Which Universities Require the LNAT for 2027 Entry?
The current list of UK and international LNAT institutions, with course exceptions, deadlines and links to official requirements.
The LNAT
UniversitiesNine UK universities currently use the LNAT for at least one undergraduate Law course: Bristol, Cambridge, Durham, Glasgow, King’s College London, LSE, Oxford, SOAS and UCL. The exact requirement depends on the course code, and the deadline depends on the university. This guide gives the current list for 2027 entry and links to the official rules you should check before booking.
9UK LNAT universities
2+International institutions
15 OctOxford and Cambridge test deadline
UK universities that require the LNAT
The list below follows current Consortium and university guidance. A university being on the list does not mean every course or every qualification route uses the test. Always match the requirement to the UCAS code and entry route on your application.
| University | Who needs the LNAT | 2027 entry test deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Oxford | Applicants to undergraduate Law courses | 15 October 2026 |
| Cambridge | All applicants for Law | 15 October 2026 |
| UCL | Applicants to undergraduate Laws programmes | 31 December 2026 |
| King’s College London | Specified undergraduate Law courses | 31 December 2026 |
| LSE | LLB Law applicants | 31 December 2026 |
| Bristol | Specified undergraduate Law courses | 13 January 2027 |
| Durham | Law M101 and M102 | 13 January 2027 |
| Glasgow | Specified Law and joint-honours courses | 25 January 2027 |
| SOAS | Required for specified non-standard qualifications; optional for standard A-level and IB applicants | 25 January 2027 |
Dates are from the LNAT Consortium’s 2026/27 timetable. The consortium tells applicants to check each university for changes, and you should book before the final day because local test-centre slots can fill.
Does Cambridge require the LNAT?
Yes. Cambridge requires all Law applicants to take the LNAT. For 2027 entry, registration opens on 1 August 2026, the registration deadline is 15 September 2026 and the test must be taken by 15 October 2026. Cambridge states that the score is considered alongside the rest of the application, not in isolation. See our Cambridge LNAT score guide for the available admissions data.
International universities that use the LNAT
The consortium’s current institutional list names IE University in Spain and the Singapore University of Social Sciences. Its course-specific page also refers to O.P. Jindal Global University under certain conditions. Requirements outside the UK can be programme-specific or allow a choice of admissions tests, so confirm the rule directly with the institution before paying for a sitting.
How each university uses the result
There is no universal LNAT pass mark. The Consortium sends both your Section A score and Section B essay to your selected universities, then each admissions team applies its own policy. Some set a competitive Section A benchmark, some place substantial weight on the essay, and Oxford and Cambridge also consider interview performance.
Section A
Score out of 42
The multiple-choice section is centrally marked. Universities can compare your score with the current applicant cohort and their own recent offer-holder data.
Section B
Essay read by universities
The essay does not add points to the score out of 42. Universities receive it separately and may mark, read or use it to distinguish between otherwise similar candidates.
Whole application
No score guarantees an offer
Grades, contextual information and the rest of the application still matter. At Oxford and Cambridge, shortlisted applicants are also assessed at interview.
What if your university does not require the LNAT?
Do not take the test simply because you are applying for Law. Many strong UK law schools do not use it, and sitting the test does not create an application or strengthen an application to a university that ignores the result. See our list of law schools that do not require the LNAT.
Check course code, university and deadline together. The most common planning error is relying on a general university list while missing a course exception or an earlier institutional deadline.
Free tool
Do your universities require the LNAT?
Tick the places on your list to see which courses each one requires the test for, and the date you would have to sit it by.
| University | LNAT required for | Sit by |
|---|---|---|
| Oxford | all undergraduate Law courses | 15 October 2026 |
Your binding date
15 October 2026
The earliest date on your list, set by Oxford and Cambridge. Every other deadline is later, so this is the one to plan against.
Requirements and dates are the Consortium’s published 2027-entry calendar and each university’s own admissions pages. Course scope changes between cycles, so confirm against the university before you rely on it.
FAQ
Do all Russell Group law schools require the LNAT?
No. Only some Russell Group universities use the LNAT. Universities such as Birmingham, Exeter, Leeds, Manchester, Nottingham, Queen Mary, Sheffield, Southampton, Warwick and York do not currently appear on the Consortium’s UK LNAT list.
Can I take the LNAT after submitting UCAS?
Yes, provided you take it by the relevant university deadline and correctly link your LNAT profile. The Consortium states that the test may be taken before or after your UCAS application is sent.
Can I sit the LNAT twice in one application cycle?
No. The Consortium permits one valid sitting per cycle. Results also cannot be carried into a later application year, so reapplicants must sit the test again in the new cycle.
What LNAT score do universities want?
There is no single cut-off across all universities. Start with our guide to a good LNAT score, then check the university-specific page for recent applicant and offer-holder figures where they are published.
Official sources
University membership, course exceptions and dates were checked against the LNAT Consortium university list, the course-specific requirements and the official dates and deadlines page. Cambridge’s requirement was also checked against its undergraduate admissions guidance. Last checked 22 July 2026.