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 Tier 4 student visa to come to the UK for example if you are from the European Union
    • 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

    • Undergraduate - 60% or more in English element of HSC
    • Postgraduate- 60% or more in English element of HSC with academic or professional use of English following this

    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 Tier 4 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 - 60-65% equivalent to IELTS 6-6.5 overall)

    Cambridge CAE and CPE 

    (These qualifications cannot be used for Tier 4 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, 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