A doctor of dental surgery is a university degree that prepares a graduate to apply for registration as a dentist. In Australia, the University of Melbourne is the school that uses that title. Other dental schools teach the same profession under other names: Doctor of Dental Medicine, Bachelor of Dental Surgery, and Bachelor of Dental Science. This page is a directory of those dentistry courses: which awards exist, where they are taught, and which of them publish an international intake.
Award titles, campuses, and intakes change. The Dental Board of Australia's approved-programs list, and each university's current course page, are the records to use for the year you apply. Course length, prerequisites, ATAR, and mature-age entry belong with the pathway into dentistry.
What a Doctor of Dental Surgery qualifies you to do
Melbourne's Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) is the qualification the university describes as equipping graduates to apply for registration as a general dentist in Australia and New Zealand. It is taught full time, on campus, at Parkville. Melbourne Dental School calls it a professional-entry master's degree for general dental practice. Graduates apply for registration through the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). Source: University of Melbourne, Doctor of Dental Surgery. Source: Melbourne Dental School, study with us.
The Australian Dental Council accredits dental practitioner programs. Graduates of a program the Council has accredited, and the Dental Board of Australia has approved, can apply for registration. Source: Australian Dental Council, accredited programs. The degree and the registration application are separate steps. Completing the DDS makes a graduate eligible to apply.
On the approved-programs list dated 19 May 2025, Melbourne's Doctor of Dental Surgery is the DDS recorded for general registration as a dentist. Source: Ahpra, approved programs of study, 19 May 2025.
Domestic applicants, and international students who are in Australia when they apply, use the GAMSAT ® on Melbourne's standard pathway. What the GAMSAT ® is explains the exam. Offshore applicants have a wider test list, set out with the other international intakes below.
How DDS, DMD, and BDS names differ
Australian dentistry courses use several award titles for a first qualification in general dentistry. The title on the testamur follows the university. The registration outcome follows the approved program.
Doctor of dental medicine (DMD) is the title at the University of Sydney, the University of Western Australia, and the University of Queensland. Queensland also teaches a Bachelor of Dental Science (Honours) beside the DMD. BDS in Australia means Bachelor of Dental Surgery. James Cook University uses that title in Cairns, and Adelaide University publishes a Bachelor of Dental Surgery at its city campus. La Trobe University and Charles Sturt University use Bachelor of Dental Science. The University of Queensland's bachelor award is Bachelor of Dental Science (Honours).
Griffith University's approved dentist qualification is the Bachelor of Dental Health Science together with the Master of Dentistry. Griffith states that completing both provides the education to apply for registration as a dentist. Source: Griffith University, dentistry and oral health careers. That Master of Dentistry is the second award in Griffith's qualifying pathway, for students who complete Griffith's bachelor. Specialist awards taken after a dentist is already registered, including a Doctor of Clinical Dentistry, are a later career stage. The May 2025 list records Griffith's Doctor of Clinical Dentistry in endodontics and in periodontology in the specialist group. Source: Ahpra, approved programs of study, 19 May 2025. Those specialist courses sit outside this directory.
Oral health is a different registration outcome on the same list. Bachelor of Oral Health programs are approved at the University of Melbourne, the University of Sydney, and the University of Adelaide, and the list also includes dental hygiene, dental prosthetics, and oral health therapy programs at other providers. A Bachelor of Oral Health at Melbourne or Sydney is a different course from the DDS or the DMD.
Which of the dentist degrees use UCAT ®, how cut-offs have been read, and where an application does not use UCAT ®, is covered in the UCAT ® dentistry guide.
Dental schools in Australia
The universities below are the ones with a dentist qualification on the 19 May 2025 approved-programs list, read with each university's current course page. The University of New South Wales and Bond University are included because their names come up in the same search, and their health degrees are medicine degrees.
Doctor of Dental Surgery and Doctor of Dental Medicine
The University of Melbourne teaches the Doctor of Dental Surgery at Parkville, Grattan Street. Places in the course are limited by dental chairs at the Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne and the Melbourne Dental Clinic. Source: University of Melbourne, DDS how to apply.
The University of Sydney teaches the Doctor of Dental Medicine as a postgraduate course. Clinical education is at the Camperdown campus, the Westmead Centre for Oral Health, and Sydney Dental Hospital. Source: University of Sydney, Doctor of Dental Medicine.
The University of Western Australia teaches the Doctor of Dental Medicine in Perth. The course is listed at the Crawley campus, and clinical work is at the Oral Health Centre of Western Australia on the QEII Medical Centre campus, with further placements through Dental Health Services. UWA describes the school as Western Australia's dental school, and states that graduates can register with the Dental Board of Australia as a dentist. Source: University of Western Australia, Doctor of Dental Medicine.
The University of Queensland teaches two dentist qualifications. The Doctor of Dental Medicine (program 5763) is a postgraduate coursework degree at Herston, listed at AQF Level 9. The Bachelor of Dental Science (Honours) (program 2367) is taught at Herston and St Lucia. Source: University of Queensland, Doctor of Dental Medicine. Source: University of Queensland, Bachelor of Dental Science (Honours).
