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Programme structure: Gateway to Dentistry (BDS) - what's running in 2025/26

Please note: Programme and unit information may change as the relevant academic field develops. We may also make changes to the structure of programmes and assessments to improve the student experience.

    This section describes which Units you will take in which year of study. It indicates which units are mandatory and where you will be able to choose. The overall pass marks you will need to achieve in order to progress or achieve an award are shown. The full regulations concerning progression and completion are held in the University's Regulations and Code of Practice. Any particular aspects of your programme that are unusual will be highlighted. If any Units are must pass this will be shown below. The linked unit specifications detail any additional requirements.

    What do the Levels represent?

    What do the teaching blocks (TB) mean?

    If you are selecting optional units, ensure that you have a balanced workload through the year.

  • Year 1 (2025/26)

This is a six year programme. The first year is as described and then the following five years are as outlined in the BDS programme specification.

Unit name Unit code Credit points Status Teaching Block
Foundations in Bioscience I: Molecules to Cells ANAT10003 20 Mandatory TB-1
Foundations in Bioscience II: Tissues to Organisms ANAT10004 20 Mandatory TB-2
Personal and Professional Development ANAT10007 40 Mandatory TB-4
Foundation Chemistry CHEM10017 40 Mandatory TB-4
Gateway to Dentistry (BDS)   120    

Progression/award requirements

Unit Pass Mark for Professional Programmes (MBChB, BDS, BVSc): 50 out of 100

For detailed rules on progression please see the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes and the relevant faculty handbook.

Please refer to the specific progression/award requirements for Gateway programmes.

Exit awards

All undergraduate degree programmes allow the opportunity for a student to exit from a programme with a Diploma or Certificate of Higher Education.

  • To be awarded a Diploma of Higher Education, a student must have successfully completed 240 credit points, of which at least 90 must be at level 5.
  • To be awarded a Certificate of Higher Education, a student must have successfully completed 120 credit points at level 4.

Integrated Master's degrees may also allow the opportunity for a student to exit from the programme with an equivalent Bachelor's degree where a student has achieved 360 credit points, of which 90 must be at level 6, and has successfully met any additional criteria as described in the programme specification.

The opportunities for a student to exit from one of the professional programmes in Veterinary Science, Medicine, and Dentistry with an Award is outlined in the relevant Programme Regulations (which are available as an annex in the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes).

Degree classifications:

The pass mark for the professional programmes in Veterinary Science, Medicine and Dentistry is 50 out of 100. The classification of a degree in the professional programmes in Veterinary Science, Medicine, and Dentistry is provided in the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.

Additional progress information

A student who has completed the first year of one of the Gateway programmes by passing all the requisite units, but does not proceed onto the next year of study, will be eligible for the award of a Certificate of Higher Education in Gateway to Dentistry.

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