The University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT)
All applicants applying to study medicine at Edinburgh must sit the UCAT or apply in advance for an exemption.

The UCAT (formally UKCAT) was introduced in 2006 as part of the selection process for the majority of the UK University Medical and Dentistry Schools.
All applicants must take the test prior to applying through UCAS. For example if you are applying in September then ordinarily you must take the test between July and September in that particular year.
If you reapply to Edinburgh the following year then you must resit the test.
You cannot revise for the UCAT. There are practice tests on the UCAT website.
Please do not send your test results to the Admissions Office as we are advised by UCAT of your score.
Dates for possible entry to Medicine in 2024
Registration opens |
16 May 2023 |
Booking opens | 20 June 2023 |
Bursary scheme opens |
16 May 2023 |
Testing begins |
10 July 2023 |
Registration and online booking closes |
21 September 2023 |
Access Arrangements / UCATSEN application deadline |
19 September 2023 |
Bursary deadline |
29 September 2023 |
Final booking deadline |
21 September 2023 |
Last testing date |
28 September 2023 |
UCAS application deadline |
16 October 2023 |
Results delivered to universities |
Early November 2023 |
The test is taken at a Pearson VUE Test Centre and the UCAT Consortium have preparation advice and resources available on their web pages from Spring 2023. We would suggest that where possible you book an early test as if you were to fall ill you may still have the opportunity to re-book your test for a later date. Additionally, for candidates still at school, it makes sense to have completed your test over the summer and be ready to focus on schoolwork when schools return in the autumn.
A guide on the test for 2023 will be available soon via the link below.
More detailed information is also available on the UCAT website.
The University Clinical Aptitude Test Website
Applicants who are normally entitled to extra time in examinations must contact UCAT directly as they will be required to submit evidence of their entitlement prior to sitting the test itself.
Exemptions from the requirement to sit the UCAT will only be granted under very exceptional circumstances and with prior agreement with the UG Admissions Office. We will not consider applications without UCAT where no prior exemption has been granted.
How we use your UCAT score
You are required to meet a minimum UCAT score as part of our entry requirements from 2023 entry. Our minimum UCAT total cut-off score for those applying for 2024 entry is 2470. Any applicant applying with a score below the cut-off will not be considered with the exclusion of FLAG PLUS applicants (see below).
PLUS FLAG Applicants
Applicants who are eligible for a widening access PLUS FLAG will be considered with any UCAT total score and will be awarded a 10% uplift in their original UCAT total score. PLUS FLAG applicants with a Band 4 in the Situational Judgement Test will not be considered for entry. To check eligibility for a PLUS FLAG please read about widening access on our web pages.