English Language requirements
If your first language is not English you may be required to produce evidence of your English language proficiency. This is in addition to any academic entry requirements.
UK Border Agency changes
From the 21st April 2011 the UK Border Agency (UKBA) introduced changes to the Tier 4 general student visa route. Further Tier 4 policy guidance is available on the UKBA website.
One of the changes has had an impact on English Language requirements, with the UKBA now requiring applicants intending to study at degree level and above to have achieved level B2 in each of the four language components.
With immediate effect the University minimum English Language requirements have been amended to reflect this change.
It is important to note that English Language requirements for Tier 4 general student visa purposes may be different from those required at programme level. Unless otherwise specified, University minimum component scores are no less than indicated in these pages.
If you have already applied to the University, see our FAQs for further information.
IELTS, TOEFL
The usual requirement for entry to an undergraduate programme of study is a minimum of IELTS 6.5, although a few programmes accept 6.0 and some more linguistically demanding programmes require 7.0. Please check the entry requirements carefully for your chosen programme.
The table below shows the equivalent grades for the IELTS, TOEFL .
| IELTS | TOEFL | ||
| IELTS 6.0 | With no less than than 5.5 in any element |
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| IELTS 6.5 | With no less than 6.0 in any element |
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| IELTS 7 | No less than 6.5 in any element |
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International Schools
If you studied in an International School then you should have followed a curriculum and taken examinations that are accepted in the UK for university entry. Typical examples would be students in schools that have followed the US or UK curriculum or the International Baccalaureate (IB) system.
In these cases typical language requirements are:
| Qualification | Level required |
| European Baccalaureate | English as a First Foreign Language L2, 7.5 minimum. English as a First Foreign Language Advanced L2A, 7.5 minimum. |
| International Baccalaureate | English Language A1, Standard level Grade 5 or Higher level, Grade 4. English Language A2, Standard level Grade 5 or Higher level, Grade 5 (where the IB diploma has been taught through the medium of English). English Language B, Higher level Grade 5. |
| GCSE English Language | Grade C or above. |
| GCE Advanced Level English Language | Grade C or above. |
| IGCSE English Language (as a first language) | Grade C or above. |
| IGCSE English Language (as a second language) | Grade B or above where IELTS is required at 6.0, not acceptable for programmes requiring 6.5 or more. |
| Cambridge O Level English Language | Grade C or above. |
| Cambridge Certificate | Certificate of Proficiency in English Grade B or above Certificate of Advanced English Grade A |
Country Specific
We also accept some alternative qualifications in place of IELTS or TEOFL:
| Qualification | Level required |
| Hong Kong Examinations Authority Advanced Use of English | Grade C or above |
| Hong Kong Certificate of Education English Language (Syllabus B) | English Language Level 3 or above |
| French Baccalaureate | 14 in English language component |
| India CBSE and ISC (Indian examination boards) | 75% minimum in the English language component and 80% for programmes requiring 7.0 IELTS. |
| Germany Abitur | 11 out of 15 or 2 out of 6 in English Language |
| Norway Vitnemal- vidergaende opplaering | A minimum of a 5 in the English Language component is generally acceptable but programmes requiring 7.0 IELTS may wish to see further evidence of English language ability. |
| Switzerland –Matura | Minimum of 5 in the English Language component |
| Malaysia | A compulsory element of the SPM is a Cambridge International O level (previously called 1119). Although not on the certificate it will be reported on the results slip and a 6C grade or above will be asked for. |
| Nigeria WASSCE | Pass English Language with a minimum of C4 |
