Universities that use the TMUA
7 universities use the TMUA in their admissions: Cambridge, Oxford, Imperial, Warwick, Durham, LSE, UCL. 6 of them require it outright; the rest use it to strengthen an application rather than to gate it. Which courses need it and which sitting you take vary by university, so compare them below and open yours for the detail.
| University | TMUA | Courses | Sitting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cambridge | Required | Computer Science, Economics, Mathematics | Cambridge applicants must sit the TMUA in the October sitting. |
| Oxford | Required | Mathematics, Mathematics and Statistics, Mathematics and Philosophy, Mathematics and Computer Science, Computer Science, Computer Science and Philosophy | Oxford applicants must sit the TMUA in the October sitting. The TMUA replaces the MAT from 2027 entry. |
| Imperial | Required | Computing, Mathematics, Mathematics and Computer Science, Economics, Finance and Data Science | Imperial accepts either the October or January sitting. |
| Warwick | Required | Computer Science, Mathematics | You can sit in October or January. STEP is an accepted alternative for Mathematics. |
| Durham | Recommended | Mathematics | You can sit in October or January. A score of 5.0 or above earns consideration for a reduced offer. |
| LSE | Required | Economics, Econometrics and Mathematical Economics | You can sit in October or January. |
| UCL | Required | Economics (BSc Econ), Economics with a Year Abroad | You can sit in October or January. |
Course lists change between admissions cycles, so confirm yours on the university's own page before you register. If any one of your choices requires the October sitting, that is the one to take: TMUA dates and deadlines sets out the registration window.
Not every course at these universities takes the TMUA. Cambridge, Oxford, Imperial and UCL also use the ESAT, the Engineering and Science Admissions Test, for a different set of courses, so check the requirement for your exact course rather than your university. TMUA vs ESAT sets the two out course by course, and the ESAT universities page covers that side in the same detail as this one.
What the score is used for
None of these universities publishes a required score, and the TMUA never decides an application on its own: it sits alongside your predicted grades, your personal statement and, where there is one, your interview. What genuinely differs is the weight. Some read it as one signal among several; others use it to earn you a reduced offer. How TMUA scoring works covers what the number itself means.