China is a secure and ideal destination for international students pursuing a Bachelor of Dental Surgery (B.D.S.). Chinese universities providing BDS/dentistry programs in the English medium are comprehensive institutions controlled by the Chinese government and are widely recognized globally.
QS Ranking:
The QS World Ranking of Medical Schools providing a Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) is within the range of 400 to 500. In China, a few colleges have provided dentistry programs in English and have admitted international students for a few decades.
Why Study Dentistry (BDS) in China?
The combination of modern technologies in dentistry is a strong reason to pursue a BDS in China. Chinese Medical Schools offering a Bachelor of Dentistry (BDS) are ranked as the best medical universities worldwide. The universities are globally recognized by the WHO, PM&DC (Pakistan Medical and Dental Council), NMC (India), and BM&DC (Bangladesh), and graduates are eligible to apply for USMLE, PLAB/UKMLA, GMC, AMC, and ECFMG certifications.
Is it BDS or DDS?
The Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) obtained by international students from Chinese institutions is equivalent to the Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS). Both BDS and DDS have the same five-year course duration. International students with BDS degrees might pursue various paths to practice dentistry in Canada and the United States.
The UK and other countries that copy the UK system of education use the term BDS. In Canada and other American countries, they call their degree DDS.
BDS in China Degree Duration:
The BDS in China (English taught) is a five-year bachelor’s degree program that includes four years of dental Study and a fifth year of internship at the university’s affiliated hospital. In certain universities in China, the BDS program has a duration of six years.
The Dentistry program in China usually requires passing a final graduation exam and HSK-4 (Chinese proficiency test) to obtain the Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) degree.
Dentistry/BDS in China Cost 2025-2026:
There are two categories of dentistry schools in China that provide the Dentistry/BDS programs.
BDS (English Medium) Fees:
An English-taught dentistry program (BDS) typically costs between 34,800 RMB ($4850) and 45,000 RMB ($6250) per year, including tuition and accommodation.
BDS (Chinese Medium) Fees:
Some Chinese universities provide BDS programs in Chinese or Bilingual Medium at a low cost of 25,000 RMB ($3500) per year. If students decide to enroll in the Chinese-taught BDS program, they must complete the HSK5 (Chinese Proficiency exam) before receiving their Bachelor of Dental Surgery degree in Chinese.
!! Beware, Please:
Some universities provide BDS in Chinese and are not authorized to write English-medium BDS programs on their acceptance letters; verify your admission letter before traveling to China. Always choose a Dentistry School that is accredited by the Ministry of Education (MOE CHINA) and that offers instruction in English to prevent any complications.
BDS in China for Pakistani Students:
Pakistani Students are eligible to pursue the Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) at medical universities in China listed in the WHO or WDOMS directory. According to PM&DC rules and regulations, the minimum degree duration for the BDS program is 5 years.
The annual cost of the English-taught Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) program for Pakistani students ranged from 14 to 16 lakh PKR per year, which included the tuition and hostel fee for the whole academic year (2 semesters). This cost does not include food and travel expenses.
PM&DC Recognition:
According to the PM&DC rules, Pakistani students having 60% marks in FSC (Pre-medical) and 50% marks in MDCAT Result are eligible to apply for BDS in China. However, Pakistani students are eligible to register for the BDS program in China, even if they have not passed the MDCAT exam.
List of Universities Offering BDS/Dentistry in China in English 2025-2026:
Here are details about some of the top Chinese colleges for international students offering a Dentistry/BDS Program in English. Ningxia Medical University, Zhengzhou University, and Wenzhou Medical University are among the best Dentistry Schools in China, having accepted international students for many years.
The annual cost of studying dentistry/BDS in English teaching ranges from $4850 to $6000, which includes tuition and lodging. International students can pay the tuition fee directly to the university account in RMB/USD yearly. The cost of food is nearly 800-1000 RMB per month, which is very affordable for international students pursuing a dentistry program (BDS) in China.
