What is the UCAT, and which universities require it?
For 2027 entry, the UCAT is the admissions test for medicine and dentistry used by 51 UK universities and medical schools on the official consortium list; our 43-university dataset covers A-level entry at 31 of them, with 48 medicine and dentistry course pages linked below.
- Full name
- University Clinical Aptitude Test, run by the UCAT Consortium; used with academic results and interviews
- Format
- Four timed multiple-choice subtests: Verbal Reasoning (44 questions, 22 minutes), Decision Making (35, 37 minutes), Quantitative Reasoning (36, 26 minutes), Situational Judgement (69, 26 minutes)
- Timing
- Just under 2 hours; it cannot be paused once started
- Scoring
- Total score 900–2700 from the three cognitive subtests (300–900 each), plus a Situational Judgement band from 1 (highest) to 4; no negative marking
- Resits
- Once per test cycle; testing more than once is treated as misconduct
- Validity
- UCAT 2026 results count only for the 2027 UCAS cycle (entry in 2027, or deferred entry in 2028)
- Who sees your score
- UCAT delivers results to your chosen UK universities in early November; you see yours at the test centre
- Rules
- Computer-based at Pearson test centres in the UK and worldwide
- Fee
- £70 in the UK; £115 outside the UK
The 51 universities and medical schools that use the UCAT
Names and course codes follow the official table row by row. The last column links our course pages; a dash means our dataset has no A-level entry course there.
| University or medical school | Official course codes | Our course pages |
|---|---|---|
| University of Aberdeen | A100, A201 | |
| Anglia Ruskin University | A100, A101 | — |
| Aston University | A100 | |
| Bangor University | A100, A101 | — |
| University of Birmingham | A100, A200 | |
| University of Greater Manchester | A100 | — |
| Brighton and Sussex Medical School | A100 | |
| University of Bristol | A100, A108, A206, A208 | |
| Brunel University of London | A100 | — |
| University of Cambridge | A100, A101 | |
| Cardiff University | A100, A101, A200 | |
| University of Lancashire | A100, A202 | — |
| University of Chester | A101 | — |
| University of Dundee | A100, A200 | |
| University of East Anglia | A100, A101, A104, A200 | |
| Edge Hill University | A100, A110 | — |
| University of Edinburgh | A100 | |
| University of Exeter | A100 | |
| University of Glasgow | A100, A200 | |
| University of Hertfordshire | A100 | — |
| Hull York Medical School | A100, A108 | |
| Imperial College London | A100 | |
| Keele University | A100, A104 | — |
| Kent and Medway Medical School | A100 | |
| King's College London | A100, A101, A102, A103, A202, A205, A206 | |
| Lancaster University | A100, A104 | |
| University of Leeds | A100, A101, A200 | |
| University of Leicester | A100, A199 | |
| University of Lincoln | A100, A106 | — |
| University of Liverpool | A100, A200 | |
| University of Manchester | A101, A106, A206, A300 | |
| Newcastle University | A100, A101, A206 | |
| University of Nottingham | A100, A101, A108 | |
| University of Oxford | A100, A101 | |
| Pears Cumbria School of Medicine | A102 | — |
| University of Plymouth | A100, A102, A206 | — |
| University of Portsmouth | B758 | — |
| Queen Mary University of London | A100, A101, A110, A200 | |
| Queen's University Belfast | A100, A200 | |
| University of Sheffield | A100, A101, A200 | |
| University of Southampton | A100, A101, A102 | |
| University of St Andrews | A100, A10C, A990 | |
| City St George's, University of London | A100, BB96 | |
| St Mary's University, Twickenham | A100 | — |
| University of Sunderland | A100 | — |
| University of Surrey | A101 | — |
| Swansea University | A101, A110 | — |
| University College London | A100 | |
| University of Warwick | A101 | — |
| University of Wolverhampton | Medicine MBChB | — |
| University of Worcester | A101 | — |
Updated 5 November 2026 · Source: UCAT: how universities use the UCAT ↗
When was the UCAT for 2027 entry?
The 2026 testing window has closed. Dates for the 2027 test cycle (for 2028 entry) will be published by February 2027.
| Registration opened | 20 May 2026, 14:00 UK |
|---|---|
| Booking opened | 23 June 2026, 14:00 UK |
| Testing | 13 July to 24 September 2026 |
| Booking and registration closed | 16 September 2026, 15:00 UK |
| UCAS deadline | 15 October 2026 |
| Results delivered to universities | Early November 2026 |
Updated 5 November 2026 · Source: UCAT test dates ↗
How did candidates score on the UCAT in 2026?
To 24 September 2026, from 42,359 tests: mean total 1918; Verbal Reasoning 602, Decision Making 640, Quantitative Reasoning 675.
| Percentile | Total score |
|---|---|
| 10th | 1590 |
| 20th | 1700 |
| 30th | 1780 |
| 40th | 1850 |
| 50th | 1920 |
| 60th | 1980 |
| 70th | 2050 |
| 80th | 2140 |
| 90th | 2250 |
Situational Judgement: Band 1 15%, Band 2 40%, Band 3 34%, Band 4 11%.
Updated 5 November 2026 · Source: UCAT test statistics ↗ · UCAT test format and scoring ↗
UCAT questions, answered
Which universities require the UCAT?
The UCAT Consortium lists 51 UK universities and medical schools, from Aberdeen to Worcester, each with its own course codes. The full list is on this page. Check each one: some of the codes are graduate-entry or foundation courses. Source: UCAT: how universities use the UCAT ↗
When is the UCAT?
For 2027 entry, testing ran from 13 July to 24 September 2026 and booking closed on 16 September 2026. The UCAT Consortium says dates for the 2027 test cycle (for 2028 entry) will be published by February 2027. Source: UCAT test dates ↗
What is a good UCAT score?
There is no universal cut-off, because each university uses the score differently. For reference, the 2026 mean total was 1918 from 42,359 tests, the 50th percentile was 1920 and the 90th percentile was 2250. In Situational Judgement, 15% of candidates reached Band 1 and 40% Band 2. Source: UCAT test statistics ↗
Can I resit the UCAT?
Not in the same year: you may test only once in a test cycle, and testing more than once is treated as misconduct. UCAT 2026 results count only for the 2027 UCAS cycle (entry in 2027, or deferred entry in 2028), so applying in a later cycle means sitting it again. Source: UCAT FAQs ↗ · UCAT results ↗
How do universities use the UCAT?
Differently. The Consortium says the score is a significant factor at some universities and a smaller or marginal one at others; some set a threshold score, others weight it alongside academic results, and a growing number use Situational Judgement in selection. Read each university's own page before you choose. Source: UCAT: how universities use the UCAT ↗
How much does the UCAT cost?
£70 for tests taken in the UK and £115 for tests taken outside the UK. A bursary that waives the fee is available to UK candidates who meet the criteria. Source: UCAT FAQs ↗