UCAT Registration & Booking: Key Requirements and Step-by-Step Process for Applicants
Registration & Booking: Contents
Quick links to every guide you need, in the right order.
1 Register (requirements & steps)
2 Dates & timelines
3 Booking strategy
4 After you book
What UCAT registration actually means and why it matters
UCAT registration is a two-step process: you create your UCAT account and then book a test through the Pearson VUE registration system. The reason it deserves careful attention is that UCAT and Pearson VUE operate with strict deadlines and strict check-in rules (especially around identity). Missing a deadline, arriving without permitted ID, or failing to complete rescheduling steps can mean you lose your test fee and may not be able to rebook within the testing window.
For UK medicine and dentistry applicants, UCAT is a compulsory entry requirement for relevant programmes at UCAT Consortium universities, so you should confirm early whether each course you plan to apply to requires UCAT. Universities regularly remind applicants that UCAT is taken in the same year as you apply via UCAS, typically in the summer before application deadlines.
Eligibility and key requirements you must meet before you book
Who needs to sit UCAT and when
UCAT is required for applicants to relevant medical and dental programmes at UK and partner consortium universities, and applicants should verify each university’s entry requirements before booking. UCAT is delivered in Pearson VUE test centres across the UK and in 130+ countries worldwide.
Only one sitting per test year
You may only test once in any year; multiple testing is treated as misconduct. UCAT also states candidates are not permitted to sit both UCAT and UCAT ANZ in the same year under any circumstances (misconduct).
Photo ID is non-negotiable
At a test centre, your permitted photo ID must be original (not a photocopy or digital ID), unexpired, show a true likeness, include your name matching your UCAT account/appointment confirmation, and include your signature. UCAT warns that if you do not have correct photo ID you will not be allowed to test and you will lose your test fee.
If you’re testing in the UK and cannot present permitted photo ID, UCAT describes an “Alternative ID” route via a document from your school/college/university with specific formatting requirements (headed paper, photo, signatures, official stamp and specified wording).
If your ID name and your registered name don’t match, UCAT says test centre staff use Pearson VUE name matching guidelines, and you should email Pearson VUE Customer Services in advance if you need a correction or name change (with lead times and ID evidence requirements).
Step-by-step UCAT registration and UCAT booking process
Step by step workflow
Confirm UCAT is required for each course you plan to apply to. UCAT itself advises applicants to check course entry requirements with each university before booking.
Check current UCAT dates and set reminders. UCAT’s Test Dates page is the authoritative source and explicitly warns it cannot make exceptions to deadlines.
Get your ID sorted before you touch the booking system. Your booking must match your ID details, and arriving without permitted ID is treated as a no-show under UCAT’s missed test policy.
Apply early for anything that must be approved/issued before booking. UCAT states access arrangements require approval before you can book, and bursary candidates should apply before booking so they can pay with a bursary voucher.
Create your UCAT account (Pearson VUE). UCAT lists registration as creating an account + booking via Pearson VUE. If your registration needs validation, UCAT notes you may need to wait up to one working day for an email from Pearson VUE (check junk/spam).
Book your test as soon as booking opens. UCAT’s Essentials guidance explicitly says: book as early as possible and avoid booking a late test date.
Pay the fee (or redeem your bursary voucher) and confirm your appointment. UCAT states the fee is payable at the time of booking by major debit/credit card, and UK candidates in financial need can apply for a UCAT bursary voucher.
Check you received booking confirmation and keep your Candidate ID. UCAT assigns a unique Candidate ID after successful registration and expects you to use it in correspondence.
Plan for test day logistics immediately (travel, timing, check-in rules). UCAT states you must arrive 15 minutes before your appointment time to complete check-in.
If you need to change your appointment, follow the official reschedule/cancel process—don’t improvise. UCAT requires at least 24 hours’ notice to cancel or reschedule to avoid losing your fee, and it does not allow cancelling/rescheduling by email.
