English language requirements
All students from outside the United Kingdom need to meet our English language requirements. These depend on whether you are applying for:
- pre-degree;
- undergraduate; or
- postgraduate level.
- Applicants from one of these recognised Majority English Speaking Countries (MESCs) do not need to meet these requirements.
- Applicants who have successfully completed a qualification equivalent to a taught UK bachelors degree in one of these recognised MESCs, also do not need to meet these requirements.
- If you don't achieve the required score, you may be eligible to join our pre-sessional English language course.
Please note: R = Reading, L = Listening, S = Speaking, W = Writing
Pre-degree study (Academic IELTS)
- International Foundation Year: Minimum Academic IELTS of 4.5 (with a minimum score of 5.0 in Writing and 4.0 in all other elements)
- Business and Management Pre-masters Programme: Minimum Academic IELTS of 5.5 (with a minimum of 5.0 in all elements)
- Art and Design (Foundation) Diploma: Minimum Academic IELTS of 5.5 (with a minimum score of 5.0 in R, L, S and W).
- International Intensive Foundation: Art and Design: Minimum Academic IELTS of 6.0 (with a minimum score of 5.5 in R, L, S and W).
- Computing and Mathematics foundation year: Minimum Academic IELTS of 6.0 (with a minimum score of 5.5 in all elements)
- Engineering Foundation with pathways in Aerospace, Civil, Mechanical Engineering: Minimum Academic IELTS of 6.0 (with a minimum score of 5.5 in all elements)
- Engineering HND with pathways in Aerospace, Automotive or Mechanical Engineering : Minimum Academic IELTS of 6.0 (with a minimum score of 5.5 in all elements)
- Science foundation year:
- Academic IELTS of 6.5 overall (with a minimum score of 6.0 in all elements) for students progressing to the Pharmacy MPharm; or
- Academic IELTS of 6.0 overall (with a minimum score of 5.5 in all elements) for students progressing to any other course.
Undergraduate study (Academic IELTS)
All of our undergraduate courses require an Academic IELTS of 6.0 or 6.5 (with a minimum score of 5.5 in R, L, S and W in all cases). Download our undergraduate (PDF) case study to see how these requirements might work for you.
- Architecture; Art and Design; Business and Law; Science; Engineering; Computing, Information Systems and Mathematics; and Surveying: minimum Academic IELTS score of 6.0 (with a minimum score of 5.5 in R, L, S and W)
- Arts and Social Sciences; and Health, Social Care and Education*: minimum Academic IELTS score of 6.5 (with a minimum score of 5.5 in R, L, S and W)
- MPharm (including foundation courses that lead into Pharmacy) minimum Academic IELTS score of 6.5 (with a minimum score of 6.0 in R, L, S and W)
Exceptions:- Journalism courses (single and joint honours): minimum Academic IELTS score of 6.5 (with a minimum score of 6.5 in Writing and 5.5 in all other elements)
Postgraduate study (Academic IELTS)
Most of our postgraduate courses require an Academic IELTS of 6.5 (with a minimum score of 5.5 in R, L, S and W in all cases). Download our postgraduate (PDF) case study to see how these requirements might work for you.
- Art, Design and Architecture; most Arts and Social Sciences programmes; and Health, Social Care and Education*: minimum Academic IELTS score of 6.5 (with a minimum of 5.5 in R, L, S and W)
- Engineering; Computing, Information Systems, Mathematics and Science courses: minimum Academic IELTS score of 6.5 (with the following minimum scores: W=6.0 and R=5.5, L=5.5, S=5.5)
- Most Business programmes: minimum Academic IELTS score of 6.5 (with a minimum of 6.0 in R, L, S and W)
Exceptions:- Criticism, Literature, Theory MA; English Literature MA; Child Psychology MSc; Clinical Applications of Psychology MSc; Developmental Psychology MRes; Psychology MRes; Psychology MSc; and creative writing courses: minimum Academic IELTS score of 6.5 (with a minimum score of 7.0 in Writing).
