Which ESAT modules does my course need?
The ESAT (Engineering and Science Admissions Test) is the UAT-UK admissions test for engineering, natural sciences, biomedical, and physics courses at Cambridge, Imperial, Oxford, and UCL. See the full ESAT guide →
Every ESAT candidate sits Mathematics 1, plus two of the four other modules (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics 2). For some courses you choose the two; for most courses your two are fixed by the course requirements. Which modules you sit is set at booking and cannot be changed later.[5]
Two rules to know before you book
- Module selection cannot be changed or added after booking. If you need to change modules, you must cancel and re-book, subject to test-centre availability. The preferred time or location is not guaranteed.[5]
- If you're applying to two ESAT courses and one has a free module choice, you must follow the compulsory modules of the other course. If you don't, your application to the compulsory-modules course may be invalid.[5]
Find your course in one of five patterns
Despite the 50+ ESAT-using courses across four universities, the module requirements collapse into just five patterns — three "fixed" patterns and one "free choice", plus two single-course outliers worth flagging. Pattern grouping below is derived from the UAT-UK Course List 2027 Entry.[5]
M1 + M2 + Physics
For most Engineering and Physics courses. ~36 courses.
- Cambridge Engineering
- All Oxford Engineering and Physics (and Physics & Philosophy)
- All Imperial Engineering and Physics (except Chemical Engineering and Design Engineering — see below)
M1 + Chemistry + Biology
For all Imperial life-sciences courses. ~17 courses.
- Imperial Biological Sciences (and language variants)
- Imperial Biochemistry (and language variants)
- Imperial Biotechnology (and language variants)
- Imperial Microbiology, Ecology & Environmental Biology
M1 + any two from B / C / P / M2
For courses that let you pick. 6 courses.
- Cambridge Natural Sciences
- Cambridge Chemical Engineering & Biotechnology
- Cambridge Veterinary Medicine
- Oxford Biomedical Sciences
- UCL Electronic & Electrical Engineering (BEng and MEng)
See "How to pick your two" below if your course is in this group.
Two Imperial-only special cases
If you have a free choice, here's how to pick your two
The 6 free-choice courses (Cambridge Natural Sciences, Cambridge Chem Eng & Biotech, Cambridge Vet Med, Oxford Biomedical Sciences, UCL Electronic & Electrical Engineering BEng and MEng) let you pick two from Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics 2. Three considerations:
Pick the two modules that align with subjects you're studying at A-Level (or equivalent). You'll be more familiar with the content, and the depth jump is smaller.
M2 is pitched at A-Level pure-mathematics depth (surds, polynomials, basic differentiation and integration, trig, logs). Sitting M2 without A-Level Maths usually means underperforming relative to candidates who have the background.[2]
For Cambridge Natural Sciences, the typical pick depends on the science track you're aiming at within Nat Sci. For Oxford Biomedical Sciences and Cambridge Veterinary Medicine, Biology and Chemistry are the natural pair. For UCL Electronic & Electrical Engineering, Physics and M2 are the natural pair. Always confirm your specific course on the university's own admissions page.
Course-by-course module requirements
The full list of ESAT-using courses, grouped by university. All course names, UCAS codes, and module requirements below are taken verbatim from the UAT-UK Course List 2027 Entry.[5] Use Ctrl+F (or Cmd+F on Mac) to find your specific course or UCAS code.
