THE VARYING COSTS OF UNDERGRADUATE DENTAL TRAINING IN EUROPE

Abstract

Aim: To investigate the cost of tuition fees for undergraduate dental students in European countries.

Methods: In January 2017, a mixture of questionnaires and informal discussions with European qualified dentists was used to collect information. The questionnaire was distributed during a training session for European dentists who had recently migrated to the United Kingdom to work. The informal discussions were with members of the Executive Board of the EADPH during which the same questions as those in the questionnaire were asked. Dental school websites were also visited to confirm data from other sources and to gather further data.

Results: Data on tuition fees for dental undergraduates were gathered from 22 European Countries. In six there were no fees. In countries where fees were charged the amount usually varied from dental school to dental school. In eight countries the average annual tuition fee was less than €1000. In seven it was between €1000 and €5000 per year. In the remaining one, England it was €10,800. In a number of countries where fees were charged, a proportion of students who had the highest academic grades on entry did not pay fees as long as their annual examination results kept them in the top 25 - 40%. Some dental schools charged lower fees to students whose parents had a low annual income. In others, free travel passes and other benefits were given to dental students. In a number of countries there are private dental schools, where the fees are not subsidised by the State. Annual fees at these schools were far higher; as much as €50,000 at one.

Conclusions: The methodology for this survey can be criticised on the grounds that three methods were employed to gather data. However, within this constraint it has demonstrated a wide variation within Europe which begs further investigation.