Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS)
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The Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) program is 4 years in length, preparing graduates for a career as a Dentist.
Years 1 & 2 of the program consist of an integrated curriculum, studying anatomical, physiologic, and health systems. The first two years of the program also include the study of Oral Biology, Dental Anatomy, Oral Pathology, and an introduction to the pre-clinical practice of dentistry.
Years 3 & 4 of the program are comprised of lectures, laboratories, seminars, and clinical practice. In addition to clinical practice at the Mike Petryk School of Dentistry Oral Health Clinic, students will participate in external public clinics and satellite clinic rotations in Northern Alberta.
All applicants are expected to meet the Technical Standards Policy if admitted to the program.
Are you an Indigenous Applicant?
Click here for more information about our Indigenous admission pathway and the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry Wâpanachakos Indigenous Health Program.
Admission Requirements
The admissions cycle is a year-long process. Applications are submitted in the year prior to the Fall term admission is sought. The current academic year is considered .
Download the DDS 91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø Checklist for a summary of requirements and deadlines.
01
Submit an Application
Submit a with the application fee .
Applications Open: July 1
Application Deadline: November 1 11:59 PM MT
02
MEET ALL ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS
Applicants must complete at least two years of university-level coursework. All academic requirements must be complete or in-progress at the time of application.
03
SUBMIT PERSONAL EXPERIENCES
The forms will be available in your UAlberta Launchpad. The submission deadline is November 1 11:59 PM MT.
04
SEND cASPER test RESULTS
Applicants must complete a situational judgement test (Casper). Results must be received by January 2.
05
SEND DAT RESULTS
Applicants must complete the Dental Aptitude Test (DAT). Results must be received by January 15.
06
MEET ENGLISH REQUIREMENTs
If applicable, applicants must present proof of English Language Proficiency and Spoken English Proficiency. More information can be found at .
The discovery that an applicant has omitted necessary information or submitted false information in their application could result in the cancellation of the application, rescission of an offer of admission, or refusal of future applications. Please review the University's 91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø Policy for more information.
Academic Requirements
To be eligible for admission, you must complete at least two years of university-level coursework. All academic requirements must be complete or in-progress at the time of application.
Applicants must present:
- a minimum of 60 units of transferable post-secondary coursework
- two Fall/Winter academic years with a course load of 30 transferable units each year
- required courses with the minimum grade
- minimum overall GPA
For more information, visit our Frequently Asked Questions about Academic Requirements.
The 91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø Committee reserves the right to refuse applicants who have been Required to Withdraw from their program. Applicants who have been required to withdraw should contact Dentistry 91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø for a review of their individual circumstances.
Required Courses
You must complete all the required courses with the minimum required grade to be considered for admission.
Courses taken under a specific subject area are NOT guaranteed to transfer as the same subject area. Course evaluations will be completed following the submission of an application and all required documents.
Minimum Required Grade:
- Transfer courses : C- (or equivalent)
- UofA courses: D
Pass/Fail or CR courses are accepted.
Some required courses can be fulfilled through advanced credit from International Baccalaureate (IB) or Advanced Placement (AP) programs.
A grade of 6 or 7 is required to receive advanced credit.
| IB Course | UofA Course Equivalent |
| Chemistry (HL) | CHEM 101 (3 units) or CHEM 103 (3 units) |
| Biology (HL) | BIOL 107 (3 units) |
| English: Literature (HL) | ENGL 1XX (6 units) |
A grade of 4 or 5 is required to receive advanced credit.
| AP Course | UofA Course Equivalent |
| Biology | BIOL 107 (3 units) |
| English | ENGL 1XX (3 units) |
| Statistics | STAT 151 (3 units) |
Transfer Tools
- Equivalent course lists for select Alberta institutions
- for Alberta institutions
- UofA Transfer Credit search tool for all instutitions
For more information, visit our Frequently Asked Questions about Transferring Courses.
| Course Subject | Accepted UofA Courses |
| General Chemistry (3 units) | CHEM 101 or 103 |
| Organic Chemistry (3 units) | CHEM 261 or 264 |
| Cell Biology (3 units) | BIOL 107 |
| English (6 units) | ENGL 1XX ENGL 150 does NOT meet this requirement |
| Statistics (3 units) | STAT 151 or equivalent |
| Microbiology (3 units) | MICRB 265 or MMI 133 |
| Biochemistry (3 units) | BIOCH 200 |
| Human Physiology (6 units) | PHYSL 210 or equivalent see additional information below |
Note: 3 units = one half-year course; 6 units = two half-year courses or one full-year course
Human Physiology Coursework
Human Physiology course(s) must include a minimum of 78 hours of lecture on human physiology, covering all major body systems:
- Nervous
- Cardiovascular
- Respiratory
- Muscular
- Digestive
- Excretory/Renal/Urinary
- Immune
- Endocrine
- Reproductive (male and female)
Animal physiology and invertebrate physiology courses will not meet the requirement, except for ZOOL 241 and ZOOL 242 offered at the 91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø.
