Fall 2027 cycle · AADSAS closes February 5, 2027. Is it too late to apply?

Applying to US Dental School as an International Student

International students can apply to most US dental schools through ADEA AADSAS, but each school sets its own rules. Expect to need US or Canadian coursework, a WES or ECE transcript evaluation, the US DAT, often the TOEFL, and proof that you can pay for the full program, since F-1 students cannot get US federal aid.

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Dr. Todd Chastain, DMDCelina (Chaeyun) YangHansuja Chaurasia

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Key takeaways

  • Most US dental schools accept international students, but every school sets its own rules, and some public schools do not.
  • Many schools want US or Canadian coursework, often 60 to 93 semester units or a full degree.
  • There is no US federal aid for F-1 students, and some schools ask for an escrow deposit of up to four years of tuition.
  • The US DAT is only offered in the US, its territories and parts of Canada.

How to apply to US dental school from abroad

  1. 1

    Check each school's international policy

    Every school sets its own rules. Some do not take international students at all, and many that do want US or Canadian coursework first.

  2. 2

    Take US or Canadian prerequisite courses

    Many schools ask for a set number of US or Canadian credits (60 to 93 semester units at the schools listed below), or a full US or Canadian degree.

  3. 3

    Get a course-by-course evaluation

    AADSAS accepts foreign transcript evaluations only from WES or ECE. Foreign transcripts sent straight to AADSAS are discarded.

  4. 4

    Take the US DAT

    Every US dental school requires the DAT. It is offered at Prometric centers in the US, its territories and select locations in Canada, so plan travel if you live elsewhere.

  5. 5

    Take the TOEFL or IELTS if needed

    Many schools ask for it when your schooling was not in English; some, like Penn, do not.

  6. 6

    Apply through ADEA AADSAS

    The 2026–27 cycle opened May 12, 2026 and closes February 5, 2027. Applying early gives you the most choice of interview dates.

  7. 7

    Plan the money and the F-1 visa

    After you are admitted and show proof of funds, the school issues the Form I-20 you need for the F-1 student visa.

Sources: ADEA for international students, AADSAS foreign transcripts and the ADA DAT page.

US dental schools that accept international students

Examples, not a full list, checked on each school's own page in November 2026. Policies change, so confirm before you apply.

Schools that do not accept international applicants

Mostly state schools that only admit US citizens and permanent residents. Check before you pay an application fee.

Paying for US dental school as an international student

No federal aid

F-1 students are not eligible for US federal student aid. Schools such as UCSF offer their own aid only to US citizens and permanent residents.

Escrow and deposits

Some schools want money up front. Touro asks non-citizens for four years of tuition and fees in escrow, or two years with a US co-signer. Marquette adds a special deposit and insurance fees.

Proof of funds for the I-20

To issue the I-20 for your F-1 visa, the school needs proof you can cover tuition and living costs. Pacific asks international students to show funding for the whole program.

Dentists trained outside the US follow a different route (advanced standing through ADEA CAAPID). This page is for students who do not have a dental degree yet.

How we help international applicants

Building your school list

We sort schools by their international policy, coursework rules and costs, so you only pay to apply where you can be admitted.

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Your AADSAS application

Personal statement, experiences and secondaries reviewed 1-on-1 by tutors who went through admissions recently.

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1-on-1 online tutoring for every US DAT section, from tutors with top DAT scores.

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Meet the tutors

Dentists and dental students who went through admissions recently. Press play to hear from them; your tutor is matched after the free call.

Dr. Todd Chastain, DMD, Applicant mentor & DAT Biology tutor
10+ yrs tutoringPracticing dentist

Dr. Todd Chastain, DMD

Faculty, UAB School of Dentistry

35 yrs
Private practice
10 yrs
Mentoring
DMD
UAB, 1991

For the past 10 years, Dr. Chastain has mentored pre-dental students through applications and interviews, and every one he has guided is now a practicing dentist. He taught dental students in the clinic at UAB and now teaches biology at the University of North Alabama, so he also tutors DAT Biology. He knows what admissions committees look for and how to help you stand out.

