Which Admissions Tests do Non-Oxbridge Universities Use?

We spend a lot of time discussing and advising on admissions tests for Oxford and Cambridge applicants, but what about other top UK universities? In this article, our University Admissions experts go through the main UK university admissions test and how they can help your application to universities other than Oxford and Cambridge.

For each test, we tell you which universities use the test, how they use it, for which courses it is applicable, and key test dates you need to know.

If you're taking an admissions test and want to know what it entails, visit our Admissions Test Resources for free comprehensive guides.

LNAT (Admissions Test for Law)

The LNAT is mandatory for Law and Law-related courses at a number of UK Universities. For all of the following, the LNAT must be sat by applicants to the given courses. 

University of Bristol

Courses: LLB Law (M100); LLB Law and French (MR11); LLB Law and German (MR12); LLB Law and Spanish (MR13).

Durham University

Courses: Law (M101); Law with Foundation (M102)

University of Glasgow

Courses: Scots Law (M114); Scots Law with French Language (M1R1); Scots Law with French Legal Studies (M121); Scots Law with German Language (M1R2); Scots Law with German Legal Studies (M122); Scots Law with Italian Language (M1R3); Scots Law with Italian Legal Studies (M1M9); Scots Law with Spanish Language (M1R4); Scots Law with Spanish Legal Studies (M123);  Scots Law/Business & Management (MN12); Scots Law/English Literature (MQ13); Scots Law/History (MV11); Scots Law/Philosophy (MV15); Scots Law/Politics (ML12); Scots Law/Social & Public Policy (ML14); Common Law (M100); Common Law with French Language (M9R1); Common Law with German Language (M9R2); Common Law with Italian Language (M9R3); Common Law with Spanish Language (M9R4); Common Law/Business & Management (MN19); Common Law/Economic & Social History (ML13); Common Law/English Literature (MQ93); Common Law/Philosophy (MQ95); Common Law/Politics (ML92).

King’s College London

Courses: Politics, Philosophy & Law (LM21), Law (M100), English Law & French Law (M121), English Law & German Law (M122), English Law & Hong Kong Law (M190), English Law & Spanish Law (M123).

London School of Economics

Courses: Law (M100).

SOAS (School of Oriental and African Studies)

Courses: Law (M100) and all other combinations including Law other than LLB Senior Status (M102).

University College London

Courses: Law LLB (M100), Law LLB (M101), Law with French Law LLB (M141), Law with German Law LLB (M142), Law with Hispanic Law LLB (M144), M145, English and German Law (M146).

MAT (Mathematics Admissions Test)

Bath University

Bath University strongly recommend that applicants to their Mathematics or Statistics courses, including joint degrees with Computer Science or Economics, take the MAT (or the STEP) to strengthen their application.

Courses: Mathematics BSc (L110); Mathematics BSc (4 Years with Professional Placement or Study Abroad) (L111); Mathematics MMath (5 Years with Professional Placement) (L114); Mathematics MMath (L112); Mathematics MMath (4 Years with Study Abroad) (L113); Mathematics and Statistics BSc (4 Years with Professional Placement or Study Abroad) (L121); Mathematics and Statistics BSc (L120); Mathematics, Statistics, and Data Science BSc (4 Years with Professional Placement or Study Abroad) (L131); Mathematics, Statistics, and Data Science BSc (L130); Computer Science and Mathematics BSc (H120); Computer Science and Mathematics (4 Years with Professional Placement or Study Abroad) (H121); Computer Science and Mathematics MComp (5 Years with Professional Placement or Study Abroad) (H123); Computer Science and Mathematics MComp (H122); Economics and Mathematics BSc (D120); Economics and Mathematics BSC (4 Years with Professional Placement or Study Abroad) (D121).

Durham University

Applicants to Mathematics or Statistics courses are recommended to take the MAT or the TMUA, and a good result may entitle students to a lower offer.

Courses: Mathematics BSc (G110); Mathematics MMath (G103); Mathematics and Statistics BSc (G111); Mathematics and Statistics MMath (G114).

Imperial College London

Imperial College require the MAT for applicants of the following courses if their application is submitted by the 15^th October 2024. For applicants submitting after this date, they are required to sit the STEP instead.

Courses: Mathematics MSci (G103); Mathematics BSc (G100); Mathematics (Pure Mathematics) (G125); Mathematics with Applied Mathematics/Mathematical Physics (G1F3); Mathematics with Mathematical Computation (G102); Mathematics with Statistics (G1G3); Mathematics with Statistics for Finance (G1GH).

University of Southampton

Lower offers may be awarded to applicants for Mathematics who have sat the MAT. Note that STEP and TMUA are also considered desirable for Mathematics candidates at Southampton.

Courses: Mathematics BSc (G100); Mathematics MMath (G103); Mathematical Sciences BSc (G120); Mathematics with Computer Science BSc (G1G4); Mathematical Physics MMath (FF34); Mathematics with Actuarial Science BS (G1N3)c; Mathematics with Finance BSc (G1NH); Mathematics with French BSc (G1R1); Mathematics with German BSc (G1R2); Mathematics with Spanish BSc (G1R4); Mathematics with Statistics BSc (G1G3); Mathematics, Operational Research, Statistics and Economics BSc (GL12); Mathematics, Operational Research, Statistics and Economics MMORSE (GL11).

