Requirements

The degree used as the basis of admission must be successfully completed and conferred by July 31 of the year of entry to the first year of the DMD program. This degree must meet the following conditions:

• 120-credit bachelor's degree (4 years) OR 90-credit bachelor's degree with DEC, from an accredited institution in any discipline. A full course load (e.g. 15 credits) is very strongly recommended during regular sessions. Summer or other interim sessions are acceptable, however they should not take away from regular sessions.
• The undergraduate program must have been undertaken on a full-time basis (as determined by your institution). A full course load (e.g. 15 credits) per semester and completion within the time prescribed by the program is expected. However, applicants who have taken up to one additional year to complete a bachelor's degree remain eligible; the final assessment based on individual circumstances remains the responsibility of Admissions. Summer or other interim sessions are acceptable, however they should not take away from regular sessions. 
• If you have reduced your course load during one or two semesters and your status changed to part-time (except for the very last semester of your degree), you will need to provide a letter of explanation and supporting documents (where applicable) as well as claim Extenuating Circumstances on your application. The Admissions Office will determine your eligibility based on the documents provided.
• A minimum of 60 consecutive graded credits must be completed at the time of application if you enrolled in an undergraduate degree after completion of a DEC.
• Performance in courses not yet completed at the time of application must be comparable to the level of performance seen in the academic records submitted at the time of application. A marked decline in academic performance in the final term(s) may lead to withdrawal of an offer of admission.
• One course (3 credits) per term, to a maximum 10% of a student's credits can be accepted as pass/fail. This does not apply to science prerequisites (except during the Winter 2020 due to the pandemic).
• The Admissions Office does not consider degrees without a marking or grading system; narrative transcripts are not accepted.

Eligibility for atypical degrees:

• Degrees that combine credits from multiple institutions, degrees where some credits come from pre-university studies: Half (50%) of the credits for the degree must be completed at granting institution. This can include colleges which are authorized in their jurisdiction to grant bachelor’s degrees. This is the standard “residency requirement”* for an institution to grant a degree at most Canadian universities, including McGill. This requirement may affect some Thompson Rivers Open Learning or Athabasca University generalist degrees, which are more flexible.
• Degrees that grant credit for prior non-credit training or experience: Prior learning credit based on informal learning (also known as Reconnaissance des acquis extrascolaires in Québec), i.e. transfer credit that does not come from prior academic credited courses, cannot comprise more than 10% of the degree (e.g. 12 credits of 120).

*“Residency requirement” refers to the minimum number of courses or credits (or percentage of the program) a student must complete at an institution to graduate from that institution.  Please consult your academic advisor or your institution's Registrar office for information about your degree requirements.

The degree used as the basis of admission must be successfully completed and conferred by July 31 of the year of entry to the first year of the DMD program. This degree must meet the following conditions:

• Applicants may be considered on the basis of a second, subsequent undergraduate degree (minimum 60 credits). 45 consecutive new graded credits (in a second/alternate bachelor's degree program) must be completed by the November 1st application deadline. The remaining 15 (or more) credits must be completed by July 31 of the year of entry to dental school (for degree conferral), and these must be at a level comparable to that which appears in the academic records submitted at the time of application. A marked decline in academic performance in the final term(s) may lead to withdrawal of an offer of admission. The second undergraduate degree must be completed on a full-time basis (as recognised by your institution).

• Winter 2020 grades will not be considered in the academic evaluation (GPA, R score), but successfully completed courses will be counted towards degree totals as reported on the institution's transcript. As well, Winter 2020 semester credits will not be considered when assessing eligibility related to full-time studies. A minimum number of graded credits is required for the assessment of your academic performance. The impact of this change on the number of graded credits required is shown here:

• The basis of admissions degree (primary or alternate) must be completed by July 31 of the year of entry to dental school.
• All graded credits contributing to the degree will be assessed with the exception of the Winter 2020 semester, which is excluded for all candidates.
• Degrees from institutions or programs with Pass/Fail grading schemes for all or the majority of courses, where this is not related to the pandemic, remain ineligible.

Candidates are invited to apply for extenuating circumstances if the following applies. Each situation will be assessed individually for eligibility, the final determination is at the discretion of the Admissions Office.

1. Due to the pandemic, the primary bachelor’s degree has fewer than 45 consecutive graded credits, or the second/alternate bachelor’s degree has fewer than 30 consecutive graded credits. For example, because the program has other non-graded courses prior to Winter 2020 such as internships, practica, co-ops, etc.
2. Your basis of admissions degree institution is continuing with Pass/Fail grading as the only option for your grades beyond Winter 2020 due to the pandemic, and this impacts your minimum graded credit requirements.

IMPORTANT: Please note that the Basic Science Prerequisite Policy has been updated.

