UK Clinical Aptitude Test

All candidates applying to Medicine at St Andrews, including international students, are required to sit the UK Clinical Aptitude Test. This should be sat in the year before the year of entry to the Medical programme. The deadline for sitting the test is usually the first week in October, but the exact date can be found on the UKCAT website. Applicants re-applying for Medicine must re-take the test each time they re-apply.

Use of UKCAT at St Andrews

The UKCAT test can vary each year. Please be aware that for the 2017 sitting of the test (used for 2018 entry), the Decision Analysis subtest will be included, and scores will range from 1200 to 3600.

The 2016 UKCAT test (used for 2017 entry) did not include the Decision Analysis subtest and scores ranged from 900 to 2700.

For 2018 entry, the School won't know the likely UKCAT scores for those to be called for interview until they have assessed all applications. For 2017 entry, the lowest score for applicants called to interview at St Andrews was 1800 (that equated to around 2400 in previous tests when all four subtests were included and the range was 1200 to 3600).

Use of UKCAT in selection for interview

The School of Medicine has a limited number of interview places (around 400). To be considered for interview, applicants must have a strong academic record, a positive reference, and relevant, medically related work experience. Find out more about the interview selection process.

Applicants meeting these requirements will be ranked on the basis of their UKCAT global score. Those ranked in the top 400 or so will be given an interview. Decisions to make offers will be based on the interview score. Where applicants have the same interview score, the global UKCAT score will be used to differentiate between them.

Use of Situational Judgement Test (SJT)

The SJT will be used as an element in the interview process, with the score being incorporated into the interview score.

UKCATSEN

Applicants applying to St Andrews who have sat the UKCATSEN will need to supply evidence of the need for extra time in the form of a medical diagnosis or report from an appropriately qualified teacher or specialist. The evidence should include a statement on how much extra time the candidate has been allowed in examinations. The School of Medicine will consider whether to accept the evidence put forward as to why the candidate sat the UKCATSEN. If you need further advice, please email medical.admissions@st-andrews.ac.uk.

Candidates who have been allowed more than 25% extra time in examinations should be aware that they should discuss their support needs with the Disability team at the University of St Andrews before application to ascertain what support arrangements the University could put in place for them, should they enter as a student.

More information and details of who to contact for advice can be found on the disabilities advice and support webpage and in the disability section of the School of Medicine’s handbook.