University Admissions Updates
On this page, you will find a comprehensive summary of all the major changes that have been implemented or planned for the university application process. This page is updated as new announcements are made, so be sure to check in regularly for news on the university application process.
2024 Admissions Updates
| Admissions Test | Oxford has announced a brand new admissions test for 2024, the Biomedical Sciences Admissions Test (BMSAT). This will be used for their Biomedical Sciences degree. It also seems that Oxford has discontinued the ELAT for English applicants as the exam no longer appears on the Oxford website. | We will be following any updated on the BMSAT very closely and will be ready to produce new resources and provide effective support to our Oxford Biomedical Sciences students this year. We will also be quick to adjust our English Programme to account for removal of the ELAT. |
| Admissions Test | In 2023, the TMUA was stated to be discontinued. This is no longer the case. The exam will continue to be used by Cambridge, as well as Imperial College London, LSE, Durham and Warwick | The team were poised to develop new resources, but this is no longer required for courses requiring the TMUA. |
| Admissions Test | The NSAA and ENGAA Cambridge are both being replaced by a new exam; the ESAT. | UniAdmissions are already underway developing new resources for the ESAT exam. These materials will all be provided for the relevant Programmes. |
| Admissions Test | All UK medical schools (including Oxford and Cambridge) will now require the UCAT instead of the BMAT exam. | We already have extensive UCAT resources which are included in our Medicine Programmes. |
2023 Admissions Updates
| Admissions Test: BMAT | The BMAT exam is being replaced by another exam. The University of Cambridge have confirmed more information will be released in March. | The UniAdmissions resource team are poised and ready to update our content and materials to reflect the March announcement. |
| Second, shorter MAT offered by Oxford due to technical issues. | Due to technical issues faced by multiple Oxford admissions test using a new computer-based format, the Oxford maths department are offering any affected students the chance to sit a second MAT-styled admissions test to support their application. This test will be sat on November 14th at 9AM and will consist of 10 multiple-choice questions in the style of MAT Q1. Any applicants wishing to sit this test need to submit a special consideration form before November 3rd. | Any Oxford maths applicants sitting this new test will be able to practice their MAT Q1 skills through their programme resources. Tuition sessions can also be adjusted to provide additional support for this test if needed. |
| ELAT results not being considered for Oxford English applications in 2023. | Due to technical issues faced by multiple Oxford admissions test using a new computer-based format, the university has confirmed that ELAT scores will not be used in the shortlisting calculation for any courses that require it. This has been done to ensure no applicants are placed at a disadvantage due to the technical difficulties that applicants encountered. | We will be monitoring the situation closely and will make any necessary adjustments to our ELAT support for future years. We will continue to focus on interview support for all of our Oxford English students. |
| OLAT replaced with written work requirement. | OLAT (Oriental Languages Aptitude Test) is no longer required for applicants of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies. Instead, applicants will need to submit two pieces of written work. | Support for our students will shift from OLAT preparation to support for written work submissions. |
| Teacher Reference | UCAS teacher references for 2024 entry students are changing their format. Read more about these changes in-depth here.. | UniAdmissions are updating our guidance which we provide to students and teachers. |
| Personal Statement | Personal Statement's may be changing for applicants in 2025 and beyond. | UniAdmissions are preparing for the alternatives that may be used by UCAS. We have also written an explanation article covering the changes. |
| Oxford Admissions Tests | In 2023, Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing will no longer be administering a series of admissions tests used by the University of Oxford in their admissions process. These tests include the CAT, ELAT, HAT, MAT, MLAT, OLAT, PAT and the Philosophy Test. It is currently unknown if these tests will be cancelled, replaced or administered as normal by Oxford. | Our curriculum will not be changing until further details have been announced, so we will still be preparing our students for the affect exams. We have also written an explanation article covering the matter. |
2022 Admissions Updates
| Admissions Tests (BMAT, ENGAA, NSAA, TMUA). | From 2024, several Cambridge admissions tests will be replaced. It is currently unknown what they will be replaced with. The official article can be found here. | As with all admissions test changes, UniAdmissions will ensure that we have new books, courses and training as required for the replacement tests once announced. |
| BMAT, TMUA, ENGAA & NSAA Date Changes | These admissions tests were previously all sat on the 2nd November in 2022. BMAT & TMUA have been moved to 18th October 2022. ENGAA and NSAA have been moved to 19th October 2022. You can read about the changes in full here. | We have informed our current students and parents. We have moved various course dates to accomodate for the new date. |
| UCAT (Medicine) | There have been various changes to the test specification. You can read these changes here. | We are updating our resources and platforms accordingly. |
| ECAA (Economics Cambridge) | Applicants for Economics at Cambridge are now no longer required to sit the ECAA, but the TMUA instead. | We are converting our Oxbridge Economics Programme (for Cambridge applicants) to cover the TMUA in depth, along with updating our resources and information on our website. |
