Which UK Universities Require ESAT or TMUA? 2027 Entry Guide for Indian Students

Every September I get the same message from Indian students: “Ma’am, my school counsellor says I need an admissions test for the UK, but which one, and for which university?” It is a fair question, because the answer changes from course to course, not from university to university. This guide puts it all in one place for 2027 entry.

The timing matters. Booking for the October 2026 sitting closes on 28 September 2026, and there are no late bookings. If you read this and realise you need a test, you have days, not weeks.

The two tests in one minute

Both tests are run by UAT-UK and sat at Pearson test centres, which are spread across more than 180 countries. Both are multiple choice, both have no pass mark, and both are done without a calculator.

• ESAT (Engineering and Science Admissions Test): Modules are Mathematics 1, Mathematics 2, Physics, Chemistry and Biology. Each module is 40 minutes with 27 questions. Most applicants take Mathematics 1 plus two more modules, so 120 minutes in total. Scores run from 1 to 9.
• TMUA (Test of Mathematics for University Admission): Two papers of 75 minutes each with 20 questions. Paper 1 tests applying mathematical knowledge and Paper 2 tests mathematical reasoning. Scores also run from 1 to 9. I have compared the two papers in detail in my TMUA Paper 1 vs Paper 2 guide.

Which universities use the ESAT

The Imperial, Cambridge and UCL details above come from their own admissions pages. Oxford changes its list more often, so I am deliberately not giving you a course-by-course list for it. Open the course page and read the “admissions test” line.

Which universities use the TMUA

Notice how UCL uses three different tests for three courses: the TMUA for Economics, the ESAT for Electronic and Electrical Engineering, and the TARA for Computer Science. This is exactly why you should never assume “UCL needs the TMUA.”

Who this affects

If you are in Class 12 (CBSE, ICSE, IB or state board) and plan to apply for October 2027 entry, this is your year. Students already finishing Class 12 in 2026 and applying for a gap-year entry also need these tests. The UCAS deadline for Oxford, Cambridge and medicine courses is 15 October, so the tests are taken alongside your application, not after it.

The mistake I see most often is students building a list of five UK universities and only later discovering that two of them need one test and two need another. Do the course check first.

A simple four-step plan

1. List your courses, not your universities. Write down each course you want and open its page. Note down the admissions test, the modules and the deadline.
2. Decide which tests you need. Most engineering aspirants need only the ESAT. Most maths, computer science and economics aspirants need only the TMUA. A few, like someone applying to Imperial Computing and Cambridge Engineering, need both.
3. Create your UAT-UK account and book before 28 September. Choose your test centre early, because slots in the bigger cities fill first. The deadline for access arrangements requests was 14 September 2026, so if you need extra time or similar, contact UAT-UK straight away.
4. Prepare with real past papers. Both tests reward speed and clean reasoning under time pressure, not extra syllabus. Do timed sections, mark them honestly and review every wrong answer.

If you are still choosing between programmes, my ESAT registration guide and TMUA registration deadline guide walk through booking step by step.

Cost in rupees

Exchange rates move, so keep a small buffer.

What the score means

Neither test has a pass or fail mark. Scores between 1 and 9 are read alongside your predicted grades, personal statement and, where it applies, your interview. Some universities use the score to decide who gets an interview. Others use it after the interview. In my experience with students, a strong score never replaces strong school marks, and strong marks rarely survive a very weak test.

Where to practise

• The official UAT-UK website has specimen papers and past-style questions for both tests. Start there.
• Use Cambridge and Imperial’s own guidance pages to see the sort of reasoning they expect.
• Work timed. The ESAT gives you only about 90 seconds per question, and the TMUA about 3.75 minutes per question, so pacing is half the test.
• Revise A-Level or IB-style content honestly if you come from CBSE or ICSE. Indian boards cover most ideas, but the style of the questions is different.

If you want structured help, I run dedicated batches for the ESAT and the TMUA with timed mocks and feedback on every paper.

Not sure what to do next? Book a free consultation and I will create a personalised plan for you.