Is the MAT still used? Oxford replaced it with the TMUA
No. Oxford uses the TMUA from 2027 entry (the MAT's last sitting was October 2025), so applicants for Oxford Mathematics, Computer Science and their joint courses sit the TMUA, starting with the October 2026 sitting.
Oxford courses that now use the TMUA
The TMUA is two computer-based papers of 20 multiple-choice questions, combined into one 1.0–9.0 score. The MAT's 2024 and 2025 papers were also mostly multiple choice (25 of 27 questions, plus two longer typed answers).
| Mathematics / Mathematics and Statistics | TMUA, compulsory |
|---|---|
| Computer Science | TMUA, compulsory |
| Mathematics and Computer Science | TMUA, compulsory |
| Mathematics and Philosophy | TMUA, compulsory |
| Computer Science and Philosophy | TMUA, compulsory |
Updated 5 November 2026 · Source: Oxford Mathematical Institute: TMUA ↗ · Oxford Mathematical Institute: MAT ↗
MAT questions, answered
Is the MAT still running?
No. Oxford ran the MAT from 2007 to 2025. Oxford uses the TMUA from 2027 entry (the MAT's last sitting was October 2025), so all applicants for Oxford Mathematics, Computer Science and their joint courses now sit the TMUA. Source: Oxford Mathematical Institute: TMUA ↗
Are MAT past papers still worth doing?
They can help. Oxford says the mathematical topics on the TMUA are very similar to those on the MAT, and that the spirit of problem-solving is common to both. Practise the TMUA's own papers first, because the format is different: two papers of multiple-choice questions only, with no longer typed answers. Source: Oxford Mathematical Institute: TMUA ↗ · Oxford Mathematical Institute: MAT ↗
Does anyone else still use the MAT?
Imperial and Warwick had already moved to the TMUA, and Oxford's department no longer runs the test. A few universities' entry pages still mention MAT results; check your course's current requirement.
Do I need a tutor who has personally taken the MAT?
No. What matters now is the TMUA and the mathematics behind it. Our maths tutors are active researchers who reason and prove for a living.
Prepare for the TMUA with a research mathematician
One to one, online or in London, by the session.