There are 10 dental schools in Canada, each with different admissions requirements, applicant preferences, and levels of competitiveness. This guide compares all 10 schools by admissions competitiveness, academic averages, DAT requirements, CASPer requirements, language, and other important admissions factors. Location, language, and applicant eligibility also affect which programs are realistic options for your school list. Use these comparisons to identify programs that better match your academic profile. For a broader overview of admissions criteria, see our guide to dental school requirements. 

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Dental Schools in Canada: Complete List of 10 Schools How to Get into Dental Schools in Canada FAQs

Dental Schools in Canada: Complete List of 10 Schools

Canada has 10 accredited university dental programs offering a DDS or DMD degree. Below, you’ll find the complete list of dental schools in Canada.

  1. Dalhousie University Faculty of Dentistry
  2.  Laval University Faculty of Dentistry
  3. McGill Faculty of Dental Medicine and Oral Health Sciences
  4.  University of Alberta Faculty of Dentistry
  5.  University of British Columbia Faculty of Dentistry
  6.  University of Manitoba Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry
  7.  Université de Montréal Faculty of Dental Medicine
  8.  University of Saskatchewan College of Dentistry
  9. University of Toronto Faculty of Dentistry
  10.  Western University Schulich School of Dentistry

The table below compares location, admissions competitiveness, academic averages, DAT requirements, and CASPer requirements. Pay attention to whether a school publishes a minimum requirement or an admitted-student average, since those figures are not directly comparable. DAT scores may also be reported on different scoring scales depending on the test accepted by the school and application cycle.

*McGill does not require the DAT for the 2026–2027 DMD application cycle.

Note: Admissions requirements and statistics can change between application cycles. Always confirm current requirements and eligibility details on each dental school’s official admissions page before applying.

How to Get into Dental Schools in Canada

Meeting the minimum requirements for dental schools in Canada only tells you whether you are eligible to apply. Compare your academic record and eligibility with the data published for recent admitted classes, then use that comparison to narrow your school list.

Which Dental Schools in Canada Are Easiest to Get Into?

A higher acceptance rate does not automatically make a dental school easy to enter. Applicant category, academic performance, DAT or CASPer requirements, and school-specific eligibility rules can change how competitive a program is for you.

Among the Canadian programs with the highest reported acceptance rates are:

  1. The University of British Columbia Faculty of Dentistry — 14.4%
  2. University of Saskatchewan College of Dentistry — 13.1%
  3. The University of Toronto Faculty of Dentistry — 10.7%
  4. University of Manitoba Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry — 9.5%
  5. Université de Montréal Faculty of Dental Medicine — 9.5%

These rates provide useful context, although admission difficulty will vary by applicant and program. If you are also considering US options, our guide to the easiest dental schools in the US compares relatively accessible programs outside Canada. Canadian applicants can also review our guide to Canadian-friendly US dental schools to identify schools that accept applicants from Canada.

Compare Your GPA and DAT

Start by checking whether each school reports a minimum GPA or DAT score, an admitted-student average, or both. Programs at which your scores are closer to recent admitted-student averages may be a stronger academic fit than programs where you only meet the published minimum. A minimum score establishes eligibility, while an admitted-student average gives you a better sense of how your academic profile compares with recent successful applicants.

If you need help interpreting DAT score ranges or understanding how the exam is scored, our guide to DAT scoring explains what the scores mean and how they are calculated. Applicants who are still planning when to prepare can use our DAT study schedule to map out their study timeline.

Consider Location, Language and Eligibility

Academic metrics are only part of the decision. Location, language of instruction, and eligibility rules may rule out a program before GPA or DAT scores become relevant. Some Canadian dental schools give preference to certain applicant categories, while others require proficiency in French.

Review Each School’s Requirements

Two dental schools may ask for similar academic credentials but differ in the rest of their selection process. Look beyond GPA and DAT scores to see whether a program requires CASPer, written components, interviews, prerequisite coursework, or specific applicant documentation. A requirement that is heavily weighted at one school may play a smaller role at another, so compare the full selection process rather than evaluating each component in isolation. Rule out programs for which you do not meet every requirement, then verify the remaining schools against their current admissions criteria.

Confirm each requirement on the school’s official admissions page before applying. If a program includes a written statement or interview, our guides to dental school personal statement examples and dental school interview questions cover those components in more detail.

FAQs

1. How many dental schools are there in Canada?

There are 10 accredited university dental programs in Canada offering a DDS or DMD degree. These schools are located across several provinces and differ in language of instruction, admissions requirements, and applicant eligibility. The list and comparison table above show all 10 programs side by side.

2. Which Canadian dental schools require CASPer?

CASPer requirements vary by school and application cycle. For the current cycle, Laval, McGill, Alberta, Toronto and Western require CASPer. UBC does not require it, and Université de Montréal does not require it for fall 2027. Always confirm the current requirement on each school’s official admissions page before applying.

3. Do all dental schools in Canada require the DAT?

No. DAT requirements differ across Canadian dental schools, and some programs do not require the test. Schools that do require the DAT may also use different minimums or evaluate different sections of the exam, so applicants should compare the current policy for each program rather than assuming one standard applies across Canada.

4. What GPA is competitive for dental schools in Canada?

There is no single GPA that is considered competitive at every Canadian dental school. Some programs publish a minimum GPA, while others also report the average or median GPA of admitted students. Those figures should be interpreted separately, since meeting the minimum does not necessarily mean your academic profile is similar to that of recent successful applicants.

5. How competitive are dental schools in Canada?

Dental schools in Canada are highly competitive, but the level of competition varies by program and applicant category. Acceptance rate is one useful comparison point, but it does not account for factors such as residency preference, academic profile, or school-specific eligibility rules. For a broader look at competitiveness across programs, see our guide to dental school acceptance rates.

6. Can international students apply to dental schools in Canada?

International eligibility varies across Canadian dental schools. Certain programs accept international applicants, while others restrict admission or prioritize specific applicant groups. Policies may also differ between domestic, out-of-province, and international applicants. Check each school’s current admissions page carefully before including it on your list.

7. Do Canadian dental schools require supplemental applications?

Some programs ask applicants to complete additional school-specific components beyond transcripts and test scores. These may include written responses, forms, supporting documents, or other materials depending on the school. Our guide to the dental school supplemental application explains what these extra application components may involve.

8. How long does it take to become a dentist in Canada?

The path generally includes university-level pre-dental study followed by a DDS or DMD program, although the amount of undergraduate study required varies by school. Some students complete prerequisite coursework within a degree, while others complete the required coursework through a different academic pathway. Our guide to how long it takes to become a dentist explains the training pathway in more detail.

To your success,

Your friends at BeMo

BeMo Academic Consulting

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