Alternative English qualifications

  • Our English requirements are usually shown as IELTS levels. We may be able accept alternative qualifications as evidence of your language skills if:

    • You do not need a student visa to come to the UK.
    • You have applied for a undergraduate or postgraduate level course and are not able to take a UK Visas and Immigration approved test.

    The following information is a guide and your ability will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

  • University English

    • Undergraduate - Pass Level 2 with 60%* overall, or a pass on any higher level with 50%*.
    • Postgraduate - Pass Level 3 with 50%*, or a pass any higher level at 50%*

    * Overall passes at 50% or 60% must also include the same % in Academic Reading and Writing.

    International Foundation Diploma

    • Undergraduate - 55% overall

    Pre-Master’s

    • Postgraduate - 60% overall

    Austria

    • Undergraduate and postgraduate - Grade 2 in Reifeprüfung/Matura with both written and spoken parts completed

    Bulgaria

    • Undergraduate and postgraduate - Grade 5 in Diploma Za Sredno Obrazovanie - (Диплома за Cредно Oбразование)

    Canada 

    • Undergraduate - Minimum of 70% in grade 12 English
    • Postgraduate - Minimum of 70% in grade 12 English with academic or professional use of English following this

    Cyprus (EU)

    • Undergraduate and postgraduate - Grade 17 in Apolytirio Lykeiou

    Czech Republic

    • Undergraduate and postgraduate - Grade 2 in Vysvědčení o maturitní zkoušce (Maturita)

    Denmark

    • Undergraduate and postgraduate - Grade 7 in Bevis for Studentereksamen

    Estonia

    • Undergraduate and postgraduate - B2 in Passing State Examination (Gümnaasiumi lõputunnistus with the Riigieksamitunnistus)

    Finland

    • Undergraduate and postgraduate - 5 Magna cum laude approbatur in Ylioppilastutkinto / Studentexamensbetyg (Matriculation Examination)

    Finland

    • Undergraduate and postgraduate - Grade 12 in Baccalauréat

    Germany

    • Undergraduate and postgraduate - Grade 10 in Abitur/Zeugnis der Allgemeinen Hochschulreife

    Greece

    • Undergraduate and postgraduate - Grade 17 in Apolytirio Genikou Lykeiou

    Hong Kong

    • Undergraduate - HKDSE English 4 overall, 4 reading and writing, 3 speaking and listening
    • Postgraduate - HKDSE English 4 overall, 4 reading and writing, 3 speaking and listening with academic or professional use of English following this

    Hungary

    • Undergraduate and postgraduate - Grade 4 in Érettségi Bizonyítvány (Matura)

    Iceland

    • Undergraduate and postgraduate - Grade 8 (as a compulsory) in Stúdentspróf (matriculation certificate)

    India

    • We can usually consider 60% or above in Standard 12th English in order to meet the minimum English Language requirements. However, some courses may ask for a higher score and we regularly review our guidance relating to individual state boards. If you have any concern about meeting the English language requirement of your programme, we would always recommend taking an IELTS or other internationally recognised alternative English language test.

    Kenya

    • Undergraduate - C in O-level English of KCSE plus qualifications above this level in English
    • Postgraduate - C in O-level English of KCSE with academic or professional use of English following this

    Lithuania

    • Undergraduate and postgraduate - 75% in Brandos Atestatas (Matura - state exam)

    Malaysia

    • Undergraduate - Pass SPM1119A with C6
    • Postgraduate  - Pass SPM1119A with C6 with academic or professional use of English following this

    Netherlands

    • Undergraduate and postgraduate - Grade 8 in VWO (Voorbereidend Wetenschappelijk Onderwijs) Diploma

    Norway

    (These qualifications cannot be used for student visa purposes)

    • Undergraduate - 4-5 in the English language module of Vitnemal (Upper Secondary School leaving certificate
    • Postgraduate - 4-5 in the English language module of Vitnemal (Upper Secondary School leaving certificate) with academic or professional use of English following this

