ORE Preparation Programme

Ready to work as a dentist in the UK?

The ORE is the exam that many overseas-qualified dentists must pass to register with the General Dental Council (GDC). Our programme helps you study in a clear order, practise the skills you will be tested on, and go into the exam with confidence.

How the programme works

Three partners deliver the programme together: VESTA (postgraduate education), Knightsbridge Academy (career guidance) and Phoenix Dental Academy (ORE preparation).

It is a hybrid programme. You study online with live and recorded lessons, and you practise in person in Istanbul with tutors who travel from the UK. It covers both ORE Part 1 and ORE Part 2.

• Small group: only 20 places, offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Flexible study: watch recorded lessons when it suits you.
• Long access: you keep access to the recordings and written materials for one year after the programme ends.

For dentists from every country

The programme is open to international dentists, wherever you qualified. Many of our dentists come from Türkiye, and we welcome dentists from Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Syria, Azerbaijan and any other country. You study online from home and travel to Istanbul only for the hands-on days, so you can keep your job and income during the programme.

New to the UK system? Start with our guides: Become a dentist in the UK, The ORE explained and Working as a dentist in the UK.

Key dates, Cohort 4

Date	What happens
11 January 2027	Course opening: welcome and introduction to the programme
18 January 2027	Live online and recorded lessons begin
27 March 2027	ORE Part 1 mock exams (online, over two days)
6–9 May 2027	Restorative dentistry and dental manikin training, Istanbul (4 days)
24–28 June 2027	OSCE and medical emergencies training, Istanbul
6 July 2027	Programme ends

See the full Cohort 4 schedule

Dates may change. We will confirm the final schedule when you register.

What is included

• Live online lessons and recorded content
• Restorative dentistry and dental manikin training in Istanbul
• OSCE and medical emergencies training in Istanbul
• All materials, consumables and equipment for the practical days
• Lunch and coffee breaks on practical days
• Online mock exams in the ORE Part 1 format, reading materials and a question bank
• Online support lessons, regular online meetings and a WhatsApp group
• A one-hour one-to-one mentoring session with the programme lead
• A two-day practical mock exam in London, just before your own ORE Part 2 date, so you arrive at the exam fresh and less nervous. It is part of your place, but it is not in the standard schedule: we arrange the dates with you once you have passed Part 1 and booked Part 2
• Three months of career and job-placement support after you pass the exams and complete GDC registration

The programme team

Fee and payment

The programme fee is £10,450. Flexible payment plans are available. Write to us for details.

Who can join?

• Any dentist with a dental degree, from any dental school. There is no entrance exam.
• The lessons are in English, so you need a good level of English. You do not need an official certificate to join us.
• The programme does not replace the GDC’s own English language requirement for the ORE. Check what the GDC accepts before you apply.
• Final-year students can join, but you need your degree before you apply for the ORE. The GDC requires at least 1,600 hours of clinical experience treating patients, which can include your fourth and fifth years.

About the ORE

Part 1: written examination

Two computer-based papers testing applied clinical science and human disease. Questions are multiple choice and cover diagnosis, treatment planning, ethics and evidence-based dentistry. You must pass Part 1 before you can sit Part 2.

Part 2: practical examination

Part 2 tests your clinical skills with manikin-based exercises, structured clinical examinations (OSCEs) and a medical emergencies assessment. You must pass Part 2 within five years of first attempting Part 1. You have up to four attempts at each part.

Who needs the ORE?

The ORE is for dentists qualified outside the UK who want to register with the GDC. Some dentists with EU or EEA qualifications may be able to register without taking the ORE. The GDC will tell you after it assesses your qualification.

ORE fees

Item	Fee
ORE Part 1	£485
ORE Part 2	£6,967
Application processing fee	£115

These are the GDC’s current published fees. If you only need to retake the medical emergencies part of Part 2, the GDC charges £686. They can change, so always check the GDC website before you apply. They are paid to the GDC and are not part of our programme fee.