University Clinical Aptitude Test
All candidates applying to Medicine at St Andrews, including international students, are required to sit the University Clinical Aptitude Test. You should sit this test the year before the year you enter the Medicine programme. The deadline for sitting the test is usually the first week in October, but the exact date can be found on the UCAT website.
Applicants re-applying for Medicine must re-take the test each time they re-apply.
The School of Medicine at St Andrews would not exempt a candidate from the UCAT on the grounds of a significant or unforeseen medical or personal issue. All applicants must have sat the test in the appropriate testing cycle.
Use of UCAT at St Andrews
The School of Medicine has a limited number of interview places (approximately 500). 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 UCAT global score. Those ranked in the top 500 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 UCAT score will be used to differentiate between them.
The UCAT test can vary each year, and the range of scores that the School can consider will also vary depending on the performance of each particular admissions cohort. In addition, the School is required to manage the number of entrants to its programmes in line with targets set by the Scottish Government and the Scottish Funding Council in relation to fee status (Home, Rest of UK, Overseas) and also in relation to ‘widening participation’ targets for entrants from disadvantaged backgrounds.
In recent years, the mean average score for applicants called to interview at St Andrews has been around 2650 (including 10% boost when applied). For the next admissions cycle, the School won't know the likely UCAT scores for those to be called for interview until they have assessed all applications.
‘Widening participation’ applicants who meet (or who are predicted to meet) the required academic grades and meet any of the following criteria (and provide appropriate evidence), will be given a 10% increase in their UCAT score, to be used in the ranking for invitation to interview:
- reside in the lowest 40% most deprived areas of Scotland as indicated by postcode
- are looked after (or have been looked after) as a result of a local authority order
- are estranged
- are a refugee
See information about entry requirements using the entry requirements indicator.
UCATSEN
Applicants to Medicine who have a specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia, a disability, medical condition or temporary injury, may be entitled to extra time, rest breaks or accommodations in the UCAT.
All applications for access arrangements in the UCAT must be made to the UCAT office; that office will seek evidence from you before giving approval for specific test arrangements. See information on UCAT access arrangements.
The School of Medicine’s Policy on extenuating circumstances for A100 and A990 (PDF) covers the sitting of the UCAT.
Candidates who have been allowed more than 25% extra time in examinations should discuss their support needs with the disability team at the University of St Andrews before applying 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 web page and in the disability section of the School of Medicine’s handbook.