Profile B

Our English language profiles are set at the minimum level required for entry to our programmes, which we believe should prepare you adequately for you to start your course. However, it is important for you to know that we expect your engagement with your English learning to continue throughout your time studying with us. As your course progresses, you will need to continue to develop your English skills so that you are able to understand the advanced concepts and nuances within it.

You should also be aware of language skills which are not scored in these English language tests, but which are essential for your daily use of English in an academic setting and in your day-to-day life in the UK. For example, being able to understand information and explain it to another person is a vital skill that students are expected to be able to do in English to communicate effectively with other English speakers. You should expect to develop your level of English through daily interaction with other people and with course materials.

Unless specifically stated, the information below details the English language skill level required for both undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. We refer to these skill levels as ‘profiles’. For this profile, you need to achieve the listed level.

National of an English-speaking country?

Applicants who are nationals of one of the following countries will generally be exempt* from providing additional evidence of their English language ability:

Antigua and Barbuda
Australia
The Bahamas
Barbados
Belize
British overseas territories
- Anguilla
- Bermuda
- British Antarctic Territory
- British Indian Ocean Territory
- British Virgin Islands
- Cayman Islands
- Falkland Islands
- Gibraltar
- Montserrat
- Pitcairn Islands
- Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
- South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
- Turks and Caicos Islands
Canada
Dominica
Grenada
Guyana
Ireland
Jamaica
Malta
New Zealand
St Kitts and Nevis
St Lucia
St Vincent and the Grenadines
Trinidad and Tobago
United Kingdom
United States of America.

This is in line with UKVI guidance.

* The University reserves the right to ask for additional evidence of English language if we have concerns about an applicant’s abilities.

Studying or studied in an English-speaking country or institution?

Applicants who have studied one of the following in an English-speaking country may meet the University's English language requirements:

Final four years of high school education
Two years of a full-time Bachelor's degree
One year of a Master's degree
Two years of a TNE/international partnership degree

In all cases, the qualification must have been awarded no more than seven years prior to the start of the degree programme and the qualification must have been completed in an English-speaking country per the list in the 'National of an English-speaking country' section above.

We also accept qualifications completed in the following countries to meet this requirement:

Ghana
Kenya
Malawi
Nigeria
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Uganda
Zambia

English Medium of Instruction

Applicants with a university-level qualification listed above, when fully taught and examined in English (not including Study Abroad years) in any country, may also meet the University's English language requirements.
This must be evidenced by means of an official Medium of Instruction (MOI) letter from the awarding institution, confirming that English is the medium of teaching and examination.

Duration of validity and evidence of ongoing engagement with English

In all cases, qualifications must have been awarded no more than seven years prior to the start of the degree programme. This is determined by year of award, for example, a degree awarded from 1 January 2018 would satisfy this requirement for entry in September 2025.

Qualifications completed beyond the seven-year timeframe may still be considered, provided there is clear and satisfactory evidence to demonstrate ongoing engagement with English (such as through work experience).

Work experience

Applicants can demonstrate ongoing engagement with English post-study through work experience in a country listed in the National of an English-speaking Country section of this page. Applicants will need to provide evidence that:

they have worked for a minimum of two years in an English-speaking country (as listed above) where the main language for the role was English since completing your qualification in English;
their role involved daily professional use of English;
and that their role has ended no more than two years before the start date of the course to which they are applying.

Any evidence to satisfy this must be provided by an employer confirming:

the name and contact details of the employer;
the nature of employment and use of English in the workplace;
and the dates of employment (ending no more than two years prior to the course starting).

Suitable evidence could be:

an electronic document or photo of a hard-copy letter on headed paper;
an email from the employer directly;
a copy of a signed contract.

The University reserves the right to refuse an English language exemption if we have concerns about an applicant's abilities.

Accepted Secure English Language Tests (SELT)

The tests listed below are valid when they are taken no more than two years before the start date of your chosen programme of study. For UG and PGT courses starting in September, the test date must be no earlier than 1 September two years prior to entry (for example, 1 September 2021 for entry in September 2023). For UG and PGT courses starting in January, we can accept tests where the test date is no earlier than 1 December two years prior to entry (for example, 1 December 2020 for entry in January 2023). For PGR students, we can accept tests where the test date is no earlier than the first day of the month two years prior to the month in which the programme starts (for example, 1 January 2021 for entry in January 2023).

