UK Entrance Exams 2026

Home to world-leading institutions, the United Kingdom (UK) offers a prestigious and globally respected education. For international students aspiring to study in the UK, the first step in this academic journey is successfully navigating the required entrance exams.

Whether it is for English proficiency via IELTS Academic, TOEFL, and PTE Academic, a graduate-level exam like the GMAT and GRE, or a specialised exam like UCAT for Medicine, LNAT for Law, and STEP for Advanced Mathematics, understanding which UK entrance exam you need is crucial for a successful application.

As of 2026, the Russell Group universities, like the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge (Oxbridge), and University College London (UCL), have introduced sub-specific tests like TMUA and ESAT for their competitive undergraduate programmes, mostly in STEM fields.

Read on for detailed insights into the key UK entrance exams, with the latest test formats, durations, official fees, and a timeline to help you prepare well.

What Exams Are Required to Study in UK?

When planning to prepare for entrance exams to study in UK, international students must take a combination of language tests and standardised exams, both course-specific and university-based. Here is the complete list of UK exams:

UK Exams for English Proficiency

These are mandatory for almost all international students whose first language is not English.

Subject-Specific UK University Entrance Exams

These are required for highly competitive undergraduate courses at Sutton Trust 13 or Russell Group universities.

UK Graduate Entrance Exams

These are required for postgraduate degrees, including master's, MBA, and PhD, to assess advanced analytical and management potential.

Conflicted about which entrance exams you need for the UK? Save time and avoid guesswork. AECC maintains a comprehensive repository of the latest university requirements, ensuring you are perfectly prepared for a seamless application. Reach out today to match your profile with the right course and secure your place.

UK Exams for English Proficiency

Applicable for candidates applying from non-English-speaking countries, the English proficiency tests assess your reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills to ensure you can follow academic lectures held at UK universities.

IELTS Academic

The International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic) is a globally recognised standardised test for admission into international universities and colleges. Mid-tier universities require an overall IELTS Academic score between 6.0 and 7.0 bands, with no single band lower than 5.5–6.5, while top-tier institutions require 7.0+ bands.

Tip for Visa: Always check if your university is a 'Higher Education Provider with a track record of compliance' before booking a standard IELTS Academic; otherwise, the IELTS UKVI version is the safest bet for visa approval.

TOEFL

The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is a widely recognised standardised test accepted by global universities as an alternative to IELTS Academic. The TOEFL iBT Home Edition is also accepted by UK universities.

While mid-tier universities require anywhere between 72 and 100+ on TOEFL iBT, top institutions like Oxbridge ask for over 100, with the Russell Group requiring a 90–100 TOEFL score.

PTE Academic

The Pearson Test of English (PTE Academic) is accepted by many UK universities and is also approved by the UK Home Office for student visas. It is known for its fast results, within 48 hours. For undergraduate study, a score of 51–67 is common, while postgraduate studies require a 57–67 or higher PTE Academic score, depending on the institution.

Wondering which is the best English language test for UK university admission 2026 for your profile? Get your reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills assessed by our exam experts, and they will provide you with a customised test-prep plan to level up your English game.

Subject-Specific UK University Entrance Exams

Some of the UK college entrance exams are designed for specific courses like Law, Medicine, Advanced Mathematics, STEM courses, and others. Let us explore the details of these UK entrance exams.

UCAT

The University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) is a mandatory UK entrance exam for medical and dental school admissions at the undergraduate level. It assesses cognitive abilities, attitudes, and professional behaviours, not academic knowledge.

Over 50 UK universities use the score of this UK medical entrance exam, with scores combined with grades and interviews for international admission to their MBBS programmes.

LNAT

The UK Law entrance exam, National Admissions Test for Law (LNAT), is required for many undergraduate law programmes at top universities. This critical admissions test for undergraduate LLB courses at leading UK universities assesses verbal reasoning, comprehension, and analytical skills, not legal knowledge. 

As of 2026, the LNAT is required by institutions including the University of Oxford, University College London (UCL), King's College London (KCL), London School of Economics (LSE), University of Bristol, Durham University, University of Glasgow, and SOAS University of London.

Many other UK universities, including several in the Russell Group, do not require the LNAT, focusing instead on predicted grades, personal statements (SOP for UK), and references (LORs). The University of Cambridge uses the LNAT for Law, having replaced its previous internal test.

Note: Ensure to meet the October 15th deadline for the LNAT, matching your UCAS deadline for the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge (Oxbridge).

