UCAT Bursary Scheme

Candidate Eligibility

The bursary scheme is open to UK candidates that meet the bursary criteria.

If you are over the age of 21 and no longer in full-time education you must be personally in receipt of a qualifying award or means-tested benefit to qualify for a bursary.

You are only permitted one bursary voucher each test cycle.


Bursary criteria and supporting evidence
 

You must be able to meet at least one of the bursary criteria detailed below and provide one piece of evidence to support your application.

UCAT reserves the right to request additional evidence if, in its view, the initial supporting documentation is not sufficient to verify eligibility.  On occasion UCAT may consider alternative evidence on a case-by-case basis. 

Eligibility Criteria

Evidence Required

Free School Meals A recent letter (dated 2023 or 2024) from your school/college confirming you receive free school meals (Local Authority funded only).
16 to 19 Bursary (England), or EMA (Scotland, Wales or NI) Your official award letter or communication for academic year 2023/24 or 2024/25 We must be able to see your name and the date of the award.
Learner Support (FE 19+) or equivalent for Scotland, Wales or NI Your official award letter for academic year 2023/24 or 2024/25.
Undergraduate Student Finance maintenance award (full rate) Your award letter (all pages) for academic year 2023/24 or 2024/25.   
This includes a full rate (means-tested) undergraduate:
  • Student Finance England Maintenance Grant/Loan
  • Student Awards Agency Scotland Young / Independent Students’ Bursary
  • Student Finance Wales or Northern Ireland Maintenance Grant
Check what qualifies as a full-rate maintenance award.
Candidates who cannot take out student finance loans for religious or cultural reasons should contact the UCAT Office for advice on alternative evidence.
Universal Credit The first page of your or your parent/guardian's Universal Credit statement, dated within the last 3 months, which must include the name and address of the claimant, the date, and the award amount.  
Working or Child Tax Credit The first page of your or your parent/guardian's award letter for financial year 2023/24 or 2024/25, which must include the name and address of the claimant and the date of the letter.
Income Support, or
Job Seeker's Allowance (JSA), or 
Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
Your or your parent/guardian's award letter (all pages) from a UK Jobcentre Plus, dated 2024.
Parent/guardians in receipt of JSA or ESA must be entitled to the income-based benefit (e.g. means-tested) and not a contribution-based award. This is specified on the final page of the award letter.
Asylum Support Your or your parent/guardian's official award letter, dated within the last 12 months.

The following awards/benefits or evidence are not accepted under any circumstances: scholarships, bursaries or free school meals at independent or fee-paying schools; Postgraduate Loan; Advanced Learner Loan; Nursing and Midwifery Student Bursary; Personal Independence Payment (PIP); Council Tax or Housing Benefit; Child Benefit; Annual accounts or a P60 end of year certificate.


Key Dates 2024

Bursary scheme opens:

14 May at 09:30 (BST)

Booking opens:

18 June at 06:00 (BST)

Application and evidence deadline:

27 September at 16:00 (BST)

Voucher expiry date:

25 October at 17:00 (BST)


Apply for a Bursary

  • Step 1: Create a UCAT Account as a candidate ID is required to make an application.  Returning candidates should use their existing candidate ID. 
  • Step 2: Apply for a bursary with correct supporting evidence by the deadline (above).  We recommend you apply before booking your test, but you still may apply if you have already paid for or sat your test. 
  • Step 3: Receive your bursary voucher code by email (within 3 working days).  If you have not received an email within this timeframe (after checking junk/spam folders), please contact the UCAT Office
  • Step 4: Use your bursary voucher to book your test. 
    • During the booking checkout process there is an option to 'add a voucher or promo code'.
    • If you have already paid for your test, you can arrange a refund up to 17:00 (BST) on 25 October by emailing Pearson VUE Customer Services and quoting your voucher code.


APPLY FOR A BURSARY (FROM 14 MAY)


Missed tests (no-shows) paid for by bursary voucher

  • If you book a test using a bursary voucher and then decide not to sit the UCAT, you must cancel your test (giving the required minimum notice).
  • If you miss a test (‘no-show’) that is paid for by a bursary voucher for any reason you will have to pay the test fee to book another appointment. Failure to present correct photo ID and missing the deadline to reschedule/cancel your test counts as a ‘no-show’.
  • UCAT will not issue another bursary voucher to cover this cost as we will have incurred a charge for the missed test.
  • In these circumstances, UCAT reserves the right to request repayment from you of the full test fee. UCAT may also prevent such candidates from applying for a bursary in future years.

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