University of Cambridge UCAS C05 · 4 ESAT courses
| Course | UCAS | Required modules |
|---|---|---|
| BA/MEng Engineering No module choice. | H100 | M1 + M2 + Physics Mathematics 1 + Mathematics 2 + Physics |
| BA/MSc Natural Sciences | BCF0 | M1 + any 2 from B/C/P/M2 Mathematics 1 + any two from Biology / Chemistry / Physics / Mathematics 2 |
| BA/MEng Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology | H810 | M1 + any 2 from B/C/P/M2 Mathematics 1 + any two from Biology / Chemistry / Physics / Mathematics 2 |
| VetMB Veterinary Medicine | D100 | M1 + any 2 from B/C/P/M2 Mathematics 1 + any two from Biology / Chemistry / Physics / Mathematics 2 |
Cambridge Computer Science, Economics, and Mathematics use the TMUA, not the ESAT.[5]
Imperial College London UCAS I50 · 33 ESAT courses
| Course | UCAS | Required modules |
|---|---|---|
| MEng Aeronautical Engineering | H401 | M1 + M2 + Physics Mathematics 1 + Mathematics 2 + Physics |
| MEng Civil Engineering | H201 | M1 + M2 + Physics Mathematics 1 + Mathematics 2 + Physics |
| MEng Civil Engineering with a year abroad | H202 | M1 + M2 + Physics Mathematics 1 + Mathematics 2 + Physics |
| BEng Electrical & Electronic Engineering | H600 | M1 + M2 + Physics Mathematics 1 + Mathematics 2 + Physics |
| MEng Electrical & Electronic Engineering | H604 | M1 + M2 + Physics Mathematics 1 + Mathematics 2 + Physics |
| MEng Electrical & Electronic Engineering with Management | H6N2 | M1 + M2 + Physics Mathematics 1 + Mathematics 2 + Physics |
| BEng Electronic and Information Engineering | HG65 | M1 + M2 + Physics Mathematics 1 + Mathematics 2 + Physics |
| MEng Electronic and Information Engineering | GH56 | M1 + M2 + Physics Mathematics 1 + Mathematics 2 + Physics |
| MEng Mechanical Engineering | H301 | M1 + M2 + Physics Mathematics 1 + Mathematics 2 + Physics |
| MEng Chemical Engineering OUTLIER: Chemistry replaces Physics. The only ESAT engineering course with this combination. | H801 | M1 + M2 + Chemistry Mathematics 1 + Mathematics 2 + Chemistry |
| MEng Design Engineering OUTLIER: TWO MODULES ONLY. The only ESAT course with a 2-module requirement (the spec calls this "Two Modules Only"). | 28G3 | M1 + M2 only (2 modules) Mathematics 1 + Mathematics 2 |
| BSc Physics | F300 | M1 + M2 + Physics Mathematics 1 + Mathematics 2 + Physics |
| MSci Physics | F303 | M1 + M2 + Physics Mathematics 1 + Mathematics 2 + Physics |
| MSci Physics with a Year Abroad | F309 | M1 + M2 + Physics Mathematics 1 + Mathematics 2 + Physics |
| BSc Physics with Theoretical Physics | F325 | M1 + M2 + Physics Mathematics 1 + Mathematics 2 + Physics |
| MSci Physics with Theoretical Physics | F390 | M1 + M2 + Physics Mathematics 1 + Mathematics 2 + Physics |
| BSc Biochemistry | C700 | M1 + Chemistry + Biology Mathematics 1 + Chemistry + Biology |
| MSci Biochemistry | C703 | M1 + Chemistry + Biology Mathematics 1 + Chemistry + Biology |
| BSc Biochemistry with French | C7R1 | M1 + Chemistry + Biology Mathematics 1 + Chemistry + Biology |
| BSc Biochemistry with German | C7R2 | M1 + Chemistry + Biology Mathematics 1 + Chemistry + Biology |
| BSc Biochemistry with Spanish | C7R3 | M1 + Chemistry + Biology Mathematics 1 + Chemistry + Biology |
| BSc Biological Sciences | C100 | M1 + Chemistry + Biology Mathematics 1 + Chemistry + Biology |
| MSc Biological Sciences | C103 | M1 + Chemistry + Biology Mathematics 1 + Chemistry + Biology |
| BSc Biological Sciences with French | C1R1 | M1 + Chemistry + Biology Mathematics 1 + Chemistry + Biology |
| BSc Biological Sciences with German | C1R2 | M1 + Chemistry + Biology Mathematics 1 + Chemistry + Biology |
| BSc Biological with Spanish | C1R3 | M1 + Chemistry + Biology Mathematics 1 + Chemistry + Biology |
| BSc Biotechnology | J700 | M1 + Chemistry + Biology Mathematics 1 + Chemistry + Biology |
| MSci Biotechnology | J703 | M1 + Chemistry + Biology Mathematics 1 + Chemistry + Biology |
| BSc Biotechnology with French | J7R1 | M1 + Chemistry + Biology Mathematics 1 + Chemistry + Biology |
| BSc Biotechnology with German | J7R2 | M1 + Chemistry + Biology Mathematics 1 + Chemistry + Biology |
| BSc Biotechnology with Spanish | J7R4 | M1 + Chemistry + Biology Mathematics 1 + Chemistry + Biology |
| BSc Ecology and Environmental Biology | C180 | M1 + Chemistry + Biology Mathematics 1 + Chemistry + Biology |
| BSc Microbiology | C500 | M1 + Chemistry + Biology Mathematics 1 + Chemistry + Biology |
Imperial uses the ESAT for all 30+ engineering, biology, biochemistry, biotechnology, microbiology, ecology, and physics courses listed above; Imperial does not use TARA or TMUA.[5]
