Tufts Direct Application

The Office of Admissions processes the applications and facilitates the adherence to administrative policies designed to ensure equity in the treatment of all applicants. The respective department will only review applications when they are complete. In addition, interviews are only granted to individuals whose applications have been reviewed by postgraduate faculty.

Programs and Deadlines

All programs will begin in July of the academic year you are applying for, with the exception of the Advanced Dental Technology and Research program that begins in July and January. Most departments conduct rolling admissions; it is therefore strongly advised to submit your application as early as possible. Applications need to be completed by the deadline and late applications will be returned unprocessed without exception.

Individuals applying to the following programs must submit a Tufts Direct application:

NameApplication Deadline
Advanced Dental Technology and Research ProgramOctober 1, 2024
Advanced Education in Esthetic Dentistry Fellowship ProgramFebruary 3, 2025
Dental Education Learning and Teaching Academy (D.E.L.T.A.) FellowshipMarch 1, 2025
Doctor of Science in Dental Research/DentistryMarch 1, 2025
Master of Science in Dental ResearchMarch 1, 2025

Individuals applying to the Advanced Education in Esthetic and Operative Dentistry, Advanced Education in General Dentistry, Endodontics, General Practice Residency, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery program, Orthodontics, Oral Medicine or Orofacial Pain, Pediatric Dentistry, Periodontology or Prosthodontics must complete the PASS application. Those applying to the Implant Dentistry may utilize either PASS or the Tufts Direct Application.

Please be aware that applicants can submit no more than three applications during one application cycle. If an applicant submits materials for more than three programs, only the first three applications received will be processed. Any additional applications will be not be processed.

Additional Documents (U.S. Trained Dentists)

Please do not complete the Tufts Direct application in addition to the PASS application. Individuals utilizing the Tufts Direct application must submit the following information directly to the Office of Admissions by the program deadline (Do not send materials directly to the department):

  • A $125 fee (which must be paid through an online portal. Instructions will be sent in the email confirming receipt of the application.) No other method of payment will be accepted.
  • A copy of your curriculum vitae that includes a list of academic honors, military service with dates (if applicable), membership in dental societies, extracurricular activities while in dental school (including continuing education courses), and any additional activities (including continuing education courses) since completing dental school (if applicable)
  • A personal statement. Please address the aspect(s) of the selected postdoctoral program that interest(s) you and your plans after completion of the program
  • Three letters of recommendation (in English) from the following individuals: the dean of your dental school, a department chairperson or faculty member, and an additional reference of your choice.  The identified individual must hold (or have held) the title associated with his/her name. Have the letters of reference returned to you in sealed and signed envelopes and forward them with your application;
  • Official transcripts from all post-secondary education completed prior to enrolling in dental school. If the university awarded you a degree, the degree conferral must be included on the transcript;
  • An official dental school transcript. If you have completed your degree, the degree conferral must be included on the transcript. If your university does not post your degree on the transcript, you must submit an official letter from the Registrar’s Office at your dental school that verifies completion of the DMD or DDS degree. If applying to the Advanced Dental Technology program you are not required to have a DMD, DDS or BDS degree. 
  • NBD Exam Results:
    • If you have graduated from your dental program Part I and II results must be submitted at the time of application.
    • Students who are still completing their dental education are required to submit NBD Part I results at the time of application and NBD Part II results prior to matriculation.

*Note that it can take four weeks once requested for the score results to be sent to our office.

You must also list your results, and the date you took the examination(s), in the designated section of the application form. Please visit https://www.ada.org/en/jcnde/examinations to obtain a score report request form.

Additional Documents (Internationally Trained Dentists)

  •  A $125 fee (which must be paid through an online portal. Instructions will be sent in the email confirming receipt of the application.) No other method of payment will be accepted.
  • A copy of your curriculum vitae that includes a list of academic  honors, military service with dates (if applicable), membership in dental societies, extracurricular activities while in dental school (including continuing education courses), and any additional activities (including continuing education courses) since completing dental school (if applicable);
  • A personal statement. Please address the aspect(s) of the selected postdoctoral program that interest(s) you and your plans after completion of the program;
  • Three letters of recommendation (in English) from the following individuals: the dean of your dental school, a department chairperson or faculty member, and an additional reference of your choice. The identified individual must hold (or have held) the title associated with his/her name.  Have the letters of reference returned to you in sealed and signed envelopes and forward them with your application;
  • Official transcripts from all post-secondary education completed prior to enrolling in dental school. If the university awarded you a degree, the degree conferral must be included on the transcript;
  • An official dental school transcript. If you have completed your degree, the degree conferral must be included on the transcript. If your university does not post your degree on the transcript, you must submit an official letter from the Registrar’s Office at your dental school that verifies completion of the DMD or DDS degree. Official dental school transcripts must be submitted directly to the program (unless supplied through the WES evaluation). If applying to the Advanced Dental Technology program, you are not required to have a DMD, DDS or BDS degree.
  • Submit an official report of an academic credentials evaluation (a course-by-course evaluation is required showing the degree earned). Suggested providers of credentials evaluation are Educational Credential Evaluators – www.ece.org, and World Education Services – www.wes.org
  • Provide documentation that you have adequate assurance of receiving sufficient funds to meet the required expenses of life at the university for the expected period of stay, or an agreed part of it, including the cost of transportation home
  • If you are a foreign applicant, you must demonstrate adequate command of the English language in reading, writing, speaking, and listening comprehension. Evidence of proficiency in the English language can be demonstrated by:
    • Completion of the dental degree at a university in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, or the United Kingdom
    • Minimum overall score of 90 or above achieved on the internet-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
    • Minimum test scores of 7.0 achieved on the Academic format of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