As of Fall 2021 entry, all basic science prerequisite courses must meet a minimum grade requirement; the GPA is not weighted in the selection process, and up to 3 courses can be in progress during the year prior to starting the program. Any of the prerequisites completed during the undergraduates studies (basis of admission degree) will contribute to the overall GPA. For more information on our selection process, please visit this section of our website.

Candidates applying to our D.M.D. program who have completed the basic science prerequisites more than eight years ago have the option of refreshing their knowledge by self-studying before entering the program and are not obligated to repeat the expired courses. Please refer to this document:  Basic Concepts - Dentistry and this website for more guidance.

• Essentially, the courses of Biology, Chemistry and Physics should be introductory (freshman-level, 100-level) courses. These are typically the courses with no prerequisites; they are often the prerequisites for second year (major, 200-level) courses in their field and in related specializations. Courses in Organic Chemistry should be the first course in the world of organic chemistry.
• If you are using a calculus course to meet half of the physics requirement (3 credits), you do not need to request approval for course substitution. You just need to list this course under the 'Introductory Basic Sciences' section of the workbook under 'Physics'.
• With the exception of courses taken in the Winter 2020 term, grades of "Pass/Fail", "Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory" or similar schema are not acceptable in coursework; numerical or letter-class grades are required.
• University-level or CEGEP/college-level courses are acceptable, as well as: Advanced Levels (UK System), IBO Courses (Higher Level), French Baccalaureate année Terminale, Série S courses, AP results (CollegeBoard, Inc.).
• Distance or correspondence education courses will be considered by the Admissions Office, but must be equivalent to in-person courses; as well, be aware that this option may not fulfill lab requirements.
• At least 4 of 7 science prerequisite courses, including labs, must be completed (with official grades submitted) by the Nov. 1 application deadline. If applicable, the grades for a maximum of 3 in-progress science prerequisite courses may be submitted by May 31 prior to the beginning of the program. Make sure to identify these courses in Section 4 & 6 in the workbook. All offers of admission are conditional upon completing any in-progress courses with the minimum required grade (see below).
• One course cannot fulfill more than one requirement.
• Labs or practical work are required (except for calculus). Note that some universities include this within the course code and some have a separate course that must be taken.
• All science prerequisites must be passed, and the grade must be equal to or better than the grade accepted by McGill for the purposes of transfer credit/advanced standing/course exemptions, as follows:
  • CEGEP level: 60% or better
  • University level: the grade obtained must be equal to or better than the grade/CGPA required to graduate from that university. Generally this is equivalent to a C or better and is usually found on the transcript.
  • AP courses: 4 or better
  • IB: 5 or better
  • A-Level: C or better
  • French Bacc: Série S, 10 or better (undergoing updates August 2020, see https://www.mcgill.ca/transfercredit/prospective/french)

Special Notes

• Some courses from other universities have been evaluated to have a McGill equivalent. Applicants can use the Math & Science Equivalence Table to see if their course has been evaluated. For description of McGill courses mentioned in the table, you can use this course listing.
• You can view a list of courses that are commonly requested and taken at other institutions: See: Recommended courses for commonly requested institutions
• Concordia University offers several entry-level biology courses, not all of which include laboratory work. Many successful applicants who have taken Biology at Concordia have taken the following: (1) BIOL 201, and either (2a) BIOL 225 with BIOL 227, or (2b) BIOL 226 with BIOL 227. It is recommended that you speak with your academic adviser for proper course planning.
• University of Ottawa and Université de Montréal: the general chemistry course covers most of the required material. However, a second chemistry course is required. Many successful applicants have taken a course in physical chemistry, biochemistry or inorganic chemistry.
• If registered in the B.H.Sc.(H) program at McMaster, the courses HTH SCI 1I06, along with 2F03 and 2FF3, are considered as fulfilling the biology requirement.
• The University of Toronto has a different layout for chemistry courses when it comes to students who do not major in Chemistry. We are often asked how one can properly complete the chemistry courses requirements in this context. Many successful applicants from the University of Toronto have completed CHM135 (formally CHM 139) along with CHM 220 and another chemistry-related course —including Biochemistry— that has laboratory work (e.g. CHM 217, CHM 238, CHM 247, CHM 249, BCH 370, ...). It is recommended that you speak with your academic adviser for proper course planning.
• It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that all required course and laboratory work is/will be fulfilled.

All applicants to the Undergraduate Dental Programs at McGill University are required to complete an online assessment (CASPer^TM) test prior to their application deadline. Completion of CASPer is mandatory in order to maintain admission eligibility.

CASPer assesses for non-cognitive skills and interpersonal characteristics that we believe are important for successful students and graduates of our program, and will complement the other tools that we use for applicant screening. In implementing CASPer, we are trying to further enhance fairness and objectivity in our selection process.

