Peninsula Dental Social Enterprise is delighted to celebrate the University of Plymouth’s Peninsula Dental School being ranked in the top three for Dentistry in the UK Guardian University League Table 2027.
The outstanding result places Dentistry among the University of Plymouth’s highest-performing subjects nationally and reflects the strength of the education, student experience and preparation for the workplace offered to the next generation of dental professionals.
For PDSE, the achievement is particularly significant because of the important role our teams play in supporting the clinical education of Peninsula Dental School students. Working in partnership with the University of Plymouth, PDSE provides students with high-quality clinical training and experience caring for patients in communities across the South West.
The Guardian University League Table assesses subjects using measures focused on the undergraduate student experience, including teaching, continuation on course, and graduate career prospects. Plymouth’s Dentistry provision performed particularly strongly in the 2027 rankings, including 100% for career prospects reflecting the high demand for graduates of Dental Therapy and Dentistry in the workplace.
Professor Ewen McColl, Head of the University of Plymouth’s Peninsula Dental School, commented:
“We are incredibly proud to see Dentistry at Plymouth ranked in the top three in the Guardian University League Table 2027. This is a significant achievement and a reflection of the commitment of our students, staff and partners to delivering an outstanding dental education, and outstanding patient care to the communities we serve.
What is particularly encouraging is the strength of our performance in areas that matter greatly to our students and their future careers, particularly with regards to employment and support on the course. A key part of the student experience is the opportunity for our students to develop their skills through clinical education and patient care from the first year of the course in both Dentistry and Dental Therapy. Our close partnership with Peninsula Dental Social Enterprise plays an important role in this, giving students valuable experience in a supportive clinical environment and helping prepare them for successful careers as dental professionals.
The ranking follows an exceptional 2025/26 academic year for undergraduate training. The BDS programme achieved 100% overall satisfaction and 98.8% for learning opportunities in the National Student Survey, while PDSE supported the largest graduating BDS cohort in the Dental School’s history.
This ranking is something everyone involved in Peninsula Dental School and Peninsula Dental Social Enterprise can be proud of, and I would like to thank our students, colleagues and partners for the contribution they make to the continued success of dental education at University of Plymouth.”
During the 2025/26 academic year, PDSE supported 436 undergraduate students, comprising 350 dental surgery students and 86 dental hygiene and therapy students. The year also saw the introduction of the University of Plymouth and PDSE’s Dental Education Practice, designed to give final-year students experience in an environment closer to a high street dental practice. Digital dentistry has also been embedded across PDSE’s clinical teaching environments, giving students experience of technologies and workflows increasingly used in modern dental practice, including chairside 3D additive printing.
These opportunities sit alongside the day-to-day clinical experience students receive across PDSE, helping them develop the skills required to make the transition from undergraduate study into the dental workforce.
Rob Witton, Chief Executive Officer of Peninsula Dental Social Enterprise, commented:
“This is an outstanding achievement for Peninsula Dental School and a source of immense pride for everyone at PDSE.
Through our partnership with the University of Plymouth, our teams play an important role in developing the next generation of dental professionals. Supervised clinical experience in our facilities enables students to apply their knowledge, build confidence and develop the skills they need for successful careers.
A top-three ranking in The Guardian is a powerful endorsement of the quality of dental education at Plymouth. I congratulate the students and our colleagues at Peninsula Dental School – and thank every member of the PDSE team whose expertise, dedication and support help make this success possible.”
Read more about undergraduate dental student training at PDSE in 2025/26 here.
PDSE’s partnership with the University of Plymouth continues to deliver excellent clinical education, advance new approaches to training and prepare students to become the dental professionals of the future.
Our work also gives dental professionals the opportunity to combine patient care with teaching, mentoring and inspiring the next generation. Find out more about training, development and career opportunities with PDSE here.
