BMAT (Biomedical Admissions Test)

As of 2024, you’ll no longer need to sit the BMAT examination to apply for entry to a UK Medical School, as it has been cancelled from 2024 onwards.

Cambridge Assessments Admissions Testing announced that they are discontinuing the Biomedical Admissions Test (BMAT) for those applying in 2024 for 2025 entry university application onwards. This means there will be no new BMAT examination papers to be created or released from 2024.

What test will be used instead?

If you are applying to the following universities:

  • University of Leeds
  • Imperial
  • UCL
  • Brighton & Sussex
  • University of Oxford
  • University of Cambridge or
  • Lancaster University

you will need to sit the UCAT Assessment instead.

Why is the BMAT being scrapped?

Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing (who used to create and run the BMAT exam) have announced that from 2024 they won’t be creating or releasing any new BMAT examination papers.

This means that it will no longer be possible to sit the BMAT exam anymore, and therefore it will be removed from the admissions process for all UK Medical schools.

Previously, there were 7 medical schools in the UK that asked candidates to complete the BMAT, but this will no longer be the case from 2024 onwards.

Cambridge Assessments Admissions Testing also announced that several other admissions tests would also be cancelled. These include:

  • Natural Sciences Admissions Assessment (NSAA)
  • Test of Mathematics for University Admission (TMUA)
  • Engineering Admissions Assessment (ENGAA)
  • Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA)

Cambridge Assessments Admissions Testing cited operational and financial challenges as the reason why they would no longer be providing these tests.

Imperial College London and The University of Cambridge have also stated that they plan to deliver new maths, science and engineering admissions tests with the assessment company Pearson VUE.

Which universities will be using the UCAT in 2024?

How should I prepare for the UCAT?

The first thing you'll need to do is register for the UCAT. This year, registrations are open from 18 June to 19 September.

Test dates run from 8 July to 26 September, so make sure you leave plenty of time to study in advance of whichever date you've chosen.

To help you revise, UCAT has provided some official free practice resources that you can use, and there are lots of other websites offering practical advice and tips, including:

How is the UCAT different from the BMAT?

The UCAT (University Clinical Aptitude Test) is another admissions test used by UK medical schools, focusing on assessing aptitude and professional behaviours required for medicine, differing from the BMAT in content and structure.

How much does the UCAT cost?

The UCAT currently costs £70 for UK students and £115 for international students.4

What happens if I sat the BMAT in 2023 for 2024 entry?

If you applied for medicine in 2023 for 2024 entry and sat your BMAT in October 2023, this change will not affect you, and your BMAT scores will be considered as part of your application.

What about further updates to the admissions process for medicine courses in the UK?

We recommend that you regularly check the official websites of their target medical schools, including updates from Oxford and Cambridge, for the most current information regarding Medicine admissions processes.