees for intensive courses of treatment), requirements for all NHS practices to offer unscheduled urgent care slots, and adjustments to the UDA system (for example, re-banding specific treatments like fissure sealants to better reward prevention). Also on the table is enabling dental nurses with extended duties to apply fluoride varnish without a dentist's exam, to free up dentists’ time. Why it matters: Interviews may ask your opinion on how to improve NHS dentistry or how to balance prevention vs treatment. Showing familiarity with these proposals – e.g. “the new contract might mandate urgent care slots and introduce preventive care pathways for high-risk patients” – will demonstrate awareness. You might be asked about ethical scenarios like how to prioritise patients when resources are limited, which ties into these access issues.

• The NHS 10-Year Plan & Workforce Expansion

  In tandem with contract reforms, the government’s broader 10-Year Health Plan includes dental care improvements. A key theme is addressing the shortage of NHS dentists. The Dental Schools Council and British Dental Association have been vocal about a “critical shortfall” of dentists. There are calls for significantly increasing training places in dentistry and dental hygiene, which we’re seeing with the new schools and larger intakes. Interviewers might ask what challenges NHS dentistry faces today. You should be able to cite issues like workforce shortages, funding constraints, and regional inequalities in access to care. Mentioning that the Dental Schools Council has recommended expanding dental training and reforming the contract to retain dentists can show you’re up to date. Also, be aware of the tension where many dentists are moving to private practice – how would you feel about practising in the NHS vs privately? Why are dentists leaving the NHS? Form an informed view (e.g. issues with the UDA system, workload and remuneration concerns, etc., which the new reforms seek to address).

• Oral Health Prevention Initiatives

  Prevention is a big buzzword. For example, community water fluoridation is expanding. In March 2025, the government green-lit the most significant expansion of fluoridation since the 1980s, aiming to extend fluoridated water to an extra 1.6 million people in northeast England. This measure targets high tooth decay rates in deprived areas and is backed by substantial evidence and public health bodies. You might be asked about your stance on water fluoridation – it’s good to know the basics: fluoride in water at recommended levels reduces decay. The NHS and WHO support it, but it sometimes faces public hesitation. Likewise, child oral health programs, such as supervised toothbrushing in schools and sugar reduction campaigns, are in focus. Be aware that in England, a supervised brushing scheme is being rolled out in early-years settings in deprived regions– something an interviewer might mention when discussing how to improve children’s dental health.

• Sugar and Diet – “Sugar is the new tobacco” debate

  Dentists are increasingly speaking out on sugar’s role in poor oral health. In 2025, a damning investigation into hidden sugars in baby foods found some infant pouches contained more sugar by volume than Coca-Cola. This prompted dental leaders to urge the government to crack down on “grotesque levels of sugar” in products for babies and children. The British Dental Association launched a petition to “make sugar the new tobacco,” calling for mandatory regulation on food companies to reduce sugar content and stop marketing high-sugar foods to infants. In an interview, you could be asked an open question like, “What do you think is a major public health issue in dentistry today?” Sugar’s impact on childhood decay – leading to thousands of young children needing extractions under general anaesthetic each year – is a great talking point. You might discuss measures like the sugar tax (Soft Drinks Industry Levy), more transparent food labelling (the Oral Health Foundation has called for front-of-pack sugar warnings), and educating families about diet. Also, consider the ethical side: how far should the government go in regulating diets for oral health? Having a reasoned opinion on this showcases your understanding of dentistry’s preventive role.

• Access to NHS Dentistry and Health Inequalities

  Throughout 2023–25, there have been constant news stories about patients struggling to find NHS dentists or long waits for treatment. Understand the concept of “dental deserts” – areas with little to no NHS dental provision (this was a driving reason for the new Norwich dental school). An interviewer might ask, “Why do you think some communities have poor access to dental care, and what could be done?” You can touch on dentist distribution (more dentists in cities than rural areas), funding, and initiatives like mobile dental clinics or incentivising dentists to work in underserved regions. Also, during COVID-19, backlogs built up; even by 2025, there’s a significant treatment backlog. Showing empathy for patients and awareness of systemic issues will serve you well in such discussions.

• Ethical Scenarios and Professionalism

  Finally, expect classic ethical scenarios, possibly framed in current contexts. For example, questions about consent and capacity (perhaps mentioning remote consultations or new technologies), dealing with anxious or vulnerable patients (with the backlog, dentists are seeing patients in pain who haven’t been for years), or prioritising treatment when resources are limited (tie this to NHS constraints). Ensure you’re familiar with the General Dental Council’s core principles (Standards for the Dental Team) – things like putting patients’ interests first, maintaining confidentiality, and practising within your competence. An awareness of these principles and an ability to apply them in scenarios (e.g. handling a suspected child safeguarding issue or a patient requesting unnecessary cosmetic work) will demonstrate maturity and ethical insight.

