Oxford TMUA requirements
Yes. University of Oxford requires the TMUA for 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. There is no fixed pass mark, so your score is read alongside the rest of your application.
How Oxford uses the TMUA
From 2027 entry, Oxford replaces the Maths Admissions Test (MAT) with the TMUA for its whole maths and computer science family. This is the biggest change to the test in years: the MAT was Oxford's own paper, with long written answers you worked through by hand, and the TMUA is a shared national test of 40 multiple-choice questions with no working marked. Anything written for the MAT is still worth doing as mathematics, but it no longer matches the format you will sit. Oxford applicants take the TMUA in the October window.
If you had already started preparing for the Maths Admissions Test, TMUA vs MAT sets the two formats side by side and covers which of that preparation still counts.
Which Oxford courses requires the TMUA?
- Mathematics
- Mathematics and Statistics
- Mathematics and Philosophy
- Mathematics and Computer Science
- Computer Science
- Computer Science and Philosophy
Requirements change from year to year. Confirm your exact course on the official Oxford admissions page.
The TMUA format
The TMUA is 2 papers, and you sit all of them. Every question is multiple choice, with no calculator and no negative marking, so an unanswered question and a wrong one cost you the same.
- Paper 1 — Applications of Mathematical Knowledgerequired20 questions, 75 min
- Paper 2 — Mathematical Reasoningrequired20 questions, 75 min
Key TMUA dates for 2027 entry
- Registration opens: 20 July 2026
- Registration deadline: 28 September 2026 (you must register yourself, through UAT-UK via Pearson VUE)
- Test sitting: 12 October 2026 (October). Oxford applicants must sit the TMUA in the October sitting. The TMUA replaces the MAT from 2027 entry.
- Results: November 2026
Dates are for the current cycle and can change. Confirm them on the official UAT-UK site.
What score do you need for Oxford?
Each TMUA module is marked on the UAT-UK scale from 1.0 to 9.0, and there is no fixed pass mark. Oxford reads your score alongside your predicted grades, personal statement and, where it interviews, your interview. Competitive scores vary by course and year, so treat any target you see quoted online as a rough guide rather than a cutoff.
How to prepare for the TMUA for Oxford
The most reliable preparation is the real thing: work through past papers under exam timing, then check every question against a full worked solution so you learn the method, not just the answer. Then drill the specific TMUA question types you get wrong, and shore up any shaky topics in the notes before you sit it for real.
Prepare for the TMUA for Oxford
Sit full TMUA past papers with worked solutions, then practise the topics you find hardest.
Oxford TMUA: frequently asked questions
- Do I need the TMUA for Oxford?
- Yes. University of Oxford requires the TMUA for Mathematics, Mathematics and Statistics, Mathematics and Philosophy, Mathematics and Computer Science, Computer Science, Computer Science and Philosophy.
- Which Oxford courses use the TMUA?
- Mathematics, Mathematics and Statistics, Mathematics and Philosophy, Mathematics and Computer Science, Computer Science, Computer Science and Philosophy. Always confirm the current requirement on the official Oxford course page before you register.
- When do I sit the TMUA for Oxford?
- Oxford applicants must sit the TMUA in the October sitting. The TMUA replaces the MAT from 2027 entry.
- How do I register for the TMUA?
- Registration is through UAT-UK (via Pearson VUE). For 2027 entry it opens on 20 July 2026 and closes on 28 September 2026. You must register yourself before the deadline, so do not leave it to your school.
- What TMUA score do I need for Oxford?
- Each TMUA module is marked on the UAT-UK scale from 1.0 to 9.0, and there is no fixed pass mark. Oxford reads your score alongside your predicted grades, personal statement and, where it interviews, your interview. Competitive scores vary by course and year, so treat any target you see quoted online as a rough guide rather than a cutoff.
- Is the TMUA hard?
- Most students find the TMUA harder than A-level maths: it rewards speed and problem solving under time pressure rather than recall. That is exactly why practice moves the needle. Working through past papers under timing, then studying full worked solutions, is the most reliable way to raise your score.