Booking success tips that materially reduce risk
Booking demand is not evenly distributed: earlier appointment slots (and popular centres) disappear first. UCAT explicitly warns that rescheduling depends on availability and you may need to travel to another location if local appointments aren’t available. Their cancellation/rescheduling policy also cautions that if you book a late test date and then encounter issues preventing attendance, you may not be able to rebook within the testing window.
Practically, that means you improve your odds by (a) booking earlier in the testing window, (b) having multiple centre locations you can reasonably reach, and (c) treating rescheduling as a “best effort” option rather than a guarantee.
Test centre vs remote options: what UK applicants should know
Test centre delivery (standard for most UK applicants)
Most UK applicants will sit UCAT at a Pearson VUE test centre. On test day, test centre staff check your photo ID, take your photo, and complete the check-in process (including security inspection and storage of personal belongings). UCAT reiterates that nothing is allowed into the testing room except what you are wearing indoors, your photo ID, permitted comfort aids, and approved access arrangements.
Online proctored testing (OnVUE) is conditional, not a default choice
UCAT’s booking guidance frames OnVUE online proctored testing as relevant if you are outside the UK and travel to a test centre is difficult due to factors such as distance or disruption (e.g., civil unrest or natural disaster). For candidates approved to sit OnVUE, UCAT directs them to run a system test, check technical requirements and testing space rules, and warns that failures (including presenting incorrect OnVUE ID or having an unsuitable testing space) can mean you are not eligible for a refund or free reschedule.
OnVUE has its own photo ID policy (different from test centre ID policy), and UCAT states candidates under 18 must have a parent/guardian present at the start to provide consent (with their own correct photo ID).
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Dates, deadlines, fees, refunds, and rescheduling rules
Booking windows and deadlines
UCAT publishes key dates by test cycle, and you should always check current UCAT dates on the official Test Dates page and set reminders—UCAT explicitly warns it cannot make exceptions to deadlines. UCAT’s booking page states that for the 2026 cycle, registration opens in May 2026 and booking opens in June 2026, with key dates to be published on the Test Dates page.
Some universities publish helpful date summaries for applicants (which can be useful for planning), but the UCAT Test Dates page remains the source of truth.
Fees and bursaries
UCAT states the test fee is payable at booking by major debit/credit card. The UCAT booking page lists fees as £70 for tests taken in the UK and £115 for tests taken outside the UK (check current UCAT dates/fees for the cycle you’re sitting).
UK candidates in financial need can apply for a UCAT bursary voucher; UCAT’s bursary scheme page states it is open to UK candidates who meet the criteria and that only one voucher is permitted per test cycle.
Refunds, cancellations, and rescheduling
UCAT’s rescheduling and cancelling policy is clear on the headline rule: you must give at least 24 hours’ notice to cancel or reschedule, otherwise you will not be eligible for a refund or a free reschedule. UCAT also states rescheduling/cancellation must be done through your UCAT account (or by phone in specific scenarios); it cannot be done by email.
If you used a bursary voucher, UCAT states you can re-use the same voucher code if you rebook in the same year.
Critically, UCAT defines “no-show” broadly: missing your appointment, missing the cancellation/reschedule deadline, arriving without permitted photo ID, technical issues, or failing to follow the correct reschedule/cancel steps can all result in no refund and no free reschedule.
Access arrangements and special circumstances
UCAT offers access arrangements for candidates with learning difficulties, disabilities and other medical conditions, and it emphasises that access arrangements should be arranged in advance. UCAT distinguishes between:
Comfort aids (no prior approval) such as items on the Pearson VUE comfort aid list, non-electronic ear defenders/earplugs, and coloured overlays (after visual inspection).
General accommodations (no approval, but must be arranged in advance) such as wheelchair access/adjustable desks or ZoomText-based screen magnification/contrast features, which should be arranged at least 5 working days in advance by calling Pearson VUE Customer Services.
Arrangements requiring approval including rest breaks, extra test time, or special accommodations (e.g., separate room), which require an application to the UCAT Office.
