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UCAT

All medical schools require applicants to complete an admissions test, as part of the application process to study Medicine. Here at Hull York Medical School, we require applicants to have completed the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT).

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Introduction

What is UCAT?

The University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) is an admissions test used by a consortium of UK universities for their medical and dental degree programmes.

The UCAT is a two-hour computer-based test which assess a range of mental abilities, attitudes and professional behaviours required to be successful doctors and dentists.

The test is delivered in Pearson VUE test centres in locations throughout the UK and internationally.

We use your UCAT score in conjunction with your UCAS application and the academic qualifications you have provided in your UCAS application within the UCAS submission deadline.

Entry requirements

What are our UCAT entry requirements?

Please check our Medicine entry requirements or Medicine with a Gateway Year entry requirements for details of our UCAT entry requirements.

Selection process

How are UCAT results used in our selection process?

We award points based upon your total UCAT score and your UCAT SJT Band as part of our ranking of applicants to select for interview.

Please visit our selection procedure for details.

Taking the test

A step-by-step guide to taking the UCAT

We understand that UCAT may be daunting, so have produced this handy step-by-step guide to help you through the process.

1. Create your UCAT account
2. Apply for a UCAT bursary to cover your test fee (eligibility criteria apply)
  • Apply for the bursary on the UCAT website - bursary applications open in May 2025
  • UCAT offer to cover the full test fee for students who meet their eligibility criteria for the bursary
  • If you are eligible for the bursary we strongly encourage you to apply for it, as we will take this marker into consideration when scoring your application
  • You can apply for this even if you have already paid for and already sat your test
3. Apply for access arrangements
  • Please refer to UCAT information on access arrangements if eligible, as these require to be approved by UCAT before booking a test date and is the responsibility of the candidate
  • Access arrangements applications open on 13 May 2025
4. Book your UCAT test
  • Book your test on the UCAT website - bookings open on 17 June 2025 and close on 19 September 2025
  • UCAT testing takes place at Pearson VUE test centres across the UK and internationally (subject to availability)
  • Ensure you book a date that allows you enough time to prepare and practice for your test
  • Please refer to UCAT information on access arrangements if eligible, as these require to be approved by UCAT before booking a test date and is the responsibility of the candidate
5. Prepare for your UCAT test
  • It’s important that you prepare for your test - UCAT recommend allowing 6 weeks
  • UCAT offer free official preparation materials, including practice tests, a preparation plan and question banks which have been developed by the UCAT Consortium to support test preparation
6. UCAT test day
  • It is important to be prepared for your UCAT Test Day to ensure your test day runs smoothly
  • You must arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment time to complete the check-in process
  • Before you set off for your test, make a note of the test centre’s address and phone number and find it on a map
  • Make sure you know how long it will take you to get there on public transport or via car and where to park
  • If you arrive late, you may not be allowed to take the test and you will have to book and pay for a new test slot on another day
  • You will need to take identification and documentation with you as stated on the UCAT website
  • After the check-in process has been completed you will be taken into the testing room and allocated a desk space at which you will find a PC
  • Please read the guidance on Test Day Problems in advance of taking the UCAT test
7. Check your test results meet our entry requirements
8. UCAT results delivered to universities
  • UCAT work with UCAS to obtain details of the UCAT Consortium universities you have applied to
  • UCAT then provide your test result directly to your chosen universities in early November
  • Therefore, you do not need to tell UCAT your application choices or include your test result in your UCAS application
  • Applications meeting our entry requirements are scored and then ranked for interview
  • Visit our selection procedure for details of how points are allocated