**A TOEFL or IELTS score more than 2 years old on the date of the application deadline will no longer be valid. The requirement is mandatory, and any decisions made by the postgraduate department or Admissions Office may be rescinded if the required documentation is not provided by the requested date. 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.

For more information regarding the TOEFL contact:
TOEFL Educational Testing Services
Box 6151, Princeton
NJ 08541-6151

Or telephone 609-771-7760. You may also visit the website at http://www.ets.org.

For information on the IELTS please visit their website http://www.ielts.org/.

Fees and Consumer Information

Visit the Cost for Postgraduate Programs page to find cost of attendance by program.

  • If you are interested in pursuing a Master of Science degree in conjunction with a specialty program, you must submit a letter stating your intent directly to our office.  In 300-500 words an applicant should describe their research experience, the reason they want to pursue the Master of Science in Dental Research and ideas for a research topic.

    The Office of Admissions at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine reserves the right to request additional information at any time to complete an assessment of a candidate’s abilities and capabilities.

  • 2017-18 Schedule of Fees

    The fee schedule below shows the actual costs for the 2017-2018 academic year. Tuition and fees are revised yearly. Figures for the 2018-2019 year will be released in late May 2018. Please anticipate a 5% increase in billed costs per academic year. Instrument and central sterilization costs vary by department or specialty. Accepted students can determine actual costs by consulting the office of the program director or department chair.

    Fees for the Certificate Program – 2017-2018 Academic Year

    • Tuition – $71,608
    • Student health insurance – $4,836
    • Health administration fee – $240

    Applicants must meet the standards of health established by the university. For protection against hazards of illness or injury, and to comply with Massachusetts state law, the student must enroll in the university’s health insurance plan. Waiver of this requirement is possible if the student can demonstrate that comparable insurance coverage has been secured

    Consumer Information for Students and Applicants

    Download information on the cost of attendance and other important information for:

    Click here, for more information on the cost of education and financial aid programs.

  • Immunization & Health Insurance Requirements

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

    Criminal Background Check & Disciplinary History Requirements

    All students accepted to Tufts University School of Dental Medicine will be required to submit a completed Dean’s Certification of Disciplinary History form and have a criminal background check completed. More information regarding both processes will be sent to accepted applicants at the time of admission. All offers of admission are contingent upon the Admissions Committee’s favorable review of these items.

    Licensure

    All incoming post-graduate students (with the exception of those matriculating into the Advanced Dental Technician, Dental Education Learning and Teaching Academy Fellowship or Master of Science in Dental Research only programs) are required to obtain a Massachusetts Dental License or Limited-License.  Internationally trained students will also need to obtain a social security number prior to applying for the Limited-License.  Information about licensure can be found at the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Dentistry

  • Tufts does not discriminate in its educational programs or activities on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, age, religion or religious creed, disability or handicap, sex or gender (including pregnancy, sexual harassment and other sexual misconduct including acts of sexual violence such as rape, sexual assault, sexual exploitation and coercion), gender identity and/or expression (including a transgender identity), sexual orientation, military or veteran status,  genetic information,  or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state or local law.  Retaliation is also prohibited. Tufts will comply with state and federal laws such as M.G.L. c. 151B, Title IX, Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and other similar laws that prohibit discrimination.  More detailed Tufts policies and procedures on this topic may be found in the OEO Policies and Procedures page.

    Unlawful discrimination has no place at Tufts University and offends the University’s core values which include a commitment to equal opportunity and inclusion. All Tufts employees, faculty members, students and community members are expected to join with and uphold this commitment.

    Any member of the Tufts University community has the right to raise concerns or make a complaint regarding discrimination under this policy without fear of retaliation. Any and all inquiries regarding the application of this statement and related policies may be referred to: Jill Zellmer, MSW, Director of the Office of Equal Opportunity, Title IX and 504 Coordinator, at 617.627.3298 at 196 Boston Avenue, 3rd floor, Medford, MA or at jill.zellmer@tufts.edu. Anonymous complaints may also be made by reporting online at: http://tufts-oeo.ethicspoint.com/  As set forth in our policies, individuals may also file complaints with administrative agencies such as the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (“OCR”). The contact information for the local office of OCR is 617.289.0111 at Office for Civil Rights, Boston Office U.S. Department of Education, 8th Floor, 5 Post Office Square, Boston, MA 02109-3921. The email address for OCR is ocr.boston@ed.gov.

    Please note that we also have a separate Non-Discrimination Policy.