Degree of Bachelor of Dental Surgery Advanced Standing

Application for admission for domestic candidates to the Degree of Bachelor of Dental Surgery Advanced Standing

Applications for the 2027 intake open on 1 July 2026 and close on 30 September 2026.

The Faculty of Dentistry may offer a place in Year 3 of the Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) course, for New Zealand citizens or permanent residents, who already have a Dentistry degree from a university outside of New Zealand or Australia or a Medicine degree awarded from a New Zealand or Australian University.

Shortlisting of domestic applications will take place in November of the year prior to study.

Please be aware there are no guaranteed places for the Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) Advanced Standing Category. This is a very competitive category for which we receive a large number of applications and offers to successful domestic category applicants are dependent on there being a space in BDS3 cohort the year following application. This is usually not confirmed until the results of special examinations or are known in early February the year of entry.

Please also note that offers of place cannot be deferred. If you are unable to take an offered place in the programme, you will have to reapply for a future intake.

Learn about domestic fees for years three to five of the BDS programme

Eligibility

Applicants for admission with advanced standing in the domestic category must:

• Be a New Zealand citizen (or a citizen of the Cook Islands, Tokelau, or Niue), or New Zealand resident (holding a valid residence-class visa), or an Australian citizen or permanent resident.
• Demonstrate health-related professional experience in a relevant field to a standard acceptable to the Dental Admissions Committee; and
• Hold a degree in (a) Dentistry awarded from a university outside of New Zealand or Australia; or (b) Medicine awarded from a New Zealand or Australian university; and
• Have provided a current curriculum vitae, certified academic transcript, certificate of good standing from the applicant's most recent registration authority, and have met the minimum academic standards, as determined by the Dental Admissions Committee, in the course of study on which the application is based.
• Have met the English language requirements for admission to the 3rd year of the BDS with Advanced Standing.

Admission in this category is dependent on there being space in the appropriate year.

Application process

Step 1

Read and complete the following documents:

• Application form (PDF)
• Infectious Diseases Policy for Health Professional Students (PDF)
• Declaration form for Health Sciences Professional Students (PDF)

Step 2

Obtain certified copies of the required supporting documents (as outlined in the three documents above).

Step 3

Applications must be received by 30 September of the year prior to study. Send your completed application, including certified copies of supporting documents, to

Email dentistry@otago.ac.nz

Please include “BDS Advanced Standing Domestic Application” and your name in the subject line of your application email.

Please do not send original copies of your supporting documents, because they will not be returned to you.

Certified copies of supporting documents

The following people may witness documents as true copies of the original:

• District or High Court Official
• Justice of the Peace
• Kaumātua
• Notary Public
• School Principal or Guidance Counsellor
• Solicitor
• University of Otago administrative staff or a liaison officer of any University