Orthodontics (Master of Clinical Dentistry (MClD))

Frequently asked questions

• How much does Orthodontics (Master of Clinical Dentistry (MClD)) cost?

  CAD 66,920 / year.

• What English score does it need?

  IELTS 7.5 overall is the score listed for this programme.

• How long is it?

  9 terms, as listed by the university.

• What are the entry requirements?

  Programme admission requirements as published by Western: • Applicants must hold a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree (or their equivalent). • Graduates of non-accredited post-secondary institutions are required to complete the Advanced Dental Admission Test (ADAT). Official ADAT results must be sent directly from the American Dental Association (ADA) to Western University. Results are valid for a period of three (3) years. • Graduates of non-accredited post-secondary institutions but with a MSc or PhD (or their equivalent) in a dentally related field from an accredited post-secondary institution are not required to complete the ADAT. Please note: Admission to this program is highly competitive. We encourage all applicants to review the instructions carefully prior to commencing the application and to ensure their application is complete and submitted by the deadline. • A statement of interest (250-500 words). • Unofficial transcripts from all post-secondary institutions are required at the time of application. One official or certified copy will be required upon acceptance of an admissions offer. If available, a letter from the Dean or their designate indicating your dental school class rank. • Curriculum vitae (maximum two pages). • Three (3) letters of reference. A minimum of one (1) from a university faculty member who is familiar with your previous academic work. • At least one year of clinical experience in general or specialty dental practice or dental residency (GPR, AEGD, dental specialty program) is required. • A strong academic record is required, with a minimum “B” (75%) average or equivalent during dental school. Equivalent work or research experience may be considered on a case-by-case basis. Applicants must demonstrate the potential for success in graduate-level studies through their undergraduate performance. For applicants who completed a DDS or DMD program (or their equivalent), where official transcripts reflect only pass/fail grades, please include a letter from the Dean or their designate providing your individual course grades or cumulative grade point averages for each year of study, as well as a letter indicating your dental school class rank. Preferred Acceptance Criteria: • Strong academic record • Letters of recommendation • Clinical experience • Professional experience • Research experience • Volunteer experience • Extracurricular activities || SGPS university-wide minimum - Master's: 'Applicants must possess a four-year degree from a university, college or institute. The School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies requires at least a 70% average across courses taken in the last two full-time years of the undergraduate degree. Equivalent qualifications may be considered based on the standards of the discipline or profession.' Doctoral: 'Applicants must possess a Master's degree or equivalent from a university, college or institute, and provide evidence of research potential. The School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies requires at least a 70% average in the Master's degree, as determined by the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.' Source: https://grad.uwo.ca/admissions/international/index.html || English language proficiency: Applicants whose dentistry degree was completed in a country or institution where English is not the primary language of instruction are required to provide official documentation demonstrating that they meet or exceed one of the approved English Language Proficiency (ELP) requirements. We recognize that applicants come from diverse linguistic and educational backgrounds, and alternative forms of ELP documentation may be considered on a case-by-case basis. • The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Minimum acceptable score is 4.5, with no individual score below 4. [Western's TOEFL ID is 8956]. • The International English Language Testing Service (IELTS Academic). The minimum acceptable score is 7.5 out of 9 with no individual score falling below 6. • The Duolingo English Test. The minimum acceptable score is 135. Applicants whose dentistry degree was completed in a country or institution where English is not the primary language but who completed a graduate degree (MSc or PhD, or their equivalent) from a country or institution where English is the primary language of instruction are not required to complete the ELP requirement. · English: IELTS 7.5 (no band below 6.0); Duolingo English Test 135 · English test waiver: Western does not publish a blanket country or medium-of-instruction waiver for graduate admission. SGPS states the requirement applies to 'Applicants whose first language is not English', and under 'Exemptions': 'Applicants may request an exemption by contacting their graduate program(s) of interest. For the French and Hispanic Studies programs only, evidence of proficiency in English is a degree requirement but not a requirement for admission.' Western also offers a conditional route instead of a test: the Western English Language Centre 'allows academically eligible students interested in pursuing a graduate degree at Western the opportunity to receive a conditional offer of admission to graduate studies without successful completion of an English language proficiency test', on condition the student completes the Centre's programme. Source: https://grad.uwo.ca/admissions/apply.html and https://grad.uwo.ca/admissions/international/index.html · Application fee: CAD 350.00 - 2026-2027 Application Fees Table 3, Graduate Programs: 'Orthodontics 350'. Source: 2026-2027 Application Fees (Table 3), https://registrar.uwo.ca/student_finances/fees_refunds/2026-27-Application-Fees.pdf · Deposit: CAD 2,000.00 non-refundable - 2026-2027 Program-Related Tuition Fees (Table 2), General section, line 226 'Tuition Deposit, Full-time International Masters, non-refundable, 2,000'. Source: https://registrar.uwo.ca/student_finances/fees_refunds/2026-27-Program-Related-Fees2.pdf

• Is there a scholarship?

  Western Graduate Research Scholarship (WGRS), Graduate Teaching Assistantships, Graduate Fellowships and Graduate Student Assistantships are administered by the graduate programme; SGPS states 'Decisions regarding the structure, sources and annual amount of your graduate funding over the course of your program are made primarily at the Faculty and/or graduate program.' Doctoral funding guarantee, open to international students: 'For domestic and international doctoral students who start their program in September 2026 (September 1, 2026 - August 31, 2027), Western guarantees a minimum annual funding support package of $17,000, plus $6,487 for tuition, for a total of $23,487.' Average funding received from all sources: Doctoral CAD 35,476 (2025), Master's CAD 26,277 (2025). International students are eligible for Western's Graduate Bursary and for the Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS). Western lists formalised international sponsorship partnerships with: CGS-Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplements, China Scholarship Council, Libya North-American Scholarship Program, Egypt Cultural and Educational Bureau, Mitacs Globalink Research Awards, Organization of American States Program, Rhodes Scholarships, Russia Global Education Program, Saudi Arabia King Abdullah Scholarship Program and the Vietnam International Education Development Program. Source View scholarship page

• Is it accredited?

  Dentistry: Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada (CDAC). CDAC's own site states that graduates of programmes holding one of its accreditation statuses are recognized for registration and licensure with the provincial regulatory authority. CDAC also states on its Find a Program page that the list was last updated in December 2023 and is refreshed each December, so a very recent change may not be reflected.