The published 2026 UCAT test centres in New Zealand were Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Invercargill, New Plymouth and Wellington. UCAT ANZ 2027 is the test you sit in July 2027 for 2028 entry, and its centre list hasn't been published yet. Use last year's list to plan your travel, then check the real appointments when booking opens.
Where are the UCAT test centres in NZ?
UCAT ANZ listed these cities for its 2026 window of 1 July to 5 August. A city being on the list didn't mean it had appointments on every testing day. The official centre page said centres were open for a number of days or weeks, and some regional sites had only a single date.
| NZ city | 2026 listing | 2027 status |
|---|---|---|
| Auckland | Listed | Not yet published |
| Christchurch | Listed | Not yet published |
| Dunedin | Listed | Not yet published |
| Invercargill | Listed | Not yet published |
| New Plymouth | Listed | Not yet published |
| Wellington | Listed | Not yet published |
Sources: ucat.edu.au, checked 14 October 2026.
You only see the real test sites and times inside the Pearson booking system. The public city list can't tell you whether the Friday afternoon you want exists. Booking early matters most if you have to travel, or if your centre only runs a few sessions. Our dates page has the published 2026 booking window and the current 2027 status.
Can I sit UCAT in Dunedin during HSFY?
Dunedin was on the 2026 list, but that on its own doesn't guarantee you a 2027 appointment on the day you want. If you're doing HSFY, line up the booking options against Otago's semester, assessment and exam calendar. A date straight after semester one exams may leave you too little time for a last full mock and for recovering from travel. A late test date can creep up on university application deadlines.
In 2026 the Consortium recommended booking a July test. Otago's 2026 Medicine application window closed on 13 August, after the published UCAT window ended on 5 August. Otago says its 2027 application close will fall on a Thursday, but it hasn't published the date. Don't assume last year's gap between the two will hold for your application.
How do I choose a UCAT test date?
- Start with your university application year and confirm you need UCAT. Auckland Medicine will use Casper and an MMI for 2028 entry, while Otago Medicine has used UCAT for its HSFY and Graduate routes.
- Mark exams, assessments, placements and travel commitments. Choose an appointment you can reach without relying on a tight connection.
- Compare nearby cities if your first centre has no good slot. A longer trip with a calm arrival may be better than a date that clashes with an exam.
- Book once you have a workable option. Keep the confirmation email and check the appointment appears in your Pearson account.
If you live regionally, you may need to stay overnight. Check transport and accommodation before you pay for a test slot. If money is tight, remember that the published 2026 test fee was charged in Australian dollars and that booking late added a surcharge. Our NZ cost guide sets out those figures without guessing at a New Zealand dollar conversion.
Can I change my centre or date after booking?
Under the 2026 policy you could reschedule while another appointment was still free. It cost nothing before 29 June at 11:59pm AEST and A$25 after that. Any change had to be made at least 24 hours before your appointment, and later slots were scarce. Changing country counted as cancelling and rebooking, which is a different process from a normal reschedule. The 2027 fee and cut offs are still pending.
If a flight, illness or assessment clash rules the date out, act while you still have a reschedule window. Don't leave it until the morning of the test. Our missed UCAT guide covers the 2026 refund and no-show rules, and the UCAT ANZ 2027 guide shows where those decisions sit in the full calendar.
What should I check before travelling?
Take the exact photo ID accepted in the country you're testing in, plus your appointment confirmation. In 2026 UCAT ANZ asked candidates to arrive 30 minutes early. A driver licence was only accepted in the country that issued it, so your New Zealand licence won't work for a test in Australia. Read our NZ test day guide and the official ID policy before you lock in travel plans.
Knowing where the centre is on a map won't be enough to pick a test day. Check when the centre expects you, how long the trip takes at that time of day, and whether you could recover from a missed bus or flight. The 2026 test day rule asked you to arrive 30 minutes early, and turning up more than 15 minutes late meant losing your fee. If you're coming from a regional town, compare the cost of staying near the centre the night before with the risk of a same-day connection.
Keep your appointment time in the centre's time zone. This matters if you book in Australia while living in New Zealand. Check the ID rule for that country too, because a driver licence is only valid in the country that issued it. The overseas fee applies outside both Australia and New Zealand, so changing location can change the price as well as the trip.
FAQ
Was there a Dunedin UCAT centre in 2026?
Yes. Dunedin appeared in the published 2026 New Zealand centre list.
Are 2027 NZ centres confirmed?
No. UCAT ANZ hadn't published its 2027 centre list by 14 October 2026.
Can I switch from NZ to Australia by rescheduling?
The 2026 policy required you to cancel and rebook to change test country.
Once you've locked in a test date and want to start timing yourself, see how Cutline UCAT practice works.
Cutline is not affiliated with or endorsed by the UCAT ANZ Consortium or the University of Otago. UCAT is used here only to describe the test. Official information checked 14 October 2026. Check ucat.edu.au for the 2027 cycle when it is published.