The CASPer test is comprised of 12 sections of video and written scenarios. Following each scenario, you will be required to answer a set of probing questions under a time contract. Each response is graded by a different rater, giving a very robust and reliable view of personal and professional characteristics important to our program. No studying is required for CASPer, although you may want to familiarize yourself with the test structure and ensure you have a quiet environment to take the test. We strongly urge you to take advantage of the 12-section practice test, which will not only immerse you in the test environment but will also ensure you meet the technical requirements to access and complete the test. You can also watch this short video to learn more about the test or consult the Acuity Insights Blog.

In order to take CASPer, you will be responsible for securing access to a laptop or desktop computer with webcam and audio capabilities. No exceptions will be provided for applicants unable to take CASPer online due to being located at sites where internet is not dependable due to technical or political factors.

You will require the following for both account creation and completing CASPer:

• Government-issued photo ID
• Valid email address (the same one you will use to submit your application)
• Working webcam
• Working microphone
• Reliable high-speed internet connection

CASPer test results are valid for one admissions cycle. Applicants who have already taken the test in previous years will therefore be expected to re-take it. As well, the CASPer test can only be taken once per admission cycle.

1. Please go to Acuity Insights to sign up for the Canadian Professional Health Sciences CASPer Test (CSP-10201 – Canadian Professional Health Sciences) under your specific country.
2. Select a Casper test date. You will be provided with a limited number of testing dates and times. Please note that these are the only testing dates available for your Casper test. There will be no additional tests scheduled. Please use an email address that you check regularly and that you have used for your application; there may be updates to the test schedule. IMPORTANT ► To account for identity verification and payment processing timeline, ensure that you register for your test at least 3 days before your preferred test date and time. Last-minute bookings are not recommended.
3. Ensure you have selected Dentistry - McGill University for distribution before the posted Distribution Deadline. Likely, there will be no additional tests scheduled, but the most up to date information can be found by browsing the Test Dates and Times on Acuity Insights Website.
4. Please direct any inquiries Acuity Insights to support [at] acuityinsights.app. Alternatively, you may use the chat bubble in the bottom right hand corner of your screen on the Acuity Insights website.

The last possible test dates accepted before the November 1st application deadline are:

• Test in English (Canadian Professional Health Sciences): October 19th, 2023
• Test in French (Sciences de la santé - Niveau 2 - CSP20206F): October 18th, 2023

Accommodations: If you require testing accommodations for Altus Suite you will need to submit the Accommodations Request Form signed by you and your qualified professional 3 weeks in advance of your desired test date. More information regarding accommodations can be found here.

The Admissions Committee has decided to remove the Dental Aptitude Test (DAT) as a requirement for entry in the undergraduate dental programs (DMD & DENT-P) for Fall 2023 and fall 2024. The use of the DAT for future cycles is currently under review.

Grades from graduate studies are not included in the GPA calculation. Post-bachelor’s degree education is recognised when reviewing the academic context (https://www.mcgill.ca/dentistry/4-year-dmd-program/selection-process) as well as when assessing the candidate’s curriculum vitae.

Students enrolled in the D.M.D. program are not allowed to be registered simultaneously in any other program of study. Thus, students currently enrolled in graduate programs are normally expected to apply only when they are in the final year of that program. To be eligible for admission, graduate students must have submitted their written thesis by July 31st of the year they will enter the D.M.D. program (e.g. July 31st, 2023 for entry in fall 2023). Written confirmation of thesis submission must be provided by the Thesis Office (or equivalent) of the university where the student is registered for graduate studies by July 31st of the year candidates enter the DMD program. Failure to provide this confirmation of thesis submission by the aforementioned deadline will result in the candidate’s offer being withdrawn.

Within 10 business days following acceptance of the offer of admission to the D.M.D. program, applicants must send a letter from their graduate supervisor to the Admissions Office stating their progress and anticipated completion in the program. The Admission Committee will then decide the suitability of the applicants, and upon request, may defer admission into the D.M.D. program for a period of one year (https://www.mcgill.ca/dentistry/4-year-dmd-program/after-applying).

Medical and Dental students are NOT permitted to directly transfer from one Faculty to the other. If an enrolled McGill dental student wishes to change programs from the D.M.D. to the M.D.,C.M. program, he/she must submit a formal application to the first year of the M.D.,C.M. program. The dental student would go through the regular selection process.

Students are not accepted via inter- or intra-faculty transfer for the Dent-P Qualifying Year; this includes students enrolled in the Med-P Qualifying Year.

Students admitted to Med-P are not eligible to apply directly to the DMD program without first completing an undergraduate degree.