Guide

English language requirements

Updated on 7 July 2023

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

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.

Student visa - Knowledge of English - GOV.UK

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, therefore applicants have to provide certification or statement of results and URN.

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: 80 Writing: 19 Listening: 17 Reading: 18 Speaking: 20	Overall: 87 Writing: 19 Listening: 17 Reading: 18 Speaking: 22	Overall: 95 Writing: 24 Listening: 22 Reading: 24 Speaking: 25

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).

Full list of UKVI approved SELTs from gov.uk.

International English language qualifications

We accept the following international English language qualifications for most courses as long as they are no more than 10 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.

All high school qualifications must be verified online therefore applicants must provide a Scratch card, Token, Pin, or Roll number where required.

The following international English language qualifications cannot be accepted for courses in Dentistry, Health Sciences, Medicine, or Social Work.