UHS extends BDS degree to five years

LAHORE: The University of Health Sciences has increased the duration of the Bachelor of Dental Surgery programme from four years to five years, with the revised structure to take effect from the 2025-26 academic session across all constituent and affiliated public and private dental colleges.

The change will be implemented through the Integrated BDS Curriculum 2K25, which has been approved by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council. The move is intended to bring dental education in Pakistan in line with international practice, where a five-year undergraduate dental degree is widely standard.

Curriculum changes

The updated programme is designed to produce graduates who are more competitive internationally by introducing competency-based education, early clinical exposure, simulation-based training, community dentistry, research and continuous assessment.

Graduates of Pakistan’s earlier four-year BDS programme had often encountered problems in getting their degrees recognised, obtaining admission to postgraduate programmes and qualifying in licensing examinations in countries including the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and a number of European and Gulf states. Those difficulties were linked to differences in programme length and clinical training requirements.

With the five-year structure, the university expects stronger international recognition for Pakistani dental graduates, wider access to employment opportunities abroad and postgraduate education, and better preparation for global licensing routes.

Support proposed for existing graduates

To address concerns related to those who completed the older four-year degree, UHS has proposed an evidence-based bridging programme, subject to approval by the PM&DC. The proposed route would allow eligible graduates to gain equivalence with the new five-year curriculum through additional academic coursework, advanced clinical training, research exposure and competency assessment.

The university has also recommended expanding internship opportunities, issuing competency-based transcripts and strengthening postgraduate training in an effort to improve the career prospects of existing BDS graduates.

UHS Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Ahsan Waheed Rathore described the shift as a structural change in dental training. “This is not merely the addition of one academic year. It is the fundamental transformation of dental education in Pakistan. Our objective is to produce graduates who can compete confidently anywhere in the world on the strength of their knowledge, clinical competence and professional skills.”