UCAT Eligibility
Do I need to sit the UCAT?
The UCAT is a compulsory entry requirement for applicants to relevant medical or dental degree programmes at our UK and Partner Consortium Universities.
Applicants are required to sit the UCAT (between 8 July and 26 September) if they are intending to apply for entry in 2025 (or deferred entry in 2026).
Applicants should check the entry requirements for each course with the relevant university before booking a test. Alternative entry requirements apply to some groups of applicants.
There are no general exemptions from the test.
Universities expect applicants to take the test, which for some EU and international candidates could mean travelling to another country.
The UCAT is delivered in Pearson VUE test centres across the UK and in 130+ countries worldwide.
Use the Pearson VUE Test Centre Locator to find your nearest test centre.
If travel to a test centre is difficult because of distance, pandemic, war, civil unrest or natural disaster, please refer to the information on OnVUE online proctored testing before booking your test.
Applicants to Australian or New Zealand universities should refer to the information on the UCAT ANZ (below).
Can I sit the UCAT more than once?
You may only test once in any year; multiple testing will be treated as misconduct. There is no penalty for taking the test again in subsequent years.
Can I sit the UCAT as a ‘practice run’ a year before my actual test?
Candidates should not sit the UCAT early as a ‘practice run’ for the following reasons:
- Candidates must prepare properly before sitting the test; it is better to focus these efforts in the year of actual testing.
- The motivation and mindset for a candidate taking the test as a practice run would be completely different, making performance unrepresentative.
- Test content and scoring can change each year, so a practice run before sitting the actual test would not be helpful.
- You would be taking up a valuable test slot for a candidate that needs to test this year.
UCAT analyses registration data and may act if it appears a candidate is sitting the test as a ‘practice run’.
Do I need to sit the UCAT or the UCAT ANZ?
The University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT ANZ) is used by a consortium of universities in Australia and New Zealand for their medical, dental and clinical science degree programmes.
The UCAT ANZ is identical in format and content to the UCAT.
Candidates intending to apply to Australian/New Zealand consortium universities and UK/Partner Consortium Universities (for 2025 entry) should sit the UCAT ANZ for the following reasons:
- Australian and New Zealand admissions deadlines are earlier than in the UK.
- Australian/New Zealand universities only accept UCAT ANZ results.
Visit the UCAT ANZ website for more information.
Candidates should check the entry requirements for each course with the relevant university before booking a test. Alternative entry requirements apply to certain applicants to UCAT ANZ Universities.
Can I sit both the UCAT and the UCAT ANZ?
Candidates are not permitted to sit both the UCAT and UCAT ANZ in the same year under any circumstances. This is considered candidate misconduct and all results may be withdrawn.
How are UCAT ANZ results delivered to UK Universities?
Candidates must complete an online form so the UCAT Office can deliver their UCAT ANZ result to their chosen UK universities.
Please refer to the UCAT ANZ Results Collection page for further details.
Individuals not eligible to sit UCAT
Individuals with an affiliation with a UCAT coaching business, for example, in their capacity as a tutor, or as an content developer, or having some financial interest in a UCAT coaching business are not eligible to sit the UCAT.
Checks may be made to identify and cancel tests booked by ineligible candidates.
FAQs
Which test do I sit if I am applying to Nanyang Technological University?
Which test do I sit if I am applying to the National University of Singapore?
Which test do I sit if I am applying to Thammasat University?
