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Can I pursue a Master's degree in dental public health or craniofacial science in Canada with just a four-year bachelor's degree?

24 Sept 2026 · Answered by Vishnu priyanga · 2 min read
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It depends on your specific degree. A 4 year BDS opens direct access to most Canadian dental public health and craniofacial science master's, while a 4 year BSc in a related science can still qualify you for programmes like McGill's MSc Dental Sciences degree.

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It depends on exactly what your four year bachelor's degree is in. Some Canadian master's in this area require a dental degree specifically, while others accept a broader science background.

Canadian Programme Requirements by Your Degree Type

ProgrammeAccepts BDSAccepts a 4 Year BSc
University of Toronto MSc Dental Public HealthYes, requires a DDS or equivalent dental degree with at least B+ in the final yearNot for this specific specialty
McGill MSc Dental Sciences, non-thesisYesYes, if your BSc is in health sciences or a related field
UBC MSc Craniofacial ScienceYesYes, if related to dentistry, around a B+ or 76 percent average
University of Toronto MSc Dental Biomedical SciencesYesYes, a four year undergraduate science degree is explicitly accepted

What Else Affects Your Eligibility

  • Grade threshold: Most programmes expect around a B+ average or roughly 76 percent in your final year.
  • English requirement: Some Canadian schools, including University of Toronto's public health faculty, may still require English proficiency proof even if your degree was taught in English.
  • Program type: Decide whether you want a thesis based research master's or a coursework focused non-thesis master's before shortlisting.

My Advice

If your four year degree is a BDS, apply broadly across dental public health and craniofacial science programmes, since your background is directly relevant. If it is a BSc, focus first on McGill's non-thesis MSc Dental Sciences and UBC's MSc Craniofacial Science, since both explicitly state acceptance criteria for a related science bachelor's rather than requiring a dental degree.

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