Who Qualifies for the UCAT Bursary?
The bursary is open to UK candidates who meet at least one of the published financial eligibility criteria. These criteria are updated annually, but historically have included receipt of means-tested benefits such as Universal Credit (the household income element), Income Support, or Jobseeker's Allowance. Students currently in receipt of Free School Meals (at state schools — note that free school meals at independent schools do not qualify), or whose parents or guardians are in receipt of qualifying benefits, are typically eligible.
For candidates over 21 who are no longer in full-time secondary or undergraduate education, the criteria shift: you must be personally in receipt of a qualifying award or benefit, rather than your parents or guardians. Post-graduate loans, advanced learner loans, and nursing bursaries are explicitly excluded from the eligibility criteria.
You are only permitted one bursary voucher per testing cycle. If you miss your booked test for any reason while using a bursary voucher, the voucher is not re-issued — you will need to pay the test fee yourself to rebook. Missing a bursary-funded test is treated the same as a no-show regardless of the reason.
How to Apply and What Evidence Is Required
The bursary application is completed through your UCAT account. You will be asked to select the qualifying criterion that applies to your situation and upload one piece of supporting evidence. Accepted evidence types vary by qualifying criterion — examples include a Universal Credit award notice, a letter confirming Free School Meal entitlement, or documentation of Income Support receipt.
Processing time for bursary applications is typically a few working days. Once approved, you receive a voucher code by email. You enter this code at the point of booking on the Pearson VUE platform to cover the test fee. Keep the voucher code safe — UCAT will not re-issue it if it is lost.
If your application is declined and you believe you are eligible, you can contact the UCAT office with additional supporting evidence. UCAT reserves the right to request additional documentation if initial evidence is not considered sufficient.
What Happens If Your Score Is Flagged as Bursary-Funded
When universities receive UCAT results, scores submitted with a bursary are flagged to indicate that the candidate received financial support. This is part of UCAT's commitment to contextualising performance — some universities use this information as part of a contextual admissions process that may give additional consideration to candidates from lower-income backgrounds.
The flag is not a mark against your application. In practice, many medical schools actively consider contextual factors when reviewing UCAT scores, and a bursary flag can positively influence how a borderline score is evaluated. If you are eligible for the bursary, apply for it — both for the practical benefit of the fee waiver and for the contextual data it provides to universities who use it.
