Undergraduate Admission Guidelines (DDS)

ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS

1. Academic Requirements
2. English Facility Requirements
3. Dental Aptitude Test

1. Academic Requirements

   Applicants must have completed three years of university education (i.e. at least 15 full year courses or equivalent) in a program that demonstrates focus and coherence in education. In order to be eligible for admission consideration, we must consider this education to be equivalent to three years of undergraduate education at the University of Toronto .
   
   This education must have included the following five courses:
   • One full year course (or two half year courses) in general biochemistry. This course should cover protein chemistry and the chemistry of other biomolecules, cellular metabolism and molecular biology.
   • One full year course (or two half year courses) in general mammalian (human or animal) physiology. This course should cover the following systems: musculoskeletal system; haemostasis mechanisms; haematopoietic system; nervous system; immune system; cardiovascular system; renal physiology; neurophysiology; endocrinology and gastrointestinal physiology.
   • Two additional full year courses (or four half year courses) in Life Sciences. (For example: anatomy, biochemistry, biology, botany, genetics, immunology, microbiology, molecular genetics/biology, neuroscience, nutritional Sciences, pharmacology, toxicology, physiology, zoology).
   • One full year course (or two half year courses) in a Humanities or Social Science. (For example - Humanities: art history, classics, East Asian studies, English, history, languages, music, near & middle eastern studies, philosophy. Social Sciences: anthropology, economics, geography, management, political science, religious studies, sociology).
   The earliest time at which applicants may apply is during the third year of their program at a recognized university. Any courses completed after May 31 st during the proposed year of entry, will not be considered for admission.
   
   A minimum current grade point average of 3.0 (4.0 scale) is required.*However, a grade point average of 3.0 (i.e. B) at the time of application does not guarantee selection. It should be noted that the 190 domestic applicants invited for an interview had a GPA of at least 3.75 and the 10 international applicants invited for an interview had a GPA of at least 3.65. It is recommended that applicants follow a program of study that will provide them with an educational background in keeping with their own interests and possible career opportunities should they not be accepted into Dentistry.  
   
   Note that courses taken in the academic year, during the proposed year of entry, will not be included in the calculation of the applicant's cumulative GPA. Any offer of admission, however, will be contingent upon the successful applicant maintaining an annual GPA of at least 3.0 (4.0 scale) for their current academic year.
   
   Applicants who are currently completing a graduate program must complete all the requirements of their graduate program including thesis defence by August 15th each year.
   
   * The worst academic year will be dropped from the calculation of an applicant's cumulative grade point average provided that (a) the applicant has completed four or more years of university education by May 31st of the proposed year of entry, and (b) the year with the lowest grades is not the applicant's last year of study.

2. English Facility Requirements

   All applicants must be proficient in both written and spoken English. Applicants whose first language (i.e. the language learned at home as a child) is not English and who have completed less than four years of full-time academic study in an English language school system located in a country where English is the primary language, are required to achieve an appropriate standard in a recognized test of English facility. Note: We will not exempt from English facility testing any applicant who studied in English in a country where the primary language is not English.
   
   However, we will exempt from English facility testing any applicant who has successfully completed, with grades of "C" or higher, at least four full degree courses, including at least one full course in English, Social Sciences or Humanities, taught in English, in a recognized English-medium university located in a country where English is the primary language. We will also exempt from English facility testing any applicant who is a bilingual francophone and who has satisfactorily completed at least four years of full-time academic study in the Canadian school system.
   
   Acceptable proof of English facility must be submitted by the application deadline (December 1). If acceptable proof of English facility is not received by the application deadline, the application will be cancelled. Tests taken more than two years prior to the application deadline will not be considered. Official test scores must be sent by the testing agency directly to the Admissions Office, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto . The following tests are recognized:
   • Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB):
     The minimum requirement is an overall score of 85, with no part below 80. Information Bulletins and Registration Forms may be obtained from the MELAB office:

     
     MELAB
     University of Michigan
     500 East Washington Street
     Ann Arbor, MI 48104-2028
     USA
     Telephone: (734) 615-5605
     Fax: (734) 615-6586
     Email: melabelium@umich.edu
     Web site: www.lsa.umich.edu/eli/testing/melab or the University of Toronto MELAB web site: www.library.utoronto.ca/melab .

