Doctor of Dental Medicine Admissions

Admissions Requirements

Applicable to the 2024–2025 Application Cycle

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the following is applicable to courses completed during the Spring 2020, Summer 2020, Fall 2020, Spring 2021, Summer 2021, and Fall 2021 semesters only:

• Applicants who had the option of taking a prerequisite course for a letter grade or Pass/Fail must have chosen the letter grade option for the course to count toward the prerequisite requirements. If the applicant did not have the option to choose a letter grade for a prerequisite course due to COVID-19, we will consider Pass/Fail grades on a case-by-case basis pending verification from the institution’s Registrar’s Office that a graded option was not available for the prerequisite course.
• While letter grades are preferred for non-prerequisite courses, Pass/Fail grades will also be acceptable.

Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.) 4-year Degree Program

Application

The University of New England College of Dental Medicine (UNE CDM) participates in the American Dental Education Association Centralized Application Service (ADEA AADSAS). All applicants are required to apply online through this service.

Degree Requirement

Applicants must have completed a minimum of ninety (90) semester (one-hundred and thirty-five (135) quarter) credits at a U.S. regionally accredited institution or international equivalent, at the time of enrollment. However, a baccalaureate degree is preferred.

• All applicants are required to submit official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. Official transcripts should be sent directly to ADEA AADSAS. Please see the ADEA AADSAS application for additional information and instructions.

Prerequisite Coursework Requirements

Additional Recommended Courses

• Human Physiology (strongly recommended)
• Immunology (strongly recommended)
• Pharmacology
• Histology
• Public Health
• Ethics
• 3-Dimensional Art (e.g., sculpture)
• Genetics
• Business
• Communications

Other Important Prerequisite Coursework Considerations

• All prerequisite courses must be successfully completed with a grade of "C" or better ("C minus" grades are not acceptable).
• AP credits cannot be applied toward any prerequisite course.
• Upper-level courses in any of the necessary prerequisite subject areas completed with a grade of "C" or better are acceptable.
• Prerequisite courses may be in progress or planned at the time of application. All courses must be successfully completed with an official transcript submitted to the UNE Office of Graduate Admissions prior to the start of the program.
• Official transcripts for coursework and/or degrees completed in the summer/fall term should be submitted and verified by ADEA AADSAS during the Academic Update period.
• Official transcripts for coursework and/or degrees completed after the ADEA AADSAS Academic Update periods should be submitted directly from the University's Registrar to UNE’s Office of Graduate Admissions prior to the start of the program.

All planned or in-progress coursework should be listed on the ADEA AADSAS application at the time of application submission; not doing so may result in the applicant not meeting all admissions requirements.

Online courses offered through UNE’s Online Science Prerequisites are acceptable to fulfill prerequisites.

Standardized Tests

The U.S. Dental Admission Test (DAT) is required to be taken for the first time no later than October 1 of the application year. First-attempt exam scores from after the October 1 DAT deadline will not be considered.

• Applicants may choose to take the DAT a second time after October 1 and have those scores considered.
• All official scores must be submitted directly to ADEA AADSAS.
• The DAT must have been taken within five (5) years of the application deadline.

Letters of Evaluation

Two (2) letters of evaluation are required, and must be submitted via ADEA AADSAS

• One (1) letter must be from a science professor.
• It is recommended that the second letter come from a dentist.
• Committee letters are accepted in place of the two (2) required letters.
• Letters from friends or family members are not acceptable.
• All letters must be submitted electronically via the ADEA AADSAS application. Letters of recommendation dated within the last three (3) years are strongly preferred.

Volunteer/Experience Hours

Community Service: Applicants are strongly encouraged to demonstrate community service through volunteerism or service-oriented employment.

Clinical Dental Experience: Required minimum of thirty (30) hours of dental shadowing/experience.

• All experiences should be documented in the ADEA AADSAS application.

Personal Statement

• Please refer to the ADEA AADSAS application for specific writing prompts and additional information.

Interviews

Interviews are a required part of the application process and are done by invitation only.

• Applicants are selected for interviews on a rolling basis.
• Interviews are typically conducted between August and December; spring interview sessions may be held as needed.
• The UNE College of Dental Medicine reserves the right to adjust interview dates, modalities, and processes as needed. Applicants will be notified immediately if changes to the format or timing of interviews occur at any point during the application cycle.

Given the normally heavy volume of applications, it is strongly encouraged that candidates submit and complete their AADSAS application as early as possible in the cycle to ensure full consideration for an interview.

Supplemental Fee

• All verified applications will undergo a preliminary admission review, after which select competitive applicants will be invited to submit the UNE Dental Medicine supplemental processing fee of $55 in order to be reviewed by the Admissions Committee.
• Upon receipt of an invitation to complete the UNE Dental Medicine supplemental processing fee, please be sure to make payment promptly and by the deadline listed in the invitation.

International Applicants

International applicants and those with foreign degrees and coursework are required to satisfy the following additional requirements:

• Official course-by-course evaluation by World Education Service (WES) or Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE). The completed credential evaluation should be submitted directly to ADEA AADSAS. Please refer to the International Admissions section of the UNE website for more information on the type of credential evaluation required for admission review.
• Applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate written and spoken fluency through the successful completion of a UNE-approved English language proficiency test.
• Applicants should refer to the Graduate Admissions criteria outlined on the English Language Proficiency webpage for specific information and minimum score requirements.
• Please refer to the ADEA AADSAS application for test score submission instructions.

