Tufts University School of Dental Medicine

Applicants that are US citizens, US permanent residents or eligible for a student visa to be considered for acceptance into the program.  Applicants must submit proof of current citizenship status if they are invited for an interview.

Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE)

Applicants should upload scans of official transcripts, and diplomas if applicable, with their CAAPID application.  Accepted applicants will be required to submit official transcripts along with a notarized and translated copy of the diploma to the Office of Admissions.  

A minimum of three letters of recommendation are required and should be submitted directly to CAAPID. The letters must be written in English on official letterhead and contain their signature and contact information. Please be advised that all submitted letters of recommendation are subject to verification from the Office of Admissions.

Required Letters:

• One letter from your dental school where you earned your dental degree from a professor or Dean. If you cannot obtain either one of these letters you may submit a letter from a professor where you recently earned a master’s degree.
• Second letter from an employer where you have worked for at least one year preferably in the dental field.
• The third letter from a volunteer organization or another entity where you earned dental experience.

*All letters must be at least two paragraphs in length.

A maximum of one additional letter of recommendation may be uploaded separately in the Program Materials section of the CAAPID application.

All applicants are required to submit an official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score through the CAAPID application. Additionally, please upload the full TOEFL report into the Program Documents section in your application. The minimum score for consideration is 90 on the internet-based exam, please note that My Best scores are not accepted as a passing score. We will accept the TOEFL iBT Home-Edition.

All applicants--regardless of native language, country of citizenship -are required to take the TOEFL to be considered for the Dental International Student program. No exceptions are made to this requirement. To have your scores sent to Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, use institution code 3902 and department code 38 on the TOEFL registration form.

TOEFL exams taken more than two years before the application deadline are not valid. Exams must have been completed after  June 1, 2023.

To be considered for admission to the Program requires a passing score of the Integrated National Board Dental Examination (INBDE). Submit official INBDE scores to CAAPID. If not submitted with the CAAPID application, an official report must be sent to denadmissionsdis@tufts.edu. 

• Please note that NBDE Parts I and II are no longer accepted.

Dental Experience

International applicants who do not have dental experience in the U.S. and are considering an application to Tufts Dental School need to demonstrate an ongoing commitment to maintaining clinical hand skills. Applicants often engage in various hands-on activities to retain and enhance their proficiency, such as volunteering in clinical settings within their home countries, working as dental assistants or participating in dental workshops and continuing education courses. Others attend bench preparation courses specifically designed for International Dentists, where they can refine essential techniques in restorative and operative dentistry. By actively seeking opportunities to apply their skills, International applicants showcase both their dedication to patient care and readiness to contribute positively to the clinical environment at Tufts.