UCAT Bursary Scheme
The deadline to apply for a bursary was 16:00 (BST) on 26 September 2025. We do not accept late applications under any circumstances. Candidates who have sat their test have until 17:00 (BST) on 20 October 2025 to redeem their bursary voucher.
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: | |
| An official letter or communication from your school/college confirming you currently receive free school meals (Local Authority funded only) for academic year 2024/25 or 2025/26. It must include your full name, the name of your school/college and the full date. |
| Your official award letter or communication for academic year 2024/25 or 2025/26, which must include your full name, the name of your school/college and the full date of the award. |
| Your official award letter for academic year 2024/25 or 2025/26, which must include your full name, the name of your college/place of study and the full date of the award. |
| Your award letter (all pages) for academic year 2024/25 or 2025/26 showing a full rate (means-tested) undergraduate:
Check what qualifies as ‘full-rate’. |
| Candidate or parent/guardian (living at the same address) in receipt of: | |
| The first page of one of your or your parent/guardian’s Universal Credit statements, dated within the last 3 months, which must include the name and address of the claimant, the date, and the award amount. See example Statements can be saved from a Universal Credit online account. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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.
