Guide

English language requirements

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.

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)

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: 56 Writing: 56 Listening: 56 Reading: 56 Speaking: 56	Overall: 62 Writing: 56 Listening: 56 Reading: 56 Speaking: 56	Overall: 67 Writing: 62 Listening: 62 Reading: 62 Speaking: 62

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

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

Changes for 2020 entry due to coronavirus

We understand that coronavirus has resulted in test centre closures and test cancellations, making it challenging for some applicants to demonstrate that they meet our English language requirements.

We are actively assessing the suitability of alternative means of demonstrating that you meet our English language requirements.

We are happy to announce the following temporary changes for 2020 entry:

English language proficiency tests

We will accept combined scores from two IELTS (Academic) tests, when both tests have been within six months of each other. Both tests must have been taken within two years of your course start date.
We will accept Password Skills Test, Duolingo and TOEFL iBT (Home Edition) for entry on to most of our courses
- All offer holders will be contacted with details about how to register for a Password test shortly.
- If you have taken a Duolingo test, please ensure that you have shared the results with the University of Dundee.

Duolingo

Lower	Standard	Higher
Overall: 105	Overall: 115	Overall: 125

Password

(you will need a University of Dundee code, see above)

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

TOEFL (iBT) Home Edition

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

First degree taught in English

If your degree was fully taught and assessed in English, we may be able to accept this as evidence that you have met our English language requirements. You will need to upload a letter from your university to confirm that the degree was fully taught and assessed in English.

We will assess this on a case by case basis.

These changes are a pilot and are designed solely as a means of entry for those who cannot take an IELTS test due to test centre closures. As test centres re-open, English language requirements may be subject to further changes.

These changes do not represent a wider change to the University of Dundee’s Admissions policy and will be reviewed for January 2021 entry.

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 2020.

Updated entry requirements are available on the Pre-Sessional course pages

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).

Full list of UKVI approved SELTs from gov.uk.