The University of Alberta's four-year DDS program in Edmonton requires substantial university coursework, specified prerequisite courses, a minimum 3.3 overall GPA, the Canadian DAT and Casper 2. Applicants also submit Personal Experiences forms; competitive applicants may be invited to a Multiple Mini Interview and written Personal Statement. OGPA determines eligibility rather than competitive rank, and no minimum volunteering or shadowing hours are specified.
- Program
- Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS)
- Credential
- DDS
- Location
- Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Casper
- Required · CSP-10211
- Next deadline
- November 1, 2026 (Application and Personal Experiences forms (11:59 p.m. MT))
- Interview
- Multiple mini interview (MMI)
- Seats
- 32 admitted; annual enrollment limit of 32
- Length
- four years
Casper Requirement for University of Alberta Doctor of Dental Surgery
University of Alberta Doctor of Dental Surgery requires Casper for the 2026-2027 cycle.
- Test to book
- Casper 2 · CSP-10211
- Languages
- English
- Applicant ID to enter
- University of Alberta student ID if available; non-U of A applicants may register without an ID and add the institution for score distribution later.
- Score distribution deadline
- January 2, 2027
Check available Casper test dates in your Acuity Insights account at takecasper.com.
DDS applicants must book Casper 2 (CSP-10211), not the Dental Hygiene assessment. Scores are valid only for the current application cycle. Choose an available sitting that allows results to arrive by the distribution deadline.
Casper format
Casper is an online, open-response situational judgment test run by Acuity Insights. The current format has 11 scenarios (4 video-response and 7 typed-response) with 2 questions each and takes about 65 to 85 minutes, including optional breaks. Typed-response scenarios allow 3.5 minutes to answer both questions.
Practice with Bright Doctor's Casper Question Bank, featuring 100+ scenarios and 300+ expert responses.
University of Alberta Doctor of Dental Surgery Application Deadlines 2026-2027
- Apply through
- University of Alberta professional program application (UAlberta Launchpad)
- Applications open
- July 1, 2026
- Application fee
- An application fee is payable with the professional program application.
| What | When |
|---|---|
| Application and Personal Experiences forms (11:59 p.m. MT) | November 1, 2026upcoming |
| Initial unofficial transcripts | November 15, 2026upcoming |
| Casper results and applicable AP/IB transcripts | January 2, 2027upcoming |
| Applicable special consideration request | January 2, 2027upcoming |
| DAT results | January 15, 2027upcoming |
| Updated unofficial transcripts and applicable international course descriptions | February 1, 2027upcoming |
| Final official transcripts and applicable English and spoken-English proficiency proof | June 15, 2027upcoming |
Only electronic (online) submissions are accepted. Track deadlines on the official site.
University of Alberta Doctor of Dental Surgery Admissions Statistics
Period: 2026 intake
- Seats / class size: 32 admitted; annual enrollment limit of 32
- Applicants: 866 applicants; 586 qualified
- Admitted: 32
- Average test score: Admitted-class mean DAT scores: Reading 23.9; Perceptual Ability 22.6; Natural Sciences 23.3.
- Qualified applicants: 586
The published class profile reports DAT scores, not an admitted-student GPA median or low.
Eligibility Requirements for University of Alberta Doctor of Dental Surgery
- Degree / credits
At least 60 units of transferable post-secondary coursework, including two Fall/Winter academic years with 30 transferable units each. Required courses must be completed or in progress when applying.
- Residency
At least 29 of 32 seats are reserved for Alberta residents; up to three are for non-Alberta residents. For admissions, Alberta residency includes qualifying residence in Alberta, Yukon, Northwest Territories or Nunavut.
- Citizenship
International applicants on student visas may apply for non-Alberta seats.
- Language proficiency
Provide proof of English Language Proficiency and Spoken English Proficiency if applicable by the document deadline.
Admission pathways
- Indigenous admission pathway: Applicants who self-identify as Indigenous are considered through the Indigenous pathway and the applicable general Alberta or non-Alberta pathway.
Other requirements
- Technical standards: Admitted students are expected to meet the DDS Technical Standards Policy.
- Immunization: Complete, documented immunization is required after admission.
- Police Information Check: A clear check including Vulnerable Sector screening is required for clinical placements.
- CPR: Maintain valid Basic Life Support CPR certification during the program.
Selection Factors University of Alberta Considers
Prerequisites
| Course | Requirement |
|---|---|
| General Chemistry | 3 units CHEM 101 or 103 |
| Organic Chemistry | 3 units CHEM 261 or 264 |
| Cell Biology | 3 units BIOL 107 |
| English | 6 units ENGL or WRITE; not ENGL 150 or WRS |
| Statistics | 3 units STAT 151 or equivalent |
| Microbiology | 3 units MICRB 265 or MMI 133 |
| Introductory Biochemistry | 3 units BIOCH 200 |
| Human Physiology | 6 units PHYSL 210 or equivalent; see the school's physiology coursework rules |
GPA
- How it is calculated
Overall GPA (OGPA) uses transferable coursework completed during full-time study: at least 18 units in Fall/Winter or 12 in Spring/Summer. With four or more full-time years, the lowest eligible year is excluded; Winter 2020 grades are excluded.
- Minimum
- 3.3 OGPA
- Competitive
- OGPA is an eligibility threshold, not a competitive ranking factor.
