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 from 2nd 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.
We award bursaries for each sitting.
If you do not sit in the upcoming test window, you will need to submit a new application for the next test window. If you are absent from a test booking, your bursary will not be re-issued.
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. 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 2024/25 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 2024/25 academic year) |
|
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 2024/25). 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 2024/25). 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 2025 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. Do not apply for your test until your bursary request is submitted and reviewed.
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).
If you applied prior to approval, and your test card is already on your dashboard, please withdraw and readd the test to ensure your booking can be made free of charge.
Book your test
Please wait until you receive approval of your bursary book your 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.
Your bursary is applied to the next available test sitting. If you do not book, or you book and cancel more than 48 hours in advance of your booking, you must reapply if you wish to take your test in the next test window.
Key Dates 2026 Entry
| Event | Deadline Date |
|---|---|
|
Applications open for bursaries for October 2025 test sitting. |
2nd June 2025 |
|
Test booking opens for October 2025 test sitting. |
31st July 2025 |
|
Applications open for bursaries for January 2026 test sitting. |
1st October 2025 |
|
Test booking opens for January 2025 test sitting. |
27th October 2025 |