The best countries to pursue dentistry for free or for under US$215,000

As exciting as going to university may be, it can be expensive — more so for those studying medicine and dentistry.   

Take the US, for example — the cost of dental school ranges from USD$67,000 to USD$135,600 a year, especially if you wish to enrol in top institutes. 

You may find yourself wondering if the cheapest countries to study dentistry offer the same excellence, and why dentistry as a whole is such an expensive practice.

Let’s take a look.

Is dental school worth up to US$300,000 of student debt?

If you’ve visited the dentist before, chances are that you’ve had firsthand experience of receiving a hefty bill even for the most basic of services.

“Screw going to the dentist,” you may have thought. “I’ll just become one myself — it can’t be that hard, right?”

You then look up dental schools out of curiosity, only for your jaw to drop as you realise the staggering costs. Chances are you’ll only be able to afford an education if you take out a private loan, or look into the cheapest countries to study dentistry.

But the costs are high for a number of reasons:

Dental equipment is costly to purchase and maintain, which contributes to higher operational costs for dental clinics. Source; AFP

Training is costly

Like all other medical degrees, training someone to save lives takes up a lot of resources. It requires very specific and costly training.

Not only do universities have to pay for highly skilled professors, but they also have to invest in state-of-the-art facilities, simulation centres, and clinical science buildings. Dental students work with modern equipment such as lasers, computer-assisted design and computer-assisted manufacturing (CADCAM).

It’s also important to ensure that students receive training for the most advanced treatments and techniques available, as the dental field moves rapidly.

Dental schools have their own clinics

If you pursue a medical or healthcare degree, chances are you’ll do your training and practicals in a partner or teaching hospital if the university doesn’t already have one of its own.

However, most dental schools don’t have that luxury, and instead have to build in-house clinics of their own.

“Rather than relying on separate university-owned or affiliated hospitals as medical schools do, each dental school has its own large clinic dedicated to the clinical education of predoctoral students,” reads a report by the US National Library of Medicine. “The operation of these clinics subjects dental schools to financial requirements ranging from new government regulations to major technological innovations.”

Decreased funding

Dental schools mainly rely on funding from three sources — tuition, patient care revenue, and government support.

However, from 2004 to 2012, state and local government support for dental schools decreased by 17%, leading to a dramatic increase in tuition fees to make up for the difference.

According to the same report by the University of California San Francisco School of Dentistry, tuition has increased to a staggering percentage of the operating budget of dental schools in the past decade, reaching nearly 70% in some cases.

But in reality, there are cheaper dental schools you can attend to get a good degree. You just have to choose the right country.

An affordable dentistry degree and hone your language skills. Source: AFP

The cheapest countries to study dentistry — and a different language

1. Brazil

Home to the lungs of the Earth, the most vibrant carnival in the world, and some of the most welcoming people worldwide, Brazil is a great choice to make as your study abroad destination.

Pursue dentistry at the University of São Paulo, ranked #92 globally and first across South America, Latin America and the Caribbean. As a public university, most of its undergraduate programmes — including dentistry — are free of charge.

Dentistry here is ranked #13 globally according to QS Subject Rankings. There are also three postgraduate programmes offered at both Master’s Degree (MSc) and/or Doctoral Degree (PhD) levels that provide training in multiple areas of research.

Some courses are offered in English for international students, so make sure to check carefully before applying.

You’d be surprised to find that Japan is one of the cheapest countries to study dentistry. The catch is just that you’ll have to learn Japanese. Source: AFP

2. Japan

Another place to consider earning your degree in dentistry is in the land of the rising sun.

Similar to Brazil, you’ll most likely need to be proficient in the local language — Japanese — which might take a little more effort. However, it’ll be all worth it if you can attend one of the world’s best dentistry universities at a cheap price and walk away with fluency in a new language too. 

The Institute of Science Tokyo was established in late 2024, following the merger between Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU) and Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo Tech). It aims to “advance science and human wellbeing to create value for and with society,” and its School of Dentistry aims to do exactly that.

One undergraduate year starts from US$4,320, plus an admission fee of US$1,895 and examination fees from US$202.

Here are some tips on how to pass the JLPT from two people who did it, with one passing his N1 on the first try.

You don’t always have to pick the most expensive cities to study in. Nijmegen in the Netherlands has its own charm too. Source: AFP

3. The Netherlands

Dentistry programmes in the Netherlands are often conducted in Dutch.

Still, seeing as dentists have a starting salary of at least US$3,339 and can earn up to US$13,357 in just three years, this might turn out to be a really good long-term investment. Plus, by the time you finish your programme, you’re well on your way to permanent residency status.

Located in Nijmegen, Radboud University is a public university offering a three-year bachelor’s and a three-year master’s in dentistry taught entirely in Dutch. Tuition fees start from US$24,885 for EEA students, going up to US$31,751 for non-EEA students.

The cheapest countries to study dentistry in English that aren’t the US or the UK

1. Lithuania

If you aren’t too keen on having to pick up a new language, plenty of options still remain. Lithuania, for one, is an inexpensive country to consider pursuing your academic interests as the cost of living is cheaper than in 46% of countries in Eastern Europe.

The Lithuanian University of Health Sciences has a four-year BSc in health sciences and a qualification of a dental hygienist that is conducted in English. Tuition fees for this programme only cost up to around US$4,471 a year.

The university also offers a master’s degree in odontology to educate dentists in diagnosing and treating dental conditions and cooperating with other healthcare specialists.

The English-taught programme runs for five years — it costs US$14,802 annually for the first three years, and the remaining years cost US$15,346 each.

Malaysia is a melting pot of culture, and the country’s inexpensive cost of living makes it a great place to pursue your studies abroad. Source: AFP

2. Malaysia

For English speakers who want somewhere with a lower cost of living for their studies, Malaysia is the place to be. With tropical weather all year round and cheap, delicious local food from every culture, it’s hard to beat what this country offers.

On average, the cost of living here is 54% lower than in the US — rent is even 80% lower on average when compared to the US too.

The IMU University’s Bachelor of Dental Surgery has two tracks — completing the entire five-year degree at IMU or spending two and a half years there and then transferring to a partner university in the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand for the remaining courses.

International students can be expected to pay US$3,451 a semester, with additional fees depending on which partner university you choose to go. Check out the full list of fees here.

Great food, pristine beaches, a rich history and culture, along with it being one of the cheapest countries to study dentistry. Source: AFP

3. Puerto Rico 

Though not a common choice, Puerto Rico has a hidden gem of a university of aspiring dentists.

The University of Puerto Rico School of Dental Medicine, located within the Medical Sciences Campus in San Juan, is the only dental school in the country.

Accredited by the American Dental Association, the university offers a four-year Doctor of Dental Medicine for roughly US$213,069. The programme is carried out in English, so you won’t have to worry about an additional year’s expense to pick up Spanish, though it wouldn’t hurt to learn it for yourself anyway.

For professionals, the university offers a two-year Advanced Placement Programme for internationally trained dentists, and upon completion, they will earn a Doctor of Dental Medicine degree.

Disclaimer: This article was last updated on March 17, 2025.