  • DAT Biology
  • Applications
  • Interviews
  • Personal statement
Book a free callView profile: Dr. Todd Chastain, DMD
Celina (Chaeyun) Yang, DAT & admissions coach
Dental student

Celina (Chaeyun) Yang

University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine

25 AA
DAT score
7
Interviews
Penn
Dental school

First-year Penn Dental student who scored a 25 AA on the DAT, with a 27 in Biology and a 28 in Quantitative Reasoning. Celina has tutored science from high school through college, and she goes over every practice question with you, right or wrong, so a lucky guess never hides a gap.

  • DAT Biology
  • Quantitative Reasoning
  • Personal statement
  • Secondaries
Book a free callView profile: Celina (Chaeyun) Yang
Hansuja Chaurasia, DAT tutor & advisor
Dental student

Hansuja Chaurasia

University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine

UConn
Dental school
B.S.
Allied Health
Tutor
DAT & advising

UConn Dental student who has worked as a private DAT tutor and application advisor. Hansuja's strongest DAT sections were Reading Comprehension and Biology, and her sessions focus on why an answer is right, not just what it is, so you can handle questions you haven't seen before.

  • DAT
  • Application advising
Book a free callView profile: Hansuja Chaurasia
Dental student · D1
Photo coming soon

Neil Desai

Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine

24 AA
2024 DAT
30
Chemistry
3.92
GPA

BS Human Biology with honors from Michigan State. Coaches every DAT section, from biology and orgo to PAT and QR.

  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Orgo
  • PAT
  • QR
  • RC
Book a free callView profile: Neil Desai

What students say

9.8/10 from 39 surveyed students

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“The Future Dental Prep Tutoring Program and my tutor helped me immensely. My favorite part was the mock interviews, which perfectly simulated the real experience. I am incredibly grateful for the guidance and support that helped me succeed!”

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“I used the Personal Statement Express Overview that is offered by Future Dental Prep because I was finished with writing my personal statement, but I couldn't find the "perfect" final draft. I wanted an honest opinion from someone who didn't know me. Using this service was a wonderful experience! My assigned expert contacted me through email and thoroughly reviewed my personal statement within a day. The review included an overview of each paragraph with comments on the content, ways to improve the structure of the paper and grammatical corrections. In addition, my expert rated my paper out of 10 and wrote a summary of how the paper was put together and his thoughts on enhancement. The courteous feedback and timeliness of service was exactly what I needed to feel confident in my personal statement. It helped me to take what I wrote and make it into a strong, well-structured personal statement that I loved.”
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FAQ for international applicants

Can international students apply to US dental schools?

Yes. ADEA says international students can apply to most US dental schools, but every school has its own policy. Some public schools, such as UT Health San Antonio, UMKC and LSU, only consider US citizens and permanent residents.

Do international students need US coursework for dental school?

At many schools, yes. UCSF asks for 93 semester units from a US or English-speaking Canadian school, Pacific asks for 90, and Touro requires a US or Canadian bachelor's degree. Check each school's page.

Can international students get financial aid for US dental school?

Not federal aid. F-1 students are not eligible for US federal student aid, and schools such as UCSF limit their aid to US citizens and permanent residents. Some schools also ask for an escrow deposit; Touro asks for up to four years of tuition and fees.

Where can I take the DAT if I live outside the US?

The DAT is offered at Prometric centers in the US, its territories and select locations in Canada. International applicants usually travel to one of those centers.

Is this page for dentists trained in another country?

No. This page is for students without a dental degree. Internationally trained dentists usually apply to advanced standing programs through ADEA CAAPID, which is a separate process.

Not sure which schools fit you?

Book a free 15-minute call. We will look at your coursework, country and budget and help you plan.

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