The Bachelor of Dental Surgery at James Cook University is a 5 year undergraduate degree that provides you with the knowledge and skills you need to become a competent practitioner of dentistry.  The program is primarily for high school leavers, however a limited number of places are available for students with university study.

This Australian Dental School offers a broad-based program that includes all aspects of dental practice and focuses on issues of concern to northern Australia, particularly those relating to tropical, rural and Indigenous practice. The Bachelor of Dental surgery offered at James Cook University integrates the basic sciences with dental clinical sciences and preventive oral health strategies.

James Cook University has invested significantly in a new dental teaching complex with state-of-the-art dental treatment centre, and a world-class clinical simulation facility.

Practical experience treating patients is a key part to James Cook University’s Dental School. Students train alongside leading practitioners in Cairns and across northern Queensland in Australia to develop hands-on clinical.

Graduates of James Cook University’s Bachelor of Dental Surgery program will be fully qualified to sit examinations to register as a dentist with the Dental Board of Australia, as well as being able to sit for the Dental Examining Board of Canada (DEB) examination to practice as a dentist (in Canada).

Entry Requirements

Applications for 2024 intake are open.  Please contact KOM to apply to JCU Dentistry

2024 entry requirements 

Completed High School Diploma with minimum gpa 89%:

• Ontario – top 6 Year 12
• Alberta – top 5 Year 12
• British Columbia – Language Arts Year 12 and best 3 Year 12 subjects having 4 point credit (Language Arts includes English 12/English 12 First Peoples/Communication 12/English Literature 12)
• High school pre-reqs required:  English (Year 12), Chemistry (Year 12), Math B (Year 12 – covering algebra, calculus, statistics, vectors, geometry, trigonometry)

University study (partial or completed) carrying a competitive GPA of 80% or A- or 3.5/4 across all years of study (gpa equivalents vary by university).  Must have met pre-req requirements from high school

Entry into James Cook University’s Bachelor of Dental Surgery course is highly sought after, attracting a wide range of excellent applications. A balance between school scores and your application form will make you a competitive candidate for this course

Professional Recognition

James Cook University’s Bachelor of Dental Surgery will prepare graduates as generalist dentists in accordance with the dental profession’s scope of practice. Graduates will be eligible for professional registration with all dental boards in Australia and New Zealand, enabling them to enter dental practice.

Graduates of James cook university’s Bachelor of Dental Surgery program will be fully qualified to practice dentistry upon completion of the degree and Australian licensing examinations, as well as being eligible to sit for the Dental Examining Board of Canada (DEB) examination to practice as a Dentist (in Canada).

In 2010, the Australian Dental Council and the Commission on Dental accreditation of Canada signed a reciprocal agreement which allows accredited graduates of either body to practice dentistry in Australia or Canada. This means Canadian students returning home with dentistry degrees from accredited Australian Dental Schools can follow the same licensing process as Canadian domestic graduates. Canadian license will be fully granted upon successful completion of the National Exam administered through the Canadian National Dental Examining Board (NDEB).