Durham TMUA requirements
Durham University does not strictly require the TMUA, but recommends it for Mathematics, and a strong score can strengthen your application. You can sit in October or January. A score of 5.0 or above earns consideration for a reduced offer.
How Durham uses the TMUA
Durham recommends rather than requires the TMUA for its Mathematics degrees. If you score 5.0 or above you are automatically considered for an offer one grade below the standard (A*AA instead of A*A*A); a lower score is still viewed positively and is never counted against you. You must authorise Durham to access your result. That makes sitting the test a low-risk way to strengthen your application. You can sit in either October or January.
Which Durham courses recommends the TMUA?
Requirements change from year to year. Confirm your exact course on the official Durham admissions page.
The TMUA format
The TMUA is 2 papers, and you sit all of them. Every question is multiple choice, with no calculator and no negative marking, so an unanswered question and a wrong one cost you the same.
- Paper 1 — Applications of Mathematical Knowledgerequired20 questions, 75 min
- Paper 2 — Mathematical Reasoningrequired20 questions, 75 min
Key TMUA dates for 2027 entry
- Registration opens: 20 July 2026
- Registration deadline: 28 September 2026 (you must register yourself, through UAT-UK via Pearson VUE)
- Test sitting: 12 October 2026 (October). You can sit in October or January. A score of 5.0 or above earns consideration for a reduced offer.
- Results: November 2026
Dates are for the current cycle and can change. Confirm them on the official UAT-UK site.
What score do you need for Durham?
Each TMUA module is marked on the UAT-UK scale from 1.0 to 9.0, and there is no fixed pass mark. Durham reads your score alongside your predicted grades, personal statement and, where it interviews, your interview. Competitive scores vary by course and year, so treat any target you see quoted online as a rough guide rather than a cutoff.
Because Durham treats the TMUA as a way to earn a reduced offer, there is no downside to a weaker score: it simply is not counted against you. That makes sitting it worthwhile for almost every applicant.
How to prepare for the TMUA for Durham
The most reliable preparation is the real thing: work through past papers under exam timing, then check every question against a full worked solution so you learn the method, not just the answer. Then drill the specific TMUA question types you get wrong, and shore up any shaky topics in the notes before you sit it for real.
Prepare for the TMUA for Durham
Sit full TMUA past papers with worked solutions, then practise the topics you find hardest.
Durham TMUA: frequently asked questions
- Do I need the TMUA for Durham?
- The TMUA is not compulsory at Durham University, but it is recommended for Mathematics, and a strong score helps your application.
- Which Durham courses use the TMUA?
- Mathematics. Always confirm the current requirement on the official Durham course page before you register.
- When do I sit the TMUA for Durham?
- You can sit in October or January. A score of 5.0 or above earns consideration for a reduced offer.
- How do I register for the TMUA?
- Registration is through UAT-UK (via Pearson VUE). For 2027 entry it opens on 20 July 2026 and closes on 28 September 2026. You must register yourself before the deadline, so do not leave it to your school.
- What TMUA score do I need for Durham?
- Each TMUA module is marked on the UAT-UK scale from 1.0 to 9.0, and there is no fixed pass mark. Durham reads your score alongside your predicted grades, personal statement and, where it interviews, your interview. Competitive scores vary by course and year, so treat any target you see quoted online as a rough guide rather than a cutoff.
- Is the TMUA hard?
- Most students find the TMUA harder than A-level maths: it rewards speed and problem solving under time pressure rather than recall. That is exactly why practice moves the needle. Working through past papers under timing, then studying full worked solutions, is the most reliable way to raise your score.