BMAT Cancelled? Changes To The BMAT Test For The 2024 & 2025 Application Cycle [UPDATED]

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. 

New arrangements for the admissions process of former BMAT universities will be published in the Spring of this year, but in the meantime, this guide will tell you everything we know so far, and how this will affect you when applying to universities in the UK. 

As of May 2024, all information in this article is up-to-date and accurate, but due to the ongoing changes being made it's worth keeping an eye on the latest information released by the Medical Schools that you're interested in! 

👉🏻 Read more:  How To Choose a UK Medical School

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. 

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If you’ve applied for medicine in 2023 for 2024 entry and sat your BMAT in October 2023, this change will not affect you. 

If you’re applying for medicine in 2024 onwards (for 2025 entry) this change WILL affect you. 

This is the same for both undergraduate and graduate-entry medical school applications. 

Likewise, if you are applying for a medical school outside of the UK for entry in 2024/25, it will still not be possible to sit the BMAT examination. Therefore this will be removed from the admissions process. 

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Previously 7 UK medical schools required the BMAT in their application process. This included:

The upcoming group of medical school applicants for 24/25 entry, will no longer be required to take the BMAT by these universities. 

👉🏻 Read more: UK Medical School Entry Requirements Guide

The Complete List of UCAT Universities has been published by the UCAT Consortium, and this aims to be finalised by March 2024.

Leeds, Imperial, UCL, Brighton & Sussex, Lancaster and Cambridge have all announced individually that they are switching their application criteria to include the UCAT exam. 

The University of Oxford has now confirmed that they too will be using the UCAT exam in 2024 for 2025 entry.

👉🏻 Read more: Everything You Need To Know About The UCAT

Cambridge Assessments Admissions Testing announced the BMAT cancellation in conjunction with the cancellation of several other Oxbridge admissions tests, including:

There has yet to be a formal statement describing why these changes have been made, though they stated "operational and financial challenges in delivering this complex, high-stakes test.

However, Imperial College London and The University of Cambridge have announced plans to deliver new maths, science and engineering admissions tests with the assessment company Pearson VUE. 

👉🏻 Read more: Making a UCAT Revision Timetable

Given the shift of the BMAT universities towards the UCAT examination, we recommend students focus their revision on the skills and techniques required for the UCAT examination. This starts with ensuring that you register for the UCAT exam in good time. 

Oxbridge applicants should keep an eye on the University of Oxford and University of Cambridge Medical School admissions pages for any updates, expected in the spring. 

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The Biomedical Admissions Test (BMAT) is an assessment previously required for entry into certain UK medical schools. It's being discontinued from 2024 as Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing announced they will no longer create or release new BMAT examination papers or BMAT questions.

In essence, yes. There will be no BMAT exams from 2024 onwards. This means the BMAT is not needed for 2025 Entry onwards.

The UK medical schools that previously required the BMAT included Imperial College London, University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, Lancaster University, Brighton & Sussex Medical School, University College London (UCL), and the University of Leeds.

Applicants applying for medicine from 2024 onwards, for entry in the 2024/25 academic year, will be affected by this change as the BMAT will no longer be part of the admissions process.

Following the discontinuation of the BMAT, many of the affected universities are switching their admissions criteria to include the UCAT assessment instead.

Both Oxford and Cambridge have confirmed that they are moving to the UCAT in Spring 2024. As of yet there is no mention of an alternative admissions exam needed for Oxbridge.

Students should focus their preparation on the UCAT examination, acquiring the necessary skills and techniques, especially those targeting BMAT universities. Students will gain no benefit from applying for preparatory BMAT courses or BMAT tutoring. 

As of the announcement, there has not been a formal statement detailing the specific reasons behind the cancellation of the BMAT and several other Oxbridge admissions tests. 

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.

International applicants applying to UK medical schools that previously required the BMAT will also need to adapt to the new requirements, which may include taking the UCAT instead.

Prospective medical students should explore official UCAT preparation materials, online practice tests, and UCAT tutoring services to prepare effectively for the UCAT examination.

Oxford and Cambridge have confirmed that they are moving to the UCAT for 2025 Entry in Medicine.

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.

For applicants to medical schools outside the UK, the discontinuation of the BMAT means it will also be removed from the admissions process, necessitating a focus on other relevant admissions tests like the UCAT exam.

With the discontinuation of the BMAT, the UCAT becomes a more prominent admissions test for UK medical schools, though specific admissions criteria can vary by university.

Applicants should regularly check the official websites of their target medical schools, including updates from Oxford and Cambridge, for the most current information regarding admissions processes and requirements

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