Applicants must achieve a minimum cumulative GPA (cGPA) of 3.0 across all undergraduate coursework, and complete at least 90 credit hours/15.0 credits (3 years) of undergraduate coursework at a recognized university, by April 30 of the year of entry.

• Each year of study must include a minimum 30 credit hours (5.0 credits) taken during the fall and winter terms (September to April).
• A maximum of 6 pass/fail credit hours (1.0 credit) is permitted in each of the 3 undergraduate coursework years.
• An academic year in progress is eligible to be considered toward the 90 credit hours /15.0 credits (3 years) of undergraduate coursework.

An offer of admission would be conditional upon successful completion of the required credit hours/credits, undergraduate coursework and cumulative GPA (cGPA) being maintained.

Academic transcripts must clearly show that applicants have met both the cumulative GPA (cGPA) and undergraduate coursework requirements, as outlined above. Please visit the Frequently Asked Questions webpage for more information.

Applicants presenting the 2019-2020 academic year

• The year may be eligible to be considered toward the 90 credit hours/15.0 credits (3 years) of undergraduate coursework if a minimum of 30 credit hours (5.0 credits) was completed between September 2019 and April 2020.
• Cumulative GPA (cGPA) will only consider grades from the fall 2019 semester. A maximum of 6 pass/fail credit hours (1.0 course) will be permitted in the fall 2019 semester (September to December) and must be passed. Discovery Credits will be considered within, not in addition to, the 6-credit hour pass/fail allowance.

Grade Conversion

The OUAC (Ontario Universities’ Application Centre) conversion scale is used to convert percentage and/or alpha grades to GPA. Please also visit the Frequently Asked Questions webpage for more information. 

OUAC Conversion Table    

Prerequisite university-level courses must be successfully completed in each of the subject areas listed below. Successful completion requires a minimum grade of 50% or a pass/credit designation.

Acceptable and equivalent courses 

Schulich Dentistry cannot provide a comprehensive list of acceptable or equivalent courses. However, some acceptable Western University courses are referenced on our Frequently Asked Questions webpage.

Frequently asked questions

Additional information

• Lab components are not required to meet prerequisite requirements.
• Prerequisite courses completed more than 10 years prior to the application deadline will not be considered.
• IB and AP credits are not eligible for consideration for prerequisite course requirements.
• CEGEP courses are acceptable toward meeting prerequisite course requirements, but are not considered for cumulative GPA or undergraduate coursework.
• Prerequisite courses may be taken online.
• Prerequisite courses can be taken at any time but must be completed by April 30 of the potential year of entry.
• Prerequisite courses may be retaken if the minimum grade or a pass/credit designation was not achieved on the first attempt. Retaking a prerequisite course will not adversely affect the application.
• Applicants may be asked to submit official detailed course syllabi to determine whether courses meet the prerequisite requirements.

All applicants must take the DAT administered by the Canadian Dental Association (CDA) or the American Dental Association (ADA). 

Eligibility period

• DAT must be written within the two years prior to the November 1 application deadline.
• DAT scores must be received by Western University by the November 1 application deadline.

Eligible scores

• DAT scores must be sent directly to Western University by the CDA/ADA.
• Only the most recent DAT, written within the eligible time period, will be used.
• DAT results are kept on file for the duration of their 2-year eligibility period.
• DAT must incorporate the Reading Comprehension section to fulfill Schulich Dentistry admission requirements. The French DAT does not include Reading Comprehension and therefore is not acceptable to meet our DAT requirement.
• All sections of DAT may be considered in the selection process. We do not require the Manual Dexterity section.

Questions about DAT registration and dates

Contact the CDA  Contact the ADA

The Western ABS invites applicants to tell their story and share who they are beyond grades and test scores, providing opportunity to highlight:

• non-academic strengths
• impactful or transformative life experiences
• personal values

By reflecting on their journey to applying to professional school, applicants help us understand how they align with the School’s mission to serve diverse communities with integrity and care.

All applicants must complete a canadian Casper test by Acuity Insights within the application cycle in which they apply. Schulich Dentistry does not require applicants to complete Snapshot or Duet.

What is Casper?

Casper is an online, open-response situational judgement test that measures competencies and attributes that we believe are important for successful students and graduates of our program.  

Test dates and fees

For eligible test dates and to book your test, visit the Acuity Insights website. When registering for a test, register for CSP-10211 select the following options:

• Country: Canada
• Language: English
• Program: Dentistry
• School: Western University
  
  

Test dates     Book your test

Eligible scores

For the 2025-2026 application cycle, the final eligible test date is October 16, 2025.

