A Bachelor in Dental Surgery or BDS is the first step to a rewarding career in Dentistry. It is a noble profession aimed at improving the oral health of people. Studying BDS overseas has its own set of advantages. Attractive career prospects and handsome pay packages are just a few of them.
Indian students are attracted to a promising career in Dentistry after graduating with a BDS from a study destination abroad. Alternatively, it also opens up pathways to pursuing advanced studies in Dentistry overseas. Discover the various prospects of studying BDS abroad in this article and learn about the top 5 international universities offering BDS programs.
BDS degrees offered outside of India are in high demand among Indian students. Their popularity can be attributed to the global recognition and validity of international degrees. Listed below are some key reasons why students worldwide choose to study BDS or Bachelor of Dental Surgery abroad:
Dentists across the world are in high demand. According to data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the overall job openings for dentists worldwide are likely to increase by 4% between the period 2022 and 2032. Higher job openings increase the demand for BDS courses overseas.
Studying BDS abroad is generally preferred by international students for the relatively easier admission requirements by most universities overseas. A higher secondary education certificate in the science stream from a recognised board in India like CBSE is generally sufficient for admission to BDS courses abroad.
Pursuing a professional course like BDS in another country allows Indian students to embrace different cultures and their learnings. It also opens up varied career prospects abroad after course completion.
Pursuing a dental surgery course overseas is the first step to a lucrative and rewarding career in dentistry. The course enables students to apply for top job roles in the field at attractive pay scales. Besides, the dental degrees obtained abroad hold global recognition and can be used to work in India or anywhere in the world.
Among the several dental surgery courses offered abroad, the Bachelor of Dental Surgery course is the most popular. Also referred to as BDS, it is an Undergraduate program in Dentistry and the first level of education in the domain.
The cost of pursuing a BDS course abroad is likely to be different for domestic and international applicants (those from India and other countries). Given below are the BDS course duration and fees for Indian students applying to the program at an international university overseas:
BDS average course duration: 5 years (Read more insights here)
BDS average course fees: AUD 387,280 (Read more insights here)
Disclaimer: The duration and fees of the course are indicative and may vary from one university and country to another.
Each university abroad that offers BDS courses may have a different set of admission criteria for international applicants. You should check with the university you apply to for its exact admission requirements. Listed below, however, are some standard BDS course eligibility criteria acceptable by most international universities:
Students applying for BDS courses abroad must have first completed an equivalent qualification as Year 12 in that country from a recognised school in India
Minimum pass score required at Grade 12 (as required and specified by the applied university)
Qualifying marks scored in NEET may be desired by some universities overseas
Proof of English language proficiency test, such as IELTS, with an overall score of 7.0 in all bands of the test
Academic certificates of skills and qualifications of the applicant need to be submitted to the applied university
BDS is offered at various international universities worldwide. Listed below are the top 5 universities in different countries where BDS courses are popular among international students:
Related Source: https://www.topuniversities.com/university-subject-rankings/sort_by=rank&order_by=asc?page=4&sort_by=rank&order_by=asc
Students completing Bachelor of Dental Surgery courses overseas are eligible to apply for varied job opportunities both in India and abroad. These options are also available at attractive pay scales. Some of these job prospects with their average annual salary (approximately) are listed in the table below:
Potential Career Prospects | Salary After BDS (annual approx) |
Dental Specialist | GBP 63,066 |
Lecturer | GBP 34,809 |
Orthodontist | GBP 101,623 |
General Dentist | GBP 81,232 |
Dental Hygienist | GBP 57,636 |
Related Sources: https://uk.indeed.com/career/dental-specialist/salaries?from=top_sb
https://uk.indeed.com/career/lecturer/salaries?from=top_sb
https://uk.indeed.com/career/orthodontist/salaries?from=top_sb
https://uk.indeed.com/career/dentist/salaries?from=top_sb
https://uk.indeed.com/career/dental-hygienist/salaries
Que: Which country abroad is the best for BDS?
Ans: BDS is offered in many countries, all of which are counted among the top study-abroad destinations. These include:
United States
United Kingdom
Canada
Ireland
Australia
New Zealand
Que: What is the average salary after BDS abroad?
Ans: The actual pay scale may vary from one organisation to another in different countries. The average salary after BDS from an overseas study destination is estimated at approximately GBP 34,809.
Related Source: https://uk.indeed.com/career/lecturer/salaries?from=top_sb
Que: How much does it cost to study BDS abroad?
Ans: The average cost of pursuing BDS abroad may vary between different countries. For instance, Australian universities offer BDS courses at approximately AUD 387,280.
Que: Is it worth studying BDS abroad?
Ans: Absolutely! Pursuing a BDS course overseas can be worth your time and effort as it will likely open up many lucrative career opportunities upon course completion. Besides, the annual salary after BDS is also quite attractive to international students, depending upon the country in which it is pursued.
Que: How can Indian students apply for BDS after the 12th?
Ans: Indian students interested in applying for BDS courses after completing Grade 12 must produce a certificate of completion of higher secondary education to the university they apply to. Additionally, they need to submit proof of English language proficiency test, such as IELTS, by submitting the desired overall score as specified by the country.
Que: Which exam is required to study Bachelor in Dental Surgery abroad?
Ans: The Indian Council of Dentistry specifies passing scores in the NEET examination to pursue BDS courses overseas. Additionally, each international university may have its specific admission criteria. It is advisable to check the exact requirements with the university you apply to.