If you plan to study medicine or dentistry in the UK, the UCAT is usually the first test you need to book. This guide explains who must take the UCAT, the rules on attempts and timing, what it costs, and how Indian and other international students register.
Who needs to take the UCAT?
The UCAT is a compulsory entry requirement for applicants to relevant medical and dental degree programmes at the UCAT Consortium universities in the UK and at its partner universities. If any medicine or dentistry course on your UCAS form is at a UCAT university, you need to sit the test.
- For 2027 entry (or deferred entry in 2028), you needed to sit UCAT 2026.
- For 2028 entry, you will sit UCAT 2027, in the summer before you apply.
The UCAT itself does not set an age or nationality limit. Academic entry requirements, such as subjects and grades, are set by each university, so check the course page of every university you apply to.
Can international students take the UCAT?
Yes. The UCAT is delivered at Pearson VUE test centres across the UK and in more than 130 countries, including India, so you do not need to travel to the UK. If reaching a test centre is difficult, you can also consider the online proctored option (OnVUE).
A few universities outside the UK also use the UCAT for some courses. If you are applying to universities in Australia or New Zealand, you sit a different test, the UCAT ANZ, which is open to students in or beyond the final year of secondary school.
UCAT rules on attempts
- Once per year: you may only test once in any test cycle. Testing more than once in the same year is treated as misconduct.
- Retakes in later years are fine: there is no penalty for taking the UCAT again in a later year.
- UCAT or UCAT ANZ, not both: you cannot sit both tests in the same year.
- Results are for one cycle: your result is used for the admissions cycle in which you sit it.
UCAT test format
The UCAT has four separately timed multiple-choice subtests and takes just under two hours:
- Verbal Reasoning: 44 questions, 22 minutes
- Decision Making: 35 questions, 37 minutes
- Quantitative Reasoning: 36 questions, 26 minutes
- Situational Judgement: 69 questions, 26 minutes
Abstract Reasoning was removed from 2025. The three cognitive subtests are each scored 300 to 900 (a total of 900 to 2700), and Situational Judgement is reported in Bands 1 to 4. For a full breakdown, read our UCAT exam pattern guide.
UCAT fees
- Test centres in the UK: £70
- Test centres outside the UK, including India: £115
The fee is paid by debit or credit card when you book. A UCAT bursary that waives the fee is available to UK candidates who meet the bursary criteria.
Key dates: how the UCAT cycle works
The UCAT follows the same pattern each year. These were the dates for UCAT 2026 (for 2027 entry):
- Registration opened: 20 May 2026
- Booking opened: 23 June 2026
- Testing window: 13 July to 24 September 2026
- Booking deadline: 16 September 2026
- UCAS deadline for medicine and dentistry: 15 October 2026
Dates for UCAT 2027 (for 2028 entry) are published on ucat.ac.uk, usually early in the year. Book early: popular dates and centres fill up, and a late test leaves no room if something goes wrong.
What you need on test day
You must bring a photo ID that meets the UCAT ID policy and is accepted in the country where you test. If you do not have the correct ID, you will not be allowed to test and you will lose your fee. Indian students usually use a passport.
How to register for the UCAT
- Create a UCAT account on ucat.ac.uk when registration opens. You need a new account each year, even if you tested before.
- Book your test date and centre through Pearson VUE and pay the fee.
- Sit the test. Your result is sent to the universities you apply to; you do not send it yourself.
When should Indian students start preparing?
Most students start UCAT preparation 3 to 6 months before their test date, so January to March is a good time to begin for a summer test. Starting early leaves time to learn each subtest, build speed with timed practice and take full mocks before you book your date.
Preparing for the UCAT? Join our UCAT coaching in India, taught live online, or our UCAT classes in Hyderabad. Book a free demo class to get a plan for your test date.
Keep reading: What is UCAT? Complete UCAT Exam Guide 2026 · What is a good UCAT score?
Frequently asked questions
Is there an age limit for the UCAT?
The UCAT does not set an age or nationality limit. Each university sets its own academic entry requirements, so check every course you apply to.
Can I take the UCAT more than once in a year?
No. You may only test once in any test cycle, and testing more than once is treated as misconduct. You can retake it in a later year.
How much does the UCAT cost in India?
Tests taken outside the UK, including India, cost £115. The rupee amount depends on the exchange rate when you pay.
Can I sit both the UCAT and the UCAT ANZ?
No. You cannot sit both tests in the same year. If you apply to both Australian or New Zealand and UK universities, check ucat.ac.uk for which test to take.