Extra test time is typically approved where a disability has a substantial, long-term adverse effect on speed of working; UCAT notes it will not normally be approved solely because English is not your first language and will not be approved where the request relates only to handwriting issues (as the test is computer-based). UCAT also states that in most cases 25% extra test time (with rest breaks if appropriate) is sufficient.
If you have arranged accommodations (e.g., separate room or permission to use a coloured overlay noted as an accommodation), UCAT states you cannot reschedule or cancel through your UCAT account and must phone Pearson VUE Customer Services (while still meeting notice requirements).
Common pitfalls, troubleshooting, and a booking-ready checklist
Issues that most often derail UCAT booking and registration
The highest-impact failures tend to be preventable:
Name/ID mismatches: UCAT requires your registered name to match your ID and recommends contacting Pearson VUE in advance if you’re unsure, with specific lead times for advice and name corrections.
Missing or invalid ID: If you arrive without permitted ID (or approved alternative ID), UCAT states you will not be allowed to test and your fee will not be refunded.
Creating multiple accounts: UCAT’s FAQs instruct returning candidates to use their existing account and explicitly state multiple accounts are not permitted.
Waiting too long to book: UCAT advises booking early and avoiding late test dates; it also warns that rescheduling is subject to availability and late issues may prevent rebooking within the window.
Assuming email changes are allowed: UCAT explicitly states you cannot cancel or reschedule by email.
Remote testing without meeting requirements: UCAT’s OnVUE guidance stresses system tests, space requirements, and compliance; failure can lead to loss of fee.
Who to contact (and when)
UCAT routes registration/booking problems to Pearson VUE Customer Services and notes (a) account registration emails can take up to 1 working day to arrive, and (b) you should check junk/spam before calling. UCAT publishes the Pearson VUE UCAT helpline number and operating hours, and advises directing enquiries correctly to avoid delay (and not contacting Customer Services until the website has been updated for the current cycle if information is not yet available).
UCAT booking checklist and planning timeline
Use the following as a “one-glance” workflow; replace each “check current UCAT dates” placeholder by confirming the official Test Dates page for your cycle
| Stage | What you need to do | Timing to aim for | What can go wrong if you delay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Confirm requirement | Verify UCAT is required for each target medicine/dentistry course | Before registration opens | Booking a test you don’t need, or missing a test you do need |
| Check key dates | Note registration open, booking open/close, test window (“check current UCAT dates”) | As soon as dates publish | Missing a deadline (UCAT won’t make exceptions) |
| ID readiness | Ensure your ID is permitted, original, unexpired, signed, and your name matches your UCAT account | Well before booking | No valid ID = no test + you may lose your fee; name fixes need lead time |
| Access arrangements (if needed) | Apply early; approvals are required before booking for extra time/rest breaks/special accommodations | Before you book | You may have to cancel/rebook to switch test version; some changes can’t be done online |
| Bursary (if eligible) | Apply for a bursary voucher so you can pay at booking | Before you book | You may need to pay upfront; voucher rules/limits apply |
| Create UCAT account | Register via Pearson VUE; keep your Candidate ID; check spam/junk for emails | When registration opens | Account delays can leave you scrambling when booking opens |
| Book your test | Complete UCAT booking in your account; pay fee/redeem voucher; save confirmation | As soon as booking opens | Late booking = fewer centres/dates and harder rescheduling |
| Changes (if required) | Cancel/reschedule with ≥24 hours’ notice; confirm the new appointment is saved | As soon as you know | Miss the 24-hour window or process = no refund / pay again |
UCAT registration & booking milestones (check current UCAT dates)
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Registration opensCreate UCAT account (Pearson VUE) and confirm your ID details
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Before bookingApply for bursary (if eligible) and access arrangements (if needed)
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Booking opensBook test centre appointment, pay fee / redeem voucher, receive confirmation
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Testing windowSit UCAT and obtain score report
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Changes deadlineCancel/reschedule with at least 24 hours’ notice (or lose fee)