Bachelor of Dental Surgery and Bachelor of Dental Science
James Cook University teaches the Bachelor of Dental Surgery in Cairns. JCU states that the course is accredited by the Australian Dental Council and that graduates can apply for registration with the Dental Board of Australia. Source: James Cook University, Bachelor of Dental Surgery.
Adelaide University publishes a Bachelor of Dental Surgery at the Adelaide City Campus, program code BDENT. The 19 May 2025 approved-programs list still records a Bachelor of Dental Surgery against the University of Adelaide. Check the current list if you need the legal provider name for an application. Source: Adelaide University, Bachelor of Dental Surgery. Source: Ahpra, approved programs of study, 19 May 2025.
La Trobe University teaches the Bachelor of Dental Science (Honours) at Bendigo, through the La Trobe Rural Health School. The handbook states that the degree is accredited by the Australian Dental Council and that graduates may be eligible to apply for registration with the Dental Board of Australia. Source: La Trobe University handbook, Bachelor of Dental Science (Honours), Bendigo.
Charles Sturt University's approved dentist qualification is the Bachelor of Dental Science. The Orange campus is Charles Sturt's health campus, and it includes an on-campus community dental clinic. Confirm the next intake on the course page. Source: Charles Sturt University, Orange. Source: Charles Sturt University, Bachelor of Dental Science.
Griffith University on the Gold Coast
Griffith's approved program is the Bachelor of Dental Health Science / Master of Dentistry. International course listings place both awards on the Gold Coast (campus code G): Bachelor of Dental Health Science, CRICOS 094385M, and Master of Dentistry, CRICOS 094389G. Entry to the Master of Dentistry is from Griffith's Bachelor of Dental Health Science, or from the earlier Bachelor of Oral Health in Dental Science. Source: Griffith University, 2026 international student guide.
For 2027 entry to the Bachelor of Dental Health Science, Griffith University Dental Admissions Process interviews (GUDAP) run on the SAMMI system from 9:00am Monday 23 November 2026 to 5:00pm Friday 27 November 2026 (AEST). Invited applicants choose the date and time inside that window. Griffith asks candidates to allow about an hour, including sound and connection checks and uploading responses. The window closes at 5:00pm on the Friday and is the published window for that intake. A later year will have its own dates on Griffith's candidate page. Source: Griffith University, dental interviews. Source: QTAC, Bachelor of Dental Health Science.
Dental schools in Melbourne
The dentist degree taught in Melbourne is the University of Melbourne Doctor of Dental Surgery at Parkville. The Melbourne Dental School is the home of that DDS. Melbourne's Bachelor of Oral Health is a separate approved program.
La Trobe's Bachelor of Dental Science (Honours) is a Victorian dental degree taught at Bendigo. La Trobe states that the course is delivered at the Bendigo campus. Source: La Trobe University handbook, Bachelor of Dental Science (Honours), Bendigo. Someone searching for dental schools in Melbourne is looking at Parkville for the DDS.
The University of New South Wales and Bond University
UNSW and Bond are not among the providers of a DDS, DMD, BDS, or Bachelor of Dental Science on the 19 May 2025 approved-programs list. Source: Ahpra, approved programs of study, 19 May 2025.
UNSW publishes a Bachelor of Medical Studies / Doctor of Medicine. That is a medicine qualification, with clinical placements that include surgery. Source: UNSW Sydney, medicine.
Bond publishes a medical program. Its maxillofacial placement is a clinical placement inside that MD program for medical students. Source: Bond University Medical Program, maxillofacial placement handbook. Medicine degrees are catalogued in the Australian medical schools guide.
Australian dental schools for international students
International applicants can apply to the dentistry courses that publish an international intake. The award is still a dentist qualification. One doctorate, Queensland's DMD, is closed to applicants who need a student visa. Read the course page for the intake year, because CRICOS registration and visa eligibility are set course by course.
The University of Melbourne DDS takes domestic and international applicants. Applicants who are in Australia when they apply use the GAMSAT ®. For international applicants living outside Australia, Melbourne's how-to-apply page lists the GAMSAT ®, the UK GAMSAT ®, the United States Dental Admission Test (DAT), the Canadian Dental Aptitude Test, and the UK Biomedical Admissions Test (BMAT). Use the list on that page for your intake. Overseas tests are withdrawn and replaced, so a test named for an earlier cycle may no longer be offered. Source: University of Melbourne, DDS how to apply.
The University of Sydney publishes an international admissions guide for the DMD (CRICOS 074120B). International applicants submit GAMSAT ®, US DAT, or Canadian Dental Aptitude Test (CDAT) results. Source: University of Sydney, DMD international admissions guide. GAMSAT ® scores explains how a GAMSAT ® result is reported.
The University of Western Australia accepts international applicants to the DMD (CRICOS 089787B). International graduate applicants may submit a GAMSAT ®, MCAT, or DAT result. International school leavers can apply for an assured pathway into the same degree, conditional on completing UWA's Bachelor of Biomedicine (Specialised). Source: University of Western Australia, Doctor of Dental Medicine.
