Bachelor of Dental Surgery
at The University of Adelaide, South Australia.
A five-year ADC-accredited dentistry degree at the Adelaide Dental Hospital, offering early clinical exposure from year two and a structured patient-care curriculum. One of the longest-running dentistry programs in Australia, with strong specialty pathways.
ATAR cutoff history
Published cutoff data for the The University of Adelaide Bachelor of Dental Surgery. We never invent figures; entries marked "not published" mean the university or admissions centre has not released a verified cutoff for that intake.
| Intake year | ATAR cutoff | Admissions centre |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | ATAR cutoff not published | SATAC |
| 2024 | ATAR cutoff not published | SATAC |
| 2023 | ATAR cutoff not published | SATAC |
No verified cutoffs are available. Confirm the latest figure on the official SATAC cutoff release.
Prerequisite Year 12 subjects
Brush up on each prerequisite with our state-syllabus explainers and dot points.
What you will study
First year builds the biomedical foundation: human anatomy, biochemistry, physiology, oral biology and introductory dental science, alongside professional practice and ethics. Manual-dexterity and operative skills are practised in simulation laboratories before any patient contact. Middle years carry the clinical transition. From year two you treat patients at the Adelaide Dental Hospital across operative dentistry, periodontology, oral pathology, dental radiology, endodontics, prosthodontics and paediatric dentistry, with growing independence under close supervision. Pharmacology, oral medicine and dental public health round out the science load. Final years are largely clinical, with rotations across general dentistry, oral surgery, special-needs dentistry and community and rural placement blocks across regional SA. ADC accreditation requires extensive supervised clinical hours, culminating in independent supervised patient care. On graduation you apply for AHPRA registration with the Dental Board of Australia.
Example first-year subjects
- Human Anatomy for Dentistry
- Biochemistry and Cell Biology
- Physiology for Dentistry
- Introduction to Oral Biology
- Dental Science and Preclinical Skills
- Professional Practice and Ethics in Dentistry
How you will be assessed
- Clinical placement supervisor evaluation
- OSCE practical exams in simulation and live clinical settings
- Mid-semester tests and final exams in biomedical sciences
- Preclinical operative skills assessments
- Case-based projects in dental public health
- Final-year clinical competency portfolio
Career outcomes
- Graduates work as registered dentists in SA Dental, private general practice across Adelaide and regional SA, and community dental services after AHPRA registration.
- First-year jobs typically include the SA Dental Service graduate program, rural practice in Whyalla and Mount Gambier, and Adelaide private practices.
- Many alumni pursue specialty training (orthodontics, oral and maxillofacial surgery, paediatric dentistry) at the Adelaide Dental Hospital or interstate.
Professional accreditation
- Australian Dental Council
- AHPRA Dental Board of Australia registration eligible
Typical first jobs
- General dentist in the SA Dental Service graduate program
- General dentist in private practice across Adelaide
- Rural and regional dentist in Whyalla, Mount Gambier or the Riverland
- Dentist in community and Aboriginal health services
- Defence Force dental officer (with ADF sponsorship)
- Specialist dental trainee (after general-practice experience)
Graduate starting salary
$80,000 - $95,000 per year
Source: https://www.qilt.edu.au/surveys/graduate-outcomes-survey-(gos). Last reviewed 2026-05-24.
After graduation
Graduates register with AHPRA through the Dental Board of Australia and start as general dentists in public (SA Dental) or private practice, with strong demand in regional South Australia. Postgraduate specialty training (three to four years) includes orthodontics, oral and maxillofacial surgery, paediatric dentistry, periodontics, endodontics and prosthodontics, much of it based at the Adelaide Dental Hospital. Other paths include public and Indigenous oral health, practice ownership and academic dentistry via a PhD.
Is this the right degree for you?
You probably thrive here if
- Students with strong biology and chemistry foundations and manual dexterity
- Those comfortable with close, hands-on patient work
- People with strong concentration for fine clinical procedures
- Students prepared for a five-year highly structured pathway
- Those willing to do regional and community placement blocks
It is probably not for you if
- Students uncomfortable with fine motor work in confined spaces (the mouth)
- Those unwilling to treat real patients from second year
- Anyone uncomfortable with the high accreditation and registration burden
- Students who want a research-only or office-based career
Careers this leads to
Australian career pathways that name this Bachelor of Dental Surgery as an entry route. Each page shows uni, TAFE and apprenticeship alternatives.
Related courses at Adelaide
Sources
Course details are summarised by ExamExplained, not copied from the university. Confirm course content and ATAR cutoffs on the The University of Adelaide handbook and on SATAC before applying. Page generated at https://examexplained.com.au/uni/adelaide/bachelor-of-dental-surgery.