The Faculty of Dentistry University of Malaya was the first institution of higher learning in Malaysia to offer a degree course to train local candidates to become skilled and a holistic dental professional. The first batch of student intake was in 1972. This is currently a five-year programme where the first two years is dedicated to pre-clinical dental science and basic medical science teaching with exposure to clinical dentistry as early as in the first year.

Basic Medical Science teaching is conducted in collaboration with the Faculty of Medicine, University Malaya. In the subsequent three clinical years, candidates will have the opportunity to practice their clinical skills in dentistry as well as related medical practice. In order to produce well-rounded professionals, the students are also required to attend and pass the general university courses such as IT skills, Civilization Studies and Ethnic Relations. Soft skills such as communications skills, professional ethics and lifelong learning are embedded throughout the five-year programme.