     Applicants in the Toronto area may register in-person at:

     Toronto MELAB Test Centre
     New College, room 139
     University of Toronto
     45 Willcocks Street
     Toronto, ON M5S 1C7
     Telephone: 416-946-3942
     Fax: 416-946-0337
     Web: www.melab.ca
     Email: melab.newcollege@utoronto.ca

     You may also pick up a MELAB Bulletin at Admissions and Awards (address above).
   • International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic Module:
     The minimum requirement is an overall band of 6.5, with no band below 6.0. For information about this test, world-wide test centres and registration procedures, you may contact the IELTS Office at www.ielts.org . You may also contact the Ontario Test Centre:

   IELTS Administrator
   299 Doon Valley Drive
   Kitchener, ON N2G 4M4
   Telephone: (519) 748-3516
   Fax: (519) 748-3505
   Email: ielts@conestogac.on.ca
   Web site: www.conestagac.on.ca/ielts

   • Test of English as a Foreign (TOEFL):
     Those who present the paper-based TOEFL must ensure that the Test of Written English (TWE) is also available on their test date. The TOEFL CBT includes an Essay in every administration of the test.
     
     Minimum requirement:
     TOEFL PBT - total score 600 + 5.0 on TWE
     TOEFL CBT - total score 250 + 5.0 on Essay
     TOEFL IBT - total score 100 + 22 on Writing Note: The TOEFL Institution Code is 0982-0.
     
     You must list this code correctly, or we will not receive your results. TOEFL/TWE Bulletins may be obtained from American embassies and consulates, offices of the United States Information Service (USIS), or you may contact:

     TOEFL Services
     P.O. Box 6151
     Princeton , NJ 08541
     USA
     Telephone: (609) 771-7100
     Email: toefl@ets.org
     Web site: www.toefl.org

     You may also pick up a TOEFL CBT Bulletin at:

     Admissions and Awards, University of Toronto
     315 Bloor Street West
     Toronto , ON M5S 1A3
     Telephone: (416) 978-2190
     Web site: www.adm.utoronto.ca

   • The Certificate of Proficiency in English (COPE):
     The minimum requirement is an overall score of 86, with 32 in Writing and 22 in each of the Reading and Listening sections. For tests taken before January 2008. The minimum requirement is an overall score of 5, with 2 in Writing, and 2 + 1 (or 1 + 2) in Reading and Listening sections. Currently available in Toronto only. COPE Information Bulletins with registration forms and sample questions may be picked up at Admissions and Awards (address above), or you may contact:

     COPE Testing Ltd.,
     7B Pleasant Blvd., Box 1164
     Toronto, ON M4T 1K2
     (Note: this is a mailing address only).
     Telephone: (416) 962-2673
     Email: info@copetest.com

     Complete information, including a downloadable registration form is available at Web site:
     www.copetest.com
     

   • Academic Preparation ESL, School of Continuing Studies, University of Toronto

   The minimum requirement is a grade of 'B' at the 60/Advanced level. For more information contact the English Language Program at the School of Continuing Studies, University of Toronto at:

   158 St. George Street
   Toronto, ON
   M5S 2V8

   Telephone: (416) 978-5104
   Fax: (416) 971-2839
   E-mail: scs.esl@utoronto.ca
   Web site: learn.utoronto.ca/esl
   

3. Dental Aptitude Test

   Applicants are required to take the Dental Aptitude Test (DAT) administered by the Canadian Dental Association and to arrange for their test results to be forwarded to the Admissions Office. The DAT is designed to measure general academic ability, comprehension of scientific information, perceptual ability and manual dexterity. The Canadian DAT is offered twice a year (February and November) and all sections of the test must be completed. The Academic Average (AA) and Perceptual Ability Test (PAT) scores are part of the admission process. If the test is written more than once, the highest set of DAT scores will be used. The DAT must have been taken within two calendar years prior to the application deadline. The valid test dates for September 2010 entry are: February 2008, November 2008, February 2009, November 2009. Tests taken more than two years prior to the application deadline will not be considered. Registration forms may be obtained from the Admissions Office, Faculty of Dentistry, or by contacting:

   The Dental Aptitude Test Program
   Canadian Dental Association
   1815 Alta Vista Drive
   Ottawa , Ontario , Canada K1G 3Y6
   Telephone: (613) 523-1770
   Fax: (613) 523-7489
   Email: dat@cda-adc.ca
   Web site: www.cda-adc.ca

   The American Dental Admission Test (DAT) is an acceptable equivalent for applicants living outside of Canada . Further information may be obtained from:

   The Department of Testing Services
   Dental Admission Testing Program
   American Dental Association
   211 East Chicago Avenue, Suite 1846
   Chicago, IL 60611-2678
   USA
   Telephone: (312) 440-2689
   Fax: (312) 440-7494
   Email: education@ada.org
   Web site: www.ada.org/prof/ed/testing/dat.asp

   Applicants can request the American DAT registration package by calling 1-800-621-8099.