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Oxford applicants for 2027 entry take an admissions test set by their course: the UAT-UK tests (ESAT, TARA or TMUA), the UCAT for Medicine, or the LNAT for Law. UAT-UK says most applicants to Oxford or Cambridge must sit their test in October; the October 2026 window was 12th to 16th October. Always check your own course page, because not every course has a test.
The tests at a glance
| Test | Who runs it | What it is | Check at |
|---|---|---|---|
| ESAT | UAT-UK | Engineering and Science Admissions Test: five modules (Mathematics 1, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics 2); everyone takes Mathematics 1 and most candidates take two more; 27 multiple-choice questions and 40 minutes per module | UAT-UK ESAT |
| TMUA | UAT-UK | Test of Mathematics for University Admission: two papers of 20 multiple-choice questions, 75 minutes each, 2 hours 30 minutes in total; no calculator | UAT-UK TMUA |
| TARA | UAT-UK | Test of Academic Reasoning for Admissions: Critical Thinking (22 multiple-choice questions, 40 minutes), Problem Solving (22 multiple-choice questions, 40 minutes) and an unscored Writing Task (one question from three, up to 750 words, 40 minutes). UAT-UK says TARA is currently used by the University of Oxford and UCL | UAT-UK TARA |
| UCAT | UCAT Consortium | University Clinical Aptitude Test, a computer-based test used by a consortium of UK and partner universities to help select applicants to medical and dental degrees; Oxford uses it for Medicine and Graduate-entry Medicine | UCAT essentials and Oxford admissions tests |
| LNAT | LNAT Consortium | Law National Aptitude Test; Oxford uses it for Law and Law with Foundation Year | LNAT dates and deadlines and Oxford admissions tests |
Key facts for the October 2026 sitting (UAT-UK)
Tests ran 12th-16th October 2026; booking closed 28 September 2026 at 6pm UK time; results via the UAT-UK account on Monday 16 November 2026.
“Applicants to the University of Cambridge or the University of Oxford MUST sit the test in October”, with exceptions for mature applicants to a mature college with a January deadline at Cambridge and for Oxford's Astrophoria Foundation Year (January sitting 4th-8th January 2027, booking 26 October to 21 December 2026, results 8 February 2027).
Source: UAT-UK deadlines.
Cost: £78 in the UK and Republic of Ireland, £133 elsewhere (UAT-UK test pages).
Which course needs which test?
We do not list a course-by-course table here. Oxford publishes the full list of courses with ESAT, TARA, TMUA, UCAT or LNAT, and Cambridge colleges publish theirs on each course page. Check the official page for your course before you book anything.
Related
- Deadlines for 2027 entry
- Replaced admissions tests
- TMUA preparation
- TARA preparation
- ESAT preparation
- UCAT Oxbridge Medicine preparation
- LNAT Oxford Law preparation
Sources
- UAT-UK ESAT
- UAT-UK TMUA
- UAT-UK TARA
- UAT-UK deadlines
- UCAT essentials
- LNAT dates and deadlines
- Oxford admissions tests
- Cambridge undergraduate study
Last verified: 14 October 2026
FAQs
Do all Oxford courses need an admissions test?
No. Oxford says not all courses have one. Check your course page.
Can I sit the UAT-UK test in January for Oxford or Cambridge?
Only in the exceptions UAT-UK lists: mature applicants to a mature college with a January deadline at Cambridge, and Oxford's Astrophoria Foundation Year. Other Oxford and Cambridge applicants must sit in October.
Does TARA count for Cambridge?
UAT-UK says the TARA is currently used by the University of Oxford and UCL. Check the course page of any other university.