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.

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)

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).

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.

UK qualifications

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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

Global

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Qualification Minimum grade in English language
International Baccalaureate (IB) SL4 or HL4

Africa

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Country Qualification Minimum grade in English element
Gambia WAEC/WASSCE C6
Ghana WAEC/WASSCE C6
Kenya KCSE B-
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 (Accepted when awarded up to and including 2020) 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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