Bachelor of Dental Therapy Course Requirements at UKZN
University of KwaZulu-Natal · College of Health Sciences
The Bachelor of Dental Therapy is a bachelor's Degree offered by UKZN for 2027 learners, taking 3 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.
Grade 12 Required Subjects to study Bachelor of Dental Therapy at UKZN
National Senior Certificate Degree with English and Life Orientation at Level 4, plus Life Sciences and Mathematics at Level 3. Only the first three programme choices are considered.
About this course
Dental therapy students train as part of the oral health team, learning preventive, curative and rehabilitative dental care including extractions, fillings, scaling and dental x-rays. Graduates can practise in the public sector or private practice within their registered scope.
Possible careers
Community Dental Practitioner, Dental Therapist, Oral Health Educator, Private Practice Dental Therapist, Public Health Dental Officer
How to apply for 2027 studies
Apply through the Central Applications Office (CAO) at www.cao.ac.za, listing UKZN and this programme's CAO code among the six allowed choices; the same CAO application also covers residence and financial aid requests for UKZN.
Course intelligence for Bachelor of Dental Therapy
Data-driven planning insights for this specific course: job market outlook, NSFAS funding, and how competitive admission is likely to be.
Job market outlook
Bachelor of Dental Therapy doesn’t currently appear on the national scarce-skills list as a Community Dental Practitioner. That’s not a red flag on its own, most jobs in South Africa aren’t on that list, it just tracks where employers reported the strongest hiring pressure. Your own results, experience and network will matter more here than national demand trends.
NSFAS funding
As a Bachelor's Degree at UKZN, 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
This course sits in the middle for competitiveness. At an admission score of APS 30+, you have a reasonable chance if you apply in good time, though it’s not a sure thing. Don’t leave your application to the last week.
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 UKZN and NSFAS.
- Applications for 2027 studies
- Open: 1 March 2026
- Close: 30 September 2026
View all Courses at UKZN
- Duration
- 3 years
- NQF Level
- 7
- APS / Points
- APS 30 (minimum)
- Campus
- Westville Campus, Durban
Related courses
Source: university-of-kwazulu-natal.json, last verified 2026-08-22. Requirements and fees change. Always confirm current details directly with University of KwaZulu-Natal before applying.