UK Universities Requiring Admissions Tests (2025)
First things first: entrance tests are not required for the vast majority of UK undergraduate degree courses.
However, if you are applying to certain elite UK universities—such as Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial, UCL, or LSE—and/or to competitive courses like Engineering, Dentistry, Law, Math, Medicine, or Veterinary Science you may be required to sit a subject-specific admissions test.
UK University Entrance Tests, 2025:
A Guide for US Students
- Very few UK university courses require an entrance test, but if you are applying to an elite university or a competitive course, it's always important to check the requirements.
- You can take UK university admissions tests in the USA—no need to travel to the UK.
- Register early—some test centers fill up fast, and bookings can open as early as June.
- The application deadline for Oxford and Cambridge for 2026 entry is October 15th, 2025 —much earlier than for other UK universities. Be sure to check whether any required admissions tests must also be completed before this date.
- You are only permitted to take a UK university entrance test once per application cycle—retakes are not allowed within the same year.
- Preparation for entrance tests is strongly recommended—practice papers and sample tests are available online. Or, if you’d like a recommendation for a specialized entrance test prep tutor, feel free to contact me.
Always check the specific course page on each university’s website to confirm whether an entrance test is required.
UK University Entrance Test List, 2025
Course Specific Entrance Tests
🧪 ESAT (Engineering and Science Admissions Test)
Test dates in October or January. Cambridge applicants must sit the test in October.
Required by:
University of Cambridge (Engineering, Natural Sciences, etc.) October test required
Imperial College London (Engineering and Physics). Either October or January test
UCL (Engineering, Natural Sciences). Either October or January test
If you are applying to one of these institutions for an engineering, physics, natural sciences, or veterinary medicine subject, please check the relevant website pages to confirm you need to sit the test.
Different degree courses require different combinations of ESAT test modules. Make sure you’re correctly registered as you will not be able to change this on test day.
⚖️ LNAT (Law National Admissions Test)
LNAT registration and test booking for entry into university in September 2026 opens on August 1st 2025. Testing starts on September 1st 2025. (DO NOT sit the LNAT before the 2025 summer vacation as your result WILL NOT COUNT for 2025/2026)
Required by:
University of Oxford (by October 15th)
University of Cambridge (by October 15th)
University College London (UCL)
King’s College London (KCL)
London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)
Durham University
University of Bristol
University of Glasgow
SOAS University of London
IE University (Spain)
Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS)
🧮 TMUA (Test of Mathematics for University Admissions)
Test Dates: October 13th & 14th, 2025 or January 8th and 9th, 2026. Cambridge applicants must take the test in October.
University of Cambridge (October test only)
Imperial College London
London School of Economics (LSE)
University of Warwick
UCL
Durham University
📐 STEP (Sixth Term Examination Paper in Mathematics)
The Sixth Term Examination Paper (STEP) is a mathematics admissions test typically taken in mid to late June of 12th grade—notably later than many other UK university entrance exams.
If you are applying for a math-heavy degree course—such as Economics or Computer Science—at one of the elite universities listed below, you may receive a conditional offer based not only on your school-based standardized tests, but also on your performance in an admissions test such as the STEP.
Only applicants who receive a conditional offer from these universities will be required to sit the STEP examination. Final acceptance will depend on your performance in STEP and any other qualifications outlined in the conditions of your offer.
Required by:
University of Cambridge
University of Warwick
Imperial College London
University of Bath
🧠 TARA (Test of Academic Reasoning for Admissions)
Required by:
UCL (for many humanities, social sciences, and interdisciplinary degrees)
🩺 UCAT (University Clinical Aptitude Test)
The University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) is an admissions test used by a consortium of UK and international universities to help select applicants for medical and dental degree programs.
Test booking opens: June 17th - September 16th, 2025
Testing period: July 7th – September 26th, 2025
UCAS deadline for medicine and dentistry: October 15th, 2025 (6pm UK time)
Important: Book your test as early as possible—dates fill up quickly at US test centers
A wide range of UK universities require the UCAT. This includes, but is not limited to:
University of Aberdeen
University of Birmingham
University of Bristol
Cardiff University
University of Cambridge
University of Dundee
University of Edinburgh
University of Exeter
University of Glasgow
Imperial College London
King’s College London
University of Leicester
University of Manchester
University of Newcastle
University of Nottingham
University of Oxford
Queen Mary University of London
Queen’s University Belfast
University of Sheffield
University of Southampton
University of St Andrews
University College London
University of Warwick
👉 For the full and most up-to-date list, visit the official UCAT website.
🧬 GAMSAT (Graduate Medical School Admissions Test)
To be eligible, you need to have already completed, or be currently enrolled, in bachelor or an undergraduate honors degree,
Required for graduate-entry medicine by the following UK universities.:
University of Exeter
University of Liverpool
University of Nottingham
St George’s, University of London
Swansea University
University of Worcester
Cardiff University
University of Plymouth
Refer to the GAMSET website for a full list of UK and other international universities requiring this test.
🩻 MSAT (Ulster-specific Medical Selection Test)
Required by:
Ulster University (for Allied Health courses)
University Specific Entrance Tests
🏛 Oxford-Only Admissions Tests
The University of Oxford has its own course-specific tests for the following courses:
Oxford specific tests (not required by any other university)
AHCAAT
Classical Archaeology & Ancient History
BMSAT
Biomedical Sciences
CAT
Classics and joint options
MAT
Math, Computer Science, joint courses
MLAT
Modern Languages and joint courses
PAT
Physics, Engineering Science, Materials
PhilAT
Philosophy & Theology
TSA
PPE, E&M, Human Sciences, Psychology & more
Tests required by Oxford and other UK universities
LNAT
Law courses
UCAT
Medicine
🏛 Cambridge College Admissions Assessments
Pre-application Tests
For certain courses, Cambridge requires applicants to take admissions tests before the October 15th UCAS application deadline. These tests must be registered for in advance and can taken at authorized test centers across the USA.
Engineering and Science Admissions Test (ESAT): Required for courses like Engineering, Natural Sciences, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, and Veterinary Medicine.
Test of Mathematics for University Admission (TMUA): Required for courses such as Computer Science and Economics.
Law National Aptitude Test (LNAT): Required for Law applicants.
University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT): Required for Medicine applicants
These tests are typically taken in early to mid-September.
Admission Assessments At-Interview
Some Cambridge courses involve an admissions assessment that is only taken if you are shortlisted for interview. The Cambridge college that interviews you will let you know when and how you should take your assessment so you do not need to register for these assessments in advance Examples of courses that may require at-interview assessments:
Architecture
English
History
Human, Social, and Political Sciences (HSPS)
Modern and Medieval Languages (MML)
Music
Post Interview Entrance Assessment
Sixth Term Examination Paper (STEP) —a mathematics admissions test typically taken in mid to late June of 12th grade—notably later than many other UK university entrance exams. STEP is used as part of almost all conditional offers from Cambridge for Mathematics and Mathematics with Physics. Some Colleges may require STEP for other courses needing strong mathematical ability.
You will only be required to take the STEP if you are invited to interview by Cambridge and then receive a conditional offer following that interview.