English language requirements

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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

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Advice for applicants

We are aware that the position of English Language test centres is rapidly changing as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. We are now accepting alternative online testing options so that you may continue to apply.

Online testing for offer holders:

IELTS Indicator online test results will now be accepted. The requirements are the same as the standard IELTS test scores. Please refer to the the English language General Qualifications above to view the scores we will accept
TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition online test results will now be accepted. Please refer to the the English language - General Qualifications above to view the scores we will accept

The webpages below are being regularly updated with the latest advice for candidates. We recommend that applicants review the information below:

TOEFL
IELTS

You may also wish to consider one of our Pre-Sessional English courses.

improve your English skills

If you don't meet the entry requirements or need to improve your English language ability for one of our courses, we offer an International Foundation Year and Pre-sessional English courses.

Find our more about international foundation years and pre-sessional courses

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.