Challenge Exam
The Human Physiology Challenge Examination is for applicants who do not present coursework equivalent to PHYSL 210, allowing them to demonstrate that they possess sufficient knowledge of human physiology to meet the course requirement.
This examination does NOT replace required coursework, and applicants must present 6 units of approved Human Physiology coursework to be eligible to take the Challenge Exam. Applicants will be notified if they present approved coursework when their application is evaluated.
Applicants who meet all eligibility criteria will receive an invitation to take the Challenge Exam.
Eligibility Criteria
- Successfully completed or expected to complete approved Human Physiology courses by the end of the application cycle
- Meet all other admission requirements
- Competitive to be invited to an admissions interview
The Examination will be held online. There is a fee of $50 to take the examination.
The examination will be composed of 150 multiple-choice questions. The time allotted to complete the examination is 3 hours. The passing grade will be determined by a standard setting score.
The examination may test any of the listed learning objectives.
To be successful in the challenge exam, applicants should be familiar with human physiology concepts and knowledge at the level presented in Vander’s Human Physiology: The Mechanisms of Body Function, 16th Edition by Eric Widmaier, Herschel Raff and Kevin Strang.
Passing Grade
Applicants who receive a standard-setting passing grade in the challenge exam will be considered to have met the Human Physiology requirement. At the same time, passing the challenge exam does not guarantee admission to the program.
If an applicant does not satisfactorily complete (withdraws or receives below a C-) their Human Physiology course(s) in progress, the Human Physiology requirement will be considered as deficient, even if they receive a passing score on the Challenge Exam.
A passing grade on the exam will be valid for 12 months (i.e., a passing Challenge Exam score for Fall 2024 admission could be used for Fall 2025 admission as well).
Failing Grade
If an applicant fails to receive a passing grade, they will NOT be considered to have met the Human Physiology requirement and will not be considered for admission. Applicants may be allowed to retake the Challenge exam in subsequent application cycles. Alternatively, they may take PHYSL 210 from the 91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø or equivalent to fulfill the Human Physiology requirement.
Overall GPA (OGPA)
You must present a minimum OGPA of 3.3. OGPA is used only to determine eligibility, not for ranking applicants.
How is OGPA calculated?
OGPA is calculated using all transferable post-secondary work completed during full-time studies.
Full-time study is equivalent to a minimum of:
- 18 units taken during Fall and Winter terms
- 12 units taken during Spring and Summer terms
How Winter 2020 grades are considered
Have at least 4 years of study?
For applicants who have completed four or more years of full-time coursework, the OGPA is calculated with the exclusion of the lowest GPA year, provided it is not:
- the most recent full-time period, OR
- one of only two required Fall/Winter years where 30 units were taken
Special Consideration Request
Applicants with extenuating circumstances may submit a request for special consideration to the 91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø Committee to exclude certain years from their OGPA. Requests must be received by January 2 in the year admission is sought.
Special Consideration Requests cannot waive admission requirements .
Please contact Dentistry 91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø to request the Special Consideration Form.
Transcript Deadlines
Throughout the application cycle, you must submit several transcripts. Depending on the type, transcripts can either be uploaded by the applicant or must be sent directly to the UofA by the issuing institution.
For more information about transcripts, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions.
Post-Secondary Transcripts
If the required documents are not received by February 1, your application will not be considered for an interview.
| November 15 | Unofficial transcripts showing completed coursework to date. Must include Fall/Winter registration, if currently attending |
| February 1 | Unofficial transcripts showing Fall term grades and Winter term registration, if currently attending |
| June 15 | Final Official transcripts with Fall/Winter grades, and Spring grades, if applicable |
Did you study outside of Canada?
In addition to your transcripts, you must provide a detailed course syllabus or course description for each post-secondary course completed outside of Canada by February 1 in the year admission is sought. Please compile all syllabi or course descriptions into one document for upload to UAlberta Launchpad.
AP and IB transcripts
Applicants may use their Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) credits to fulfill the required courses. Applicants who intend to do so must provide their official AP or IB transcript by January 2 in the year admission is sought.
Requesting Transcripts on Your Behalf
If applicable, we may be able to obtain required transcripts from participating ApplyAlberta institutions on your behalf.
