UK test prep
Do Oxford and Cambridge Require Admissions Tests?
Many Oxford and Cambridge courses require admissions tests, including UCAT, LNAT, TMUA, ESAT, TARA, STEP and college assessments.
By Oxbrivy Editorial Team. Reviewed by Oxbrivy UK admissions testing desk.
Quick answer
Many Oxford and Cambridge courses require admissions tests, but not all. The test depends on the course.
Key takeaways
- Many Oxford and Cambridge courses require admissions tests, but not all. The test depends on the course.
- Oxford uses UCAT for Medicine, LNAT for Law, and UAT-UK tests including ESAT, TMUA and TARA for selected courses from 2026 for 2027 entry. Cambridge uses UCAT, LNAT, TMUA, ESAT and college assessments depending on course, with STEP often used in Mathematics offers.
- Use Oxbrivy AI Compass to decide whether Oxford or Cambridge is the better fit before committing to the test track.
Oxbrivy practical ranking
Use this as a starting point, then personalise it with your budget, profile, and course.
Course-level test requirement
Best for: Checking the official course page, UCAS listing, and test provider requirement before shortlisting.
Watch out: Do not assume every course at the same university uses the same test.
Deadline risk
Best for: Registering early for UCAT, LNAT, UAT-UK tests and Oxbridge-linked assessments.
Watch out: Several deadlines fall before or close to the UCAS October deadline.
Shortlist balance
Best for: Balancing test-heavy medicine, law, economics, engineering, science and Oxbridge choices with realistic alternatives.
Watch out: A shortlist made only of high-test-risk choices can fail because of one missed deadline or weak test day.
Quick answer
Many Oxford and Cambridge courses require admissions tests, but not all. The test depends on the course.
Expanded answer
Oxford uses UCAT for Medicine, LNAT for Law, and UAT-UK tests including ESAT, TMUA and TARA for selected courses from 2026 for 2027 entry. Cambridge uses UCAT, LNAT, TMUA, ESAT and college assessments depending on course, with STEP often used in Mathematics offers.
How Oxbrivy helps
Use Oxbrivy AI Compass to decide whether Oxford or Cambridge is the better fit before committing to the test track.
Mini FAQ
Can I apply to both Oxford and Cambridge? Usually no for undergraduate entry. Do all Oxbridge courses have tests? No. Are tests enough to get in? No, they are one part of the application.
Sources and review note
This public guide is intended for student education. Visa, fee, scholarship, and work-rights rules can change quickly, so Oxbrivy verifies current official sources before giving personalised advice.
- UCAS admissions tests overview
- UCAS dates and deadlines
- UCAT 2026 test dates
- UCAT eligibility
- UCAT FAQ
- UCAT universities
- UCAT test format and scoring
- UCAT preparation resources
- LNAT what is LNAT
- LNAT dates and deadlines
- LNAT who uses the test
- LNAT when to take the test
- UAT-UK overview
- UAT-UK key dates
- UAT-UK registration
- UAT-UK TMUA
- UAT-UK ESAT
- UAT-UK preparation resources
- University of Oxford admissions tests
- University of Oxford admissions timeline
- University of Cambridge admission tests and assessments
- University of Cambridge dates and deadlines
- University of Cambridge ESAT page
- University of Cambridge TMUA page
- University of Cambridge STEP page
- Oxford law admissions FAQ
- Google Search Central helpful content guidance
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