Guide

English language requirements

Updated on 24 January 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.

On this page

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

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. Details of any English language conditions will also be included in your offer letter.

As a result of current test centre closures in some countries, we will accept a wider range of English language proficiency tests however, changes are temporary and subject to amendment dependant on coronavirus restriction and updates

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.

IELTS (Academic)

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

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

ETS TOEFL

Including Special Home Edition – temporarily accepted due to closure of test centres

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

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

Cambridge Advanced Certificate in English (CAE)

Lower Standard Higher
Overall: 169
Writing: 169
Listening: 169
Reading: 169
Speaking: 169		 Overall: 176
Writing: 169
Listening: 169
Reading: 169
Speaking: 169		 Overall: 185
Writing: 176
Listening: 176
Reading: 176
Speaking: 176

Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE)

Lower Standard Higher
Overall: 169
Writing: 169
Listening: 169
Reading: 169
Speaking: 169		 Overall: 176
Writing: 169
Listening: 169
Reading: 169
Speaking: 169		 Overall: 185
Writing: 176
Listening: 176
Reading: 176
Speaking: 176

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

Pre-Sessional English requirements

Due to coronavirus, our Summer Pre-Sessional English courses will only be available online. As a result of current test centre closures, we will accept a wider range of English language proficiency tests for entry to our online Pre-Sessional courses in 2021.

Normally - if you are applying to study an on-campus Foundation or 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.

Global

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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
International Baccalaureate (IB) SL4 or HL4
SAT - Evidence based reading and writing 500
SAT - English Language 600

Africa

We will accept High School Qualifications as listed below as long as they meet our minimum grade requirement and are no more than 10 years old from start date of your study with us.

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Country Qualification Minimum grade in English element
Botswana Botswana GCSE (BGCSE) C
Cameroon GCE O-Level C
Eswatini GCE O Level C
Gambia GCE O-Level C
Gambia WAEC/WASSCE C6
Ghana WAEC/WASSCE C6
Kenya KCSE C
Lesotho LGCSE B
Liberia Senior School Certificate 6
Malawi School Certificate of Education 6
Namibia Senior Secondary Certificate Higher Level C
Namibia Senior Secondary Certificate Ordinary Level 6
Nigeria WAEC/WASSCE/NECO C6
Sierra Leone GCE O Level C
Sierra Leone WAEC/WASSCE C6
South Africa NSC Senior Certificate 5 C
Tanzania CSEE C
Uganda UCE 6
Zambia GCE O Level 6
Zimbabwe GCE Ordinary Level C

Americas

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Country Qualification Minimum grade in English element
Caribbean Caribbean Examinations Council Secondary Education Certificate 3
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

CBSE

  • Senior School Certificate Examination
  • All India Senior School Certificate Examination
  • Delhi Senior School Certificate Examination

CISCE

  • Indian School Certificate Examination
 70% 80%

Other India State Boards

We may be able to accept other standard XII  certificates alongside a Bachelors Degree if taught in English and taken within the last 2 years. Please contact india@dundee.ac.uk where we will assess this on a case by case basis.

    
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
Sri Lanka GCE A Level B B

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 application 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
Enquiries

Student Recruitment and Admissions

contactus@dundee.ac.uk

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