According to the most recent estimations, a dentist in Australia can earn up to around A$200,000 per year. As such, dentists rank among the highest-paid employees in Australia.
This is one of the many reasons you should consider studying dentistry in Australia. Australian medical schools consistently make into the top lists of the world’s best medical schools. And this must not catch you by surprise because they provide students with innovative approaches to teaching and research, world-class professorship, and awesome future prospects.
But, deciding to study dentistry in Australia is an easy task. The hard part comes when you get into the application process. We’ve seen many international students missing out on information or failing to comply with universities’ requests. Although universities are open to every question you may have about the application process, they won’t be ready to respond to each one because of their heavy workload. At some point, there is some information you need to collect all by yourself.
To save you time below is a detailed explanation of the entire process and a list of the best medical schools in Australia if you’re an ambitious student going for the best.
Table of Contents
Find a Dental Course in Australia
First, you have to compare your study goals with the available options. In other words, you must find a dental course that precisely fits your academic aims and personal choices.
Many universities in Australia teach dentistry, and you will surely find something suitable. Just take your time and carefully scan before picking up your favourite because the university of your choice may account for the largest part of satisfaction with your studies.
We recommend you do an initial scan by reading universities’ guidelines on their websites and come up with a narrower list of dental schools that would probably match your personal and academic preferences.
Some factors you can consider when you decide on a dental program in Australia include:
- The number of practical sessions in the program.
- Entry requirements.
- Tuition fees and other estimated costs.
- University facilities and employability rate.
- The number of foreign students.
- The location, etc.
Make sure to overcome this dilemma well in time and avoid making decisions in a hurry. Start now!
If you want to browse through specific dentistry programs in Australia, Erudera has an excellent list here.
Entry Requirements For Dentistry in Australia
After you have found your dental course is time to meet the entry requirements. This is not a difficult task, but there are a few things to remember at any moment.
Entry requirements for dental courses in Australia change depending on the dental school you’re applying to. Moreover, they can change within the same university or department depending on the course of your choice. Plus, they sometimes are subject to change according to the university’s internal admission policies.
So, if you have ever been given a definite list of entry requirements by a third party rather than the university, make sure you double-check it. However, there are a few documents that almost every medical school will require from you.
Here’s a list of documents you need to apply for a dental degree in Australia:
- Recognized Academic Qualifications
- Certified Grade Certificates
- ATAR Score
- English Proficiency
- Letter of Motivation or Reference
If you have obtained a foreign academic application, it must be first recognized by your university in Australia. Fortunately, there are several international qualifications accepted from universities in Australia, and if your actual degree does not qualify you as a potential student, you can undertake a preparatory course to meet entry requirements.
Also, be aware that dental schools in Australia are competitive, and their admission criteria rely much on your scores in important subjects for your studies, like chemistry and biology. With that in mind, make sure to have high grades in these subjects to gain an advantage over other candidates.
Application
Once you make sure everything is included in your application folder as required, it is time to make a submission.
There are two ways you can apply to a dental school in Australia:
- By submitting an online application or
- Through an education agent (known as recruitment agents)
Usually, dental schools in Australia have an individual online application platform where international students can upload their scanned documents. All you need in such a case is to set up a login account and follow instructions at each step.
Another way you can apply for your dental course in Australia is through an accredited education agent. In that case, the person in charge will get your documents and will carry out with the entire procedure of application once you discuss what study program you’re willing to enrol in and at which university.
Student Visa
You will need a student visa to study dentistry in Australia as a foreign student. You must apply for your student visa as soon as you receive the letter of offer from the University of your choice in Australia and you send them a confirmation about accepting their offer to avoid any possible delay.
Fortunately, you can apply for your student visa online thanks to a new policy introduced back in 2016.
Requirements for an Australian visa may change depending on your nationality. Nonetheless, your visa application must necessarily contain the following documents:
- Letter of Offer (or Admission Letter, if you will) from a recognized university in Australia
- Electronic Confirmation of Enrollment
- Proof of Financial Means
- Proof of English Proficiency
- Proof of Medical Check-ups
- Certified Criminal Record
Read more: Australia Student Visa.
Enrollment
There’s one more step until you officially become a dentistry student in Australia; you must enrol in your course.
All you need to do is visit the university’s website and see what documents you have to submit and whether you can enrol online. The documents required to enrol in your course in Australia are specific to a university.
However, most of the time, the following documents are typically required:
- Electronic Confirmation of Enrollment
- Residential Adress in Australia
- Valid Passport
- Personal Details
How Long Does it Take to Become a Dentist in Australia?
To become a legal practitioner of dentistry in Australia, you must at least have a Bachelor’s degree of Dentistry.
Typically, Bachelor dental courses in Australia take 5 to 7 years of full-time studies, including here clinical experience as part of your course. On the other hand, postgraduate study programs in dentistry may take up to 4 years of full-time studies to complete. All that said, you can become a dentist in Australia after completing 9 to 10 years of committed studies.
Note that after you have taken your dental degree, you’re required by law to register at the Dental Board in Australia in order to be allowed to practice your profession.
How Much Does it Cost to Study Dentistry in Australia?
It is almost a rule of thumb that medical degrees are some of the most expensive, and Australian dental schools make no exemption to this rule. This is mainly because medicine programs, including dentistry as a medical discipline, require a lot of clinical practice, which accounts for extra costs.
Australian dental schools apply higher fees to international students than to home students. International fees for dentistry courses in Australia change from university to university. On average, the cost of international fees ranges from A$70,000 to almost A$140,000 annually.
If other costs like accommodation or food are included, you will surely have to pay more.
How Much Does a Dentist Earn in Australia?
Despite coming at a high price, a dental degree in Australia is worth it, taking into consideration the financial benefits afterward.
According to official income reports, dentists in Australia earn above $160,000 on average. Depending on your academic qualifications and your experience, your earnings can climb as high as A$200,000 annually.
But, dental specialists are amongst the highest paid in almost every country in the world, and Australian dental schools have a global reputation. Meaning no matter where you plan to practice your profession, your employability will be high, and your salary will be well above your financial goals.
Best Dental Schools in Australia
If you’re an ambitious student whose single goal is to make a choice worth every cost, given below are the best dental schools in Australia that can match your academic goals.
- The University of Melbourne
- The University of Adelaide
- The University of Sydney
- James Cook University
- University of Queensland
- La Trobe University
With a global reputation built upon global education standards, these dental schools also score high in national and international rankings.
