Medicine 2026 entry - part 1

[rockstuckhardplace]

Starting a new thread for parents of prospective medical students looking to start in 2026.

So, I have a UCAT booking question! Booking opens at 6am this coming Tuesday (17 June 2025). My DD is planning being online ready to book then.

My question is: to what extent is it like booking concert tickets? Do we need to have a few options ready, so that we can act quickly? She's looking to book for end August, which I think is a popular time. Does geography play a factor?

@rockstuckhardplaceif you have limited options for dates and places it’s good to get on early tomorrow. Each centre will only have a set number of spaces for UCAT and they’ll go fast. But often more dates are added and people will also change dates so there is movement.

Sorry, meant Tuesday.

PS the website usually crashes at 6am but keep refreshing and it will work eventually. Much like ucas on results day 😂

@mumsneedwine thank you. We have three possible location options, so I'll suggest she checks her preferred date on each of them first.

Get 3 devices going and logged in, then can do it simultaneously. They go quite quickly sometimes.

Thank you!

Bit like buying tickets to concerts 😊

Commenting because although my YP will be applying for 2027 intake I find these threads a valuable source of info and hints. Has anyone applied for Great Ormond Street Hospital's Young Visitor Programme? My YP did and has not heard back despite the date on their website for notification being last Monday. They sent a generic e-mail saying sorry for the delay (not to her, but to me as I sent an email asking if there had been a delay) and saying to not pin your hopes on getting a placement so go with other options if you have them - but this is the one she really wants, so just wondering if anyone had any experience of it?

@SuperSue77its v good, but v v over subscribed. I’m not sure if they’re got back to students this year but no harm in emailing to ask.

It's worth having reasonable flexibility regarding which test centre you sit UCAT at, as this increases your chances of getting a slot in your preferred week. You need to have a good idea of how you are going to schedule your preparation so you know which week you'll be ready to sit the test.
Don't schedule a date too late in the testing window, as you need to allow scope for rescheduling if something knocks you off-course (illness, family emergencies, etc.) If you've scheduled a date in the second half of September and are unable to sit the test on that date, you'll find it difficult to book an alternative. Students are very reluctant to listen to this kind of advice, though: the number of 2nd- and 3rd-year students I've spoken to recently who have booked holidays over the resit period is remarkable.
Remember there's no abstract reasoning section this year, and the other sections have slightly more time. The decision-making section has considerably more time, but it also has more questions (https://www.ucat.ac.uk/about-ucat/ucat-2025/). So the focus of preparation has changed a bit from previous years.

My YP is interested in paediatric surgery and whilst I know it's far to early to have a clue about specialisms, this is her passion so would be amazing if she got to go there for a few days. It's the only place I have seen that allows under 18s to shadow paediatrics, all the other hospitals restrict that to over 18s - she'll have finished her A levels before she turns 18!

The application window for summer closed a few days earlier than the published date, but luckily she submitted her application a few days before that, as she thought it would be oversubscribed. She can apply again but wants to get shadowing done asap as summer next year will be focussed on UCAT 😬

@SuperSue77 if your daughter is interested in paeds, she might want to consider doing some volunteering at a primary school - my DD is a second year med student (and also interested in paeds) and did a week’s work experience at a special needs school (in Yr 11, after GCSEs finished) who were absolutely thrilled to have someone offer to come in and help out for a couple of weeks. The understanding it gave her of how to communicate with children with additional needs was priceless - the teachers were also very generous in sharing their experience, especially with regards to how much you need to learn to communicate and listen to parents too.

DS wants an early UCAT slot... Do you know if those tend to go quickly? There's only one test centre that's practical for us to get to.

@RM26 my DD is going for end Aug and my understanding is that this is the popular time (as late as possible before starting back in Y13).

Its to know where will go fast. As depends on others preference so get on early and book fast. If then want to change at least you have a convenient slot to work from. Good luck !
I have updated my ‘where to apply’ spread sheet and I’ll get it up here asap and can send to anyone who wants the full thing.

It’s a bit hard to read but it looks like this. If want it please drop me a DM. Has GCSE and A level requirements as well as last few years cut offs and next years scoring systems. Might be a few tweaks but mostly up to date.

Hi just checking in as my DD is intending to apply for medicine this time. We will be trying to book UCAT tomorrow morning but also for what looks like the most popular period. Fingers crossed we can get one at the two closest centres.

Open day visiting starting this weekend too just for an idea of what med school is like because as we all know strategic applications depend on UCAT results 😂not where you want to go necessarily.

Rule out any using GCSE criteria (eg if not perfect rule out ones that score them). Then visit a few you like the look of because of course structure, full body dissection vs prosection, campus or city etc. Look at placements and whether close enough to commute of funded accommodation provided. Try not to have favourites. Get UCAT score then apply to 4 that should get you an interview. It’s a tough process but if know what to look
fit it makes it slightly easier.

To add to @mumsneedwine's comment above: if not doing the "classic" Maths-Biology- Chemistry A-level combo, then also need to filter by A-level requirements. My DD isn't doing Biology A-level, which significantly reduces the number of places she can apply to. (I don't know about other requirements eg IB.)

Spreadsheet has all info on.

Are you off to Southampton this weekend? We're going on Sunday :-) Not really one she wants to go to as need mega high UCAT and no cadaveric dissection, but it is not too far and is the first open day following last GCSE finished (last one on Wednesday!)

Good luck booking the UCAT! Someone was asking about it on Facebook and another person who has "been in the group for 3 years" said no need to rush, plenty of test dates for everyone - fine if you don't have a specific date in mind! We already have one, 14 August 2026!

Soon not mega high, usually around 2600-2700. So about 2,000 this year. They interview in UCAT order.

No need to rush is fine if you live near several centres. Not a good idea if there’s one within an hour

@SuperSue77 no not Southampton, we are up north so going to Manchester and York this weekend, then Newcastle and Sheffield the following weekends.

So UCAT is booked for 1st Sept at our local centre which is a relief. DD wanted the first week in Sept so this will do, at least she will have it out of the way before starting school. Seems a bit too real now!

@mumsneedwine that is us, one within an hour, luckily we managed to book it after the site crashing.