Guide
English language requirements
Updated on 13 May 2022
All our courses are delivered in English. If English is not your first language, you will need to demonstrate that you have the language skills you need to take part in class discussions, understand lectures, and succeed in your assignments.
Students who will require a visa to study in the UK must also meet the English Language Proficiency requirements set out by the UK Home Office.
You can demonstrate you meet our English language requirements by:
- taking an approved proficiency test
- providing an approved international English language qualification*
- successfully passing our Pre-Sessional English course
- meeting our exemption criteria
*Certain courses only. Please see your offer letter for more information.
Our undergraduate and postgraduate course pages show the specific IELTS requirement for each of our courses. Our entry requirements for postgraduate research programmes can be found on the relevant research interest pages. University of Dundee accepted IELTS equivalencies are listed below. Details of any English language conditions will also be included in your offer letter.
English language proficiency tests
There are many English language tests available, you need to take one of the tests we recognise.
Details of the minimum scores we accept in these tests, and how they compare to IELTS, are below.
English language tests should be no more than two years old on the start date of your chosen course.
All results will be verified online.
UKVI secure English language tests (SELT)
The University of Dundee accepts the following SELTs:
IELTS (Academic)
| Lower | Standard | Higher |
|---|---|---|
| Overall: 6.0 Writing: 6.0 Listening: 5.5 Reading: 5.5 Speaking: 5.5 |
Overall: 6.5 Writing: 6.0 Listening: 5.5 Reading: 5.5 Speaking: 5.5 |
Overall: 7.0 Writing: 7.0 Listening: 7.0 Reading: 7.0 Speaking: 7.0 |
Pearson PTE Academic UKVI
| Lower | Standard | Higher |
|---|---|---|
| Overall: 59 Writing: 60 Listening: 59 Reading: 59 Speaking: 59 |
Overall: 62 Writing: 60 Listening: 59 Reading: 59 Speaking: 59 |
Overall: 76 Writing: 76 Listening: 76 Reading: 76 Speaking: 76 |
Trinity ISE
| Lower | Standard | Higher |
|---|---|---|
| Overall: ISE II Merit Writing: Distinction Listening: Merit Reading: Merit Speaking: Merit |
Overall: ISE II Distinction Writing: Distinction Listening: Distinction Reading: Distinction Speaking: Distinction |
Overall: ISE III Merit Writing: Merit Listening: Merit Reading: Merit Speaking: Merit |
LanguageCert SELT
| Lower | Standard | Higher |
|---|---|---|
| Overall: B2 Communicator High Pass Writing: B2 Communicator Pass Listening: B2 Communicator Pass Reading: B2 Communicator Pass Speaking: B2 Communicator Pass |
Overall: B2 Communicator High Pass Writing: B2 Communicator Pass Listening: B2 Communicator Pass Reading: B2 Communicator Pass Speaking: B2 Communicator Pass |
Overall: C1 Expert Pass Writing: C1 Expert Listening: C1 Expert Reading: C1 Expert Speaking: C1 Expert |
Non-SELT English language tests
ETS TOEFL iBT
| Lower | Standard | Higher |
|---|---|---|
| Overall: 78 Writing: 23 Listening: 19 Reading: 18 Speaking: 18 |
Overall: 88 Writing: 23 Listening: 21 Reading: 20 Speaking: 20 |
Overall: 98 Writing: 27 Listening: 24 Reading: 24 Speaking: 23 |
We will only accept TOEFL iBT scores taken in one sitting. We will not accept MyBest scores
All Non-SELT English Language Proficiency Tests should be no more than 2 years old on the start date of your chosen course
Pre-Sessional English requirements
If you are applying to study a Pre-Sessional English course, we can only accept a UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) approved Secure English Language Test (SELT) as proof of English language. If you are taking an IELTS (Academic) test, you must select an IELTS for UKVI (Academic).
International English language qualifications
We accept the following international English language qualifications for most courses as long as they are no more than 7 years old from the start date of your studies with us.
Some courses may require an English language proficiency test. Please check your offer letter for more information.