The University of Queensland's Bachelor of Dental Science (Honours) is published for international students (CRICOS 082620D). The Doctor of Dental Medicine is a separate program. UQ states that the DMD is offered to domestic applicants, that international applications are not accepted, and that the program does not meet the requirements for a Student visa (subclass 500). Source: University of Queensland, Bachelor of Dental Science (Honours). Source: University of Queensland, Doctor of Dental Medicine FAQs. Source: University of Queensland, Doctor of Dental Medicine.
Griffith's Bachelor of Dental Health Science is published for international students on the Gold Coast (CRICOS 094385M). The Master of Dentistry (CRICOS 094389G) follows that Griffith bachelor, or the earlier Bachelor of Oral Health in Dental Science. Source: Griffith University, 2026 international student guide.
James Cook University's international information sheet for 2027 entry to the Bachelor of Dental Surgery in Cairns offers approximately 20 international places. The sheet says applicants are assessed on academic performance and the written application. Source: James Cook University, 2027 international dentistry information.
Adelaide University publishes the Bachelor of Dental Surgery for international students at the Adelaide City Campus (CRICOS 115693K, program BDENT). Source: Adelaide University, Bachelor of Dental Surgery.
La Trobe's handbook lists the Bachelor of Dental Science (Honours) at Bendigo for international onshore students (CRICOS 0100799). Source: La Trobe University handbook, Bachelor of Dental Science (Honours), Bendigo.
Charles Sturt's Bachelor of Dental Science remains an approved dentist qualification. Confirm on the current course page whether an international offering is open. Source: Charles Sturt University, Bachelor of Dental Science.
Graduate dental doctorates and the GAMSAT ®
Graduate entry to four Australian dental doctorates uses the GAMSAT ® for standard domestic applicants.
Melbourne's Doctor of Dental Surgery uses the GAMSAT ® for domestic applicants and for international applicants who are in Australia. Sydney's Doctor of Dental Medicine uses the GAMSAT ® for standard domestic applicants, and Sydney's international guide accepts it as well. UWA's graduate entry to the Doctor of Dental Medicine requires a valid GAMSAT ® score from domestic applicants. Students who already hold a UWA school-leaver assured pathway place are not required to sit a graduate admissions test to take up the DMD. UQ's Doctor of Dental Medicine FAQ asks for the GAMSAT ®, and UQ limits that program to domestic applicants. Source: University of Melbourne, DDS how to apply. Source: University of Sydney, DMD domestic admissions guide. Source: University of Western Australia, Doctor of Dental Medicine. Source: University of Queensland, Doctor of Dental Medicine FAQs.
What the GAMSAT ® is covers the exam. UCAT ® vs GAMSAT ® compares the two admissions tests. Each dental school decides how it reads section scores, averages, and supporting documents. Those rules are on that school's admissions guide for the intake.
Frequently asked questions
Is a Doctor of Dental Surgery the same as a Doctor of Dental Medicine?
They are different titles for a first qualification in general dentistry. The DDS title in Australia is the University of Melbourne degree, taught at Parkville. The DMD title is used by the University of Sydney, the University of Western Australia, and the University of Queensland. On the approved-programs list of 19 May 2025, both sit with general dentistry, and graduates apply for registration after the Dental Board has approved the program. A Doctor of Clinical Dentistry is a later specialist award.
What is a BDS in Australia?
BDS means Bachelor of Dental Surgery. James Cook University teaches a BDS in Cairns, and Adelaide University publishes a Bachelor of Dental Surgery at the Adelaide City Campus. Other schools use Bachelor of Dental Science, or Griffith's Bachelor of Dental Health Science together with the Master of Dentistry. The letters are the award title. Registration still depends on the program being accredited and approved.
Which dental schools are in Melbourne?
The University of Melbourne teaches the Doctor of Dental Surgery at Parkville. Melbourne's Bachelor of Oral Health is a separate program. La Trobe's Bachelor of Dental Science (Honours) is taught at Bendigo.
When are Griffith University dentistry interviews?
For 2027 entry to the Bachelor of Dental Health Science, Griffith's GUDAP interviews run from 9:00am Monday 23 November 2026 to 5:00pm Friday 27 November 2026 (AEST). Invited applicants choose a time in that window and should allow about an hour. A later intake uses the dates on Griffith's current candidate page.
Can international students study at Australian dental schools?
Yes, where the university publishes an international intake. Melbourne's DDS, Sydney's DMD, UWA's DMD, Griffith's Bachelor of Dental Health Science, JCU's BDS, Adelaide University's BDS, La Trobe's Bendigo degree, and UQ's Bachelor of Dental Science (Honours) all have an international listing. UQ's Doctor of Dental Medicine is for domestic applicants and does not meet student-visa requirements. Confirm Charles Sturt's course page for a current international offering.
Which dental degrees use the GAMSAT ®?
Standard domestic graduate entry uses the GAMSAT ® at Melbourne's Doctor of Dental Surgery, Sydney's Doctor of Dental Medicine, UWA's graduate-entry Doctor of Dental Medicine, and UQ's Doctor of Dental Medicine. International applicants at Melbourne, Sydney, and UWA may also submit other tests those universities list. The exam itself is covered on the GAMSAT ® pages linked in this guide.