TARA (Test of Academic Reasoning for Admissions)

UCL 

UCL announced in 2025 that they would begin using a brand new test, the TARA, for various courses across their undergraduate prospectus. These courses are either using an admissions test for the first time, or are replacing a previously used test (such as the STAT or TST).

Courses: Computer Science BSc (G400); Computer Science MEng (G402); European Social and Political Studies BA (R990); European Social and Political Studies: Dual Degree BA (R992); International Social and Political Studies BA (LV01); Mathematical Computation MEng (G430); Management Science BSc (N991); Robotics and Artificial Intelligence MEng (H700); Social Sciences BSc (L300); Social Sciences with Data Science BSc (LG33); Sociology BSc (L301).

TMUA (Test of Mathematics for University Admission)

Durham

Students are encouraged to take the TMUA for Mathematics-related courses to help in selection. A good TMUA score may entitle students to a lower offer.

Courses: Mathematics BSc (G110); Mathematics MMath (G103); Mathematics and Statistics BSc (G111); Mathematics and Statistics MMath (G114).

Imperial College London

Courses: Computing BEng (G400); Economics, Finance and Date Science (L1N3); Mathematics and Computer Science MEng (GG41); Mathematics and Computer Science BEng (GG14).

Lancaster University

Lancaster has historically welcomed TMUA results for applicants to Mathematics-related courses. A good TMUA score can boost chances of acceptance and will help students in August if they narrowly miss their A-Level grades. We are yet to confirm if this stands for 2025, so be sure to check with your specific course when applying.

Courses: Mathematics BSc (G100); Mathematics MSci (G101); Mathematics (Placement) BSc (G102); Mathematics (Study Abroad) MSci (G103); Mathematics with Statistics BSc (G1G3); Mathematics with Statistics MSci (G1GJ); Mathematic with Statistics BSc (Placement) (GCG3); Mathematics with Statistics MSci (Year Abroad) (G1GH); Computer Science and Mathematics BSc (GG14); Computer Science and Mathematics BSc (Placement Year) (GG1L); Computer Science and Mathematics MSci (GG1K); Data Science BSc (G900); Data Science BSc (Placement Year) (G901); Data Science BSc (Study Abroad) (G902); Data Science MSci (with Industrial Experience) (G903); Accounting, Finance and Mathematics BSc (NG41); Accounting, Finance and Mathematics BSc (Industry) (NG42); Economics and Mathematics BSc (GL11); Economics and Mathematics BSc (Industry) (GL12); Financial Mathematics BSc (GN13); Financial Mathematics BSc (Placement Year) (GN1J); Financial Mathematics MSci (GN14); Language Studies and Mathematics (French) (GR11); Language Studies and Mathematics (German) (GR12); Language Studies and Mathematics (Spanish) (GR14); Language Studies and Mathematics (Chinese) (T1G1); Mathematics, Operational Research, Statistics and Economics BSc (GLN0); Mathematics, Operational Research, Statistics and Economics BSc (Industry) (GLN1); Mathematics and Philosophy (BV15); Mathematics and Philosophy (Placement Year) (GV16); Theoretical Physics and Mathematics BSc (F3GC); Theoretical Physics and Mathematics MSci (F3G1); Theoretical Physics and Mathematics MSci (Study Abroad) (F3G5).

London School of Economics

The TMUA is compulsory for Economics and Econometrics and Mathematical Economics, and is strongly recommended for several other courses (also listed below).

Courses: Economics (L101); Econometrics and Mathematical Economics (L140); Mathematics and Economics (GL11); Mathematics with Economics (G1L1); Financial Mathematics and Statistics (GN13); Mathematics with Data Science (G140); Mathematics, Statistics, and Business (G0N0); Data Science (N3UD); Actuarial Science (N321); Actuarial Science (with a Placement Year( (N322).

University of Southampton

Lower offers may be awarded to applicants for Mathematics who have sat the TMUA.

Courses: Mathematics BSc (G100); Mathematics MMath (G103); Mathematical Sciences BSc (G120); Mathematics with Computer Science BSc (G1G4); Mathematical Physics MMath (FF34); Mathematics with Actuarial Science BS (G1N3)c; Mathematics with Finance BSc (G1NH); Mathematics with French BSc (G1R1); Mathematics with German BSc (G1R2); Mathematics with Spanish BSc (G1R4); Mathematics with Statistics BSc (G1G3); Mathematics, Operational Research, Statistics and Economics BSc (GL12); Mathematics, Operational Research, Statistics and Economics MMORSE (GL11).

STEP (The Sixth-Term Examination Paper)

University of Bath

Bath University strongly recommend that applicants to their Mathematics or Statistics courses, including joint degrees with Computer Science or Economics, take the STEP (if not taking the MAT) to strengthen their application.

