Program Overview

Advanced Standing for International Dentists DMD Track

The Advanced Standing International Dentist (ASID) Track at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM) offers internationally trained dentists the opportunity to earn a Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree. This program is designed exclusively for dentists who have completed a Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) or an equivalent degree outside the United States and Canada.

Academics

ASID students join HSDM in January of the second year of the predoctoral DMD curriculum. They are fully integrated with students in the four-year DMD program, following the same rigorous academic coursework, case-based learning, and comprehensive clinical training. Graduates earn the DMD degree alongside their peers.

Key Features

• Small class sizes
• Individualized mentorship
• Curriculum grounded in the connection between oral and systemic health
• Highly supportive and collaborative learning environment

Key Dates

• November 18, 2025: 2025 ADEA CAAPID Virtual Fair—4:00–6:00 PM
• March 5, 2026: ASID Track application opens in ADEA CAAPID
• May 5, 2026: ASID Track Application deadline

Application Requirements

The following application materials must be submitted via ADEA CAAPID:

• Curriculum vitae (CV)
• Letter of Intent (maximum 500 words)
• Three letters of recommendation (minimum), up to four total
  • Preferred: Dean’s Letter (Institutional Evaluation Form)
  • Letters from faculty who supervised your research (Principal Investigators) or taught you in biology, chemistry, or physics
  • A third letter from a faculty member of your choosing
  • A fourth letter is optional
• Official transcripts
• Official academic credentials evaluation for foreign coursework
  • A course-by-course evaluation is required from one of the following approved agencies:
    • Educational Credential Evaluators
    • World Education Services
• Nonrefundable $150 HSDM application fee
• Official INBDE/NBDE Part I and II scores
• Official TOEFL Scores
  • Required for any applicant holding a BDS degree
  • Scores must be from a test taken within the past two years
  • Institution code: 3430
  • TOEFL Minimum Scores (Old Test Format)
    • Overall minimum: 95
    • Section minimums: Reading 21, Listening 17, Speaking 24, Writing 25

Interview Process

Interviews are a key part of the admissions process, providing an opportunity for candidates to demonstrate their experience, readiness, and potential contributions to the profession. The interview experience is conversational and includes interaction with faculty, alumni, current students, and staff.

• Interviews are by invitation only and held virtually in the spring
• Invited candidates will receive a supplemental application to complete before their first interview
• All candidates will have at least one virtual interview
• Selected candidates may be invited to a second virtual interview on a different date
• Candidates who advance to the third round will be invited to campus for:
  • A bench skills test
  • A campus tour
  • Lunch with current ASID Track students

Program Details

The Advanced Standing degree program cannot be combined with an HSDM AGE degree program. Due to the small size of the school, individual meetings or campus tours for prospective students are not available. Candidates selected for interviews will receive a guided tour led by current students.