STEP

The Sixth Term Examination Paper (STEP) is a UK entrance exam required by some of the most competitive universities for Mathematics-heavy undergraduate courses. It tests problem-solving ability and in-depth mathematical knowledge. It used to have three formats: STEP 1, STEP 2, and STEP 3. The STEP 1 exam was discontinued in 2020.

The exam registration opens in early March and closes in early May. The exam dates are held around mid-to-late June. Candidates must register via an authorised test centre, such as the British Council. You must register for the specific papers, STEP 2 or STEP 3, required by your university's conditional offer.

AECC Expert Strategy: Since STEP is taken after a student receives a conditional offer, around June, there is a loophole to bypass STEP. Warwick University issues a reduced offer excluding the STEP requirement from your conditional offer if you have provided a high score in the TMUA score beforehand in the October or January sitting.

By hitting this mark early, you remove a major hurdle. Once you hit your A-Level targets, your offer turns unconditional, clearing the way for your CAS Letter for UK visa without the stress of an extra June entrance exam.

TMUA

The Test of Mathematics for University Admission (TMUA) is a crucial, high-level entrance exam that measures logical reasoning and mathematical thinking rather than just formula recall, based on AS-level content. It is required for admission into Mathematics, Computer Science, and Economics courses at top UK universities.

TMUA is managed by Pearson VUE, which needs to be accessed using your UCAS ID, under the UAT-UK partnership, which offers two testing windows:

• Test Window 1 (October): Mandatory for the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge (Oxbridge)
• Test Window 2 (January): Available for Imperial College London, LSE, and others

Note: For Oxbridge, applicants must take the October sitting. Taking the January sitting, allowed by Imperial College London, LSE, and others, would disqualify an Oxbridge applicant.

ESAT

The Engineering & Science Admissions Test (ESAT) is a computer-based exam required for undergraduate courses in Engineering and Science at top UK universities, such as the University of Cambridge and Imperial College London. It tests a candidate’s proficiency in math and science to inform interview shortlisting, where they prove their suitability for studying bachelor's courses in the UK.

Like the TMUA, ESAT is also managed by Pearson VUE, accessed using your UCAS ID, under the UAT-UK partnership, offering the same two testing windows:

• Test Window 1 (October): Mandatory for Oxbridge
• Test Window 2 (January): Available for Imperial College London, LSE, and others

Note: Ensure to take the October sitting for Oxbridge, as the January sitting would only be used by Imperial College London, LSE, and others.

UK universities are known to hire the best talent from across the world. Are you ready to study one of these subjects in the UK with unbeatable exam scores? AECC is here to help you through every step of your exam preparation journey.

Graduate Entrance Exam for UK

The graduate entrance exam for UK universities include the GRE and GMAT which are globally accepted for all subjects, ranging from Arts and Humanities to STEM and Management degrees. These degrees can be pursued at different levels, including master’s and doctoral, including one-year master’s programmes in UK.

GRE

Conducted by the Educational Testing Service (ETS), the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is a standardised test used for admission to graduate schools and business programmes worldwide.

The GRE is not a mandatory requirement for mid-tier and low-tier master's programmes in UK, but it is required or required for competitive graduate programmes, mostly in STEM and Management. Similarly, while many doctoral programmes (PhD) do not have the GRE as a mandatory requirement, if you have a score, you should submit it for additional consideration.

Many UK business schools and some top-tier economics or social science departments prefer a GRE score. A competitive GRE score for top UK universities, like the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), the Oxbridge, is considered to be 320+, with 160+ in Quantitative and 155+ in Verbal sections.

GMAT

The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is a standardised exam used to assess the qualifications of candidates for admission to graduate business programmes like the MBA. It is accepted and highly recommended by all major UK business schools.

GMAT scores are mandatory for top-tier UK business schools, requiring a 650–710+ score for premier programmes by London Business School and the University of Oxford's Saïd Business School. Mid-tier UK schools may accept 600–650, while some offer waivers based on experience.

When to Take UK Entrance Exams?

For any intake academic cycle in the UK, you must give yourself ample time to understand the course and university-specific requirements, preparation time, and exam retaking time, in case you wish to improve your scores for specific courses, UK scholarships, or your student visa. Here is how you should structure your journey:

The right set of UK entrance exams depends entirely on your academic goals. Understanding the exams required is a critical second step for any international student aiming to study abroad. Choosing the right course based on your goals is the initial step. Preparing for the right UK exams can be a challenge, and navigating the entire study abroad process can sound daunting, but you do not have to do it alone.

Do not let any UK entrance exams stand between you and your dream university. From sourcing the correct materials to final revision, AECC exam specialists provide the expert guidance you need to excel. Our experts offer the insights and preparation support you need to succeed. Start your preparation with a single click and bring your UK study goals within reach.