University of OxfordUCAS H811 +13
Oxford Engineering Science: ESAT Requirements for 2027 Entry
Applicants to Engineering Science and all of its branch courses at the University of Oxford for 2027 entry must sit ESAT, the Engineering and Science Admissions Test. ESAT is administered by UAT-UK and delivered by Pearson VUE. Every Oxford engineering course requires the same three modules: Mathematics 1, Mathematics 2 and Physics, taken in a single 120-minute session. One rule matters above all: Oxford only accepts results from the October sitting, which for candidates in mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau means the fixed dates of 12 to 13 October 2026. This page covers the official requirements for all 14 course codes, the key dates, and how to prepare.
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Oxford Engineering Science ESAT at a Glance
- Compulsory?
- Yes, for all 14 Oxford Engineering Science UCAS codes, including the 7 Foundation Year variants
- Which modules
- Mathematics 1 + Mathematics 2 + Physics, all three; each 27 questions in 40 minutes, 120 minutes total
- Which sitting Oxford accepts
- October only; fixed at 12 to 13 October 2026 for test centres in mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau
- Booking deadline (October sitting)
- 6pm UK time on 28 September 2026
- How scores are used
- Each module scored 1.0 to 9.0; Oxford publishes no cut-off, and shortlisting and final decisions are made on all available information with no set weighting
Course codes and module requirements follow the UAT-UK 2027 Course List, and the 27-question, 40-minute format is the current ESAT specification; the rule that Oxford applicants must sit in October comes from the Imperial College and Cambridge ESAT pages; the booking deadline follows UAT-UK's published schedule, which always takes precedence; the statement on how scores are used comes from the Oxford Engineering Science department website (eng.ox.ac.uk).
4 sections1,180 words6 min read1 official sources
01
01 Oxford's Official Requirements: 14 Course Codes, One Module Set
Oxford Engineering Science appears in the UAT-UK 2027 Course List as a set of branch courses, 14 UCAS codes in total, including 7 Foundation Year variants. As described on the Oxford Engineering Science department website (eng.ox.ac.uk, Your Degree page), these branches sit within a single unified MEng Engineering Science structure with eight streams. The ESAT requirement is identical across all 14 codes: Mathematics 1, Mathematics 2 and Physics, each module consisting of 27 multiple-choice questions in 40 minutes, for a total of 120 minutes.
Engineering Science
H100
Foundation Year variant, Engineering with Foundation Year: H10F
Biomedical Engineering
H811
Foundation Year variant, Biomedical Engineering with Foundation Year: H81F
Chemical Engineering
H800
Foundation Year variant, Chemical Engineering with Foundation Year: H80F
Civil Engineering
H200
Foundation Year variant, Civil Engineering with Foundation Year: H20F
Electrical Engineering
H620
Foundation Year variant, Electrical Engineering with Foundation Year: H62F
Information Engineering
H630
Foundation Year variant, Information Engineering with Foundation Year: H63F
Mechanical Engineering
H300
Foundation Year variant, Mechanical Engineering with Foundation Year: H30F
All 14 codes above carry the same ESAT entry: Mathematics 1 + Mathematics 2 + Physics, compulsory, and used the same way, as one part of a holistic assessment.
On how scores are used, the Oxford Engineering Science department (eng.ox.ac.uk, Undergraduate Applications) states that the test forms one part of the admission process for Engineering Science, and that both shortlisting and final decisions are made on the basis of all available information, without any set weighting. In practice this means Oxford publishes no cut-off score: your ESAT result is weighed alongside predicted grades, your personal statement and interview performance. Each module is scored on a 1.0 to 9.0 scale; see our ESAT scoring guide for how the scale works.
02
02 Key Dates and Booking: Oxford Accepts the October Sitting Only
ESAT is administered by UAT-UK and delivered worldwide through Pearson VUE test centres. For the 2027 entry cycle, candidates in mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau have two fixed date windows: 12 to 13 October 2026, and 6 January 2027. For Oxford applicants, however, that choice does not really exist: both the Imperial College and Cambridge ESAT pages state explicitly that applicants to the University of Cambridge or the University of Oxford must take the test in October.
2026 – 2027Timeline
Sep 26
Oct 26
Nov 26
Dec 26
Jan 27
October sitting booking closes (the only booking deadline that matters for Oxford applicants)28 Sep 2026, 6pm UK
October sitting booking closes (the only booking deadline that matters for Oxford applicants)
28 Sep 2026, 6pm UK
Per UAT-UK's official schedule, booking for the October sitting closes at 6pm UK time on 28 September 2026; always confirm against official announcements. Registration opening dates come from the UAT-UK website too, so book early and secure your seat.
The only sitting Oxford Engineering Science applicants can use (October)12 to 13 Oct 2026
The only sitting Oxford Engineering Science applicants can use (October)
12 to 13 Oct 2026
The fixed dates for test centres in mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau. Oxford applicants must plan their preparation timeline backwards from this sitting.
January sitting booking closes (of no use for an Oxford application)21 Dec 2026
January sitting booking closes (of no use for an Oxford application)
21 Dec 2026
Per UAT-UK's official schedule, booking for the January sitting closes on 21 December 2026; always confirm against official announcements. This sitting cannot be used for an Oxford application.
