As an international student, you need to demonstrate an adequate standard of English as part of your application.
This is so you can successfully engage with and complete your chosen course, and also for visa and immigration reasons where applicable.
Nationals of majority-English-speaking countries as defined by UKVI are typically exempt from this requirement, the countries specified by the UKVI include:
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Australia
- The Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belize
- Dominica
- Grenada
- Guyana
- Ireland
- Jamaica
- Malta
- New Zealand
- Ireland
- Jamaica
- Malta
- New Zealand
- St Kitts and Nevis
- St Lucia
- St Vincent and the Grenadines
- Trinidad and Tobago
- United States of America
For those not from one of the countries specified as Majority English-speaking by UKVI, the university currently accepts the following qualifications with the noted grades as proof of meeting English language requirements.
Courses starting September 2024 to August 2025
| English Language Test | Minimum Score most Undergraduate and Postgraduate programmes | Minimum Score MA Creative Writing | Minimum Score BSc Biomedical Science | Minimum Score BSc Nursing Programmes | Validity period |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 6.0 overall and no component score below 5.5 | 7.0 overall and no minimum score below 6.5 | 7.0 overall and no minimum score below 6.5 | 7.0 overall with a minimum of 7.0 in reading, listening and speaking and 6.5 in writing | Two years |
| Pearson PTE Academic | Total = 59-75 Minimum: Reading – 59 Listening – 59 Speaking – 59 Writing – 59 |
N/A | N/A | N/A | Two years |
| iGCSE English as a Second Language | Minimum: Overall Grade C and Grade 2 in Speaking |
N/A | N/A | N/A | Five years |
| iGCSE English - First Language | Minimum: 0522: Overall Grade C 0500: Overall Grade C and Grade 2 in Speaking and Listening |
N/A | N/A | N/A | Five years |
| GCSE or A level English language when awarded by an Ofqual (or SQA,Qualifications Wales or CCEA) regulated awarding body and which must have been undertaken in a UK Based school and teaching begun while under the age of 18 | Minimum: Overall Grade C or 4 |
N/A | N/A | N/A | Five years |
| TOEFL IBT | Total = 79-89 Minimum: Reading – 18 Listening – 17 Speaking – 20 Writing – 17 |
N/A | N/A | N/A | Two years |
| Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE) | Minimum overall score of 169, with no component score below 162 | N/A | N/A | N/A | Two years |
| International Baccalaureate | Grade 5 in Higher level or Standard level English B (most subject areas will accept English A Language and Literature or English A Literature, there are exceptions for certain regulated programmes, contact admissions to discuss) | N/A | N/A | N/A | Five years |
| Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE) | ISE II, ISE III, ISE IV; Merit in each component. All components must have been studied on the same day as each other | N/A | N/A | N/A | Two years |
| Oxford Test of English | Minimum overall score of 126 with no component below 111 | N/A | N/A | N/A | Two years |
| WAEC (awarded up to and including 1998) WASSCE (awarded from 1999 onwards) |
Grades A1 – C6 in English | N/A | N/A | N/A | No validity period |
| English from Class XII (India) Senior School Certificate Examination Indian School Certificate Only when awarded by the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) |
September 2024 entry ‐ 70% in English January 2025 entry - 65% in English |
N/A | N/A | N/A | Eight years |
| English from Class XII (India) Senior School Certificate Examination Indian School Certificate When awarded by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) or one of the following State Boards: – Maharashtra – Telangana – Andhra Pradesh – Kerala – Delhi – Tamil Nadu |
September 2024 entry ‐ 70% in English January 2025 entry - 65% in English |
N/A | N/A | N/A | Five years |
| Bachelor or Masters degree | Bachelor or Masters degree achieved either at a university in the UK or at a university in a majority English speaking country as per UKVI list – ECCTIS statement is required in this instance | N/A | N/A | N/A | Five years |
Courses starting September 2025 to August 2026
For those not from one of the countries specified as Majority English-speaking by UKVI, the university currently accepts the following qualifications with the noted grades as proof of meeting English language requirements.
