School of Dental Medicine

Dental International Student (DIS) Program Application

The Dental International Student (DIS) Program at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine began in 1956 to provide foreign-trained dentists with the education and experience required to practice dentistry in America. The program comprises five semesters (29 months) of coursework and clinical experience, including innovative courses in implantology and geriatric dentistry. Upon completion of the program, students receive a D.M.D. degree and are eligible for licensure to practice dentistry in the United States of America.

Application Procedures and Criteria

The deadline for the program beginning in January 2026 is June 2, 2025. All candidates for the program beginning in January 2026 should submit an application through the Centralized Application for Advanced Placement for International Dentists (CAAPID) which is run by ADEA. The application cycle opens in March 2025.

Applications are reviewed on a first come first-served basis. As completed applications are reviewed first, it is strongly suggested that applicants complete the CAAPID application as early as possible as the program typically fills by August. Invited candidates will be required to participate in a virtual interview on Kira Talent and will be notified in writing (via email) beginning in May until the class fills, typically by August. Once the class is filled, applications are reviewed for wait-list consideration.

Applicants selected for admission will be required to submit an initial non-refundable deposit of $10,000 to hold a place. Non-U.S. citizens and permanent residents who are accepted into the program will be required to pay the first-year tuition and submit proof of funds for $220,000 in an accelerated timeline specified by the admission office. If you are unable to meet the deadline, please notify the admissions office immediately.

Citizenship Update

We have expanded our residency requirements enabling anyone to apply regardless of their citizenship status. If you are not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and eligible for a student Visa you can now apply to the program. 

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.

Application Requirements

All applicants must apply through CAAPID and submit items directly to TUSDM. Please note that if you are accepted into the class you will be required to submit official copies of these documents to the office of admissions.

Submit $150 application fee (information on how to pay the application fee will be sent via email once your application is received by the admissions office).

Items required in the CAAPID application

Personal statement

A personal statement should highlight your motivation for enrolling in a D.M.D. program in the United States of America and the experiences and accomplishments that make you qualified for the program

  • Unofficial academic credentials evaluation for any foreign coursework completed as reported by ECE (Education Credential Evaluators)
  • Three letters of recommendation in English (Please see below for details)
  • An official TOEFL Score with a minimum passing score of 90 (required of ALL applicants). Please note that My Best Scores are not accepted as a passing score. 
  • Integrated National Board Dental Exam report (INBDE).

Letters of Recommendation

A minimum of three letters of recommendation are required and should be submitted directly to CAAPID. The letters of recommendation 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 from another entity where you earned dental experience.

*All letters of recommendation 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. Please be advised that any additional letters of recommendation beyond that should be emailed to denadmissionsdis@tufts.edu in PDF format and must be sent directly from the sender or institution's official email address, without exception. Please limit sending more than two additional letters of recommendation to the office.

Items to send directly to TUSDM (if accepted):

  • Official transcripts from your dental school including your diploma and any additional transcripts from any  post-secondary institutions attended. 
  • Official ECE report. 
  • Official score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL IBT).
  • Official Integrated National Board Dental Examination report (INBDE).

Academic Credentials Evaluation

Applicants must submit an official course-by-course academic credentials evaluation by Educational Credential Evaluators (www.ece.org) to the Office of admissions either electronically or by mail.

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

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 including the 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. The test is given in most countries and registration materials can be obtained from many U.S. Consulates, USLS Centers, and universities. 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.

For more information regarding the TOEFL contact: TOEFL Educational Testing Services, Box 6151, Princeton, NJ 08541-6151, or telephone 609-771-7100. You may also visit the website Integrated National Board Dental Examination

The Integrated National Board Dental Examination (INBDE) will be accepted in place of NBDE Part I and Part II for the March 2025 cycle.  

Note: Tufts does not return application documents (transcripts, scores, letters of recommendation, etc.) to the applicant regardless of application status.

Immunization and Health Insurance Requirements

The School of Dental Medicine requires all students to complete the required immunizations before matriculation, and matriculated students must have health insurance. Please visit the Immunizations and Health Insurance Requirements page for a complete list of requirements from the Student Advisory and Health Administration Office.