Natural Sciences BA/MSci
BCF0- What to sit
- Mathematics 1, plus 2 different modules from Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics 2
- Apply by
- 15 October 2026, 18:00 UK time
ESAT · 2027 entry
ESAT at University of Cambridge: courses, modules and deadlines for 2027 entry
4 courses use the ESAT. Every one listed here requires it.
Official sources checked 24 September 2026.
Courses and what to sit
Veterinary Medicine VetMB
D100- What to sit
- Mathematics 1, plus 2 different modules from Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics 2
- Apply by
- 15 October 2026, 18:00 UK time
Engineering BA/MEng
H100- What to sit
- Mathematics 1, Mathematics 2, Physics
- Apply by
- 15 October 2026, 18:00 UK time
Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology BA/MEng
H810- What to sit
- Mathematics 1, plus 2 different modules from Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics 2
- Apply by
- 15 October 2026, 18:00 UK time
Key dates
28 September 2026, 18:00 UK timeIn 4 days
Booking closes: ESAT, October 2026
Applicants applying by the October deadline; centres outside China, Hong Kong and Macau
28 September 2026, 18:00 UK timeIn 4 days
Booking closes: ESAT, October 2026: China, Hong Kong and Macau
Applicants applying by the October deadline; centres in China, Hong Kong and Macau
12 to 16 October 2026In 22 days
Sit the ESAT: October 2026
Applicants applying by the October deadline; centres outside China, Hong Kong and Macau
12 to 13 October 2026In 19 days
Sit the ESAT: October 2026: China, Hong Kong and Macau
Applicants applying by the October deadline; centres in China, Hong Kong and Macau
15 October 2026, 18:00 UK timeIn 21 days
Apply through UCAS
Main October round; eligible January mature applicants have a separate deadline in notes
15 October 2026, 18:00 UK timeIn 21 days
Apply through UCAS
UCAS application
21 December 2026, 18:00 UK timeIn 13 weeks
Booking closes: ESAT, January 2027
Eligible January-round mature applicants at Hughes Hall, St Edmund’s or Wolfson only; centres outside China, Hong Kong and Macau
21 December 2026, 18:00 UK timeIn 13 weeks
Booking closes: ESAT, January 2027: China, Hong Kong and Macau
Eligible January-round mature applicants at Hughes Hall, St Edmund’s or Wolfson only; centres in China, Hong Kong and Macau
4 to 8 January 2027In 15 weeks
Sit the ESAT: January 2027
Eligible January-round mature applicants at Hughes Hall, St Edmund’s or Wolfson only; centres outside China, Hong Kong and Macau
6 January 2027In 15 weeks
Sit the ESAT: January 2027: China, Hong Kong and Macau
Eligible January-round mature applicants at Hughes Hall, St Edmund’s or Wolfson only; centres in China, Hong Kong and Macau
13 January 2027, 18:00 UK timeIn 16 weeks
Apply through UCAS
Eligible mature applicants applying to Hughes Hall, St Edmund’s or Wolfson in the January round, who did not apply in the preceding October; excludes Veterinary Medicine.
Date sources: UCAS, checked 24 September 2026; undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk, checked 24 September 2026; UAT-UK, checked 23 September 2026
Published score guidance
Selection policy · 2027 entry policy; historical data explicitly labelled where mentioned
There is no pass or fail mark. Colleges use results to shortlist, then consider scores with the rest of the application when deciding offers.
Source: undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk, checked 24 September 2026
The Engineering and Science Admissions Test is required for the course routes below, subject to any stated exception. Course names and UCAS codes follow the official 2027 course list (accessed 2026-09-23). Degree title for Natural Sciences follows the current Cambridge course page (accessed 2026-09-24).
Each module has 27 multiple-choice questions and 40 minutes. Calculators are not allowed. You receive a separate score for each module. UAT-UK format (accessed 2026-09-23).
October booking closes at 18:00 UK time on 28 September 2026; the sitting is 12 to 16 October. January booking closes at 18:00 UK time on 21 December 2026; the sitting is 4 to 8 January 2027. In China, Hong Kong and Macau, ESAT runs on 12 to 13 October and 6 January only. Take one sitting per cycle. UAT-UK calendar (accessed 2026-09-23).
FAQ topics are adapted from real applicant questions about sitting choice, target scores and preparation, documented in the research accessed 2026-09-23. These are paraphrased questions, not quotations. Answers use official sources.
Engineering
Courses: Engineering BA/MEng (H100). Course and code source (accessed 2026-09-23).
What to book: Mathematics 1, Mathematics 2, Physics. University requirement (accessed 2026-09-24); Module table (accessed 2026-09-23).
Deadlines: apply through UCAS by 15 October 2026, 18:00 UK time. Use October, with the booking deadlines above. UCAS calendar (accessed 2026-09-24); Sitting rule (accessed 2026-09-24).
Exception: eligible mature applicants to Hughes Hall, St Edmund’s or Wolfson can apply by 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time, and sit ESAT in October or January. This January round is unavailable if you applied in the preceding October. Official source (accessed 2026-09-24).
Scores: There is no pass or fail mark. Colleges use results to shortlist, then consider scores with the rest of the application when deciding offers. Official source (accessed 2026-09-24).
Preparation advice (editorial): Practise translating a mechanics diagram into equations, checking units and eliminating impossible answers before calculating. Pair this with exact algebra and differentiation practice. Use the official specification and specimen resources as your checklist (resource link accessed 2026-09-23).
FAQs
Can I choose January instead of October?
Only if you qualify for Cambridge’s January mature application round at Hughes Hall, St Edmund’s or Wolfson; otherwise use October. Official source (accessed 2026-09-24).