Courses: Mathematics BSc (L110); Mathematics BSc (4 Years with Professional Placement or Study Abroad) (L111); Mathematics MMath (5 Years with Professional Placement) (L114); Mathematics MMath (L112); Mathematics MMath (4 Years with Study Abroad) (L113); Mathematics and Statistics BSc (4 Years with Professional Placement or Study Abroad) (L121); Mathematics and Statistics BSc (L120); Mathematics, Statistics, and Data Science BSc (4 Years with Professional Placement or Study Abroad) (L131); Mathematics, Statistics, and Data Science BSc (L130); Computer Science and Mathematics BSc (H120); Computer Science and Mathematics (4 Years with Professional Placement or Study Abroad) (H121); Computer Science and Mathematics MComp (5 Years with Professional Placement or Study Abroad) (H123); Computer Science and Mathematics MComp (H122); Economics and Mathematics BSc (D120); Economics and Mathematics BSC (4 Years with Professional Placement or Study Abroad) (D121).

University of Bristol

Certain Mathematics Courses consider a grade in STEP as part of a reduced A-Level offer.

Courses: Mathematics BSc (G100); Mathematics MSci (G103); Mathematics with Statistics BSc (G1G3); Mathematics with Statistics MSci (G1GH); Mathematics with Statistics for Finance (G1G4); Mathematics with Study Abroad in a Modern Language BSc (G101); Mathematics with Study Abroad in a Modern Language MSci (G104); Mathematics with Study Abroad MSci (G105); Data Science (G1G5); Data Science with a Year in Industry (G1G6); Economics and Mathematics (LG11); Mathematics and Computer science BSc (GG14); Mathematics and Computer Science Meng (GG1K).

Imperial College London

Imperial College require the STEP for applicants of the following courses if their application is submitted after the 15^th October 2024. For applicants submitting before this date, they are required to sit the MAT instead.

Courses: Mathematics MSci (G103); Mathematics BSc (G100); Mathematics (Pure Mathematics) (G125); Mathematics with Applied Mathematics/Mathematical Physics (G1F3); Mathematics with Mathematical Computation (G102); Mathematics with Statistics (G1G3); Mathematics with Statistics for Finance (G1GH).

King’s College London

Applicants to KCL for Mathematics are required to achieve Grade 3 in any STEP paper or a Merit in AEA Mathematics if they have taken AS Further Mathematics (rather than the full A-Level). Applicants to KCL Natural Sciences courses are recommended to sit STEP to extend their academic abilities in preparation for the course.

Courses: Mathematics BSc (G100); Mathematics MSci (G103); Mathematics and Philosophy (GVC5); Mathematics with Management and Finance (G1N2); Mathematics with Management and Finance with Year in Industry (G1N3); Mathematics with Statistics (GG13); Mathematics with Statistics with Year in Industry (GG15); Mathematics with Year in Industry BSc (G102); Mathematics with Year in Industry MSci (G104); Natural Sciences BSc (CFG0); Natural Sciences BSc with a Year in Industry (CFG1); Natural Sciences MSci (CFG2).

University College London

Applicants for Mathematics at UCL are usually made an offer of A*A*A for A-Level grades. Applicants with a Grade 2 in any STEP Paper will have this requirement lowered to A*AA.

Courses: Mathematics BSc (G100); Mathematics MSci (G107); Mathematics with Mathematical Physics BSc (G1F3); Mathematics with Mathematical Physics MSci (G1FH); Mathematics with Economics BSc (G1L1); Mathematics with Economics MSci (G1LC); Mathematics with Modern Languages BSc (G1T9);  Mathematics with Modern Languages MSci (G1TX); Mathematics with Management Studies BSc (G1N2); Mathematics with Management Studies MSci (G1NF); Mathematics and Physics BSc (GF13); Mathematics and Physics MSci (GF1H); Mathematics and Statistical Science (MASS) BSc (GG13); Mathematics and Statistical Science (MASS) MSci (GGC3).

University of Warwick

Applicants for Maths courses at Warwick may find a STEP result in their offer. Applicants are able to submit a result from either of the two STEP papers (STEP 2 or STEP 3).

Courses: Mathematics BSc (G100); Master of Mathematics MMath (G103); Mathematics and Statistics BSc (GG13); Mathematics and Statistics MMathStat (GGC3); Mathematics and Physics BSc (GF13); Mathematics and Physics MMathPhys (FG31); Mathematics and Philosophy (GV15); MORSE (Mathematics, Operational Research, Statistics and Economics) BSc (GLN0); MORSE (Mathematics, Operational Research, Statistics and Economics) MMORSE (G0L0); Discrete Mathematics BSc (G190); Discrete Mathematics MEng (G4G3); Data Science BSc (7G73); Data Science MDataSci (G304).

UCAT (University Clinical Admissions Test)

The UCAT is used at Oxford, Cambridge, and various other UK Universities for medical and dental degree programmes. For every university in the list, the UCAT is mandatory and is used to help rank students to clinical courses. The universities and courses requiring the UCAT are as follows: