English Language Requirements

English language ability

Your English language ability is an important part of the application process and is essential when applying for your student visa.

IELTS Academic (International English Language Test Score) is the main English language qualification we ask for, although we do accept others.

You can find the IELTS required for your chosen course in our online prospectus. Most of our degrees require a minimum IELTS of 6.0, with no skill below 5.5, but some courses may require a higher score, so always check the individual course entry requirements. 

We are now accepting the IELTS Indicator Online Test.

Find your English language qualification

English language qualification Grade
Cambridge First Certificate Total Grade B (minimum 'Borderline' in all four components)
Cambridge Advanced Total Grade C (minimum 'weak' in all four components)
Cambridge Proficiency Lowest grade equivalent to IELTS 6.5
Cambridge IGCSE English as a Second Language Syllabus 0510: Overall Grade C and Grade 2 Speaking
Syllabus 0511: Overall Grade C
Cambridge IGCSE English as a First Language

Syllabus 0522: Overall Grade C
Syllabus 0500: Overall Grade C and Grade 2 in Speaking and Listening

ESOL Skills for Life Level 1 (pass in all four components)
GCSE - English language (all UK boards) Grade C/4

IELTS Academic

Including the IELTS Indicator online test

6.0 with no skill below 5.5

International Baccalaureate Diploma:
English B
English Language and Literature A
English Literature A
English Literature and Performance

Grade 5
LanguageCert International ESOL SELT IELTS 4.5 (no skill below 4.5) - B1 Achiever High Pass (minimum Pass in all skills)
IELTS 5.0 (no skill below 5.0) - B1 Achiever High Pass (minimum Pass in all skills)
IELTS 5.5 (no skill below 5.0) - B2 Communicator Pass (minimum Pass in all skills)
IELTS 5.5 (no skill below 5.5) - B2 Communicator Pass (minimum Pass in all skills)
IELTS 6.0 (no skill below 5.5) - B2 Communicator High Pass (minimum Pass in all skills)
IELTS 6.0 (no skill below 6.0) - B2 Communicator High Pass (minimum Pass in all skills)
IELTS 6.5 (no skill below 6.0) - B2 Communicator High Pass (minimum Pass in all skills)
IELTS 6.5 (no skill below 6.5) - B2 Communicator High Pass (minimum Pass in all skills)
IELTS 7.0 (no skill below 6.5) - C1 Expert Pass (minimum Pass in all skills)
LanguageCert International ESOL IELTS 4.5 (no skill below 4.5) - B1 Achiever High Pass (minimum Pass in all skills)
IELTS 5.0 (no skill below 5.0) - B1 Achiever High Pass (minimum Pass in all skills)
IELTS 5.5 (no skill below 5.0) - B2 Communicator Pass (minimum Pass in all skills)
IELTS 5.5 (no skill below 5.5) - B2 Communicator Pass (minimum Pass in all skills)
IELTS 6.0 (no skill below 5.5) - B2 Communicator High Pass (minimum Pass in all skills)
IELTS 6.0 (no skill below 6.0) - B2 Communicator High Pass (minimum Pass in all skills)
IELTS 6.5 (no skill below 6.0) - B2 Communicator High Pass (minimum Pass in all skills)
IELTS 6.5 (no skill below 6.5) - B2 Communicator High Pass (minimum Pass in all skills)
IELTS 7.0 (no skill below 6.5) - C1 Expert Pass (minimum Pass in all skills)
NCUK English Language Test Password 6.0 (no component below 5.5) for courses requiring IELTS 6.0 (no skill below 5.5)
Password 6.5 (co component below 6.0) for courses requiring IELTS 6.5 (no skill below 6.0)
Password 7.0 (no component below 6.5) for courses requiring IELTS 7.0 (no skill below 6.5)
Oxford Test of English  Courses requiring IELTS 6.0
120 overall, minimum 120 Reading and Writing and 111 Speaking and Listening
Courses requiring IELTS 6.5: 
130 overall, minimum 120 in all components 
Pearsons - PTE Academic Total of 54 (minimum of 51 in all components)
Pearson Edexcel International GCSE in English language (specification A or B)
Grade C/4

TOEFL iBT

Including the Special Home Edition

Total of 79 to 89
Minimum for Reading (18), Listening (17), Speaking (20) and Writing (17)
National Senior Certificate (NSC) or Senior Certificate with Matriculation endorsement (Matric) English Grade required - 5 or 60%
 UK HEI Foundation degrees Successful completion of a Foundation degree with English components and an academic score mapped to the Leeds Beckett International Foundation Year Certificate.

English language qualification  Grade
Cyprus Upper Apolytirion Upper-Secondary syllabus English as a Foreign Language (C’ class lyceum) 2018-19 (Cyprus Apolytirion English Language)  16 or above
France Diplôme du Baccalauréate Général 2021 (French Baccalaureate)  Grade 11 or above
France Option Internationale du Baccalauréat Grade 10 or above
Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) English Language Grade 4 overall
Kenyan Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) English Grade required - C
Indian School Certificate (Class-XII) (CISCE) English Grade required - 70%
All India Senior School Certificate (CBSE) English Grade required - 70%
Malaysia SPM - Cambridge O Level English Language Grade C / 6 or above for courses requiring IELTS 6.0
Grade B / 4 or above for courses requiring IELTS 6.5
Grade A / 2 or above for courses requiring IELTS 7.0
Mauritius/Cambridge GCE O Level English Language – syllabus 1125/1126  English Grade required - C
Norway Vitnemål fra Videregående in English Grade 4
Singapore Cambridge GCE O Level English Language (Syllabuses 1128 or 1127)  English Grade required - C/6
Thailand Herriot-Watt 6-week Pre-Sessional English (delivered in Bangkok via Brit Education) - also known as the Portfolio Pre-sessional English programme
Minimum of grade C or above (minimum mark 50) in both Academic Literacy and Academic Engagement
West Africa Senior School Certificate (WASSCE/WAEC) English Grade required - C/6
Zimbabwe General Certificate of Education (ZGCE/Zimsec) English Grade required - C

If you require a Tier 4 (General) Student visa for a programme below degree level, you will have to demonstrate your English language ability by taking one of the following Secure English Language Tests (SELT) from a UKVI-approved test centre:

  • IELTS for UKVI
  •  PTE (Academic) UKVI

Find a Secure English Language Testing provider.

This requirement applies to our International Foundation Year and Pre-sessional English courses.

If you are a national from one of these English speaking countries, you don't need any of the qualifications below or provide your English qualifications to apply for a UK Tier 4 Student Visa. You will still require proof of an English qualification for academic purposes.

If you graduated from a university in an English speaking country, of which you are not a national, you can use your degree certificate to prove your English language ability. In this case, a Naric statement will be required with your application.