Does Unisa Offer a Dentistry Course?

Thabo MokoenaWritten by Thabo MokoenaSenior Education Editor
Naledi KhumaloReviewed & verified by Naledi KhumaloSenior Admissions and Bursaries EditorVerified

No. Unisa does not offer dentistry or any dental qualification. None appears in Unisa’s list of undergraduate qualifications or its postgraduate lists. Dentistry needs years of hands-on clinical training, so it is taught at universities with dental training facilities.

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Where you can study dentistry in South Africa

UniversityProgrammes
University of the Western CapeBachelor of Dental Surgery; Bachelor of Oral Health
University of the WitwatersrandBachelor of Dental Science (five years); Bachelor of Oral Health Sciences
University of PretoriaBachelor of Dental Surgery (five years); Bachelor of Oral Hygiene
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences UniversityBachelor of Dental Surgery; Bachelor of Dental Therapy; Bachelor of Oral Hygiene
University of KwaZulu-NatalBachelor of Dental Therapy; Bachelor of Oral Hygiene

What you need

  • Strong marks in English, Mathematics and Physical Sciences, and usually Life Sciences. The University of Pretoria, for example, asks for APS 35 for dentistry.
  • Selection is competitive, and some universities also use the NBT and job shadowing. Wits closed its applications for 2027 on 30 June 2026.
  • After graduating, dentists register with the Health Professions Council of South Africa and complete community service.

If you want to start through Unisa

Unisa has no route into dentistry, but a Unisa science or health-related qualification can support a later application elsewhere. Check each dental school’s rules for graduate applicants. See where to study medicine.

Frequently asked questions

Can I study dentistry through Unisa?

No. Unisa offers no dental qualifications.

Which universities offer dentistry in South Africa?

UWC, Wits, the University of Pretoria and Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University offer the dental surgery or dental science degree.

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