Dental Foundation Training (DFT)
Dental Foundation Training (DFT) is the first step in postgraduate training for newly-qualified dentists.
It lasts for 12 months when taken full time and includes hands-on clinical experience and study days.
Below constitutes our application guidance for 2026/27 please read all before applying.
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Overview of Dental Foundation Training
Find out what DFT has to offer you
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Recruitment timelines
The key application dates for Dental Foundation Training
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Person specification
Check your eligibility against the person specification for the Dental Foundation programme
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Eligibility
Find out if you're eligible to apply for DFT
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Applying for Dental Foundation Training
Find out how to apply
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Situational Judgement Test (SJT)
What you need to know about the first part of the assessment process
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Posts and preferencing
Find out how to select your preferences
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Ranking, offers and post offers
What happens after you’ve submitted your application and done your assessments
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Dental Foundation Training (DFT) 2025/26 schemes
See all Dental Foundation Training (DFT) schemes for 2025/26 across the UK and by region
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Contact us
Key contact information
Recruitment updates
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Help us improve your experience
Find out how we are working with Lagom Strategy Ltd to improve your experience of using Oriel
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News
Find out the latest news
Related information
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Joint Dental Foundation Core Training (JDFCT)
A 2-year runthrough programme that combines 1 year of Foundation and 1 year of Core Training
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Overseas applicants
Guidance for overseas applicants
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Satisfactory completion of training
What you need to do to successfully complete DFT
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Special circumstances
Find out how to apply for special circumstances
Recruitment data and publications
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Publications
Browse reports and guidance