University of Oxford UCAS O33 · 17 ESAT courses
| Course | UCAS | Required modules |
|---|---|---|
| Biomedical Sciences The only Oxford ESAT course with a module choice. | BC98 | M1 + any 2 from B/C/P/M2 Mathematics 1 + any two from Biology / Chemistry / Physics / Mathematics 2 |
| Biomedical Engineering | H811 | M1 + M2 + Physics Mathematics 1 + Mathematics 2 + Physics |
| Biomedical Engineering with Foundation Year | H81F | M1 + M2 + Physics Mathematics 1 + Mathematics 2 + Physics |
| Chemical Engineering | H800 | M1 + M2 + Physics Mathematics 1 + Mathematics 2 + Physics |
| Chemical Engineering with Foundation Year | H80F | M1 + M2 + Physics Mathematics 1 + Mathematics 2 + Physics |
| Civil Engineering | H200 | M1 + M2 + Physics Mathematics 1 + Mathematics 2 + Physics |
| Civil Engineering with Foundation Year | H20F | M1 + M2 + Physics Mathematics 1 + Mathematics 2 + Physics |
| Electrical Engineering | H620 | M1 + M2 + Physics Mathematics 1 + Mathematics 2 + Physics |
| Electrical Engineering with Foundation Year | H62F | M1 + M2 + Physics Mathematics 1 + Mathematics 2 + Physics |
| Engineering Science | H100 | M1 + M2 + Physics Mathematics 1 + Mathematics 2 + Physics |
| Engineering with Foundation Year | H10F | M1 + M2 + Physics Mathematics 1 + Mathematics 2 + Physics |
| Information Engineering | H630 | M1 + M2 + Physics Mathematics 1 + Mathematics 2 + Physics |
| Information Engineering with Foundation Year | H63F | M1 + M2 + Physics Mathematics 1 + Mathematics 2 + Physics |
| Mechanical Engineering | H300 | M1 + M2 + Physics Mathematics 1 + Mathematics 2 + Physics |
| Mechanical Engineering with Foundation Year | H30F | M1 + M2 + Physics Mathematics 1 + Mathematics 2 + Physics |
| Physics | F303 | M1 + M2 + Physics Mathematics 1 + Mathematics 2 + Physics |
| Physics and Philosophy | VF53 | M1 + M2 + Physics Mathematics 1 + Mathematics 2 + Physics |
Oxford TARA covers non-engineering courses (Economics & Management, PPE, Experimental Psychology, History & Politics, etc). Oxford Computer Science and Mathematics use TMUA. Neither uses the ESAT.[5]
UCL UCAS U80 · 2 ESAT courses
| Course | UCAS | Required modules |
|---|---|---|
| BEng Electronic and Electrical Engineering | H600 | M1 + any 2 from B/C/P/M2 Mathematics 1 + any two from Biology / Chemistry / Physics / Mathematics 2 |
| MEng Electronic and Electrical Engineering | H601 | M1 + any 2 from B/C/P/M2 Mathematics 1 + any two from Biology / Chemistry / Physics / Mathematics 2 |
UCL Computer Science and Mechanical Engineering use TARA; UCL Economics uses TMUA. The ESAT is required only for the two Electronic & Electrical Engineering courses listed above.[5]
Universities that do NOT use the ESAT
Three universities in the UAT-UK course list use only TMUA, not ESAT. If your application is to one of these, the ESAT isn't relevant:[5]
- Durham University — TMUA recommended for 4 Mathematics courses.
- London School of Economics — TMUA compulsory for BSc Economics and BSc Econometrics & Mathematical Economics; recommended for other Maths / Economics / Finance courses.
- University of Warwick — TMUA compulsory for Mathematics / Computer Science / Discrete Mathematics; recommended for Data Science / Economics / MORSE courses.
For TMUA-specific guidance, see the TMUA hub.
About this list
All courses and module requirements above are taken from the official UAT-UK Course List 2027 Entry (last updated by UAT-UK in April 2026, this page re-verified 2026-05-29).[5] UAT-UK refreshes the course list annually each April. Always confirm the current requirements on your specific course's admissions page on the university's own website before booking your test — especially if you're applying close to the next refresh cycle.
References
Numbering kept stable across all ESAT cluster pages so a given reference always points to the same source. The full numbered list (including refs not cited on this page) is on the scoring page.
- [2] UAT-UK ESAT Content Specification — April 2025 (PDF, 46pp). Source for module format and per-module syllabus content (Appendix 1), including the Mathematics 2 A-Level pure scope (surds, polynomials, basic calculus, trig, logs).
uat-wp.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/...ESAT_Content_Specification_April2025.pdf - [5] UAT-UK Course List — 2027 Entry (PDF, 22pp, updated April 2026). Primary source for every course and module requirement on this page, plus the rules about no module changes after booking and the dual-course compulsory-modules constraint.
uat-wp.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/...Course_List_2027_Entry_Final.pdf