What score should I aim for?
There is no pass or fail mark. Colleges use results to shortlist, then consider scores with the rest of the application when deciding offers. Official source (accessed 2026-09-24).
How should I use practice papers?
Editorial advice: start with an official specimen for each required module, review every error, and then repeat the method on a fresh problem. Practise the required combination under the official timings. Official preparation resources (accessed 2026-09-23); Timing rules (accessed 2026-09-23).
Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology
Courses: Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology BA/MEng (H810). Course and code source (accessed 2026-09-23).
What to book: Mathematics 1; plus two different modules chosen from Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics 2. University requirement (accessed 2026-09-24); Module table (accessed 2026-09-23).
Deadlines: apply through UCAS by 15 October 2026, 18:00 UK time. Use October, with the booking deadlines above. UCAS calendar (accessed 2026-09-24); Sitting rule (accessed 2026-09-24).
Exception: eligible mature applicants to Hughes Hall, St Edmund’s or Wolfson can apply by 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time, and sit ESAT in October or January. This January round is unavailable if you applied in the preceding October. Official source (accessed 2026-09-24).
Scores: There is no pass or fail mark. Colleges use results to shortlist, then consider scores with the rest of the application when deciding offers. Official source (accessed 2026-09-24).
Preparation advice (editorial): Choose your two strongest permitted modules after checking every other course on your shortlist. For Chemistry, practise mole ratios and concentration calculations without a calculator; for Physics, practise energy balances and units. Use the official specification and specimen resources as your checklist (resource link accessed 2026-09-23).
FAQs
Can I choose January instead of October?
Only if you qualify for Cambridge’s January mature application round at Hughes Hall, St Edmund’s or Wolfson; otherwise use October. Official source (accessed 2026-09-24).
What score should I aim for?
There is no pass or fail mark. Colleges use results to shortlist, then consider scores with the rest of the application when deciding offers. Official source (accessed 2026-09-24).
How should I use practice papers?
Editorial advice: start with an official specimen for each required module, review every error, and then repeat the method on a fresh problem. Practise the required combination under the official timings. Official preparation resources (accessed 2026-09-23); Timing rules (accessed 2026-09-23).
Natural Sciences
Courses: Natural Sciences BA/MSci (BCF0). Course and code source (accessed 2026-09-23).
What to book: Mathematics 1; plus two different modules chosen from Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics 2. University requirement (accessed 2026-09-24); Module table (accessed 2026-09-23).
Deadlines: apply through UCAS by 15 October 2026, 18:00 UK time. Use October, with the booking deadlines above. UCAS calendar (accessed 2026-09-24); Sitting rule (accessed 2026-09-24).
Exception: eligible mature applicants to Hughes Hall, St Edmund’s or Wolfson can apply by 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time, and sit ESAT in October or January. This January round is unavailable if you applied in the preceding October. Official source (accessed 2026-09-24).
Scores: There is no pass or fail mark. Colleges use results to shortlist, then consider scores with the rest of the application when deciding offers. Official source (accessed 2026-09-24).
Preparation advice (editorial): Use one official specimen from each module you are considering. Choose from the modules accepted by all your target courses, then record whether each error came from subject knowledge, interpretation or arithmetic. Use the official specification and specimen resources as your checklist (resource link accessed 2026-09-23).
FAQs
Can I choose January instead of October?
Only if you qualify for Cambridge’s January mature application round at Hughes Hall, St Edmund’s or Wolfson; otherwise use October. Official source (accessed 2026-09-24).
What score should I aim for?
There is no pass or fail mark. Colleges use results to shortlist, then consider scores with the rest of the application when deciding offers. Official source (accessed 2026-09-24).
How should I use practice papers?
Editorial advice: start with an official specimen for each required module, review every error, and then repeat the method on a fresh problem. Practise the required combination under the official timings. Official preparation resources (accessed 2026-09-23); Timing rules (accessed 2026-09-23).
Veterinary Medicine
Courses: Veterinary Medicine VetMB (D100). Course and code source (accessed 2026-09-23).
What to book: Mathematics 1; plus two different modules chosen from Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics 2. University requirement (accessed 2026-09-24); Module table (accessed 2026-09-23).
Deadlines: apply through UCAS by 15 October 2026, 18:00 UK time. Use October, with the booking deadlines above. UCAS calendar (accessed 2026-09-24); Sitting rule (accessed 2026-09-24).
Veterinary Medicine is excluded from Cambridge’s January mature application round. The October deadline still applies. Official source (accessed 2026-09-24).
Scores: There is no pass or fail mark. Colleges use results to shortlist, then consider scores with the rest of the application when deciding offers. Official source (accessed 2026-09-24).
Preparation advice (editorial): If choosing Biology and Chemistry, practise interpreting unfamiliar biological data and working through quantitative chemistry. Keep Mathematics 1 practice separate so arithmetic gaps do not disappear inside a science score. Use the official specification and specimen resources as your checklist (resource link accessed 2026-09-23).
FAQs
Can I choose January instead of October?
No. This course uses the October sitting for applicants applying by the October deadline. Official source (accessed 2026-09-24).
What score should I aim for?
There is no pass or fail mark. Colleges use results to shortlist, then consider scores with the rest of the application when deciding offers. Official source (accessed 2026-09-24).
How should I use practice papers?
Editorial advice: start with an official specimen for each required module, review every error, and then repeat the method on a fresh problem. Practise the required combination under the official timings. Official preparation resources (accessed 2026-09-23); Timing rules (accessed 2026-09-23).