Our English language profiles are set at the minimum level required for entry to our programmes, which we believe should prepare you adequately for you to start your course. However, it is important for you to know that we expect your engagement with your English learning to continue throughout your time studying with us. As your course progresses, you will need to continue to develop your English skills so that you are able to understand the advanced concepts and nuances within it.
You should also be aware of language skills which are not scored in these English language tests, but which are essential for your daily use of English in an academic setting and in your day-to-day life in the UK. For example, being able to understand information and explain it to another person is a vital skill that students are expected to be able to do in English to communicate effectively with other English speakers. You should expect to develop your level of English through daily interaction with other people and with course materials.
Unless specifically stated, the information below details the English language skill level required for both undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. We refer to these skill levels as ‘profiles’. For this profile, you need to achieve the listed level.
Applicants who are nationals of one of the following countries will generally be exempt* from providing additional evidence of their English language ability:
This is in line with UKVI guidance.
* The University reserves the right to ask for additional evidence of English language if we have concerns about an applicant’s abilities.
Applicants who have studied one of the following in an English-speaking country may meet the University’s English language requirements:
In all cases, the qualification must have been awarded no more than seven years prior to the start of the degree programme and the qualification must have been completed in an English-speaking country per the list in the ‘National of an English-speaking country’ section above.
We also accept qualifications completed in the following countries to meet this requirement:
Applicants with a university-level qualification listed above, when fully taught and examined in English (not including Study Abroad years) in any country, may also meet the University’s English language requirements. This must be evidenced by means of an official Medium of Instruction (MOI) letter from the awarding institution, confirming that English is the medium of teaching and examination.
We can also accept an ECCTIS English Language Proficiency Statement confirming your degree is comparable to an English language level of C1 or above.
In all cases, qualifications must have been awarded no more than seven years prior to the start of the degree programme. This is determined by year of award, for example, a degree awarded from 1 January 2019 would satisfy this requirement for entry in September 2026.
Qualifications completed beyond the seven-year timeframe may still be considered, provided there is clear and satisfactory evidence to demonstrate ongoing engagement with English (such as through work experience).
The University reserves the right to refuse an English language exemption if we have concerns about an applicant’s abilities.
Applicants who have studied one of the following in an English-speaking country may meet the University’s English language requirements:
In all cases, the qualification must have been awarded no more than seven years prior to the start of the degree programme and the qualification must have been completed in an English-speaking country per the list in the ‘National of an English-speaking country’ section above.
We also accept qualifications completed in the following countries to meet this requirement:
Applicants with a university-level qualification listed above, when fully taught and examined in English (not including Study Abroad years) in any country, may also meet the University’s English language requirements. This must be evidenced by means of an official Medium of Instruction (MOI) letter from the awarding institution, confirming that English is the medium of teaching and examination.
We can also accept an ECCTIS English Language Proficiency Statement confirming your degree is comparable to an English language level of C1 or above.
In all cases, qualifications must have been awarded no more than seven years prior to the start of the degree programme. This is determined by year of award, for example, a degree awarded from 1 January 2019 would satisfy this requirement for entry in September 2026.
Qualifications completed beyond the seven-year timeframe may still be considered, provided there is clear and satisfactory evidence to demonstrate ongoing engagement with English (such as through work experience).
The University reserves the right to refuse an English language exemption if we have concerns about an applicant’s abilities.
The tests listed below are valid when they are taken no more than two years before the start date of your chosen programme of study. For UG and PGT courses starting in September, the test date must be no earlier than 1 September two years prior to entry (for example, 1 September 2021 for entry in September 2023). For UG and PGT courses starting in January, we can accept tests where the test date is no earlier than 1 December two years prior to entry (for example, 1 December 2020 for entry in January 2023). For PGR students, we can accept tests where the test date is no earlier than the first day of the month two years prior to the month in which the programme starts (for example, 1 January 2021 for entry in January 2023). Component scores must be met fully through one sitting of the test; we cannot combine scores from multiple certificates.
