BDSA events
The BDSA has an annual tradition of organising two national student events: the Sports Day and Conference.
The aim of the BDSA is to promote unity and build relationships between UK dental students.
To support this goal, the BDSA has an annual tradition of organising two national student events: the Sports Day and Conference.
BDA student members get over £30 discounted off tickets for both BDSA Sports Day and BDSA Conference.
BDSA Conference 2026-27
Hosted by: Newscastle
Date: 15-17 January 2027
The BDSA Conference brings together dental students from every dental school in the UK for a weekend of teaching, networking and socials, with over 900 students expected in January.
2027 is the first time in the association's history that Newcastle has hosted. The two-day programme will run at the Utilita Arena, with a trade fair alongside it and an evening social programme across the weekend.
Delegates will hear from leading clinicians and speakers covering everything from hands-on clinical practice to business and careers outside the surgery.
As the UK's largest dental student event, it is a rare chance to spend a weekend with peers from every year group and every school in the country.
The BDSA Conference will be hosted by Newcastle from 15-17 January 2027. For the latest updates, follow the BDSA Conference Newcastle Instagram page.
BDSA Annual Research Summit
Hosted by: Newcastle, as part of the official BDSA Conference 2027
Innovation drives the future and underpins the advancement of dentistry. One of the key pioneers to driving exciting ideas and advancements is research. That is why this year, we are proud to bring back the BDSA Research Summit 2027, to be held in Newcastle, as part of the official BDSA Conference 2027!
As one of the key academic events in the UK, the BDSA Research Summit provides dental students with an opportunity to showcase and pioneer their academic research to a panel of leading researchers and peers. Not only is this an opportunity to highlight academic excellence and evidence-based practice, but also a chance to network and connect with the wider dental community beyond dental school. All participant submissions will be showcased through our established “Book of Abstracts,” allowing students and professionals the chance to engage with and acknowledge students’ contributions to academic research.
Moreover, the winner’s work will be published in the highly acclaimed BDJ Student.
Last year, our winner Ali Al Mussawi, a third year dental student from the University of Glasgow presented his incredible research detailing the ‘Prognostic significance of blood results in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas' and presented this research further at an international conference!
We are very excited to see what 2027 brings and we hope you can join us on this journey!
Email: [email protected]
Follow our instagram @bdsaresearchsummit for the most up to date news.
BDSA Sports Day 2027
Hosted by: Kings' College London
Dates: 25–27 June 2027
King's College London's dental society is proud to host the national BDSA Sports Day 2027, bringing together dental students from every UK dental school for two days of sport and three nights out in the heart of London, including the iconic thames boat party.
From the track and pitches of Battersea Millennium Arena to three unforgettable London nights, Sports Day 2027 promises the widest range of sports in BDSA history, including brand new additions like padel.
Alongside this, expect a the largest trade fayre than any previous sports day and the Smile Academy XI vs BDSA XI exhibition football match to wrap it up.
Learn more at bdsakings.com
Get discounted tickets
Join the BDA today to save over £30 on your Sports Day ticket.
Future locations
The location of these events is decided by vote at the BDSA annual conference every spring. Candidates usually prepare a short presentation to deliver to delegates at the Annual General Meeting (AGM).
Any UK dental student can choose to run one of these events. Students do not have to have been a BDA representative beforehand to put themselves forward for this role.
If you are interested in hosting an event at your dental school, please contact the current BDSA President for more details.
Behaviour policy
The BDSA Sports Day and Annual Conference are both popular events involving a large number of students and they pride themselves on the professional behaviour of delegates, please see the BDSA Behaviour Policy.