Imperial College LondonUCAS C700 +16

Imperial College London Life Sciences: ESAT Guide for 2027 Entry

Applicants to Imperial College London's Department of Life Sciences for 2027 entry sit the ESAT, and this page covers all 17 UCAS codes across Biochemistry, Biological Sciences, Biotechnology, Ecology and Environmental Biology, and Microbiology. Every course in the department specifies the same module set: Mathematics 1, Chemistry and Biology, 120 minutes in total. Below you will find the official usage for each course, the fixed test dates for candidates in mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau, and a preparation route built on the FrontierVUE question bank.
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01

Imperial's Official Requirements: One Module Set Across 17 Courses

Every 2027 entry undergraduate course in Imperial College London's Department of Life Sciences requires the ESAT. Imperial's official ESAT page (2027 entry) states: "You must take the ESAT if you're applying to our undergraduate courses in one of these departments". The UAT-UK Course List 2027 describes the same courses as "either the ESAT or the TMUA is compulsory". Where the two official sources differ in wording, follow Imperial's own page and the latest guidance for your application cycle.
All 17 courses, spanning Biochemistry, Biological Sciences, Biotechnology, Ecology and Environmental Biology and Microbiology, including the joint language routes with French, German and Spanish, specify the same module set: Mathematics 1, Chemistry and Biology.
CourseUCAS codeESAT modulesHow the score is used
BSc BiochemistryC700Mathematics 1 + Chemistry + BiologyCompulsory
MSci BiochemistryC703Mathematics 1 + Chemistry + BiologyCompulsory
BSc Biochemistry with FrenchC7R1Mathematics 1 + Chemistry + BiologyCompulsory
BSc Biochemistry with GermanC7R2Mathematics 1 + Chemistry + BiologyCompulsory
BSc Biochemistry with SpanishC7R4Mathematics 1 + Chemistry + BiologyCompulsory
BSc Biological SciencesC100Mathematics 1 + Chemistry + BiologyCompulsory
MSc Biological SciencesC103Mathematics 1 + Chemistry + BiologyCompulsory
BSc Biological Sciences with FrenchC1R1Mathematics 1 + Chemistry + BiologyCompulsory
BSc Biological Sciences with GermanC1R2Mathematics 1 + Chemistry + BiologyCompulsory
BSc Biological Sciences with SpanishC1R4Mathematics 1 + Chemistry + BiologyCompulsory
BSc BiotechnologyJ700Mathematics 1 + Chemistry + BiologyCompulsory
MSci BiotechnologyJ703Mathematics 1 + Chemistry + BiologyCompulsory
BSc Biotechnology with FrenchJ7R1Mathematics 1 + Chemistry + BiologyCompulsory
BSc Biotechnology with GermanJ7R2Mathematics 1 + Chemistry + BiologyCompulsory
BSc Biotechnology with SpanishJ7R4Mathematics 1 + Chemistry + BiologyCompulsory
BSc Ecology and Environmental BiologyC180Mathematics 1 + Chemistry + BiologyCompulsory
BSc MicrobiologyC500Mathematics 1 + Chemistry + BiologyCompulsory
Each module has 27 multiple-choice questions in 40 minutes, 120 minutes in total, and each module is reported on a 1.0 to 9.0 scale. Mathematics 1 is compulsory for every ESAT candidate; Chemistry and Biology are the two further modules specified by the Department of Life Sciences.
02

Key Dates and Booking: Sittings for Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau

The ESAT is run by UAT-UK and delivered through Pearson VUE test centres. Imperial accepts both 2027 entry test windows, but only your first sitting in each application cycle counts: a second attempt will not replace or rescue the first score.
WindowDates Imperial acceptsFixed dates for mainland China / Hong Kong / MacauBooking deadline (UK time)
Window 112 to 16 October 202612 to 13 October 202628 September 2026, 18:00
Window 24 to 8 January 20276 January 202721 December 2026, 18:00
Two things to note:
  • If you are also applying to Oxford or Cambridge, you must sit the October window, so January is no longer a fallback for you.
  • Because Imperial only counts your first sitting, treat it as the real thing, not a trial run.
See the test day guide for what happens on the day, and the scoring guide for how the 1.0 to 9.0 scale works.
03

