Destination Dentistry
Destination Dentistry is a 3-night residential summer school for widening participation students.
Destination Dentistry is run by the University of Liverpool in partnership with the Dental Schools Council. During the summer school, students will stay in University of Liverpool halls of residence, and engage in a variety of sessions in our Dental School. Students will take part in practical sessions led by our academics and undergraduate Dental students, using our state-of-the-art facilities, as well as taster lectures about Dentistry, Dental Therapy, and the application process to Dental School.
Destination Dentistry will take place on Monday 21 – Thursday 24 July 2025. Please ensure you are able to attend these dates before applying. Applications will open early 2025, please check back to this page in January 2025 to find the application form. We welcome applications from students across England, as this is a residential programme there is no requirement to live locally.
What does it involve?
Destination Dentistry students will gain a detailed insight into life as a Dental Student at the University of Liverpool, with the opportunity to experience using facilities such as phantom heads, and haptics – last year, our students completed scale and polishes, took impressions, composite fillings and more on the phantom heads. Students will receive bespoke guidance on applying to Dental School from admissions tutors and current students, including information and guidance on MMIs. We also want to give students a taste of wider student life at the University of Liverpool, and Liverpool as a city – we will have a full social calendar in the evenings with various activities, allowing students to get to know each other and build connections in a more relaxed atmosphere.
The Summer School aims to inspire confidence in students from a widening participation background to progress into Dentistry, by ensuring students leave the programme well-informed about Dentistry and Higher Education, and having developed both practical and soft skills that will help them in their application, and onwards into their future study.
There is no charge to take part in the programme. This includes transport to the University of Liverpool, accommodation, food, and social activities whilst at the Summer School.
Who can apply?
Destination Dentistry is a highly competitive programme, and places are limited due to its practical nature. We welcome applications from students from a widening participation background studying across England.
Students should have a strong desire to study Dentistry at University, and be capable of achieving the minimum grades required for entry. It is essential that you check the entry criteria for University of Liverpool’s Dentistry programmes, including both A-Level and GCSE requirements.
To be eligible for Destination Dentistry, students should be studying at a state school and meet a minimum of two of the following:
- Studying in a state school that achieved below the national average Attainment 8 score at GCSE (if you are studying at a college, this will be based on the school in which you completed your GCSEs)
- Studying in a state school that achieved below or well below the national average Progress 8 score (if you are studying at a college, this will be based on the school in which you completed your GCSEs)
- From a school with a high percentage of students receiving Free School Meals
- Living in a geographical area with low levels of progression onto higher education
- Are a young carer
- From a family where your parents do not have a university degree from the UK or abroad
- In receipt of or eligible for one of the following: Free School Meals, the 16-19 Bursary, Discretionary Learner Support, Means Tested Benefit, or Pupil Premium.
Or meet one of the following:
If a student meets one of the below criteria they are automatically eligible to apply for the Summer School, it is not necessary for them to meet any of the above listed criteria in this case.
- In, or been in local authority care
- An estranged student who is studying without the support and approval of a family network
- An asylum seeker or refugee.
