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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. We are now also accepting the IELTS Indicator test, you can find out more about the test on the IELTS Indication site. The University however does accept a wide range of additional English language qualifications, which can be found below.

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

Undergraduate and foundation level

Course IELTS level
All other undergraduate courses 6.0 overall with 6.0 in reading and writing, 5.5 in listening and speaking
Law, Architecture, Interior Architecture, English Literature (including combined honours), English Literature and Creative Writing 6.5 overall with 6.0 in reading and writing, 5.5 in listening and speaking
Health and Social Care courses 6.5 or 7.0 overall with 6.5 or 7.0 in all components (see individual entries for course details)
Nutrition BSc (Hons) 6.5 overall with a minimum of 6.0 in each component
Built Environment Foundation,
Computing Foundation,
Engineering Foundation		 6.0 with 6.0 in reading and writing, 5.5 in listening and speaking
International Foundation Business and Technology,
International Foundation Arts, Humanities and Law		 5.5 overall with 5.5 in all skills
International Foundation Diploma 5.0 overall with 5.0 in all skills
If you need a student visa you must take an IELTS for UKVI test.
International Foundation Diploma (Extended pathway) 4.5 overall with 4.5 in all skills
If you need a student visa you must take an IELTS for UKVI test.

Postgraduate level

Course IELTS level
Pre-Master's courses (including Two-Year Master's) From 5.5 with 5.5 in all skills
All masters courses 6.0-7.0 overall with 6.0 in reading and writing, 5.5 in listening and speaking (see individual course details)

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.

Oxford Brookes pathways courses

University English

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

Country specific qualifications

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

  • For programmes requiring IELTS 5.5 or 6.0, 60% in English from Standard 12th awarded by an acceptable examination board.
  • For programmes requiring IELTS 6.5 or higher, 65% in English from Standard 12th awarded by an acceptable examination board.
  • Acceptable Examination Boards and qualification:

    • Central Board of Secondary Education - All India Senior School Certificate 

    • Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations - Indian School Certificate

    • Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education -  Higher Secondary Certificate

We regularly review our guidance relating to individual state boards. If you have any concerns about meeting the English language requirement of your programme, we would always recommend taking an acceptable alternative English test, such as the Oxford Brookes KITE Test, IELTS or another acceptable qualification.

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

  • 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

Other 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)

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

Kaplan Foundation - English for Academic Purposes

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

KITE - Kaplan International Tools for English

  • Undergraduate and postgraduate: from 426 overall with min 426 in Reading and Writing and 425 in Listening and Speaking

Pearson PTE Academic

  • Undergraduate and postgraduate  - From 59 overall, with 59 in reading, writing, listening and speaking

Skills for English

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

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

English language requirements for visas

The following information is a guide and your ability will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Our International Student Advice Team can help you to apply for your visa.

Undergraduate and postgraduate level courses

If you are applying for a degree level course then we may accept other qualifications:

  • If you have an academic qualification that was taught in English then this can show us that you meet the UKVI's language requirements

  • If you are not able to take an UKVI approved test then we may be able to accept an alternative qualification. We may ask why you are not able to take a SELT as part of the admissions process.

  • If you are from or have studied in a majority English speaking country then you may not have to prove your English language level for visa purposes.

See which other qualifications we can accept.

Study Abroad and Exchange programmes

We may accept other qualifications for degree level programmes:

  • If you will be coming to the UK on a student visa you should provide an IELTS certificate showing that you have met the University's English Language requirements, or one of the certificates listed in the section 'Alternative English qualifications'.

  • If you will be coming to the UK on a visitor visa, you should provide an IELTS certificate showing that you have met the University's English Language requirements, or one of the certificates listed in the section 'Alternative English qualifications', or we may accept further qualifications on a case by case basis.

  • Please contact the Global Exchanges Team for further guidance, if you are unclear about what is required.

English language and pathway courses

  • If you have applied for our University English or International Foundation Diploma courses and need a student visa you must take a UK Visas and Immigration approved SELT test. The UKVI regulations do not allow us to accept any other qualifications for these courses. We can accept a wider range of qualifications if you will be coming to the UK on a Short-term study visa.

  • If you have applied for our 4-year integrated foundation courses and pre-masters courses then we may be able to accept another qualification. See the above information for undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

  • If you are from or have studied in a majority English speaking country then you may not have to prove your English language level for visa purposes.

Secure English Language Test (SELT)

Secure English Language Test (SELT)

The UKVI approved Secure English language Test (SELT) providers are:

  • IELTS SELT Consortium (from an approved test centre)
  • Trinity College London

Please see the UKVI website for the list of approved test centres.

English speaking countries

If you are from a country that UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) considers as majority English speaking, then you will not have to prove your English language level for visa purposes.

You don’t need to prove your knowledge of English for visa purposes if you’ve recently completed a qualification equivalent to a UK degree in:

  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Australia
  • the Bahamas
  • Barbados
  • Belize
  • Dominica
  • Grenada
  • Guyana
  • Ireland
  • Jamaica
  • 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 for visa purposes if you are a national of Canada or any of the countries in the list above.  

Please refer to the UKVI for the latest information. 

Although you do not need to prove your knowledge of English for visa purposes, you will need to show the university that your English is good enough to succeed in your studies. This will normally be through your academic qualifications. We may ask for additional evidence in some circumstances, for example if your qualifications were taken elsewhere in another language

Pre-sessional English courses

A student getting advise from a teacher

Our University English course can help you to meet the language requirements for all our undergraduate and postgraduate. Entry levels are from IELTS 4.5 overall with 4.0 in all skills.

Even if your current English qualifications are high enough, you may choose to take this course to boost your confidence in English (writing, reading, listening and speaking) before starting your degree.