Undergraduate Programmes
| English Language Test | Minimum Score Most Undergraduate programmes | Minimum Score BSc Biomedical Science | Minimum Score BSc Nursing Programmes | Validity period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 6.0 overall and no component score below 5.5 | 7.0 overall and no component score below 6.5 | 7.0 overall with a minimum of 7.0 in reading, listening and speaking and 6.5 in writing | Two years |
| Pearson PTE Academic | Total score of 59-75 with no component score below 59 | N/A | N/A | Two years |
| iGCSE English as a Second Language | Minimum: Overall Grade C and Grade 2 in Speaking |
N/A | N/A | Five years |
| iGCSE English - First Language | Minimum: Overall Grade C and Grade 2 in Speaking and Listening |
N/A | N/A | Five years |
| GCSE or A level English language when awarded by an Ofqual (or SQA,Qualifications Wales or CCEA) regulated awarding body and which must have been undertaken in a UK Based school and teaching begun while under the age of 18 | Minimum: Overall Grade C or 4 |
N/A | N/A | Five years |
| TOEFL IBT | Total = 79-89 Minimum: Reading – 18 Listening – 17 Speaking – 20 Writing – 17 |
N/A | N/A | Two years |
| LanguageCert International ESOL SELT B2 (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking) | Total = Minimum 33 Minimum: Reading – 33 Listening – 33 Speaking – 33 Writing – 33 |
N/A | N/A | Two years |
| LanguageCert International ESOL SELT C1 (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking) | Total = Minimum 33 Minimum: Reading – 33 Listening – 33 Speaking – 33 Writing – 33 |
N/A | N/A | Two years |
| Skills for English UKVI B2 (4 component) through PSI Service (UK) Ltd | Listening – Pass Reading – Pass Speaking – Pass Writing – Pass |
N/A | N/A | Two years |
| Skills for English UKVI C1 (4 component) through PSI Service (UK) Ltd | Listening – Pass Reading – Pass Speaking – Pass Writing – Pass |
N/A | N/A | Two years |
| Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE) | Minimum overall score of 169, with no component score below 162 | N/A | N/A | Two years |
| International Baccalaureate | Grade 5 in Higher level or Standard level English B (most subject areas will accept English A Language and Literature or English A Literature, there are exceptions for certain regulated programmes, contact admissions to discuss) | N/A | N/A | Five years |
| Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE) | ISE II, ISE III, ISE IV; Merit in each component. All components must have been studied on the same day as each other | N/A | N/A | Two years |
| Oxford Test of English | Minimum overall score of 126 with no component below 111 | N/A | N/A | Two years |
| WAEC (awarded up to and including 1998) WASSCE (awarded from 1999 onwards) |
Grades A1 – C6 in English where given GCSE equivalence by ECCTIS | N/A | N/A | No validity period |
| English from Class XII (India) Senior School Certificate Examination Indian School Certificate Only when awarded by the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) |
65% in English | N/A | N/A | Eight years |
| English from Class XII (India) Senior School Certificate Examination Indian School Certificate When awarded by Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) or one of the following State Boards: – Maharashtra – Telangara – Andhra Pradesh – Kerala – Delhi – Tamil Nadu |
65% in English | N/A | N/A | Five years |
| Bachelor or Masters degree | Bachelor or Masters degree achieved in the last five years, either at a university in the UK or at a university in a majority English-speaking country as per the UKVI list below. An ECCTIS statement is required if applying from a UKVI list country. | N/A | N/A | Five years |
Postgraduate Programmes
| English Language Test | Minimum Score Most Postgraduate programmes | Minimum Score MA Creative Writeing | Minimum Score MA TESOL | Validity period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 6.0 overall and no component score below 5.5 | 7.0 overall and no component score below 6.5 | 6.5 overall with a minimum of 6.0 in reading, listening and speaking and 6.5 in writing | Two years |
| Pearson PTE Academic | Total score of 59-75 with no component score below 59 | N/A | N/A | Two years |
| iGCSE English as a Second Language | Minimum: Overall Grade C and Grade 2 in Speaking |
N/A | N/A | Five years |
| iGCSE English - First Language | Minimum: Overall Grade C and Grade 2 in Speaking and Listening |
N/A | N/A | Five years |
| GCSE or A level English language when awarded by an Ofqual (or SQA,Qualifications Wales or CCEA) regulated awarding body and which must have been undertaken in a UK Based school and teaching begun while under the age of 18 | Minimum: Overall Grade C or 4 |
N/A | N/A | Five years |
| TOEFL IBT | Total = 79-89 Minimum: Reading – 18 Listening – 17 Speaking – 20 Writing – 17 |
N/A | N/A | Two years |
| LanguageCert Academic SELT | Total = 79-89 Minimum: Reading – 60 Listening – 60 Speaking – 60 Writing – 60 |
N/A | N/A | Two years |
| LanguageCert General | Total = 79-89 Minimum: Reading – 60 Listening – 60 Speaking – 60 Writing – 60 |
N/A | N/A | Two years |
| LanguageCert International ESOL SELT B2 (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking) | Total = Minimum 33 Minimum: Reading – 33 Listening – 33 Speaking – 33 Writing – 33 |
N/A | N/A | Two years |
| LanguageCert International ESOL SELT C1 (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking) | Total = Minimum 33 Minimum: Reading – 33 Listening – 33 Speaking – 33 Writing – 33 |
N/A | N/A | Two years |
| Skills for English UKVI B2 (4 component) through PSI Service (UK) Ltd | Listening – Pass Reading – Pass Speaking – Pass Writing – Pass |
N/A | N/A | Two years |
| Skills for English UKVI C1 (4 component) through PSI Service (UK) Ltd | Listening – Pass Reading – Pass Speaking – Pass Writing – Pass |
N/A | N/A | Two years |
| Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE) | Minimum overall score of 169, with no component score below 162 | N/A | N/A | Two years |
| International Baccalaureate | Grade 5 in Higher level or Standard level English B (most subject areas will accept English A Language and Literature or English A Literature, there are exceptions for certain regulated programmes, contact admissions to discuss) | N/A | N/A | Five years |
| Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE) | ISE II, ISE III, ISE IV; Merit in each component. All components must have been studied on the same day as each other | N/A | N/A | Two years |
| Oxford Test of English | Minimum overall score of 126 with no component below 111 | N/A | N/A | Two years |
| WAEC (awarded up to and including 1998) WASSCE (awarded from 1999 onwards) |
Grades A1 – C6 in English where given GCSE equivalence by ECCTIS | N/A | N/A | No validity period |
| English from Class XII (India) Senior School Certificate Examination Indian School Certificate Only when awarded by the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) |
65% in English | N/A | N/A | Eight years |
| English from Class XII (India) Senior School Certificate Examination Indian School Certificate When awarded by Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) or one of the following State Boards: – Maharashtra – Telangara – Andhra Pradesh – Kerala – Delhi – Tamil Nadu |
65% in English | N/A | N/A | Five years |
| Bachelor or Masters degree | Bachelor or Masters degree achieved in the last five years, either at a university in the UK or at a university in a majority English-speaking country as per the UKVI list below. An ECCTIS statement is required if applying from a UKVI list country. | N/A | N/A | Five years |