- Fashion Retailing MA: minimum Academic IELTS of 6.5 overall (with a minimum score of 6.0 in all other elements)
- Journalism & The Creative Economy: minimum Academic IELTS of 6.5 with a minimum score of 6.0 in all elements and 7.5 in Writing
- Journalism courses: minimum Academic IELTS of 6.5 (with a minimum score of 7.5 in Writing and 5.5 in all other elements)
- Marketing with English MA: Academic IELTS 6.0 (with a minimum score of 5.5 in R, L, S and W)
- Museum and Gallery Studies MA and Heritage (Contemporary Practice) MA: minimum Academic IELTS of 6.5 overall (with a minimum score of 6.5 in Writing and a minimum of 6.0 in all other elements)
Other tests and qualifications
We accept other recognised English language tests or qualifications. Please refer to the tables below for the equivalencies:
Overall scores |
||
|---|---|---|
| Academic IELTS International English Test System |
TOEFL* iBT Internet-based Test |
PTEA Pearson Test of English (Academic) |
| 7.5 |
105 |
72 |
| 7.0 |
95 |
67 |
| 6.5 |
88 |
61 |
| 6.0 |
80 |
56 |
| 5.5 |
72 |
51 |
| 5.0 | 62 | 46 |
| 4.5 | 52 | 41 |
| 4.0 | 42 | 36 |
Individual scores (R= Reading; L= Listening; S= Speaking; W= Writing) |
||
|---|---|---|
| Academic IELTS |
TOEFL* iBT |
PTEA |
| R,L,S,W=7.5 |
R=26, L=25, S=27, W=27 | R,L,S,W=72 |
| R,L,S,W=7.0 |
R=24, L=22, S=25, W=24 | R,L,S,W=67 |
| R,L,S,W=6.5 |
R=22, L=21, S=23, W=22 | R,L,S,W=61 |
| R,L,S,W=6.0 |
R=20, L=19, S=21, W=20 | R,L,S,W=56 |
| R,L,S,W=5.5 |
R=18, L=17, S=20, W=17 | R,L,S,W=51 |
| R,L,S,W=5.0 | R=13, L=14, S=19, W=16 | R,L,S,W=46 |
| R,L,S,W=4.5 | R=9, L=12, S=17, W=14 | R,L,S,W=41 |
| R,L,S,W=4.0 | R=4, L=9, S=16, W=13 | R,L,S,W=36 |
* The paper-based TOEFL test is not accepted
In addition to Academic IELTS, TOEFL iBT and PTEA we also accept:
- Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English
- Undergraduate: Pass at Grade B (applicants for Creative Writing BA(Hons) and Journalism BA(Hons) will be considered on a case-by-case basis)
- Postgraduate: Pass at Grade A (except for applicants for Marketing MA, Journalism MA and Publishing MA)
- Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English
Pass at minimum Grade C
- Hong Kong HKCEE Use of English
Pass at minimum grade C (Syllabus B)
- Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) holders:
HKDSE English Level 4 overall and no lower than Level 2 for each element
- Indian Year 12 English (CBSE Board) – undergraduate only
Pass with a minimum of 70%
- International Baccalaureate (IB)
Pass English Language (A1/A2) with 4 or above at Higher Level (HL); or 5 or above at Standard Level (SL)
Pass English Language (B) with 4 or above at Higher Level (HL) only
- Malaysian SPM 1119
Pass English with minimum grade C
- Norwegian Vitnemål fra den Videregående skole
Grade 4 or above
- O-level/International GCSE English Language Examination (English as a 1st language)*
Pass at minimum grade C or above
*(or NARIC-recognised equivalent/higher qualification from the UK or an MESC)
- International GCSE English as a 2nd Language
Pass with a B overall with a minimum of D in Reading and Writing; C in Speaking and A in Listening. Note: C in Writing is required as the equivalent of IELTS 6.0 in Writing.
- Trinity Integrated Skills in English (ISE)
- Undergraduate: Pass at Level III
- Postgraduate:
- Science (except Pharmacy); Engineering; and Computing, Information Systems and Mathematics courses: Pass at Level ISE Grade III with distinction or merit
- Other courses: Applications will be considered on an individual basis
- West African Examinations Council
Pass at level C6 or above
- NECO National Examination Council
Pass at level C6 or above
Majority English Speaking Countries (MESCs) – for nationals
If you are a national from one of these countries, then you are exempt from our English language requirements.
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Australia
- The Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belize
- Canada
- Dominica
- Grenada
- Guyana
- Jamaica
- New Zealand
- St Kitts and Nevis
- St Lucia
- St Vincent and the Grenadines
- Trinidad and Tobago
- United States of America
Recognised Majority English Speaking Countries (MESCs) – for academic qualifications
If you have completed an academic qualification equivalent to a UK Bachelors degree which was taught in one of the majority English-speaking countries listed below, you are exempt from our English language requirements:
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Australia
- The Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belize
- Dominica
- Grenada
- Guyana
- Jamaica
- New Zealand
- St Kitts and Nevis
- St Lucia
- St Vincent and the Grenadines
- Trinidad and Tobago
- United Kingdom
- United States of America
Health, Social Care and Education courses
* Most international students (non-EU) are only eligible to apply for the following Health, Social Care and Education courses:
- Biomedical Science FdSc
- Clinical Practice MRes
- Exercise for Health PgCert/PgDip/MA
- Healthcare Education and Clinical Leadership MSc
- Maternal and Child Health: Socio-Cultural Perspectives MSc
- Medical Imaging PgCert/PgDip/MA
- Oncology Practice PgCert/PgDip/MA
- Physiotherapy BSc(Hons)
- Professional Education and Training PgCert/PgDip/MA
- Rehabilitation MSc
- Social Work MSW/PgDip
Updated as of 26 March 2013
Useful links
Pre-sessional course accreditation
Our pre-sessional English course is accredited by the British Association of Lecturers in English for Academic Purposes (BALEAP). This organisation sets rigorous criteria to ensure that courses in English language and study skills for speakers of other languages are of a high standard and provide an excellent quality of service.