Tip: When discussing hot topics or policies, try to stay balanced and factual. It’s fine to express an opinion (indeed, they want to see that you can form one), but back it up with reasoning. For instance: “I believe expanding water fluoridation is a positive step because evidence shows it reduces decay, especially in deprived areas. However, I’d be sensitive to public concerns and emphasise education about its safety.” This kind of answer shows you’re informed and considerate.

Excelling at Your Dentistry Interview – Preparation

With so much to cover, thorough preparation is key to converting interviews into offers. By now, you should be practising common questions (“Why dentistry?”, ethical dilemmas, teamworking examples, etc.), brushing up on dental knowledge and hot topics, and refining your communication skills. Practice giving structured answers – for MMI stations, using frameworks (like STARR for situational questions or SPIES for ethics) can help organise your thoughts under pressure.

Many applicants find that formal interview courses or mock circuits significantly boost their confidence. For example, Blue Peanut’s Dentistry Interview preparation is fully updated for the 2026 cycle and comes highly recommended. We offer a one-day Dentistry Interview Course (available in-person in Manchester, London and Birmingham, or live online via Zoom) designed by NHS dentists and university tutors to cover all aspects of dental interviews, from personal motivation to tackling ethical scenarios.

Uniquely, Blue Peanut even provides the option of a complete recording of the course to each student for review, meaning you can re-watch and reinforce your learning afterwards. According to Blue Peanut’s feedback, our interview courses have an outstanding 95–98% success rate, with a record number of students achieving 4 out of 4 dental offers in recent years. (This high success rate speaks to the effectiveness of focused training – of course, your mileage may vary, but it’s a strong indicator of quality.)

In addition to the teaching course, Blue Peanut runs an intensive Dental School MMI Interview Preparation Circuit– essentially a whole mock MMI experience. This 40-station MMI circuit simulates four complete dental interviews under exam conditions. You rotate through a wide variety of stations with trained examiners and receive personalised written feedback at each one. The circuits are calibrated to be as close as possible to real interviews (Blue Peanut’s team includes former admissions assessors and dental school lecturers who design the stations). With groups capped at around 10 students, you get an intimate, hands-on practice that pinpoints your blind spots and helps you improve rapidly. Crucially, Blue Peanut feedback reports that 95–98% of their students go on to secure at least one offer after attending their courses, which is a reassuring statistic for anyone nervous about interviews If you’re interested, you can find more details on the Blue Peanut Dentistry Interview Course (dates, locations and booking) and their MMI Circuit on our website – these linked resources provide schedules and how to enroll.

Remember these final tips:

• Know your application inside out – re-read your UCAS personal statement and be ready to talk in depth about anything you mentioned (work experience, volunteering, hobbies). If you wrote about shadowing a dentist, be prepared for “What did you learn from that experience?” If you listed playing in a team or an award you won, expect the panel to inquire how it’s shaped you.

• Stay informed – as discussed, have an awareness of current events and policy in dentistry. Even something like a recent news headline about dentistry could be worth dropping in to show engagement. It’s not all stats and policy either; you could mention a dental innovation that intrigued you (digital dentistry, AI in diagnostics, new materials) if asked about the future of dentistry.

• Practice communicating clearly – dentistry is a caring profession, so your interpersonal skills matter. Work on answering questions out loud with a friend, teacher, or mentor. For MMI role-plays, practice maintaining empathy and composure (e.g. practice a scenario where you have to calm an anxious patient or explain oral hygiene to a parent). For panel interviews, practice delivering longer responses that are structured but not robotic – you want to be conversational and let your personality show.

• Prepare questions to ask – virtually all interviews will give you a chance to ask the interviewer(s) something at the end. Have one or two thoughtful questions ready (the website doesn’t easily answer that). For example, you might ask, “How does your school support students in developing their clinical skills early on?” or “What do you, as a tutor, find unique about teaching at this dental school?” Avoid questions about things like hours or pay – focus on the course or the culture of the school.

• Logistics – If in-person, plan your travel so you arrive with time to spare. Wear professional attire (smart clothing with comfortable shoes, as you may be doing tasks or campus tours). If online, double-check your webcam, microphone, internet connection, and that your display name is appropriate (e.g., just your name). Keep your device plugged in to avoid the battery dying mid-interview. Have your ID handy, as many virtual interviews will check it.

• Mindset – Go in with a positive attitude. The fact you’ve been invited means the school sees potential in you. Interviews are as much about personality and attitude as about giving “correct” answers. If you don’t know an answer, it’s okay – they prefer an honest reflection or a structured approach to solving a problem over a guess. If you stumble, compose yourself and keep going; each station or question is a fresh opportunity to impress.

Good luck to all 2026 entry applicants – with updated knowledge, practice and enthusiasm, you can approach your dentistry interviews with confidence. Remember, every interviewer wants to find the next great dental student – show them that it’s you by demonstrating your passion for dentistry, awareness of the profession’s challenges and rewards, and the personal qualities that will make you a caring, capable dentist. 2026 is an exciting time to join the field, with changes on the horizon; use your interview to convey that you’re ready to embrace these changes and contribute to the future of dentistry.