Total minimum 3…
institution score
5 years
to complete
NQF 8
qualification level
The Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) is a bachelor's Degree offered by SMU for 2027 learners, taking 5 years to complete. This page covers the Grade 12 subjects and admission score you need to qualify, what the course involves, where you can study it, the careers it leads to, and how to apply.
Do you qualify
Grade 12 Required Subjects to study Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) at SMU
- Applicants need the National Senior Certificate with Mathematics and Physical Sciences at level 6, Life Sciences at level 6, English at level 5, one additional subject at level 5, a second additional subject at level 4, and Life Orientation at level 5
- Different requirements apply to applicants with partial or foreign qualifications
- the School of Dentistry should be contacted directly for guidance
What you study
About Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS)
This programme trains students in the full scope of dental practice, from preventing tooth decay and filling cavities through to complex reconstructive procedures. Graduates are equipped to work in private practice, public dental services or academic dentistry, and may go on to specialise. Top-performing first-year BSc or equivalent students at SMU can also apply to enter this programme through a competitive internal transfer route.
After you graduate
Careers After Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS)
Course intelligence for Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS)
Data-driven planning insights for this specific course: job market outlook, NSFAS funding, and how competitive admission is likely to be.
Job market outlook
Good sign: Pathologist appears on South Africa’s National List of Occupations in High Demand, a Department of Higher Education and Training analysis of employer hiring activity. Employers have been reporting real recruitment pressure for this role, which generally works in your favour once you’ve completed Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS).
NSFAS funding
As a Bachelor's Degree at SMU, a public institution, this course generally falls within NSFAS’s undergraduate funding scope. Funding is means-tested and not automatic, so confirm your own eligibility at nsfas.org.za before relying on it.
Admission chances
SMU’s intake and this course’s requirements with its published admission requirements generally leave more room than the most sought-after courses, so you likely have a reasonable window to apply without rushing, though applying early is always the safer bet.
These insights are estimates generated from South Africa’s National List of Occupations in High Demand (DHET, November 2023 draft), NSFAS’s published funding rules, and this university’s general applicant demand. They’re planning guidance, not a guarantee. Always confirm funding and admission specifics directly with SMU and NSFAS.
Step by step
How to Apply for Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) in 2027
Apply directly through SMU's online e-Student Recruitment Portal (https://www.smu.ac.za/e-student-recruitment-portal/) between 1 April and 31 July of the year before intake; a non-refundable R300 application fee is payable.
Ready to apply? This takes you straight to Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University’s own official application page.
Apply NowYou will leave studies.mycourses.co.za and apply directly with Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University.
Answers
Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS): Frequently Asked Questions
What Courses Do I Qualify For in South Africa?
Enter your own subject marks and we'll show you real courses you're likely to qualify for, right now, plus what those courses tend to lead to: how in-demand the work is, whether NSFAS is likely to fund it, and how competitive admission is.
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Source: sefako-makgatho-health-sciences-university.json, last verified 2026-08-22. Requirements and fees change. Always confirm current details directly with Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University before applying.