When Eshaa Hafeez narrowly missed her dentistry offer, she began looking at other routes into the profession, eventually choosing to study dentistry in Bulgaria. Here, she reflects on the competitiveness of UK admissions, plus the benefits and challenges of studying abroad.
Studying dentistry in Bulgaria seemed like an alternative pathway into the profession. However, after moving here, I realised that this route is shared by many students because of the highly competitive nature of UK dental school admissions.
Looking back, I can see how much this journey has benefited me, not only academically but also personally.
When I went through the application process at 17, I already understood how competitive dentistry was. I was applying alongside students with outstanding University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) scores, mostly A* grades and near-perfect personal statements.
Like many applicants, I spent months building a strong portfolio through extracurricular activities, additional academic experiences, volunteering and dental work experience. Despite all of this, there was still no guarantee of securing a place.
Dentistry has become one of the most competitive university courses in the UK. In 2025, there were more than 9,900 applicants competing for only 1,630 places, meaning around 84% of applicants were unsuccessful.
On results day, I narrowly missed my dentistry offer by just two marks because of high chemistry grade boundaries. It was incredibly disappointing, but I knew one setback was not going to stop me from pursuing my ambition of becoming a dentist.
Choosing another route
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