Established in 1956, the Dental International Students (DIS) program at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine (TUSDM) provides internationally trained dentists with the education and clinical experience needed to practice dentistry in the United States. International students bring extraordinary perspectives, experiences, and talents that enrich our campus and strengthen our community.

The DIS program spans five semesters (29 months) and combines comprehensive coursework, advanced simulation, and patient-based clinical experience. Innovative courses, such as implantology and geriatric dentistry, prepare graduates to meet the evolving needs of a wide variety of patient populations.

Upon completion, students are awarded the Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.) degree and become eligible for licensure to practice dentistry in the U.S.

108
International DMD students enrolled in 2024-2025 school year
241
Faculty members

Application Timeline and Procedures

Applications are reviewed on a rolling, first-come, first-served basis.

  • Application opens: March 5, 2026
  • Application deadline: May 29, 2026
  • Program start date: January 2027

To ensure timely review, applicants should confirm that all materials, including supporting documents, are received by May 29, 2026. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

All applicants must submit their application through the ADEA Centralized Application for Advanced Placement for International Dentists (CAAPID).

Candidates selected for further consideration will be contacted via email beginning in early June, with interviews continuing a rolling basis through July. Interviews are conducted virtually through Kira Talent. Once the class is filled, additional qualified applicants may be placed on a waitlist.

Accepted applicants to the Dental International Student program who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents must provide proof of financial readiness totaling $220,000 USD.

  • Pre-approved education loans comprise no more than half of the required financial information.
  • The other half will need to be based on individual savings or checking account balances.

Accepted applicants who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents will need to pre-pay their first-year tuition in the early fall by the date specified by the Admissions Office.

Admitted applicants will be required to submit a non-refundable $10,000 deposit to secure their spot.

Admitted applicants who are neither US citizens nor permanent residents will be required to complete all the requirements for international citizens including the initial deposit before an I-20 can be issued.

Application requirements All applicants must apply through ADEA CAAPID and pay a $150 application fee upon receiving confirmation from the Tufts Office of Admissions. Instructions for payment will be emailed once your application is received. Materials required in the CAAPID application:

  • Official academic credentials evaluation (course-by-course) through Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) (note that WES evaluations are not accepted.)
  • Three letters of recommendation in English (see details below)
  • Official TOEFL iBT score (minimum 90; MyBest scores not accepted)
  • INBDE or NBDE Parts I and II score report

A minimum of three letters of recommendation are required and must be submitted directly through CAAPID typed on official letterhead, in English, and signed by the evaluator. Each letter must be at least two paragraphs in length.

Required letters:

  1. From your dental school — a faculty member or dean where you earned your dental degree.
  2. From an employer — ideally in the dental field, with at least one year of experience under their supervision.
  3. From a volunteer organization.

You may upload one additional letter in the Program Materials section of CAAPID.

  • Official dental school transcript and diploma
  • All additional transcripts from any other university or college attended
  • Official ECE evaluation report
  • Official TOEFL iBT score
  • Official INBDE or NBDE report
  • Criminal background check through CERTIPHI
  • Dean's certification of disciplinary history form
  • Completed immunization requirements documentation

Please note application materials will not be returned to applicants.

Applicants must submit an official course-by-course evaluation of all foreign coursework completed through Educational Credential Evaluators, either electronically or by mail, to the Tufts Office of Admissions.

All applicants, regardless of native language or country of citizenship, must submit an official TOEFL iBT score through CAAPID. The minimum score for consideration is 90.

  • MyBest Scores are not accepted
  • TOEFL Home Edition is accepted
  • Scores older than two years (before June 1, 2024) will not be considered

Use the following codes when submitting scores:

  • Institution code: 3902
  • Department code: 38

Following the new TOEFL scoring scale of 1-6, Tufts will accept a minimum of 4.5-5 as long as the overall score equates to 90 and above.

Scores under 90 are NOT ACCEPTED.

Send all official scores to CAAPID at the time of application.

For more information, contact:

TOEFL Educational Testing Service
Box 6151, Princeton, NJ 08541-6151
Tel: 609-771-7100

Take the TOEFL

The Integrated National Board Dental examination or (INBDE) report is preferred; however, Tufts will also accept NBDE parts I and II.

International applicants without U.S. dental experience are strongly encouraged to demonstrate continued engagement in clinical and technical skill development. This can include:

  • Volunteering in clinical settings locally or abroad
  • Working as dental assistants
  • Participating in continuing education or bench preparation courses

These experiences highlight an applicant’s commitment to patient care, professional growth, and readiness to contribute to Tufts’ dynamic clinical learning environment.

All matriculated students must complete required immunizations and maintain health insurance coverage prior to enrollment.

For detailed information, please find more information about Immunizations and Health Insurance Requirements from the Student Advisory and Health Administration Office.

Application opens March 1, 2027

Learn about admissions requirements and prepare your application.

Image
Students from the Dental International Students Program take a group photo in a pop-up dental clinic inside a stadium during the 2026 Tufts Dental Alaska Outreach Mission

FAQs

Thinking about applying to the Dental International Students (DIS) program? Browse answers to some of our most frequently asked questions.

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