UCAT Bursary Scheme

Key Dates 2025

Bursary scheme opens: 13 May at 09:30 BST
Booking opens: 17 June at 06:00 BST
Application and evidence deadline: 26 September at 16:00 BST
Voucher expiry date: 20 October at 17:00 BST


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. Additional vouchers will not be issued if you miss your test for any reason.


Bursary criteria and supporting evidence 

You must 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 our view, the initial supporting documentation is not considered sufficient to verify eligibility. On occasion UCAT may consider alternative evidence on a case-by-case basis. 

Eligibility Criteria Evidence Required
Candidate in receipt of:
  • Free School Meals
 A recent letter (for academic year 2024/25 or 2025/26) from your school/college confirming you currently 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 2024/25 or 2025/26, which must include 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 2024/25 or 2025/26, which must include your name and the date of the award.
  • Undergraduate Student Finance maintenance award (full rate)
 Your award letter (all pages) for academic year 2024/25 or 2025/26 showing a full rate (means-tested) undergraduate:
  • Student Finance England Maintenance Grant/Loan or
  • Student Awards Agency Scotland Young / Independent Students’ Bursary or
  • Student Finance Wales or Northern Ireland Maintenance Grant
Check what qualifies as 'full-rate'.
Candidates unable to take out SF loans for religious/cultural reasons may email the UCAT Office for advice on alternative evidence.
Candidate or parent/guardian (living at the same address) in receipt of:
  • 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.
Statements can be saved from a Universal Credit online account.
  • Working or Child Tax Credit
 The first page of your or your parent/guardian's award letter for financial year 2024/25 or 2025/26, 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 2025.
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.
A proof of benefit letter can be obtained online.
  • 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 or Nursing and Midwifery Student Bursary;
  • Council Tax Benefit, Housing Benefit, Child Benefit or Personal Independence Payment (PIP);
  • Annual accounts or a P60 end of year certificate.

Use the interactive slides below to check your evidence meets our criteria (best viewed on desktop).


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 20 October by emailing Pearson VUE Customer Services and quoting your voucher code.


APPLY FOR A UCAT BURSARY (OPENS 13 MAY 09:30 BST)

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

Consortium Universities and Bursary Candidates

Candidate Data

Bursary Scheme Policy