The Ultimate Guide: Which UK Medical Schools Require the UCAT in 2026? 🩺
If you’re a sixth-form student with your sights set on medical school for 2026, you’ve probably already heard of the UCAT. But with the recent retirement of the BMAT, the admissions landscape has shifted. Almost every university now uses the UCAT, but which specific schools require it, and how do they use your score?
This guide is your definitive roadmap. We’ll walk you through the full list of UK medical schools requiring the UCAT for 2026 entry, explain the differences in how they score you, and help you build a smart university shortlist.
Let’s cut through the noise and get straight to what you need to know.
What is the UCAT and Why Does It Matter for 2026? 🤔
The University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) is an admissions test used by a consortium of universities to help select applicants for their medical and dental programmes. It doesn’t test your academic knowledge (like biology or chemistry), but rather your mental agility, attitudes, and professional behaviours—things they reckon are pretty important for a future doctor .
For 2026 entry, the UCAT is more important than ever. Following the discontinuation of the BMAT, elite institutions like the University of Cambridge and the University of Oxford have switched to the UCAT . This means that, with very few exceptions, every UK medical school now requires you to sit the UCAT.
You must sit the test between July 7 and September 26, 2025 to be eligible for courses starting in 2026 .
The Complete List: UK Medical Schools Requiring UCAT for 2026 Entry ✅
Here is the comprehensive list of UK universities that require the UCAT for their medicine degree programmes for 2026 entry, based on information from the UCAT consortium and medical school directories .
🏴 England
London
City St George's, University of London
Imperial College London
King's College London
Queen Mary University of London (Barts)
St George's, University of London
St Mary's University, Twickenham
University College London (UCL)
South & South East
Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS)
University of Cambridge
University of Kent (Kent and Medway Medical School)
University of Oxford
University of Southampton
University of Surrey
South West
University of Bristol
University of Exeter
University of Plymouth
Midlands
Aston University
University of Birmingham
Keele University
University of Leicester
University of Lincoln
University of Nottingham
University of Warwick (Graduate Entry only)
East of England
Anglia Ruskin University
University of East Anglia (UEA)
North West
Edge Hill University
Lancaster University
University of Central Lancashire (UCLan)
University of Chester
University of Greater Manchester
University of Liverpool
University of Manchester
Pears Cumbria School of Medicine
North East & Yorkshire
Brunel University of London
Hull York Medical School
Newcastle University
University of Leeds
University of Sheffield
University of Sunderland
🏴 Scotland
University of Aberdeen
University of Dundee
University of Edinburgh
University of Glasgow
University of St Andrews
🏴 Wales
Bangor University
Cardiff University
🇬🇧 Northern Ireland
Queen's University Belfast
Ulster University
A quick note: Some universities, like the University of Buckingham, do not use UCAT as they operate on a different admissions timeline. Always double-check the university’s own website, as requirements for courses like Graduate Entry or Foundation Years can sometimes differ .
Decoding the Data: How Do Universities Actually Use Your Score? 🧐
Just because a university requires the UCAT doesn't mean they all use it the same way. Understanding this is the secret sauce to a successful application. Some use it as a hurdle, others as a scoring tool.
1. The "Scores and Thresholds" Approach 📈
Many universities convert your UCAT score (and sometimes your GCSEs) into a points system. They rank everyone and invite the top scorers for an interview.
University of Nottingham: They score your GCSEs and your UCAT separately. They even double your Verbal Reasoning score based on research evidence. They do not accept applicants with a Band 4 in the Situational Judgement Test (SJT) .
University of Birmingham: They will assign a score to the total of the three cognitive subtests (Verbal, Decision, Quantitative) for shortlisting. Your SJT band is then used after your interview .
2. The "Contextual" Approach 🧑⚖️
Some universities are more flexible with scores if you meet certain widening participation criteria.
University of Leicester: For their standard A100 course, they have a detailed scoring system for academics and UCAT. However, for their Medicine with Foundation Year (A199) , they have specific widening access criteria that must be met, and your application is considered within that context .
3. The "SJT is Critical" Approach ⚠️
The Situational Judgement Test (SJT) is not just a tick-box exercise. A low score here can be an automatic disqualifier, regardless of how well you did on the rest.
As mentioned, Nottingham and many others will instantly reject a Band 4.
King's College London, for their standard course, doesn't have a fixed threshold but states the SJT is "taken into account" alongside your overall score .
4. The "No Fixed Cut-Off" Approach 🔮
Many top universities, like Oxford, Cambridge, and Imperial, state they don't have a fixed cut-off score. However, this is often misleading. In reality, competition is so fierce that the cohort of successful applicants ends up having a very high, self-selecting "effective" cut-off. They will look at your scores alongside your other attributes .
What About Universities That Accept Lower UCAT Scores? 🎯
It's the million-dollar question: "My score wasn't amazing, where can I apply?" While no university advertises a low score, some place less emphasis on the UCAT in favour of GCSEs or a holistic review.
Based on historical data and entry models, applicants with more moderate scores often find success at universities that use a scoring system blending GCSEs and UCAT (like Nottingham or Leicester), or those that look at your full profile post-interview.
Some universities often cited as being more accessible based on past admissions data include:
Keele University
University of Sunderland
University of Central Lancashire (UCLan)
However, be very careful! "Lower" is a relative term. You must check the university's own selection statistics and scoring documents. A "low" score for one year might be a "high" score for another depending on the applicant pool .
3 Golden Tips for Your 2026 UCAT Application Strategy 🌟
1. Look Beyond the List 🕵️
Don't just tick off which universities require UCAT. Visit their websites and search for "[University Name] medicine selection process 2026" or "UCAT scoring." Look for the PDF documents that explain how they weigh your score against your GCSEs and A-Levels. This tells you everything.
2. Balance Your Choices ⚖️
You have four UCAS choices. Use them wisely.
Aspirational: A university where your predicted grades and practice UCAT scores are a good fit, even if it's highly competitive.
Matched: A university where your profile sits comfortably within their typical offer-holder range.
Sensible: A university with a more holistic approach or where your GCSEs can really boost your UCAT score.
3. The SJT Can Make or Break You 🚨
Don't neglect your SJT preparation. It's not just about common sense; it's about understanding the medical perspective on professionalism, honesty, and teamwork. Scoring Band 4 at some universities means your application won't even be read.
Final Thoughts 💭
The message for 2026 entry is clear: the UCAT is now a universal gatekeeper for UK medicine. From the historic halls of Oxford to the modern classrooms of newer medical schools, your performance in this test will be a critical factor in your journey.
Your task now is to dig deeper. Use the list above as your starting point, but spend your time researching how each school uses your score. That research is what will turn a good application into a great one.
Good luck with your preparation—you've got this! 🍀