| Qualification | Grade required |
|---|---|
| IELTS Academic for UKVI from authorised test centres only (otherwise see English language proficiency tests): Results including the One Skill Retake (OSR) are acceptable. All scores will be taken from one Test Report Form (TRF). | 7.5 overall with 7.0 in all skills |
| Trinity Integrated Skills in English (ISE) Level IV: | pass in all skills |
| Trinity Integrated Skills in English (ISE) Level III: | merit in all skills |
| LanguageCert Academic SELT | C1 level with 80 overall and minimum score of 75 in all skills |
| Pearson PTE Academic UKVI | 78 overall with no lower than 71 in all skills |
| Skills for English | C2 Pass |
The tests below are valid when taken no more than two years before the start date of your programme of study. For UG and PGT courses starting in September, the test date must be no earlier than 1 September two years prior to entry (for example, 1 September 2021 for entry in September 2023). For UG and PGT courses starting in January, we can accept tests where the test date is no earlier than 1 December two years prior to entry (for example, 1 December 2020 for entry in January 2023). For PGR students, we can accept tests where the test date is no earlier than the first day of the month two years prior to the month in which the programme starts (for example, 1 January 2021 for entry in January 2023). Component scores must be met fully through one sitting of the test; we cannot combine scores from multiple certificates.
| Qualification | Grade required |
|---|---|
| IELTS Academic (at a test centre or online): Results including the One Skill Retake (OSR) are acceptable. All scores will be taken from one Test Report Form (TRF). | 7.5 overall with 7.0 in all skills |
| TOEFL iBT and TOEFL at Home: | For tests taken up to 20 January 2026: 103 overall with R24, L22, S25, W24 For tests taken from 21 January 2026 onwards: 5.5 overall, 5 in all skills |
| Pearson PTE Academic (Test Centre) (Online valid for 2023 entry only) | 78 overall with no lower than 71 in all skills |
| C1 Advanced, formerly known as Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE): | 184 in all skills |
| C2 Proficiency, formerly known as Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE): | 184 in all skills |
| Trinity Integrated Skills in English (ISE) Level IV: | pass in all skills |
| Trinity Integrated Skills in English (ISE) Level III: | merit in all skills |
| NCUK EAP | A* overall with A in all skills |
| Heriot-Watt Pre-Sessional English | Grade A with 65% in all skills |
| Strathclyde ELT (including British Council UK pre-sessional Strathclyde ELT) | 7.5 in two skills, no skill below 7.0 |
| University of Portsmouth Pre-Sessional English |
70+ in all skills
|
| Kaplan EAP |
75% (Distinction) overall with no skill below 70% (Distinction)
|
| LanguageCert Academic |
C1 level with 80 overall and minimum score of 75 in all skills
|
| Oxford International ELLT |
An OIDI score of 9 overall with 8 in all skills
|
| University of Warwick EAP |
70% overall with no skill below 70
|
| AEMG Direct Entry Programme EAP |
90% with no section below 85%
|
The qualifications listed below are valid where they are taken no more than seven years before the start date of your chosen programme of study.
| Qualification | Grade required |
|---|---|
| GCSE English Language | B or 6 |
| GCSE English Literature | A or 7 |
| IGCSE English as a 1stLanguage | A or 7 |
| IGCSE English as a 1stlanguage with speaking and listening endorsement | A or 7 |
| IGCSE English as a 2ndLanguage | Not accepted |
| IGCSE English as a 2ndLanguage with speaking endorsement | Not accepted |
| IGCSE English Literature | A or 7 |
| IGCSE English Language A / B | B or 6 |
| AS Level or A Level English Language or English Language and Literature | C |
| AS Level or A Level English Literature | C |
| International Baccalaureate English A: Literature | 6 at SL or HL |
| International Baccalaureate English A: Literature and Language | 7 at SL or 6 at HL |
| International Baccalaureate Language B: English | 7 at HL |
| International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (IB MYP) Language Acquisition: English | 6 |
| International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (IB MYP) Language and Literature: English | 7 |
| Cambridge Assessment International Education (CIE) O Level English specifications 1119, 1120, 1123, 1125, 1127, 1128 | B |
The qualifications below are valid where they are taken no more than seven years before the start date of your chosen programme of study.
| Qualification | Grade required |
|---|---|
| Austria: Reifeprüfung/Matura | 2 (gut) in both written and oral |
| Belgium | 17/20 or 85% |
| Croatia: Matura | English A/ visa razina at 5 |
| Denmark Studentereksamen Level A | Grade 10 |
| European Baccalaureate | L1 English at 7, L2 English at 8 |
| Finland: Ylioppilastut-kintotodistus | 5 in English A |
| France: Baccalaureat | 16 in English LV A |
| France: Baccalauréat Français International/ Option Internationale du Baccalaureat – British English, American English or Australian English | 12 in English Language and Literature |
| Germany where English is taken as a Leistungskurs / Kernfächer / erhöhtem Anforderungsniveau | 13 |
| Germany where English is not taken at higher level | 15 |
The qualifications below are valid where they are taken no more than seven years before the start date of your chosen programme of study.
| Qualification | Grade required |
|---|---|
| Iceland: Studentsprof when taken as a compulsory language in final year | 10 in English (when taken as a compulsory language in final year) |
| Ireland: Irish Leaving Certificate | H3, O2 or B1 (pre-2017) |
| Luxembourg: Examen de Fin d’Études Secondaires | 50 (tres bien) in English |
| Malta: Secondary Education Certificate | Grade 3 |
| Netherlands: VWO | 9 |
| Norway: Vitnemal where English is taken as a common core subject | 5 |
| Poland | 90th percentile in extended level English |
| Scotland: National 5 | B in English |
| Sweden: Slutbetyg where English 7 has been taken | VG or B |
| Switzerland: Maturity Certificate | 6 (on a scale of 6) or 9 (on a scale of 10) |
The qualifications listed below are valid where they are taken no more than seven years before the start date of your chosen programme of study.
| Qualification | Grade required |
|---|---|
| Cameroon O level | B in English |
| Caribbean CSEC | CSEC English with Three (III) at general proficiency |
| Gambia WAEC where scratch-card number supplied | B3 |
| Ghana WAEC where scratch-card number supplied | B3 |
| Hong Kong: HKDSE | 5* in English |
| India (CISCE or CBSE) Standard XII/Senior School Certificate Examination | 85% in English |
| India (Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal state boards) | 95% in English |
| Kenya KCSE | English at grade B or 6 |
| Liberia WAEC where scratch-card number supplied | B3 |
The qualifications listed below are valid where they are taken no more than seven years before the start date of your chosen programme of study.
| Qualification | Grade required |
|---|---|
| Malawi MSCE | English at 6 |
| Malaysia SPM (pre-2022) | A in English language |
| Malaysia SPM | CEFR band C1 |
| Nigeria WAEC where scratch-card number supplied | B3 |
| New Zealand: National Certificate of Educational Achievement | English Level 2/3, 8 credit points with ‘excellence’ |
| Sierra Leone WAEC where scratch-card number supplied | B3 |
| Singapore: Integrated Programme Literature in English H2 or English Language and Linguistics H2: | C |
| Singapore Integrated Programme General Paper | n/a |
| Singapore Ordinary Level | Grade A in English |
| Singapore: Secondary 4 English Language/Language Arts | Grade A |
| Singapore: NUS Integrated Diploma where EL 6103 (Language in Society III) or EL5101 (Language in Society II) have been taken | A |
| South Africa NSC | English Home Language with 5 or English First Additional Language with 7 |
| Tanzania Secondary School Leaving Certificate | Grade B in English |
| Uganda Certificate of Education | Grade 1 in English |
| United States: AP Language and Composition or AP Literature and Composition | 4 |
| United States: ACT | 28 in ACT English with 7 in Writing |
| United States:Paper-basedSAT (taken after 2016) Reading and Writing scores | R 35, W 33 |
| Qualification | Undergraduate (Score Required) | ostgraduate (Score Required) |
|---|---|---|
| International Foundation Programme | 73% overall for language units, minimum 68% in Text Response, minimum 68% in Academic Writing Or 73% overall in Accelerated Academic Language and Literacy | N/A |
| Pre-sessional | Pass overall with 73% | Pass in Problem Based Learning Pass in Portfolio 73% in presentation |