Applicants must take one of the test dates listed for Western University. We do not accept Casper test scores from any country other than Canada.

• Scores must be sent by Acuity Insights directly to the Admissions Office.
• Scores must be received by the Admissions Office by the November 1 application deadline.
• Scores are valid for one application cycle only.

Accommodations

Applicants who require accommodation to complete the Casper online test must submit an Acuity Insights Accommodation Request Form to Acuity Insights, signed by the applicant and the applicant's qualified professional, at least 3 weeks prior to the desired test date.

More information regarding accommodations for Casper testing:

Acuity Insights FAQs   Requesting accommodation

Selection and notification

In order to have a fair selection process, applicants are evaluated based on academic requirements and non-academic attributes. Select applicants will be invited for an interview. 

Interview invitations and declines are communicated by email from the Admissions Office approximately 2 weeks prior to the interview weekend.

Interview format

Interviews are facilited virtually in February.

Interviews are structured and standardized, and facilitated by 3-person panels that may consist of dentists, community members, and current dental students.

Accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities through the interview process. 

Post-interview ranking

Candidates will be ranked based on a compiled score representing academic achievement, DAT score, Casper score, Western Autobiographical Sketch, and an interview. Candidates who have a conferred graduate degree by the application deadline are awarded bonus points.

The quality of the applicant pool varies from year to year and can influence the minimum academic competitive level and the minimum DAT and Casper scores.

Decision communication

First round offers, waitlist offers, and declines 

First round offers of admission, waitlist offers and declines are communicated by email in late February or early March. Candidates are instructed to visit their Student Center to view Schulich Dentistry admission decisions.

Subsequent offers to waitlisted candidates 

Subsequent offers of admission to waitlisted candidates are communicated by phone, beginning early/mid-March and continuing until the class is filled. Thereafter, the waitlist will remain open and active as long as feasible, often until the beginning of classes.

The specific ranked position of a candidate on the waitlist is not provided. General information regarding the relative ranked position of a candidate on the waitlist may be obtained contacting the Schulich Dentistry Admissions Office and providing the OUAC application number.

Designating an authorized contact

Candidates, who for any reason, may not be reachable during the active waitlist period may wish to authorize another person to be contacted to ensure they do not miss an offer of admission.

To "designate" another person(s) to receive information, accept an offer of admission, and/or to speak on their behalf, candidates must:

1. Login and update the "release of information" section in their Student Center to officially allow Schulich Admissions to speak to designates, AND
2. Contact the Admissions Office via email:
   1. to advise when they will be unreachable, and
   2. to provide contact information (names, contact numbers) of the individual(s) authorized to speak on candidates' behalf. 

Decision review

Candidates who do not receive an offer of admission to Year One of the DDS Program may request a review of the decision of the Dentistry Admissions Committee, provided such a request is based on significant new information that was not previously available to the candidate.

Appeals

Appeal requests must be filed with the Schulich Dentistry Admissions Office no later than two weeks after the issuance of the original decision. Requests will be passed on to the Dentistry Admissions Committee whose decision is final.

Applicants who are not Canadian citizens or Permanent Residents of Canada at the time of application may apply through the International Applicant Pathway.

International applicants must meet additional admission requirements, including:

• demonstration of English language proficiency,
• demonstration of adequate resources to finance their education, as stipulated by the Ministry of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada,
• permission to enter and study in Canada, and 
• application and purchase of Western's University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP)
  
  

Applicants who receive and accept an offer of admission must meet Schulich Dentistry post-admission requirements by stated deadlines. Failure to comply with post-admission requirements and/or deadlines may result in an offer of admission being withdrawn.

Post-admission requirements include, but are not limited to, the following:

Statement of potential health risks and immunization requirements

Schulich Dentistry students will be required to care for persons with infectious diseases (including but not limited to Hepatitis B and HIV) should they be assigned to them. Students accepted into the DDS Program will be sent complete documentation regarding health policies and immunization requirements. Documentation of immunization and tuberculin status will be required.

Police record check and vulnerable sector screening

Schulich Dentistry students will interact with vulnerable populations through the course of their academic programs. In recognition of the requirements of clinical agencies to ensure that dental students do not place vulnerable populations at risk, Schulich Dentistry requires that all students provide, as a condition of their admission into the DDS Program, a current Police Records Check including a Vulnerable Sector Screening.

Police Checks including Vulnerable Sector Screenings obtained prior to May 1 of the year of entry will not be accepted.

In the rare instance where you do not receive all clear status, you may request a hearing before the Executive of the Admissions Committee. The Executive of the Admissions Committee’s decision is final.

Learn more