Bursary Scheme
Our bursary scheme allows UK candidates in financial need to take our test(s) free of charge. You, or your parent/guardian, must meet one of the criteria below to be eligible. You will need to provide some documentation to evidence this. Apply via your online account when we open in June.
Candidate Eligibility
You must live in the UK permanently at the time of application and plan to take your test at a UK Test Centre.
You or a parent/guardian must receive one of the benefits below to qualify. You will need to upload the required evidence, dated as needed. The named parent/guardian must be living at the same address as you.
You can use a bursary once per test per admissions cycle.
If you do not book in October, or you cancel your test more than 48 hours in advance of your test, your bursary will automatically be applicable to the January test sitting.
If you are absent from an October booking, your bursary will not be reissued. If you wish to sit in January instead, you will need to pay the test fee.
Bursary Criteria and Supporting Evidence
If you are under 21 and in full time education, to qualify, you need to receive free school meals or a 16-19 bursary, or be a care leaver. You can also qualify if your parent or guardian gets one of the listed means-tested awards. You do not need to show both.
Please note:
- The evidence must include a date as stipulated in the table below.
- If you are over 21 and no longer in full-time education, you must receive a qualifying award yourself.
It can take up to five working days for UAT-UK to review an application for a bursary. Apply for this as early as you can. Do it before the registration deadline to make sure you can book your test on time.
Full terms and conditions are set out in our Bursary Policy.
| Eligibility Criteria | Evidence Required |
|---|---|
|
The candidate is eligible for OR in receipt of: |
|
|
Free School Meals |
A recent letter ( dated no earlier than the 2025/26 academic year) from your school confirming your receipt of free school meals. |
|
16-19 bursary (England) / EMA (Scotland, Wales or NI). |
Your official award letter with your name and date of award (no earlier than the 2025/26 academic year) |
|
Support as a Care Leaver |
A letter from the relevant local authority or your case/social worker.(no earlier than the 2025/26 academic year) This letter must confirm that you: -have been in the care of, or have been given accommodation by your local authority |
|
The candidate, or parent/guardian, living at the same address is in receipt of: |
|
|
Universal credit |
The first part of your or your parent/guardian’s universal credit statement dated within the last three months. This letter must show the name and address of the claimant, as well as the award amount. |
|
Working Tax Credit |
The first part of your or your parent/guardian’s award letter (dated no earlier than 2025/26). This letter must show the name and address of the claimant. |
|
Child Tax Credit |
The first part of your or your parent/guardian’s award letter (dated no earlier than 2025/26). This letter must show the name and address of the claimant. |
|
Income support, Job Seekers Allowance (JSA), or Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) |
ALL pages of your or your parent/guardian’s award letter (dated in 2026 only). This must be from UK Jobcentre plus and must be a means-tested award (specified on the last page of the letter). It must show the name and address of the claimant. |
|
Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 |
ALL pages of your or your parent/guardian’s official award letter (dated in the last 12 months only). This letter must show the name and address of the claimant. |
|
The guarantee element of State Pension Credit |
ALL pages of your or your parent/guardian’s official award letter (dated in the last 12 months only). This letter must show the name and address of the claimant. |
UAT-UK reserves the right to request additional evidence if, in its view, the initial supporting documentation is not sufficient to verify eligibility. On occasion we may consider alternative evidence on a case-by-case basis.
The following awards/benefits or evidence are not accepted under any circumstances:
Scholarships, bursaries or free school meals at independent or fee-paying schools
Postgraduate Loan
Advanced Learner Loan
Nursing and Midwifery Student Bursary
Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
Council Tax or Housing Benefit
Child Benefit
Annual accounts or a P60 end of year certificate.
UAT-UK does not accept copies of bank statements as proof of entitlement.
Apply for a Bursary
Create a UAT-UK account
When you log in for the first time you will asked some additional demographic questions.
After completing these, you will get through to your dashboard which will provide you with the option to apply for a bursary. You will not be able to apply for a bursary if you have already selected a test. Please withdraw from the test and refresh the page.
Applying with the correct supporting evidence.
Applications for bursaries open in advance of test registration. Applications can take up to five working days for UAT-UK to review, so you should apply in advance of the registration deadline for your intended test sitting.
Please ensure you upload the correct evidence, as detailed above, to avoid your application being delayed.
Receive notification your bursary is approved
Once your bursary has been approved, it will appear on your dashboard. Now you can apply to sit the test(s).
Book your test
If you think you might be eligible for a bursary, please apply before booking a test. We will not be able to reimburse candidates that pay for their test before they apply for a bursary. When you book your test, you will not need to provide payment.
Key Dates 2026 Entry
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
|
Applications open for bursaries for October 2026 and January 2027 |
1st June 2026 |
|
Test bookings open for October 2026 |
20th July 2026 |
|
Deadline to apply for a bursary for October 2026 only |
21st September 2026 |
|
Bursary applications re-open for January 2027 |
5th October 2026 |
|
Deadline to apply for a bursary for January 2027 |
14th December 2026 |