The University of Portsmouth has taken a major step towards opening the first dental school in the South-East of England, as government reforms aim to expand access to NHS dental services and urgent care.
The University’s Dental Academy has been granted Dental Authority Status (DAS) by the Department of Health and Social Care, a mandatory requirement for institutions seeking to offer a degree in dentistry. The decision positions Portsmouth to help address severe shortages in NHS dental provision across the city and wider region.
The announcement follows major NHS dentistry reforms unveiled last month, which prioritise patients with urgent and complex needs while increasing access to local appointments. Portsmouth has been identified as a “dental desert” and has the lowest number of NHS dentists per 100,000 people in the region.
The University’s ambition is backed by several MPs, including Amanda Martin, MP for Portsmouth North; Stephen Morgan, MP for Portsmouth South; and Dame Caroline Dinenage, MP for Gosport.
The next step depends on a government decision regarding the number of additional dentistry students to be funded nationwide. Once confirmed, the Office for Students will allocate places through a competitive process. If successful, the University could welcome its first dentistry undergraduates as early as September, potentially making it one of the first new dental schools to open in the UK in two decades.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Graham Galbraith CBE said the approval marked a milestone for both the University and the local community. He said Portsmouth and the South-East urgently need more NHS dentists and that the University is ready to train future professionals in one of the country’s most underserved areas.
The Dental Academy, established in 2005 and upgraded in 2023, features advanced simulation and diagnostic technology, including virtual reality units, intra-oral scanners, CBCT X-ray equipment and CAD/CAM systems.
It currently trains dental nurses, hygienists and therapists, and is actively involved in community outreach, including free dental health services and school-based oral health programmes.
Professor Chris Louca, Director of Dentistry, said the facilities and community links place the University in a strong position to develop into a full dental school. He added that integrated training for dentists and dental therapists would focus on team-based care within primary and community settings.
The University aims to recruit students locally to help retain graduates in the region, with 97 per cent of its dentistry and medicine graduates entering high-skilled employment. It also plans to widen participation and create progression routes for existing dental students to train as dentists.
The dental school would sit within the Faculty of Science and Health, which last year launched the Centre for Integrated Health and Wellbeing and already hosts the UK’s first branch medical degree in partnership with King’s College London.
Stephen Morgan MP said the University’s progress complements national reforms and offers a sustainable solution to local workforce shortages. Amanda Martin MP described the plans as a “game-changer” for Portsmouth, while Dame Caroline Dinenage MP said the next crucial step is the allocation of funded dental school places by government.