BDS Universities in China | Tuition Fee (Per Year) | Teaching Medium |
---|---|---|
Zhengzhou University | 35,000 RMB ($5000) | English Medium |
Ningxia Medical University | 29,800 RMB ($4200) | English Medium |
Wenzhou Medical University | 33,000 RMB ($4600) | English Medium |
Dalian Medical University | 45,000 RMB ($6400) | English Medium |
Fujian Medical University | 30,000 RMB ($4200) | English Medium |
XuZhou Medical University | 28,000 RMB ($4000) | English Medium |
Jiangsu University | 34,000 RMB ($4720) | English Medium |
Sichuan University | 36,000 RMB ($4600) | English Medium |
Southern Medical University | 45,000 RMB ($6400) | English Medium |
Xian Jiaotong University | 50,000 RMB ($7000) | English Medium |
Best BDS University in China:
Ningxia Medical University is the best university for Pakistani and African students, offering a BDS Program in English, which is highly regarded for its dentistry and medical schools, which provide comprehensive clinical training with a focus on innovation and research.
The BDS Program at Ningxia Medical University spans just five years (including an Internship), making it attractive and suitable for Pakistani and foreign students by reducing the duration by one year. Currently, more than 400 International students from 40+ diverse countries are studying at Ningxia Medical University in different programs, such as MBBS, Pharmacy, and Stomatology.
Low-Cost Dentistry/BDS University:
Ningxia Medical University offers a Dentistry (BDS) Program in China at the cheapest cost of 34,800 RMB per year ($4850), which includes tuition and accommodation for the whole academic year (2 Semesters). International students analyzing Dentistry/BDS in China are attracted to Ningxia Medical University by the availability of various scholarships, including the Freshmen Scholarship of 15,000 RMB and the Excellent Senior Student Scholarship of 15,000 RMB annually.
Ningxia Medical University has been accepting foreign students since 2005, and currently, 600+ international students from more than 60 countries are studying in different programs, e.g., MBBS, Pharmacy, and Dental Surgery (BDS).
BDS in China Course Outline:
Scholarships:
Chinese universities are providing multiple performance-based scholarships for the Dentistry (BDS) Program, which will be awarded at the end of each academic year. Scholarship eligibility depends entirely on academic achievement, class attendance, behavior, proficiency in the Chinese language, and participation in curricular and extracurricular activities.
Ningxia Medical University is offering a freshman scholarship and an excellent student scholarship to students studying in the program of BDS in the English medium. 30% of the enrolled students will receive the Freshman Scholarship, a one-time award of 15,000 RMB ($2000).
Admission Requirements for BDS in China:
The following are the admission requirements for foreign students applying to study the Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) in English at universities in China.
- Apply before the deadline of the 10th of October every year.
- Students are required to own a foreign passport that is valid for a minimum of one year.
- Left-handed students are not eligible to apply for the dentistry (BDS) Program in China.
- Applicants must have a minimum of 60% to 70% grades (depending on the selected school) in senior high school/grade 12, WAEC, or GCE A-levels.
- The age limit to apply for a dentistry (BDS) program in China is 16-25 years.
- IELTS or TOEFL is not required for the BDS program in China.
- The student or guardian must submit a bank statement showing a closing available balance of at least $5000.
- The University’s admission office can conduct a brief interview on WeChat or Dingtalk.
Students who meet the specified entry requirements for Dentistry/BDS admission in China may pay a 1000 RMB ($145) application fee and receive an e-acceptance or pre-admission letter after the school evaluates their documentation. Applicants can pay their tuition fee directly to the university’s bank account for the Dentistry/BDS program.
Application Deadline:
Medical universities offering dentistry/BDS in China accept applications twice a year. The September intake starts on April 1 and concludes on October 30. The spring intake commences on November 1 and concludes on March 30.
The processing time for the acceptance letter is typically 7–10 working days, while the entire admission process, which includes the processing of the visa letter (JW202), takes 30 to 40 working days.
BDS in China Description | Details |
---|---|
Recognition | WHO, WDOMS, PM&DC, WFME, ECFMG, HPCSA |
BDS Course Duration | 5 Years |
Application Deadline | 10th October every year |
BDS Admission Criteria | 60% in Senior High School/A Levels/WAEC |
English Proficiency | No Need for IELTS or TOEFL |
BDS in China Age Limit | 16-25 years |
BDS Teaching Medium | English Medium |
BDS in China Application Fee | 1000 RMB ($140) |
Tuition and Accommodation Fees | 35,000 RMB—45,000 RMB/Year |
Food Expenses | 1000 RMB/Month ($140/month) |