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English language requirements

If English is not your first language then you will need to show that your English language skills are at a high enough level to succeed in your studies.

The entry requirement for your course will be expressed as an IELTS level and refers to the IELTS Academic version of this test. The University however does accept a wide range of additional English language qualifications, which can be found below.

English language requirements in IELTS levels

The University’s English language requirements in IELTS levels are as follows:

Alternative English qualifications

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.

Students working on laptops

Other qualifications and tests

The table below compares the scores and components for a number of English Language qualifications we are able to accept based on the UK Border Agency's requirements for the Student Route Visa. We accept a range of other qualifications also listed on this page. If you have received a verification ID number with your English Language qualification, please send this (along with your applicant ID number) to our admissions team via admissions@brookes.ac.uk in order to verify your qualification.

IELTSPearson Test of English (PTE)Language Cert Academic SELTLanguage Cert International ESOL SELT B1Language Cert International ESOL SELT B2Language Cert International ESOL SELT C1Kaplan Test of English (KTE)PasswordOIEG - ELLTTOEFLDuolingo
Overall 4.54947132






Components minimum 4.04947Components minimum 33







Overall 5.05554152






Components minimum 4.55554Components minimum 35







Overall 5.55960
132
396- 4255.5572100
Components minimum 5.55960
Components minimum 33

Components minimum 396 

Components minimum 4
R18, L17, S20, W17
100
Overall 6.06565
132
426- 458 6.0680110
Components minimum - reading/writing: 6.0; listening/speaking: 5.5
6565
Components minimum 35

Components minimum 426

Components minimum 5
R20, L17, S20, W19
R/W 110, S/L 100
Overall 6.57170
152
459 - 494
6.5788120
Components minimum 6.07170
Components minimum 35

Components minimum 459

Components minimum 6
R22, L21, S24, W21
100
Overall 7.07675

132495 - 5267.0895130
Components minimum 6.5
7675

Components minimum 33Components minimum 495
Components minimum 7.0R24, L22, S25, W24
120

Additional qualifications and tests

Cambridge English: C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency

  • Undergraduate and postgraduate - CEFR B2 overall and in all components on the Cambridge English Scale Score (160-179)

Duolingo

  • We can accept tests completed after 1 July 2024, and the tests need to have all 4 modules (Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking). Please see the above table for IELTS equivalent scores.

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 (e.g. 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

Kaplan Foundation - English for Academic Purposes

  • Undergraduate and postgraduate: 60% English with 55% in each skill 

Kaplan Test of English (KTE)

  • The Kaplan Test of English is an online test which can be taken from home. Oxford Brookes University students and offer holders are entitled to a 25% discount. 

Oxford ELLT

Oxford International Education Group (OIEG)

  • OIDI Pre-sessional English 6 overall with 6 in Reading and Writing and 5 in Speaking and Listening to meet IELTS 6.0 overall with 6.0 in Reading and Writing and 5.5 in Speaking and Listening. For further information please visit the OIDI website. 

Skills for English

  • Undergraduate and postgraduate - from Upper Intermediate - B2 with merit

TOEFL iBT English test

  • Oxford Brookes applicants can get a 15% discount when using the code TOEFLIACAC15. The code must be redeemed before 31 December 2025. Enter the code during checkout when registering for the TOEFL iBT test. Please see the above table for IELTS equivalent scores.

English language requirements for visas

If you have applied for our Pre-sessional English or International Foundation Diploma courses, or to a course that has an IELTS requirement below 6.0 and you need a student visa, you must take a UK Visa and Immigration approved SELT (Secure English Language Test). We are able to accept the following SELTs if they have been taken at a UKVI approved test centre:

  • IELTS for UKVI
  • PTE Academic UKVI
  • LanguageCert Academic SELT
  • LanguageCert International ESOL SELT B1 / B2 / C1

If you have any questions about this, our International Student Advice Team can help you to apply for your visa.

English speaking countries

If you are from a country that UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) considers as majority English speaking, or you’ve completed a qualification equivalent to a UK degree in one of them, you then you will not have to prove your English language level for visa purposes.

  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Australia
  • the Bahamas
  • Barbados
  • Belize
  • The British Overseas Territories
  • Dominica
  • Grenada
  • Guyana
  • Ireland
  • Jamaica
  • Malta
  • New Zealand
  • St Kitts and Nevis
  • St Lucia
  • St Vincent and the Grenadines
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • UK
  • USA

You also don’t need to prove your knowledge of English if you are a national of Canada or you have proved your level of English in a previous visa application.

Please refer to the UKVI for the latest information.