University requirements
ESAT University Requirements 2027
ESAT modules depend on the university and course, so check the exact course before you book. The 2027 requirements and any published score data are below. Historical averages are a benchmark, not a cut-off.
Last checked against UAT-UK: . Always confirm details on the official UAT-UK website before booking.
Quick comparison
Confirm the course page before you book. Sitting rules can be stricter than the table.
| University | Course | ESAT modules | Normal 2027 sitting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cambridge | Engineering | Maths 1, Maths 2, Physics | October |
| Cambridge | Natural Sciences | Maths 1 + any 2 of Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths 2 | October |
| Cambridge | Chemical Engineering & Biotechnology | Maths 1 + any 2 of Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths 2 | October |
| Cambridge | Veterinary Medicine | Maths 1 + any 2 of Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths 2 | October |
| Oxford | Engineering Science | Maths 1, Maths 2, Physics | October |
| Oxford | Physics | Maths 1, Maths 2, Physics | October |
| Oxford | Physics & Philosophy | Maths 1, Maths 2, Physics | October |
| Oxford | Biomedical Sciences | Maths 1 + any 2 of Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths 2 | October |
| Imperial | Various Engineering/Science courses | Course dependent | Check course |
| UCL | Electronic & Electrical Engineering | Maths 1 + any 2 of Physics, Maths 2, Chemistry, Biology | October or January where permitted |
University guides
Cambridge
Engineering, Natural Sciences, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, and Veterinary Medicine. October sitting for the normal 15 October UCAS deadline.
Oxford
Engineering Science, Physics, Physics and Philosophy, and Biomedical Sciences. October sitting for standard undergraduate applicants.
Imperial
Course-dependent modules across engineering and science. Imperial also publishes historical 2025 ESAT score data by department.
UCL
Electronic and Electrical Engineering currently lists Maths 1 plus any two of Physics, Maths 2, Chemistry and Biology.
Full detail: Cambridge ESAT requirements, Oxford ESAT requirements, Imperial ESAT requirements and UCL ESAT requirements.
How to use historical ESAT scores
Historical data tells you what happened, not what will happen to you.
Offer-holder averages are a target-setting tool, not a prediction engine and not a published cut-off.
- Look at the UAT-UK scale and median or percentile context.
- Look at course competition.
- Look at offer-holder averages where a university publishes them.
- Look at Home vs International separately where available.
- Look at each module, not only an average.
- Remember interviews and contextual information can change outcomes.
For the 1.0 to 9.0 scale, see what is a good ESAT score and the score converter.
ESAT for international applicants
International applicants should not simply use UK applicant averages as a target.
Cambridge's 2025 Engineering data is unusually useful because it separates Home and International applicants and offer holders. Applicant pools differ, qualifications differ, context matters, and small cohorts can move averages.
- Applicant pools differ.
- Qualifications differ.
- Context matters.
- College and course differences matter.
- Small cohorts can move averages.
- Historical data is not a threshold.
See the Home and international table on Cambridge Engineering ESAT. Oxford does not currently publish equivalent international ESAT averages.
What to practise after you know the modules
Once the modules are fixed, practise those papers rather than every ESAT subject. Maths 1 is almost always required. Maths 2 and Physics matter for most engineering routes. Biology and Chemistry matter when the course lets you choose them.
Maths 1, Maths 2, Physics, past papers and test dates.
Frequently asked questions
Which universities require ESAT in 2027?
Cambridge, Oxford, Imperial and UCL use ESAT for specific science and engineering courses. Always check the exact course page, because the modules and sitting can differ.
Which ESAT modules do I need?
It depends on the university and course. Cambridge Engineering, Oxford Engineering, Oxford Physics and several Imperial engineering courses use Maths 1, Maths 2 and Physics. Natural Sciences, Veterinary Medicine and Oxford Biomedical Sciences use Maths 1 plus any two of Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Maths 2.
Can I choose my ESAT modules?
Sometimes. Some courses fix all three modules. Others let you choose two after Maths 1. The choice is set by the course, not by preference after booking unless the university allows it.
Can I use one ESAT result for Cambridge and Imperial?
You can only sit once in an admissions cycle. One sitting can cover the universities that accept that sitting. Cambridge normally needs the October sitting, so if Cambridge is in your list, plan for October.
Is there an ESAT pass mark?
No published pass mark. Universities use module scores alongside qualifications, context and interviews. Historical averages are not cut-offs.
Do international students need a higher ESAT score?
There is no published requirement that international applicants need a higher score. Cambridge's 2025 Engineering FOI data shows higher averages for international applicants and offer holders in that cohort, but that is a historical profile, not a threshold.
Modules checked. Now practise the right ones
Once the sitting and modules are fixed, the useful question is what to practise. Calibration and the score converter help you set a target without treating historical averages as a cut-off.
Related guides
Cambridge ESAT requirements
Courses, modules, sitting rules and published 2027 entry requirements.
Oxford ESAT requirements
Engineering, Physics, Physics and Philosophy, and Biomedical Sciences.
Imperial ESAT requirements
Course-by-course modules and Imperial's historical 2025 score dashboard.
UCL ESAT requirements
Electronic and Electrical Engineering modules and sitting options.
ESAT preparation guide
The full plan: order of work, timeline and what to practise first.
ESAT test dates
October 2026 and January 2027 sittings, deadlines and results dates.
Score converter
Turn a past-paper raw mark into an estimated scaled score.
ESAT Maths 1
Topics, timing and the fast methods the compulsory module rewards.
ESAT Maths 2
Algebra, functions, trigonometry, logs and calculus-style reasoning.
ESAT Physics
Formula choice, units, graphs and proportional reasoning.
Sources
ESATCAMP is an independent preparation resource and is not affiliated with or endorsed by UAT-UK, Pearson VUE or any university.