Admissions Assessments

The timing of your admissions assessment depends on the course you are applying for. Some require a test before interview shortlisting (a Pre-registration Required Assessment), while others take place after you have been shortlisted (a Cambridge College-registered Assessment).

Pre-Registration Required Assessments

If your course requires pre-registration assessments, you must ensure that you register at an authorised testing centre by the relevant deadlines. Registration is a separate process and must be completed in addition to submitting your application.

Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Engineering, Natural Sciences or Veterinary Medicine

• 2 June: Applications open for bursary vouchers and access arrangements for the Engineering and Science Admissions Test (ESAT)
• 31 July: Registration for the ESAT opens
• 8 September: Deadline to apply for access arrangements for the ESAT
• 29 September: Deadline to register for the ESAT. Deadline to apply for a bursary vouchersr for this test
• 9 or 10 October: Take the ESAT on these dates. You must take the test in this first sitting. Applicants from China, Hong Kong and Macau must take the test on 10 October.

Computer Science or Economics

• 2 June: Applications open for bursary vouchers and access arrangements for the Test of Mathematics for University Admission (TMUA)
• 31 July: Registration for the TMUA opens
• 8 September: Deadline to apply for access arrangements for the TMUA
• 29 September: Deadline to register for the TMUA. Deadline to apply for a bursary vouchers for this test
• 13 or 14 October: Take the TMUA on these dates. Applicants from China, Hong Kong and Macau must take the test on 14 October.

Law

• 1 August tbc: Registration opens for Law National Aptitude Test (LNAT)
• 16 September tbc: Deadline to register for the LNAT
• 15 October tbc: Take the LNAT by this date

Medicine

• 13 May: Applications open for bursary vouchers and access arrangements for the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT)
• 17 June: Registration opens for UCAT
• 7 July: UCAT admissions testing starts
• 16 September: Deadline to apply for access arrangements for UCAT
• 19 September: Deadline to register for UCAT
• 26 September: Take the UCAT by this date
• 26 September: Deadline for bursary vouchers application

Further information can be found on the Undergraduate Study Admission tests and assessments page.

College-registered Assessments

If you are applying for a subject with a Cambridge College-registered Assessment, you will only need to sit the assessment if you are invited for an interview, and you will not need to register separately for it.

If you are invited for an interview, then arrangements for your assessment will be made for you automatically by Magdalene and the assessment details will be provided with your interview invitation.

¹ Applicants for AMES do not take an assessment unless they are applying to study a European language, in which case they sit the relevant MML assessment.

² Applicants for History and Modern Languages will take the relevant MML assessment.

³ Music applicants do not take a written assessment. Instead, during their interview, they will complete a series of short tests, including harmony or composition, music analysis (based on an unseen piece), ear tests (such as mistake-spotting, melody and chord dictation, and chorale), and basic keyboard harmony.

For courses requiring College-registered Assessments, be sure to follow the College admission assessment registration procedures.