Guide
English language requirements
Updated on 15 April 2021
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.
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 |
Language Cert
| 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 |
PSI Skills for English (only for those taking the test outside of the UK)
| Lower | Standard | Higher |
|---|---|---|
| Overall: PSI Skills for English B2 Pass Writing: Pass Listening: Pass Reading: Pass Speaking: Pass |
Overall: PSI Skills for English B2 Pass Writing: Pass Listening: Pass Reading: Pass Speaking: Pass |
Overall: PSI Skills for English C1 Pass Writing: Pass Listening: Pass Reading: Pass Speaking: Pass |
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
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 |
| International Baccalaureate (IB) | SL4 or HL4 |
| SAT - Evidence based reading and writing | 500 |
| SAT - English Language | 600 |
Africa
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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 and taken within the last 7 years CBSE
CISCE
|
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 |
| Sri Lanka | GCE O Level | C | 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), 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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