91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø transcripts will be requested for current and former UofA students.
Please carefully review the status of your documents in UAlberta Launchpad. You are responsible for requesting all other required transcripts and documents as indicated in UAlberta Launchpad.
Final official transcripts can be sent:
Via email: transcripts@ualberta.ca
Via mail:
91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø
Office of the Registrar
University Commons
Edmonton, AB, Canada
T6G 2R3
Canadian Dental Aptitude Test (DAT)
Information about the DAT and registration is available on the . The American DAT is not accepted.
A minimum score of 15 is required in each of the following:
- Survey of Natural Sciences (SNS)
- Perceptual Ability Test (PAT)
- Reading Comprehension Test (RCT)
Important Information
- Write the DAT by early December to ensure results are received by the deadline.
- DAT results must be no older than five years on November 1.
- If the test is taken more than once, the best set of scores will be used.
91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø Tip: Taking the DAT earlier in the application year will allow for a second attempt before the deadline, if needed.
DEADLINE TO RECEIVE: January 15
Missing Scores?
DAT scores are added to UAlberta Launchpad after the application deadline.
Ensure your name and birthdate are correct in your CDA account so your results can be matched to your application.
If your scores are still missing in December, please contact Dentistry 91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø.
Situational Judgement Test (Casper)
Applicants are required to complete the Casper 2 CSP-10211 from Acuity Insights.
This test is a standardized two-part online assessment of non-cognitive skills, interpersonal characteristics, and personal values and priorities that are considered important for the dental profession.
All available test dates offered will allow for test results to be received by the deadline. Visit for more information, important dates, and requirements.
The DDS and Dental Hygiene programs require different Casper assessments. If you are applying to both programs, you must complete the correct assessment for each.
DEADLINE TO RECEIVE: January 2
Note: scores are only valid for the current application cycle
Missing Scores?
Casper scores are added to UAlberta Launchpad after the application deadline.
If your scores are still missing in December, please contact Dentistry 91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø.
Personal Experiences
The Mike Petryk School of Dentistry values diversity in our DDS class. The Personal Experiences section provides you with the opportunity to highlight the life experiences that you feel will enhance your application.
After submitting and paying for your application, the Personal Experiences forms will be available in your UAlberta Launchpad.
The Personal Experiences section is comprised of four subsections:
Provide a brief description of the nature of the work and responsibilities.
The following information is required:
- start dates
- end dates, if not an ongoing activity
- type (e.g., part-time, seasonal, full-time, etc.)
- average hours per week/month/year, whichever is most applicable
- total number of verifiable hours
Maximum 3 entries. Maximum 350 characters per entry.
Provide a brief description of areas where you have provided a leadership role or volunteer experiences. This applies to scholastic, sports, arts, and community activities.
The following information is required:
- start dates
- end dates, if not an ongoing activity
- average hours per week/month/year, whichever is most applicable
- total number of verifiable hours
Maximum 3 entries. Maximum 350 characters per entry.
Share achievements or experiences that you feel have defined your life and who you are. This can include, but is not limited to, achievements and experiences in:
- education
- arts
- music
- sports
- athletics
- science
- research
- languages
- communication
- cultural and ethnic experiences
- travel
Maximum 2000 characters .
Share a life experience where you encountered challenges and describe how you addressed the situation(s). You are strongly encourged to share an experience that you have not previously addressed in your application which will allow us to learn more about you as an applicant.
Maximum 1000 characters .
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: November 1 11:59 PM MT
At least one Personal Experiences subsection must be completed; applications with no subsection completed by the deadline will be closed.
With the limited character count in place, please keep your items concise and selective. By not including any items in a subsection, you will receive a zero for that subsection.
Verifiers
Employment and Leadership/Volunteer Experience activities subsections must be verified. For each activity, an email address for someone who can confirm the details provided must be entered.
We strongly recommend discussing the information being provided with your verifier and notifying them that they will be contacted. Discrepancies in the information provided may affect your application and eligibility to receive admission.
Do not use yourself as a verifier. Avoid using family members or close friends when possible.
Applicants should ask verifiers for regularly monitored personal email where possible. Verifiers may lose access to a work-related email. Email domains linked to health services (e.g., Alberta Health Services), government services, and the military often have firewalls that block verification emails.
Interviews
If your application is considered competitive, you will be invited for an interview to determine if you have the personal qualities necessary for the profession. The interview evaluates your maturity, motivation, initiative, ability to communicate, personal qualities, and interest.
Applicants who fail to submit the required documents by February 1 will not be considered for interview selection.
Short-listed applicants will receive their interview invitation via email by the end of February.
