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5th choice | Backup option

Image by Wes Hicks
Image by Javier Allegue Barros

Will I be disadvantaged?

What to consider when choosing a 5th choice option?

Important factors if you wish to later re-apply

What about my personal statement ?

The 5th choice option (or backup choice) allows those wishing to pursue Dentistry/Medicine, the ability to select a non-Dentistry/Medicine course programme as an alternative. This enables those who may not receive any offers to pursue this ‘backup’ university degree instead.

When you apply to study Dentistry/Medicine through UCAS, you are only allowed to use four of your five course choices for ‘Dentistry/Medicine’ itself, leaving you with an unused fifth choice. 

This article covers the questions regarding the 5th choice option, which are commonly asked questions by applicants.

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Students often worry about being put at a disadvantage for utilising the fifth choice to apply for an alternate course, and feel it suggests they lack intent to study dentistry/medicine. However, this is not the case. In fact, universities encourage applicants to use this option as it allows you to plan for all outcomes.  

Remember, selecting a fifth choice is not mandatory. So we suggest to only add a fifth choice if you truly wish to go down this route.

There are many factors that you should take into consideration when selecting your fifth choice. These include:

  • Choosing a degree you would still enjoy

    • This is important as you will be spending at least 3 years studying your chosen course and you need to make sure it will be a subject you will enjoy, at a location that suits you. 

  • Future finance.

    • At the time of writing, most UK Students are only able to get a Tuition Loan from Student Finance for a single undergraduate course, with the exception of gaining .a place onto an ‘Accelerated Graduate Entry Dentistry’ or Accelerated Graduate Entry Medicine programme.

  • The entry requirements for Dentistry (if you re-apply) .

    • For graduates who choose to apply for ‘Accelerated Graduate Entry Dentistry’ courses vary greatly and you need to make sure that your fifth choice option is suitable, for example, they may require you to have a Biomedical Sciences Degree. 

  • Job prospects from your fifth-choice degree option.

    • Should you be unable to obtain a place onto a Dentistry/Medicine course applying as a graduate, or if you decide whilst undertaking your first undergraduate degree, that Dentistry/Medicine is no longer for you, you should research what job opportunities would be made available to you after completing that degree. 

It must be noted that the best way to check that your fifth choice option would allow you to apply to Dentistry/Medicine, is to either check the entry requirements regarding graduate entry on the website of the Schools you are interested in, or to contact the them directly.

Universities are very aware that those who wish to study Dentistry/Medicine are limited to only four choices, as such the fifth choice will be a non-Dentistry/Medicine option. For this reasons, the personal statement which has been carefully designed specifically for entry into Dentistry/Medicine will have no relevance to that (backup) degree course. Fortunately, you will not be disadvantaged as these course providers are fully cognisant that it will not be related with their course. 

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