Skip to content

James Cook University

Bachelor of Dental Surgery

Townsville, Queensland, Australia

  • Level

    Bachelor

  • Duration

    5F or 7-P

  • Campus

    Cairns (QLD)

  • Intl. Tuition

    Fee not confirmed

  • Intake

    February 2027

See how your grades stack up for this course

With an Ascenda account you get your fit and admit odds for every programme, a shortlist you can compare, and your deadlines and applications in one place.

Course Overview

Bachelor of Dental Surgery at James Cook University in Townsville, Queensland, Australia is a bachelor programme designed to give you both rigorous academic grounding and exposure to current practice in the field.

  • Study with academics who are active researchers and industry practitioners, with regular contact through seminars, tutorials, and project work.
  • Develop core knowledge in your first year before specialising through optional modules in later years tailored to your interests and career goals.
  • Build practical, transferable skills — analysis, communication, teamwork, and project delivery — that employers across sectors actively look for.
  • Access dedicated employability support including internships, placements, alumni mentoring, and a careers service that connects students to graduate roles.
  • Join a global student community with extracurricular societies, sports, volunteering, and study-abroad opportunities to round out your university experience.

The University at a Glance

Student Population

19,807

Staff Ratio

16.0:1

International

39.0%

Career Prospects

Employment Rate

88.0%

of graduates employed

Avg Starting Salary

£33,970

First-year earnings

City & Location

Small city (50k-199k inhabitants)

Course Curriculum

Year 1

  • Foundations of Bachelor of Dental Surgery
  • Academic and Research Skills
  • Quantitative Methods
  • Introduction to Theory and Practice
  • Optional language or breadth module.

Year 2

  • Intermediate Bachelor of Dental Surgery topics
  • Applied Methods and Tools
  • Group Project
  • Two optional pathway modules
  • Career and Industry Insights.

Year 3

  • Advanced Bachelor of Dental Surgery
  • Independent Dissertation or Capstone Project
  • Two specialist optional modules aligned with your interests
  • Employability and Professional Development.

Entry Requirements

Subjects

  • For additional information about the admissions criteria for JCU and for this course, refer to the JCU website. | English, Literature, English and Literature Extension or English as an Additional Language (Units 3 and 4, C)
  • Mathematical Methods (Units 3 and 4, C)
  • Chemistry (Units 3 and 4, C)
  • Completion of Year 12 or attained age 18 years
  • Application Form | Students must undertake clinical placement at dental facilities across northern Queensland during their studies. Prior to taking professional placements, students must provide evidence of immunity to hepatitis B, MMR, varicellla, and pertussis, and current Provide First Aid and CPR certificates. Students enrolled in dental courses must undergo testing for blood-borne viruses (BBVs) including hepatitis B, hepatitis C and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) before, or on entry to the course. A Suitability Card is required and an Australian Federal Police check may be required
  • refer to institution. Students must complete all professional experience placement requirements by the prescribed deadlines and maintain currency of these requirements in order to stay admitted in the course.

Source: CourseSeeker (Australian Government), retrieved September 2026. Always confirm the current requirements with the university.

Assessment Methods

Assessment is varied across the programme and may include: Written examinations across foundational modules; Coursework essays and analytical reports; Group and individual projects with presentations; Practical lab, studio, or fieldwork assessments where relevant; A final-year dissertation or capstone project that lets you specialise in a topic of your choice.

Campus & City Life

Student Population

19,807

Total students

Staff Ratio

16:1

Students per staff

International Students

39%

Of student body

Campus at a Glance

City Size

Small city (50k-199k inhabitants)

Climate (indicative)

Mild coastal

Safety Index (indicative)

8.5/10

Transport

Good (close to station or regional airport)

Social Scene

Friendly community | Coastal lifestyle

University Stats

Total Students19,807
Student-to-Staff Ratio16:1
International Students39%
Safety Index (indicative)8.5/10

Career & Outcomes

Graduate Employment

88%

Employed after graduation

Avg Starting Salary

£33,970

Average first-year salary

Costs & Living Expenses

Intl. Tuition

Fee not confirmed

Check the university's official fee page

Cost and living expense information coming soon.