Mathematics · Head to head
Every figure on this page is taken from each university's own published requirements and admissions statistics, with the source named underneath.
For 2027 entry both Oxford and Cambridge Mathematics use the TMUA, so the pre-interview test is no longer a difference. The difference is what comes after: Cambridge attaches STEP II and III to the conditional offer, sat in June after A-Levels, while Oxford does not. That single requirement is the biggest practical distinction between the two applications.
Course requirements last verified for 2027 entry. Editorial review: 2026-08-17.
Oxford and Cambridge do not publish course-level competition the same way. Oxford publishes applicants per place; Cambridge publishes applications and offers, from which the offer rate below is derived. A place and an offer are not the same thing, so read each university's figure on its own terms rather than as a head-to-head score.
Sources
Entry requirements as each university publishes them for 2027 entry. Always confirm against the official course page before you apply, linked underneath.
| Oxford | Cambridge | |
|---|---|---|
| Official course name | Mathematics | Mathematics |
| Degree awarded | BA (Hons) / MMath | BA (Hons) / MMath |
| Duration | 3 years (BA) or 4 years (MMath) | 3 years (BA) or 4 years (MMath) |
| UCAS course code | G100 | G100 |
| Admissions testdiffers | Test of Mathematics for University Admission (TMUA) | Test of Mathematics for University Admission (TMUA), with STEP II and STEP III as conditional offer requirements (sat in June after A-Levels) |
| Typical A-Level offerdiffers | A*A*A with A* in Mathematics | A*A*A + 1,1 in STEP II and III |
| Typical IB offerdiffers | 39 with 766 at HL | 40-42 with 776 at HL + 1,1 in STEP II and III |
| Required subjectsdiffers | Mathematics, Further Mathematics (highly recommended) | Mathematics, Further Mathematics |
| Interview | 2 interviews, about 30 minutes each | 2 interviews, about 30 minutes each |
| Written work required | No | No |
Oxford
TMUA, sat in the autumn before interview. Oxford retired the MAT for 2027 entry.
Cambridge
TMUA on the same timetable.
What this means for you: The pre-interview test is now common ground. Past MAT papers remain useful preparation material for TMUA-style problem-solving even though the MAT itself is retired.
Oxford
Not required.
Cambridge
STEP II and STEP III sit in the conditional offer and are taken in June, after your A-Levels.
What this means for you: This is the decision point. A Cambridge maths offer is not secured in January, it is secured in June, and STEP is materially harder than A-Level Further Mathematics. Plan for months of preparation running alongside your exams.
Oxford
Two problem-solving interviews at a whiteboard, working through unfamiliar problems with guidance.
Cambridge
Two interviews of the same length and character, on paper or at a board, with the emphasis on your reasoning rather than on recall.
What this means for you: Preparation transfers almost completely between the two. Practice thinking out loud on problems you have not seen before, not revising syllabus content.
Oxford
A named Mathematics degree with a three-year BA or a four-year MMath.
Cambridge
The Mathematical Tripos, also three or four years, with the year structure organised into staged parts and a famously steep first year.
What this means for you: Both are demanding pure-heavy courses. The Tripos has the harder reputation for pace; neither is a soft option.
These differences apply whichever subject you apply for.
| Oxford | Cambridge | |
|---|---|---|
| UCAS institution codediffers | O33 | C05 |
| Teaching formatdiffers | Tutorial | Supervision |
| Term structurediffers | 3 eight-week terms (Michaelmas, Hilary, Trinity) | 3 eight-week terms (Michaelmas, Lent, Easter) |
| If your college cannot make an offerdiffers | Reallocation | Winter Pool |
| Extra form beyond UCASdiffers | None | My Cambridge Application (supplementary questionnaire) |
| Interview policydiffers | Oxford interviews approximately 50-60% of applicants overall, though this varies significantly by subject. Most shortlisted candidates receive 2-3 interviews. | Cambridge interviews approximately 75% of applicants overall. Nearly all applicants deemed potentially competitive are invited. Interviews are typically held at the college you applied to. |
The university-level answer changes once you look at the course. Here is the same comparison for the other subjects with published data on both sides.
Free Resource
Oxbridge Application Guide
Entry requirements, test dates and interview formats for both universities, in one plan you can work from.