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Admissions tests for 2027 entry
Some courses ask you to sit an admissions test as well as sending your UCAS application. For 2027 entry, five tests cover most of them: UCAT, LNAT, ESAT, TMUA and TARA.
Checked against official sources on 24 September 2026.
The main tests
| Test | Used for |
|---|---|
| UCAT | Most UK medical and dental schools. |
| LNAT | Law at some universities, including Oxford. |
| ESAT (Engineering and Science Admissions Test) | Science, engineering and related courses at universities that use UAT-UK tests. |
| TMUA (Test of Mathematics for University Admission) | Some mathematics, computer science and economics courses. |
| TARA (Test of Academic Reasoning for Admissions) | Some courses that need reasoning and writing skills rather than a particular subject. |
What changed for 2027 entry
ESAT, TMUA and TARA are run by UAT-UK, a joint venture between Imperial College London and the University of Cambridge. From 2026, the University of Oxford uses UAT-UK tests alongside LNAT and UCAT, in place of its own older tests. If you apply to more than one university that uses the same UAT-UK test, you only take it once.
When to take them
For courses with the 15 October 2026 deadline, tests are usually taken before or around that date. UAT-UK's October sitting is 12 to 16 October 2026, and booking closes at 18:00 on 28 September 2026; Oxford and Cambridge applicants must take this sitting. The January sitting is 4 to 8 January 2027, for some courses with the January deadline, with booking from 26 October to 21 December 2026. UCAT is taken in the summer before you apply. Registration and booking close earlier than the test itself, so check each test's website well in advance.
Help with costs
Test providers offer bursaries to cover the fee for eligible students. Apply for the bursary before you book the test, because a fee already paid may not be refunded. Bursaries are usually for UK or EU applicants, and each test has its own deadline: for the UAT-UK January 2027 sitting, bursary requests close at 18:00 on 14 December 2026.
Check each course
Whether you need a test depends on the course and the university. The course page and the test's own website are the final word.
Sources
Quick answers
Which admissions test do I need for medicine?
Most UK medical and dental schools use UCAT. Check each course page.
Does Oxford still use the PAT, MAT and TSA?
No. From 2026, Oxford uses the UAT-UK tests (ESAT, TMUA and TARA) alongside LNAT and UCAT.
Do I have to take the same UAT-UK test twice?
No. If several of your universities use the same UAT-UK test, you take it once.