When is the UCAT exam (dates & deadlines)?

For UCAT 2026, registration opened on 20 May 2026, booking opened on 23 June 2026, and the testing period runs from 13 July to 24 September 2026. The final deadline to register and book your UCAT is 16 September 2026 at 15:00 UK time. Candidates requiring access arrangements should apply by 10 September 2026. If you are applying for medicine or dentistry through UCAS, the application deadline is 15 October 2026. Students in Dubai and the UAE should book early to secure their preferred test date and Pearson VUE test centre.

For the 2026 admissions cycle, the UCAT follows a fixed registration, booking, and testing schedule. Students planning to apply to medicine or dentistry programmes should register and book their test as early as possible to secure their preferred appointment, particularly if they wish to test at a Pearson VUE centre in Dubai or elsewhere in the UAE.

UCAT 2026 Key Dates

Students requiring access arrangements should submit their application well before the deadline, as approval is required before booking a test with those accommodations.

Candidates in Dubai and the UAE are encouraged to book early because appointment availability at Pearson VUE test centres may become limited, especially during the later weeks of the testing window. Booking in July or August can provide greater flexibility if your plans change or you need to reschedule.

At Option Training Institute Dubai, we recommend planning your UCAT preparation well in advance of your preferred test date. Starting early allows sufficient time for section-wise learning, timed practice, full-length mock tests, performance reviews, and targeted improvement before the examination.

As the UCAT Consortium updates its registration timeline each year, students should always confirm the latest dates, deadlines, and booking information on the official UCAT website before making travel or testing arrangements.