| Admissions Test Land Economy | Applicants to Land Economy at Cambridge are no longer required to sit the TSA, but a written assessment at interview. | We are updating our Cambridge Land Economy Programme accordingly. |
| CLT (Cambridge Law) | Cambridge has stopped using the CLT and reverted back to using the National Admissions Test for Law (LNAT). | We are converting our Oxbridge Law Programme (for Cambridge applicants) to cover the LNAT in depth, along with updating our resources and information on our website. |
| ELAT (English at Cambridge) removed. | The ELAT is no longer a required component of the English application process for Cambridge - students will sit a written assessment instead. | We are updating our Oxbridge English Programme accordingly. |
| Admissions Test (Engineering Cambridge) | Applicants may now also be asked to sit the STEP Paper 2/3 in addition to the ENGAA. | We will provide support to students applying to colleges which require the STEP. |
2021 Admissions Updates
| BMAT (Medicine) | Section 1 question number has been reduced to 32 from 35. The BMAT Section 1 no longer contains "Data Analysis" questions. "Critical Thinking" questions now include "Detecting Reasoning Errors", "Matching Arguments" and "Applying Principles". There will be no September BMAT session - the test can only be sat in November in 2020. | All UniAdmissions BMAT resources are updated in accordance with the specification change. |
| UCAT (Medicine) | Testing is planned to proceed as normal but may have to be delayed - this means the first testing date won't be in early July. The test can be taken online in 2020. | None required. |
| LNAT (Law) | No changes to the test format or testing schedule. Candidates must wear face coverings to test centres, which are due to begin testing from September. | None required. |
| CLT (Law Cambridge) | No changes to the format or schedule. | None required. |
| TSA (Various Courses) | Geography at Oxford now takes both S1 and S2 of the exam. Economics & Management at Oxford only takes S1 of the TSA. | We have updated our Programme specification to cover the new requirements. |
| PBSAA (Psychological & Behavioural Sciences) | This test is no longer being used. Some applicants to Cambridge Psychology may still have to sit the admissions test depending on the college they apply to. | UniAdmissions will update requirements promptly once the specification has been released. |
| ELAT (English) | No changes to the format or schedule. | None required. |
| MLAT (Modern Languages) | The MLAT no longer has a linguistics test section for 2021 entry. Candidates will need to take a maximum of two sections. | UniAdmissions will update our resources accordingly. |
| NSAA (Natural Science Cambridge) | "Advanced Maths" and "Advanced Physics" have been removed from Section 1. In Section 1, students will have to answer Maths questions, plus Physics, Chemistry or Biology depending on the part of the tripos they're aiming to specialise in. Section 2 has seen a change to the question format - the specification remains the same. | All of UniAdmissions NSAA resources are updated in accordance with the different Section 1 specification and updated Section 2 question format. Tuition provided will focus on the specialisation the student intends to undertake. |
| ENGAA (Engineering Cambridge) | No changes to the test format or testing schedule. | None required. |
| ECAA (Economics Cambridge) | Problem solving has been removed from Section 1. Section 1 is now split into Section 1A (Maths) and Section 1B (Advanced Maths). Both contain 20 questions. | All UniAdmissions ECAA resources are updated in accordance with the specification change. |
| (C)TMUA (Maths, Statistics and Computer Science Cambridge) | No changes to the format or schedule. | None required. |
| HSPSAA (Human, Social and Political Sciences Cambridge) | This test is no longer being used. | None required. |
| History (Cambridge) | This will now have an at-interview assessment instead of a pre-interview assessment. | UniAdmissions will update requirements promptly once the specification has been released. |
| AAA (Architecture Cambridge) | No changes to the format or schedule. | None required. |
| MAT (Maths Oxford) | No changes to the format or schedule. | None required. |
| HAT (History Oxford) | No changes to the format or schedule. | None required. |
| PAT (Physics/Engineering Oxford) | No changes to the format or schedule. | None required. |
| Interviews Cambridge | No changes to the schedule. Interviews are likely to be held online. | UniAdmissions will provide guidance on how to interview effectively online through our Interview Intensive Course. |
| Interview Oxford | No changes to the schedule. Interviews are likely to be held online. | UniAdmissions will provide guidance on how to interview effectively online through our Interview Intensive Course. |
| Interview Medical School | No changes to the format or schedule. | None required. |
Useful Links For Teachers
It can be difficult to offer your school’s same, excellent level of support for students applying for more specialist subjects and universities. UniAdmissions can help your school with expert university admissions support, no matter what the subject.
School University Admissions Support – We’ve worked with many top schools over the years with great success. Our critical understanding of the university admissions process allows us to provide an unmatched level of service that gets results.
UniAdmissions’ Foundation – We are commited to leveling the playing field for all schools and students. If you feel your school could benefit from our Foundation scheme, apply for our School Support.
Queenswood School Case Study – Although Queenswood was already a very high achieving school with strong academic performance, the school felt they would benefit from UniAdmissions’ up-to-date understanding of the Oxbridge admissions process for their girls.
Mill Hill School Case Study – Mill Hill school were looking to keep up their strong Oxbridge admissions rate and turned to UniAdmissions for support.