Other Requirements/Information

Prior to matriculation, accepted and deposited students will be required to complete the following additional compliance requirements:

• Completion of physical examination with proof of up-to-date immunization status. Please refer to UNE’s Student Health Center for detailed information.
• Satisfactory completion of a criminal background check and/or drug screen prior to matriculation, as well as periodically throughout the program (as required by clinical affiliations).
• All students must have the ability to meet all Academic and Technical Standards of the Dental Medicine profession.
• UNE follows the ADEA AADSAS “traffic” rules. Those offered admission are notified via email beginning on the designated notification date and continuing until the class is full.
• Only those applicants who meet the minimum requirements will be considered for admission. However, meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee an interview or acceptance.

All materials submitted as part of the application become the property of UNE and will not be returned or released to anyone, including the applicant. This policy includes letters of reference, primary and secondary applications, personal statements, transcripts, and other supporting materials.

Policy Exceptions

• Policies are established to ensure fair and consistent admissions practice for all applicants to the university and its programs.
• All criteria presented in this summary are subject to change per professional accreditation requirements, changes in curriculum and/or other institutional standards, and clinical affiliation requirements.
• Exceptions to existing admission policies are rare and made only when it is deemed necessary and appropriate to maintain fair and consistent practice for all candidates, not individual candidates.

Transfer Credit

• No transfer credit granted.

Experiential Learning

• No credit will be awarded for experiential learning.

Doctor of Dental Medicine advanced standing track (D.M.D. AST) for International Dentists

The D.M.D. AST is offered on a space-available basis only. Please visit the UNE CAAPID profile page for current information.

Application

The University of New England College of Dental Medicine (UNE CDM) participates in the American Dental Education Association Centralized Application for Advanced Placement for International Dentists (ADEA CAAPID). All applicants are required to apply online through this service.

Degree Requirement

To be eligible for admission, applicants must have a dentist's degree from a non-U.S./Canadian dental school.

All applicants must provide a notarized, school-issued document confirming the conferred foreign dental degree (B.D.S., D.D.S., D.M.D., Odontology, etc.).

• Submit, through ADEA CAAPID application, original dental school, non-dental school, and all postgraduate program transcripts. For all foreign transcripts, applicants must submit an official, detailed, course-by-course evaluation by World Education Services (WES) or Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE).

Standardized Tests

English-Language Proficiency Tests:

• Applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate written and spoken fluency through the successful completion of an English language proficiency test, such as the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).
• Official score reports are required and must be submitted as a part of the completed application.
• Applicants should refer to the Graduate Admissions criteria on the English Language Proficiency webpage for specific information and minimum score requirements.

Additional Tests:

• Passage of both NBDE Part I and Part II exams (or INBDE) is mandatory, preferably within the last five (5) years. Official scores must be submitted through ADEA CAAPID.
• Advanced Dental Admission Test (ADAT) results will be accepted if submitted via ADEA CAAPID, but this is not required.

Letters of Evaluation

Three (3) letters of evaluation are required and must be submitted via ADEA CAAPID

Letters of evaluation should be submitted from the following individuals:

• Dean or chief/senior administrator of the applicant’s dental school (Dean level preferred).
• Dental school clinical instructor who is able to evaluate the applicant’s potential.
• One professional reference who can attest to the applicant’s character, conduct, and professional ability.
• Letters from friends or family members are not acceptable.
• Three (3) letters of evaluation are required, and no more than four (4) will be accepted. Only letters submitted through ADEA CAAPID will be accepted.

All letters must be written in English, or translated by a certified US translator at the applicant’s expense. The letters must also include the evaluator’s current contact details. Letters of recommendation dated within two (2) years of application are strongly preferred.

Interview and Bench Test

Interviews are conducted by invitation only. Only candidates with completed ADEA CAAPID and supplemental applications will be considered for an interview.

• Interviews for full consideration to the D.M.D. AST include an evaluative interview (virtual or in-person, as determined by UNE CDM), an on-campus bench test, and a written exam and/or writing sample.
• Applicants are invited to interview on a rolling basis at the discretion of the UNE CDM admissions committee.
• The fee to complete the bench test will be $500 and must be received by UNE CDM prior to the bench test date.

Residency Requirement

All applicants must provide proof of US citizenship (US passport, US birth certificate, or Certificate of Naturalization) or proof of permanent resident status (Green Card), or other appropriate immigration documentation.

• It is the candidate’s responsibility to maintain legal immigration status for the duration of enrollment in the D.M.D. AST program.

Supplemental Fee

All complete applications will undergo preliminary admission review, after which select applicants will be invited to submit the required, non-refundable UNE Dental Medicine supplemental processing fee of $100 in order to continue moving forward in the application review process.

All materials submitted as part of the application become the property of UNE and will not be returned or released to anyone, including the applicant. This policy includes letters of reference, primary and secondary applications, personal statements, transcripts, and other supporting materials.

Policy Exceptions

• Policies are established to ensure fair and consistent admissions practice for all applicants to the university and its programs.
• All criteria presented in this summary are subject to change per professional accreditation requirements, changes in curriculum and/or other institutional standards, and clinical affiliation requirements.
• Exceptions to existing admission policies are rare and made only when it is deemed necessary and appropriate to maintain fair and consistent practice for all candidates, not individual candidates.

Transfer Credit

No transfer credit granted.

Advanced Standing

Please see application and admissions details above for the D.M.D. Advanced Standing Track (AST) for International Dentists.

Experiential Learning

No credit will be awarded for experiential learning.