24 NOVEMBER 2025
UCAT Widening Participation
Widening Participation and the UCAT: What It Means for You
Applying to medicine or dentistry can feel daunting, especially if you are the first in your family to go to university, come from a school with fewer resources, or face financial or social barriers. This is where Widening Participation (WP) comes in. Universities and the UCAT Consortium are committed to making the application process fairer, ensuring that talented students from all backgrounds have a genuine chance to succeed.
The UCAT (University Clinical Aptitude Test) is used by most UK medical and dental schools. Unlike A-levels or school exams, it doesn’t test specific knowledge; instead, it looks at problem-solving, reasoning, decision-making, and professional values. This means you don’t need expensive tutoring or special classes to do well — with practice and preparation, you can perform strongly regardless of your background.
To support students who may face barriers, several widening participation measures are available:
• Fee bursaries: If you meet certain criteria (for example, if you receive free school meals or come from a low-income household), you can apply to sit the UCAT for free.
• Free resources: The UCAT website offers free practice questions, mock exams, and preparation tools to help you get familiar with the test format.
• University outreach: Many medical and dental schools run mentoring schemes, summer schools, and online sessions specifically for widening participation students.
• Contextual admissions: Some universities consider your background alongside your UCAT score, so they understand your achievements in the context of your opportunities.
The key message is this: medicine and dentistry are for everyone with the ability and motivation, not just for those who can afford private preparation. If you qualify for widening participation support, make sure you apply early for bursaries and get involved in outreach programmes. These opportunities are designed to help you show your potential and to make sure the future healthcare workforce reflects the diverse communities it serves.
Here are some of the major WP / UCAT-related schemes currently in operation:
Scheme / Programme | What it offers / How it helps with UCAT / Applications | Who’s eligible / Participating schools |
|---|---|---|
UCAT Bursary Scheme | Helps eligible UK candidates with costs of sitting UCAT. | Must meet certain criteria (e.g. means-tested benefits, in full-time education or certain age etc.). Only one voucher per test cycle. |
UKWPMED (UK Widening Participation in Medicine) | Collaboration between several medical schools. If you complete one of the eligible WP programmes, then you may get benefits like guaranteed interview and reduced grade offers. https://www.medschools.ac.uk/for-students/further-support-with-your-application/ukwpmed-scheme/ | Applicants to certain medical schools. You also need to meet each school’s academic & UCAT requirements. Participating schools: Birmingham, Brighton & Sussex, Hull York, Keele, Manchester (with MAP & Preston WP), Plymouth Peninsula. Medical Schools Council |
Steps2Medicine (Keele University) | Year 12 students in partner schools with indicators of disadvantage take part. After completing, eligible applicants may get reduced offer grades and guaranteed interview (if academic and UCAT requirements are met). | |
Manchester Access Programme / Preston Widening Access Programme | These help Year 12 students from WP backgrounds. Successfully completing may allow lower UCAT thresholds for entry to Medicine at Manchester, guaranteed interview if UCAT & other criteria are met, and lower grades offers for some. Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health | Local students |
Access to Sheffield / Access+ (University of Sheffield) | For students from under-represented backgrounds; includes mentoring, summer school etc. Must still meet a UCAT minimum threshold. For “Access to Sheffield (Medicine)” programme, there is a benefit: participants do not have their UCAT score ranked alongside others when deciding who is called to interview. https://sheffield.ac.uk/schools/programmes/years12-13/medicine | |
University of Edinburgh – Widening Access / Flag & Plus Flag | For eligible WP applicants, UCAT scores can get a 5-10% uplift (“Flag” or “Plus Flag”) depending on background; still must meet the UCAT cut-off required. However, SJT Band 4 will not be considered. https://medicine-vet-medicine.ed.ac.uk/edinburgh-medical-school/medicine/widening-participation | |
University of Glasgow | Several WP outreach programmes, summer schools, mentoring, and “Glasgow Access Programme” / “Medic Insight Glasgow.” They run UCAT / interview prep, personal statement helps. https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/medicine/widening-participation/ |
How Widening Participation Affects Your UCAT Score:
• UCAT Score Uplift:
Some universities, like The University of Edinburgh, will apply a percentage uplift to your UCAT score if you meet their Widening Access to Medicine criteria.
• Lower UCAT Entry Thresholds:
Other universities might offer access to interview or further consideration with a UCAT score that is lower than the standard entry score.
• Interview Regardless of UCAT:
In some cases, if you are eligible for a widening access flag and meet specific criteria (such as receiving free school meals), you may be invited to interview regardless of your UCAT score, provided you meet the academic requirements and achieve a certain SJT band.
How to Qualify for Widening Participation Schemes
• Meet Specific Academic Criteria:
You may need to achieve certain grades in subjects like Biology and Chemistry.
• Achieve a Minimum SJT Band:
You might need to achieve a specific band (e.g., Band 3 or higher) in the Situational Judgement Test (SJT) part of the UCAT.
• Meet Portfolio Criteria:
You may need to demonstrate engagement with medicine through activities like attending Summer Schools, virtual work experience programs, or reflective pieces on online lectures.
• Meet Socio-Economic or Geographic Criteria:
Some schemes are tailored to students from specific socio-economic backgrounds or geographic regions underrepresented in medicine.
What You Should Do
1. Check Eligibility:
Research the Widening Access to Medicine criteria for each university you are interested in.
2. Look for WP Programmes:
Search for specific programmes designed to support students from underrepresented backgrounds, such as Brighton and Sussex Medical School - BSMS Widening Participation.
3. Prepare for the UCAT:
Even with WP support, strong preparation for all UCAT subtests, including SJT, is crucial.
4. Be Strategic:
Understand that a lower UCAT score doesn't eliminate your chances, but it requires a more strategic approach to your applications.