January sitting (cannot be used for an Oxford application)6 Jan 2027
January sitting (cannot be used for an Oxford application)
6 Jan 2027
The other fixed date for candidates in mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau. The 6 January 2027 sitting cannot be used for an Oxford application.
Hard deadline Event WindowThe sitting dates are the fixed dates for test centres in mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau; the rule that Cambridge and Oxford applicants must sit in October comes from the Imperial College and Cambridge ESAT pages; both booking deadlines follow UAT-UK's official schedule, and the UAT-UK website is always the final word.
What this means in practice for Oxford applicants: the only usable sitting is 12 to 13 October 2026, the 6 January 2027 sitting cannot be used for an Oxford application, and your preparation timeline must be planned backwards from the October 2026 sitting. For what to expect on the day, including ID and equipment rules, see our ESAT test day guide; for the overall structure and policy background, see the ESAT exam page.
03
03 How to Prepare for Oxford ESAT with FrontierVue
One fact first: no official ESAT past papers exist, because UAT-UK has never published any. ESAT replaced the former NSAA and ENGAA tests from 2024, and its question style and module structure descend directly from them, which makes the official material from those predecessor tests the closest available match to real ESAT questions.
31 papers
Archive papers from the NSAA and ENGAA predecessor tests (2015 to 2023), reorganised to match the current ESAT modules
26 mocks
Mock papers, including Frontier Original full-format ESAT mocks built to the current 27-question, 40-minute specification
2,345 questions
Each with a detailed explanation and a Chinese translation for cross-reference
2 free
The two most recent archive papers are free to try, with the full timed-answering and scoring experience
These archive papers map directly onto the coverage of Mathematics 1, Mathematics 2 and Physics. For Oxford's three modules, here is one route we suggest; it is our recommendation, not an official prescription.
01Step 1
Pin down what each of the three modules covers
02Step 2
Schedule backwards from the October sitting
Use the revision plan guide to schedule backwards from the 12 to 13 October 2026 sitting.
03Step 3
Train the 27-questions-in-40-minutes rhythm
Pair that with the time management guide to train the pace of 27 questions in 40 minutes per module.
04
04 Points Specific to Oxford Applicants
Applied to Oxford Engineering Science applicants specifically, four things are easiest to get wrong.
Do not agonise over branch choice because of ESAT
From H100 Engineering Science to H811 Biomedical Engineering and H300 Mechanical Engineering, through to every Foundation Year variant, all 14 codes require the same modules: Mathematics 1 + Mathematics 2 + Physics. Your branch choice shapes your degree, not your test. If you are also weighing courses at other universities, module requirements differ; see the choosing modules guide.
Foundation Year courses require ESAT too
The seven Foundation Year codes, H10F, H81F, H80F, H20F, H62F, H63F and H30F, appear in the UAT-UK 2027 Course List alongside the standard courses with identical module requirements. There is no foundation-year exemption.
No set weighting means no safe score. Oxford's official position is that shortlisting and final decisions are based on all available information without any set weighting, so do not chase unofficial cut-offs. The strategy we suggest is to push all three modules as high as your ability allows while keeping your academics, personal statement and interview preparation on track. For how to read the 1.0 to 9.0 module scale, see the scoring guide.
The October sitting is your only shot, with no resit. Because Oxford does not accept the January sitting, your performance on 12 to 13 October 2026 is final. We suggest completing several full timed mocks before test day so that navigation, pacing and skip-and-return strategy are second nature; see the time management guide and the test day guide.
SAME UNIVERSITY
Other University of Oxford pages for the ESAT
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to take ESAT for Oxford Engineering Science (H100), and which modules?
Yes, it is compulsory. Oxford Engineering Science and all its branch courses require ESAT, with the same three modules for everyone: Mathematics 1, Mathematics 2 and Physics, each 27 multiple-choice questions in 40 minutes, 120 minutes in total. Oxford's official position is that the test forms one part of the admission process, assessed holistically with no set weighting.
Does Oxford accept the January 2027 ESAT sitting? When do I test from mainland China?
No. Both the Imperial and Cambridge ESAT pages state that applicants to Oxford or Cambridge must take the test in October. For 2027 entry, the October sitting for mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau is fixed on 12 to 13 October 2026, and that is the only sitting Oxford applicants can use; the 6 January 2027 sitting does not count for Oxford.
There are no official ESAT past papers, so what should I practise for Oxford H300 Mechanical Engineering?
UAT-UK has never released official ESAT past papers, but ESAT replaced NSAA and ENGAA from 2024 and inherits their question style. FrontierVue offers 31 archive papers from those predecessor tests (2015 to 2023, reorganised into the current ESAT modules) plus 26 mock papers including Frontier Original full-format mocks, 2,345 questions in total, each with explanations and Chinese translations. The two most recent archive papers are free to try at /papers/esat.
Do Foundation Year courses like Oxford H81F also require ESAT?
Yes. In the UAT-UK 2027 Course List, every Oxford engineering branch, including the Foundation Year variants H10F, H81F, H80F, H20F, H62F, H63F and H30F, requires ESAT with exactly the same modules as the standard courses: Mathematics 1, Mathematics 2 and Physics.
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.
Start preparing for the ESAT for Engineering Science (all branches)
72 ESAT papers and 2790 questions on FrontierVUE, every one with a worked solution. The 2 most recent papers are free to try.