Interview Format
The interview format is a Multiple Mini Interview (MMI). In this format, the interviewee will be exposed without interruption to a series of stations, each of which will take 10 minutes to complete.
At each station, the interviewee will be provided with a question/scenario and given two minutes to read the question and prepare a response. After the two minutes, the interviewee will share their response with the interviewer for the remaining 8 minutes before proceeding to the next station.
Personal Statement
In addition to the interview, applicants will be scheduled to complete a written personal statement on the same day. This statement assesses your written communication skills and understanding of the dental profession through a series of specific questions.
Selection Criteria
- Dental Aptitude Test (DAT) results
- Casper Test results
- Personal Experiences
Interview Date
TBA (March)
Admission Selection
Admission to the DDS program is competitive. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission. See Admission Statistics for recent applicant numbers and competitive averages.
Admission offers are sent between mid-May to early July. Admission offers are for the Fall term for which the applicant applied and cannot be deferred.
The 91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø Committee reserves the right to exercise its discretion in individual cases. Admission decisions are final and can not be appealed.
Enrollment is limited to 32 seats annually
- Alberta residents: min. 29 seats
- Non-Alberta residents: up to 3 seats*
- Includes international applicants on students visas
*No non-resident shall be admitted who is less qualified than any Alberta resident who is denied admission to the program.
Overall GPA is NOT used to competitively rank applicants. Applicants who present at least an OGPA of 3.3 will be considered for admission selection.
Selection Criteria
Factors include, but are not limited to:
- Dental Aptitude Test (DAT) results
- Casper Test results
- Personal Experiences
- Interview score
- Personal Statement
Alberta Resident Definition
For admission purposes, a resident of Alberta is defined as a Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident who has been a continuous resident in the Province of Alberta, Yukon, the Northwest Territories, or Nunavut for at least one year immediately prior to the first day of classes of the Fall term in which admission is sought. The one-year residence period shall not be considered broken where the admission committee is satisfied that the applicant was temporarily out of the province on vacation, in short-term employment, or as a full-time student.
Applicants may be required to present proof of residency status. We reserve the right to correct your residency claim should we feel that the information in your application and documents does not support your claim. Please see for more information.
Indigenous Applicants
The Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry is committed to the recruitment, retention and graduation of Indigenous students. All applicants who self-identify as Indigenous will be flagged for the Indigenous admission pathway, as well as the general (Alberta or Non-Alberta) pathway.
All qualified Indigenous applicants who are successful in the Indigenous admissions process will be recommended by the Indigenous 91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø Subcommittee for admission.
For more information on the Indigenous admission pathway process and requirements, we encourage prospective Indigenous applicants to connect with the Wâpanachakos Indigenous Health Program (WIHP).
Connect with WIHP
wihpadmin@ualberta.ca
780-492-2209
Program Cost
Costs are estimates and subject to change. Fees are paid at the time of registration. Students are responsible for any additional costs associated with loupes, textbooks, and software.
Learn more about Scholarships and Awards.
Estimated Total Program Cost: $232,707
| Year | Tuition | Non-instructional Fees* | Equipment & Instrumentation Rental Fees |
| 1 | $35,205 | $2,436 | $14,580 |
| 2 | $35,205 | $2,436 | $24,302 |
| 3 | $35,205 | $2,436 | $24,302 |
| 4 | $30,354 | $1,944 | $24,302 |
* Non-instructional Fees are set by the Registrar's Office. More information can be found here.
Estimated Total Program Cost: $528,422
| Year | Tuition | Non-instructional Fees* | Equipment & Instrumentation Rental Fees |
| 1 | $107,921 | $2,436 | $14,580 |
| 2 | $107,921 | $2,436 | $24,302 |
| 3 | $107,921 | $2,436 | $24,302 |
| 4 | $107,921 | $1,944 | $24,302 |
* Non-instructional Fees are set by the Registrar's Office. More information can be found here.
Post-Admission
Admitted students must complete the following:
Licensure After Graduation
Possessing a dental degree does not automatically confer the right to practice dentistry in any province of Canada. Each province has its own licensing authority, and graduates of the program desiring to practice in Canada should contact the appropriate provincial licensing body.
The Registrar of a Provincial licensing body may refuse to issue a registration certificate to practice dentistry to any applicant possessing a criminal record. If this is a concern for you, please contact the appropriate licensing body.
To practice in Alberta, a dentist must be registered with the .
Apply Now
Applications are open from July 1 to November 1 in the year prior to the Fall term admission is being sought.
Questions?
Contact dentistry admissions:
admissions.dentistry@ualberta.ca
780-492-1319