Component scores must be met fully through one sitting of the test; we cannot combine scores from multiple certificates.

Qualification	Grade required
IELTS Academic for UKVI from authorised test centres only (otherwise see English language proficiency tests): Results including the One Skill Retake (OSR) are acceptable. All scores will be taken from one Test Report Form (TRF).	UG: 7.0 overall with 7.0 in writing and 6.5 in all other skills PG: 7.0 overall with 6.5 in all skills
Trinity Integrated Skills in English (ISE) Level IV:	pass in all skills
Trinity Integrated Skills in English (ISE) Level III:	merit in writing and pass in all other skills
LanguageCert Academic SELT	UG: C1 level with 75 overall, 75 in writing and 70 in all other skills PG: C1 level with 75 overall and 70 in all skills
Pearson PTE Academic UKVI	UG: 71 overall with no lower than 71 in writing and no lower than 67 in all other skills PG: 71 overall with no lower than 67 in all skills
Skills for English	C1/2 Pass

English Language Proficiency Tests

The tests below are valid when taken no more than two years before the start date of your programme of study. For UG and PGT courses starting in September, the test date must be no earlier than 1 September two years prior to entry (for example, 1 September 2021 for entry in September 2023). For UG and PGT courses starting in January, we can accept tests where the test date is no earlier than 1 December two years prior to entry (for example, 1 December 2020 for entry in January 2023). For PGR students, we can accept tests where the test date is no earlier than the first day of the month two years prior to the month in which the programme starts (for example, 1 January 2021 for entry in January 2023).

Component scores must be met fully through one sitting of the test; we cannot combine scores from multiple certificates.

Qualification	Grade required
IELTS Academic (at a test centre or online): Results including the One Skill Retake (OSR) are acceptable. All scores will be taken from one Test Report Form (TRF).	UG: 7.0 overall with 7.0 in writing and 6.5 in all other skills PG: 7.0 overall with 6.5 in all skills
TOEFL iBT and TOEFL at Home:	UG: 95 overall with R22, L21, S23, W24 PG: 95 overall with R22, L21, S23, W22
Pearson PTE Academic (Test Centre): (Online valid for 2023 entry only)	UG: 71 overall with no lower than 71 in writing and no lower than 67 in all other skills PG: 71 overall with no lower than 67 in all skills
C1 Advanced, formerly known as Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE):	Grade C, or Level B2 with 184 in writing and 176 in all other skills PG: Grade C, or Level B2 with 176 in all skills
C2 Proficiency, formerly known as Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE):	Grade C, or Level C1 with 184 in writing and 176 in all other skills
Trinity Integrated Skills in English (ISE) Level IV:	pass in all skills
Trinity Integrated Skills in English (ISE) Level III:	merit in writing and pass in all other skills
NCUK EAP	A overall with A in Writing and B in all other skills

English Language Proficiency Tests (continued)

Qualification	Grade required
University of Portsmouth Pre-Sessional English	70 in Writing and 65 in all other skills PG: 65 in all skills
NCUK English Test	UG: 7.0 overall with 7.0 in writing and 6.5 in all other skills PG: 7.0 overall with 6.5 in all skills
Heriot-Watt Pre-Sessional English	UG: Grade B with 65% in writing and 60% in all other skills PG: Grade B with 60% in all skills
Strathclyde ELT (including British Council UK pre-sessional Strathclyde ELT))	UG: 7.0 in Writing and one other skill, no skill below 6.5 PG: 7.0 in two skills, no skill below 6.5
Kaplan EAP	UG: 70% (Distinction) overall with 70% (Distinction) in writing and 65% (High Credit) in all other skills. PG: 70% (Distinction) overall with 65% (High Credit) in all skills.
LanguageCert Academic	UG: C1 level with 75 overall, 75 in writing and 70 in all other skills PG: C1 level with 75 overall and 70 in all skills
Oxford International ELLT	UG: An OIDI score of 8 overall with 8 in writing and 7 in all other skills PG: An OIDI score of 8 overall with 6 in all skills
University of Warwick EAP	70% overall with 70% in writing, no skill below 60%
AEMG Direct Entry Programme EAP	85% with no section below 85%

UK and worldwide school qualifications