The following international English language qualifications cannot be accepted for courses in Dentistry, Health Sciences, Social Work, or Medicine
UK qualifications
You may need to scroll side to side on a mobile
| Qualification | Minimum grade in English language |
|---|---|
| GCE A Level | C |
| GCE AS Level | C |
| GCE O Level | C or 4 |
| GCSE/IGCSE English as a First Language | C or 4 |
| GCSE/IGCSE English as a Second Language | B or 6 |
| SQA Higher English | C |
| SQA Higher ESOL | C |
Global
You may need to scroll side to side on a mobile
| Qualification | Minimum grade in English language |
|---|---|
| International Baccalaureate (IB) | SL4 or HL4 |
Africa
You may need to scroll side to side on a mobile
| Country | Qualification | Minimum grade in English element |
|---|---|---|
| Gambia | WAEC/WASSCE | C6 |
| Ghana | WAEC/WASSCE | C6 |
| Nigeria | WAEC/WASSCE/NECO | C6 |
| South Africa | NSC Senior Certificate | 5 C |
Americas
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| Country | Qualification | Minimum grade in English element |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | High School Diploma, Grade 12 (excluding Quebec) | 65% |
| USA | High School Diploma | B (when studied in USA) |
| USA | SAT Evidence Based Reading & Writing | 500 |
| USA | SAT English Literature | 600 |
| USA | AP English Language & Composition/AP English Literature | 3 |
Asia / Australasia
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| Country | Qualification | Minimum Grade in English Element: Lower and Standard | Minimum Grade in English Element: Higher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | High School Certificate | C or 4 | C or 4 |
| Brunei | Cambridge GCE O Level | C | B |
| Hong Kong, SAR of China | HKDSE | 4 with a minimum of 3 in each component | 5 with a minimum of 4 in each component |
| India |
Standard XII when awarded by CBSE or CISCE exam boards ONLY |
70% | 80% |
| Malaysia | UCLES (1119 Syllabus) | 6C or 6 or C | 4B or 4 or B |
| New Zealand | National Certificate in Educational Achievement Level 2 | Achieved (A) | Achieved (A) |
| Singapore | Cambridge GCE O Level | C | C |
Europe
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| Country | Qualification | Minimum grade in English element |
|---|---|---|
| All | European Baccalaureate | 7.5 when taken as a compulsory/full option |
| Austria | Matura/Reifeprüfung | 2 (gut) when both written and oral exams taken |
| Denmark | Studentereksamen | 7 |
| Finland | Ylioppilastutkintotodistus / Studentexamenbetyg | 5 |
| Germany | Abitur | 10 (gut) when taken as leistungskurs |
| Ireland | Irish Leaving Certificate | C (Honours) |
| Luxembourg | Diplôme de fin d’études secondaires | 45 (bien) |
| Netherlands | VWO diploma | 7 |
| Norway | Vitemal | 4 |
| Scotland | Higher English | C |
| Sweden | Avgångsbetyg/Slutbetyg | VG |
First degree taught in English
If you have completed a qualification equivalent to a UK degree (undergraduate or postgraduate) in one of the countries below (a majority English speaking country, as defined by UKVI), within the last two years prior to your start date then you do not require an English language test.
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Australia
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belize
- Dominica
- Grenada
- Guyana
- Ireland
- Jamaica
- Malta
- New Zealand
- St Kitts and Nevis
- St Lucia
- St Vincent and the Grenadines
- Trinidad and Tobago
- UK
- USA
English language exemptions
If you are a national of a majority English speaking country, as defined by UKVI (listed below), then you do not require an English language test.
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Australia
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belize
- Canada
- Dominica
- Grenada
- Guyana
- Ireland
- Jamaica
- Malta
- New Zealand
- St Kitts and Nevis
- St Lucia
- St Vincent and the Grenadines
- Trinidad and Tobago
- UK
- USA
Citizens of British Overseas Territories
If you are a citizen of the British Overseas Territories you will not be required to prove your English Language proficiency.
The qualifying territories are:
- Anguilla
- Bermuda
- British Antarctic Territory
- British Indian Ocean Territory
- British Virgin Islands
- Cayman Islands
- Falkland Islands
- Gibraltar
- Montserrat
- Pitcairn Islands
- Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
- South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
- Turks and Caicos Islands
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