The best universities for Dentistry
A student-opinion league table using only what recent undergraduates said in the National Student Survey—not research reputation, entry grades or staff ratios.
Bangor University, followed by Queen's University of Belfast and The University of Liverpool make up the leading three for Dentistry in our 2026 student-view ranking.
Unlike a conventional university guide, this list makes one narrow comparison: how positively recent students described their course experience. The score gives equal influence to the 26 questions shared across all three NSS files and averages 2025 with 2026 wherever both are published. Because this subject has 22 current providers, the analysis below compares the leading five with the whole provider field.
Why Bangor University leads—and where the next four stand out
This comparison uses all 22 current providers, not only universities. It identifies the NSS questions where each leading university is furthest above the subject peer average.
Bangor University
It holds the same position as in the previous 2024+2025 table. It is position 1 when every current provider is included.
- Assessment and feedbackFeedback helps improvement
95.5% positive—21.3 percentage points above the 74.1% all-provider peer average.
- Assessment and feedbackClear marking criteria
95.5% positive—20.3 percentage points above the 75.2% all-provider peer average.
Queen's University of Belfast
Where it stands out: Course is well organised is 93.0%, which is 25.8 points above the 67.2% average across the rest of the provider field.
It is position 2 when all 22 providers are included. It holds the same position as in the previous 2024+2025 table.
The University of Liverpool
Where it stands out: Course is well organised is 94.5%, which is 27.4 points above the 67.1% average across the rest of the provider field.
It is position 3 when all 22 providers are included. It holds the same position as in the previous 2024+2025 table.
University of Dundee
Where it stands out: Course is well organised is 87.2%, which is 19.7 points above the 67.4% average across the rest of the provider field.
It is position 4 when all 22 providers are included. It has climbed 2 places from 6 in the previous table.
University of Bristol
Where it stands out: Course is well organised is 94.0%, which is 26.9 points above the 67.1% average across the rest of the provider field.
It is position 6 when all 22 providers are included. It has fallen 1 place from 4 in the previous table.
“Above average” compares each provider with every other current provider in this subject. It describes relative NSS strength, not course content, admissions or graduate outcomes.
Top 10 for Dentistry
Current positions use the 2025+2026 window. Previous positions use 2024+2025; “New” means no eligible prior comparison.
| Current pos.2025+2026 table | Previous pos.2024+2025 table | Change | University | Score | Current score data | Questions | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12024–2025 average | — | Bangor University2025–2026 average | 94.98% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 2 | 22024–2025 average | — | Queen's University of Belfast2025–2026 average | 94.93% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 3 | 32024–2025 average | — | The University of Liverpool2025–2026 average | 94.84% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 4 | 62024–2025 average | ↑ 2 | University of Dundee2025–2026 average | 93.27% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 5 | 42024–2025 average | ↓ 1 | University of Bristol2025–2026 average | 92.85% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 6 | 72024–2025 average | ↑ 1 | University of Plymouth2025–2026 average | 92.00% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 7 | 82024–2025 average | ↑ 1 | University of Glasgow2025–2026 average | 91.91% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 8 | 52024–2025 average | ↓ 3 | University of Newcastle upon Tyne2025–2026 average | 91.19% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 9 | —Not ranked | New | University College London2026 only | 90.48% | 2026 only | 26 / 26 | |
| 10 | 92024–2025 average | ↓ 1 | The University of Sheffield2025–2026 average | 88.99% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 |
Universities are shown by default. The site-wide switch can include every current NSS provider in this live top ten.
See the complete Dentistry ranking →One source. One clear point of view.
The National Student Survey asks final-year undergraduates about teaching, learning opportunities, assessment and feedback, support, organisation, resources, student voice, their students’ union and wellbeing information.
We do not add research output, selectivity, institutional spending, staff ratios or graduate salary data. Those measures may be useful elsewhere, but they cannot change what former students said about studying this subject.
Read the complete methodology →About this Dentistry ranking
What leads the Dentistry ranking in 2026?
Bangor University is first among universities, with an NSS-based score of 94.98%. The result reflects student opinion across the common questions, not a prediction of which institution will suit every applicant.
Why average two NSS years?
Averaging 2025 and 2026 makes the result less sensitive to one unusual cohort. A provider must have published 2026 data to enter the current table; a 2026-only entrant is included and labelled “New”.
Where can I see every university?
The full Dentistry ranking contains every eligible university or, when the provider switch is enabled, every eligible NSS provider.