Maintain consistent grades across prerequisites.
Admissions tests
- Canadian Dental Aptitude Test (DAT) (required): The American DAT is not accepted. Score at least 15 in Survey of Natural Sciences, Perceptual Ability and Reading Comprehension. Results must arrive by the DAT deadline; write early enough to allow processing. Scores must be no older than five years at the application deadline; the best complete set is used after retakes.
Experience and volunteer hours
Not required.
No minimum volunteering or dental-shadowing hours are specified. The required Personal Experiences forms allow employment and leadership or volunteer activities, with verifiable hours and a verifier for each activity entered.
Supplementary application
Submit at least one Personal Experiences subsection through UAlberta Launchpad: Employment; Leadership and/or Volunteer Experiences; Life Experiences & Achievements; or Personal Highlights. Employment and leadership/volunteer entries require verifiers. Shortlisted applicants also write a Personal Statement on interview day.
How applicants are ranked
OGPA establishes eligibility but does not competitively rank applicants. Interview selection considers DAT results, Casper results and Personal Experiences. Offer decisions consider those factors plus interview score and the written Personal Statement; meeting minimums does not guarantee admission.
Interview Format at University of Alberta
Format: Multiple mini interview (MMI)
MMI stations last 10 minutes: two minutes to read and prepare, then eight minutes with an interviewer. A written Personal Statement is completed on the interview day.
- Who is invited
- Competitive applicants with required documents received by the updated unofficial transcript deadline are shortlisted; invitations are emailed by the end of February.
- When
- Interview date to be announced.
Practice under timed, realistic conditions with Bright Doctor's AI Interview Simulator.
Prepare for Casper and Your Interview
Access Bright Doctor's Casper Question Bank with 100+ scenarios and 300+ expert-crafted responses, AI Interview Simulator with realistic practice conditions, and personalized mentorship from current medical students, all on one web-based platform.
Start Practicing FreeCurriculum at University of Alberta Doctor of Dental Surgery
- Program length
- four years
- Structure
The first two years integrate anatomy, physiology, health systems, oral sciences and introductory pre-clinical dentistry. The final two years combine lectures, laboratories, seminars and clinical practice at the school's Oral Health Clinic, external public clinics and Northern Alberta satellite clinics.
- Campuses
- Edmonton
A recent curriculum renewal improves student experiences and aligns with Association of Canadian Faculties of Dentistry standards, emphasizing competency-based assessment. This structure prepares graduates for independent practice as dentists.
Campus and facilities
Located in Edmonton, the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry houses state-of-the-art simulation labs and clinics. Students access research opportunities and clinical affiliations through the university's health sciences complex.
Tuition and Funding at University of Alberta
- Estimated total program cost, Canadian citizens or permanent residents: CAD $230,302
- Estimated total program cost, international students: CAD $566,996
Estimates include tuition, non-instructional fees and equipment rental; additional loupes, textbook and software costs are the student's responsibility. Costs may change.
What Applicants Are Saying
Matriculated students report GPAs with medians around 3.90 and lows as high as 3.52 in recent cycles. Students describe the admissions process as rigorous, with forums like SDN tracking interview invitations and regrets. The interview process earns positive feedback via SDN's Interview Experience Score (SIES), reflecting applicants' overall impressions.
Shared by applicants and students on forums and communities. It is anecdotal, not official program information.
How to Prepare Your University of Alberta Doctor of Dental Surgery Application
- Check the 60-unit, two-full-Fall/Winter-year and prerequisite-course requirements.
- Meet the 3.3 OGPA eligibility threshold; OGPA does not rank applicants.
- Take the Canadian DAT early enough for results to arrive by the deadline; meet all three section minimums.
- Book DDS Casper 2 and arrange score distribution by the deadline.
- Complete at least one Personal Experiences subsection and arrange verifiers for employment or leadership/volunteer entries.
- Prepare for the MMI and written Personal Statement.
Frequently Asked Questions About University of Alberta Doctor of Dental Surgery
Is Casper required for University of Alberta DDS admissions?
Yes. Complete Casper 2 (CSP-10211); results must arrive by the published deadline.
What is the minimum GPA for University of Alberta DDS?
The minimum is a 3.3 overall GPA. OGPA determines eligibility and is not used for competitive ranking.
Does University of Alberta DDS require the DAT?
Yes. The Canadian DAT is required; the American DAT is not accepted. A score of at least 15 is required in each of three specified sections.
What are University of Alberta DDS interview experiences like?
Shortlisted applicants complete a Multiple Mini Interview and a written Personal Statement on the same day.
How many years of undergrad are needed for University of Alberta DDS?
At least 60 transferable units, including two Fall/Winter years of 30 units each, are required.
When should I take Casper for University of Alberta DDS?
Choose a Casper 2 sitting that allows results to arrive by the published deadline.
What volunteering is needed for University of Alberta DDS?
No minimum volunteering or shadowing hours are specified. Leadership or volunteer activities you include in Personal Experiences need verifiable hours and a verifier.
Where can I find University of Alberta DDS tuition details?
The school publishes estimated Canadian/permanent-resident and international program costs on its DDS admissions page; estimates may change.
Sources
- University of Alberta DDS admissions
- Fall 2027 DDS Admissions Checklist
- Dentistry Admission Statistics
Last updated: September 26, 2026