    Poland

    • Undergraduate and postgraduate - 70% in Extended/80% in Basic in Świadectwo Dojrzałości (Certificate of Maturity)

    Portugal

    • Undergraduate and postgraduate - Grade 14 in Certificado de fim de Estudos Secundários/Diploma de Ensino Secundario

    Singapore

    • Undergraduate - Minimum grade of C6 in Singapore/Cambridge O-level plus qualifications above this level in English
    • Postgraduate - Minimum grade of C6 in Singapore/Cambridge O-level with academic or professional use of English following this

    South Africa

    • Undergraduate - National Senior Certificate with 5 or above in English
    • Postgraduate - National Senior Certificate with 5 or above in English with academic or professional use of English following this

    Spain

    • Undergraduate and postgraduate - Grade 8 in Titulo de Bachiller

    Sweden

    • Undergraduate and postgraduate - C (Väl godkänd - pass with distinction) in Avgångsbetyg/Slutbetyg från Gymnasieskola (Upper secondary school leaving certificate)

    Uganda

    • Undergraduate - Credit Pass in English on EACE or UCE plus qualifications above this level in English
    • Postgraduate- Credit Pass in English on EACE or UCE with academic or professional use of English following this

    USA

    • Undergraduate - US High School Diploma studied in English with English Grade C (75%) plus SAT or AP qualifications
    • Postgraduate - US High School Diploma studied in English with English Grade C (75%) plus SAT or AP qualifications with academic or professional use of English following this

    West African Examinations Council (WAEC ) nations

    • Undergraduate  - WASSCE with C6 (awarded in Nigeria by NECO)
    • Postgraduate - WASSCE with C6 (awarded in Nigeria by NECO) with academic or professional use of English following this

    Zimbabwe

    • Undergraduate - GCE A-levels with grade C or above in an essay based subject
    • Postgraduate - GCE A-levels with grade C or above with academic or professional use of English following this

    Bellerbys Academic English Skills

    (This test cannot be used for entry to our Pathways courses)

    • Undergraduate and postgraduate - 55-60% equivalent to IELTS 5.5-6.0 overall)

    Cambridge CAE and CPE 

    (These qualifications cannot be used for student visa purposes)

    • Undergraduate and postgraduate - 170-180 overall, with 170-179 in reading and writing, and 160-169 in speaking and listening

    GCE A-level

    • Undergraduate - Grade C in an essay-based subject (eg English Literature, humanities subjects). Not A-levels in other languages or numeric-based subjects (eg French, Mathematics)
    • Postgraduate - As undergraduate with continued use of English to keep skills alive

    GCSE English

    • Undergraduate - Grade C, plus qualifications above GCSE level studied in English (eg A levels, BTEC)
    • Postgraduate - As undergraduate with continued use of English to keep skills alive

    IGCSE English

    • Undergraduate - Grade C English as First Language or English as Second Language, plus qualifications above GCSE level studied in English (eg A levels, BTEC)
    • Postgraduate - As undergraduate with continued use of English to keep skills alive

    International Baccalaureate

    • Undergraduate - 4 at Standard Level in English
    • Postgraduate - As undergraduate with continued use of English to keep skills alive

    INTO Grad Dip

    • Postgraduate - 55% overall with 65% plus in English Language Module

    Password Skills English Language Test

    (This test cannot be used for entry to our Pathways courses)

    • Undergraduate and postgraduate - 6.0-7.0 overall with 6.0 in reading and writing, 5.5 in listening and speaking (see individual course details)

    Pearson PTE Academic

    • Undergraduate and postgraduate  - From 51 overall, with 51 in reading, writing, listening and speaking

    TOEFL (including TOEFL ibt Home Edition Online)

    • Undergraduate - From 72 overall, with 18 in reading, 17 in writing, 17 in listening and 20 in speaking
    • Postgraduate - As undergraduate with continued use of English to keep skills alive