ESAT vs TMUA: which one do you sit?
The ESAT and the TMUA are both admissions tests set by UAT-UK / Pearson VUE, sat at the same test centres in the same booking windows. Your course decides which one you sit.
The short answer
Look up your course, not your university. Cambridge, Imperial, UCL and Oxford use both tests, so the same offer holder can sit either one depending on what they applied for.
Which courses take which test
| University | ESAT courses | TMUA courses |
|---|---|---|
| Cambridge | Engineering, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Natural Sciences, Veterinary Medicine | Computer Science, Economics, Mathematics |
| Imperial | Aeronautics, Chemical Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Design Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics | Computing, Mathematics, Mathematics and Computer Science, Economics, Finance and Data Science |
| UCL | Electronic and Electrical Engineering (BEng, H600), Electronic and Electrical Engineering (MEng, H601) | Economics (BSc Econ), Economics with a Year Abroad |
| Oxford | Physics, Engineering Science, Physics and Philosophy | Mathematics, Mathematics and Statistics, Mathematics and Philosophy, Mathematics and Computer Science, Computer Science, Computer Science and Philosophy |
Course lists change between admissions cycles, so confirm yours on the university's own page before you register. The TMUA columns link through to tmua.fyi, which covers that test in the same detail this site covers the ESAT.
The ESAT and the TMUA, side by side
| ESAT | TMUA | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Engineering and Science Admissions Test | Test of Mathematics for University Admission |
| What you sit | Maths 1, Maths 2, Biology, Chemistry and Physics | 2 to 2 modules from Paper 1 and Paper 2, matched to your course |
| Used by | Cambridge, Imperial, UCL and Oxford | Cambridge, Oxford, Imperial, Warwick, Durham, LSE and UCL |
| Set by | UAT-UK / Pearson VUE | UAT-UK / Pearson VUE |
What the two have in common
Both tests are set and run by UAT-UK / Pearson VUE, which means the same booking system, the same test centres and the same identification rules. The October window is 12 to 16 October 2026 for both, and registration closes well before it. That deadline is the one people actually miss. If your course choices span both tests, you sit both, and you book them separately inside the same window. Plan for that early rather than discovering it in September.
Where to start
If it is the ESAT you need, what the ESAT looks like covers the format question by question, the universities page sets out who requires it, and past papers can be sat to the real clock with a worked solution for every question.
If it is the TMUA, the same material lives on tmua.fyi: the TMUA format, which universities require it, TMUA past papers and its guides.
ESAT and TMUA: frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between the ESAT and the TMUA?
- The ESAT is the Engineering and Science Admissions Test, and the TMUA is the Test of Mathematics for University Admission. ESAT candidates sit Mathematics 1, Mathematics 2, Biology, Chemistry and Physics. TMUA candidates sit 2 to 2 modules chosen from Paper 1 and Paper 2, matched to their course.
- Do I sit the ESAT or the TMUA?
- Your course decides. At Cambridge, Imperial, UCL and Oxford both tests are in use, so check your specific course rather than the university. Sitting the wrong one does not count towards your application.
- Can I sit both the ESAT and the TMUA?
- Yes, if your course choices require both. They run in the same windows, so book early: the October window is 12 to 16 October 2026, and you book each test separately through UAT-UK / Pearson VUE.
- Is the TMUA harder than the ESAT?
- Both are reported on the same 1.0 to 9.0 scale, but the two scores are not interchangeable: each is scored against the candidates who sat that particular test, and no conversion between them is published. What matters for your application is which one your course requires.