How to Prepare for Imperial Life Sciences with FrontierVUE

UAT-UK does not release official ESAT past papers. The ESAT replaced the NSAA and ENGAA from 2024, so the closest material to official standard comes from those predecessor tests. FrontierVUE hosts 31 NSAA/ENGAA archive papers (2015 to 2023, reorganised into the current ESAT modules) and 26 mock papers, including Frontier Original full ESAT-format papers: 2,345 questions in total, each with a worked explanation and a Chinese translation. The two most recent archive papers are free to try.
A suggested route for Imperial's three-module combination:
  1. Read the module guides to map the syllabus: Mathematics 1, Chemistry and Biology.
  2. Sit a free archive paper at the ESAT practice hub to find your weakest module.
  3. Build a schedule to the October or January sitting with the revision plan guide, and drill the 27-questions-in-40-minutes pace with the time management guide.
For the overall test structure, see the ESAT exam overview.
04

Imperial-Specific Points to Watch

  • First sitting only: Imperial uses the score from your first ESAT sitting in each cycle, so book only when your preparation is genuinely done.
  • Oxbridge co-applications lock your date: applying to Oxford or Cambridge alongside Imperial means you must sit the October window (12 to 13 October 2026 for mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau), with booking closing at 18:00 UK time on 28 September 2026. The runway is shorter than it looks.
  • Language routes are not exempt: with French (C7R1, C1R1, J7R1), with German (C7R2, C1R2, J7R2) and with Spanish (C7R4, C1R4, J7R4) carry exactly the same ESAT modules and usage as their parent courses.
  • No module choice to make: Life Sciences fixes Mathematics 1, Chemistry and Biology across the department. If you are also comparing other departments or universities, see the choosing modules guide.
SAME UNIVERSITY

Other Imperial College London pages for the ESAT

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to take the ESAT for Imperial Biochemistry (C700), or can I use the TMUA instead?
Imperial's official ESAT page for 2027 entry states you must take the ESAT to apply to its Life Sciences undergraduate courses, while the UAT-UK Course List 2027 phrases the requirement as either the ESAT or the TMUA being compulsory. For C700 the specified modules are Mathematics 1, Chemistry and Biology. Where the wording differs, follow Imperial's own page and the latest official guidance for your cycle.
I am in mainland China. When do I sit the ESAT for Imperial Biological Sciences (C100)?
Candidates in mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau have fixed dates: 12 to 13 October 2026, or 6 January 2027. Booking closes at 18:00 UK time on 28 September 2026 for the October window and on 21 December 2026 for the January window. Imperial accepts both windows but only counts your first sitting in the cycle.
Which ESAT modules does Imperial Life Sciences require? Is Biotechnology (J700) the same as Biochemistry?
Yes. All 17 Life Sciences courses, including J700, specify the same three modules: Mathematics 1, Chemistry and Biology. Each module has 27 multiple-choice questions in 40 minutes, 120 minutes in total, reported on a 1.0 to 9.0 scale per module.
There are no official ESAT past papers. What should I practise with for Imperial Life Sciences?
UAT-UK has never released official ESAT past papers. The ESAT replaced the NSAA and ENGAA from 2024, and FrontierVUE hosts 31 archive papers from those predecessor tests (2015 to 2023, reorganised into current modules) plus 26 mock papers, 2,345 questions in total with explanations and Chinese translations. The two most recent archive papers are free to try at /papers/esat.
SOURCES

Official sources

FrontierVUE is an independent practice platform. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by UAT-UK, Pearson, OCR, the University of Cambridge, Imperial College London, or any official admissions-test owner.

FrontierVUE 是独立的备考练习平台，与 UAT-UK、Pearson、OCR、剑桥大学、 帝国理工学院或任何官方入学考试主办方均无隶属或背书关系。

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