Profile B
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 and have completed high school or three years of education (whichever is longer) in their home country, will generally be exempt* from providing additional evidence of their English language ability:
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Australia
- The Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belize
- Canada
- Dominica
- Grenada
- Guyana
- Ireland
- Jamaica
- New Zealand
- St Kitts and Nevis
- St Lucia
- St Vincent and the Grenadines
- Trinidad and Tobago
- United States of America
* 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 completed high school in an English-speaking country listed below, will be exempt* from providing additional evidence of their English language ability.
Applicants who have completed a degree in an English-speaking country listed below, will be exempt* from providing additional evidence of their English language ability. Degree courses can be defined as a full Bachelor degree or Masters of at least one year.
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Australia
- the Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belize
- Bermuda
- Canada
- Cayman Islands
- Dominica
- Ghana
- Grenada
- Guyana
- Ireland
- Jamaica
- Malawi
- Malta
- New Zealand
- Nigeria
- Sierra Leone
- Singapore
- St Kitts and Nevis
- St Lucia
- St Vincent and the Grenadines
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Uganda
- UK (including British Overseas Territories and Crown dependencies)
- USA
- Zambia
Applicants who have completed a 2+2 degree will be required to meet their programme’s English language requirements through an additional English language test or other acceptable qualification, unless two full years were delivered in one of the above countries.
Applicants who have completed a degree in a country not listed in this section. If the degree is fully taught, examined and delivered in English (excluding study-abroad years) in a non-majority English-speaking country, and this can be evidenced by means of an official letter confirming the medium of instruction is English from the awarding institution, this may be considered as satisfying* the University of Bristol’s English language requirements provided the remainder of the application (such as the Personal Statement and academic reference) confirm a broad engagement through English and high level of competence in the language.
The award must have been completed no more than 7 years prior to the start of the University of Bristol degree programme to which the applicant has applied. Applicants who have completed either their high school award or degree course outside of the 7 year timeframe may still be considered, provided suitable evidence to demonstrate ongoing engagement with English (such as work experience) is presented.*
*The University reserves the right to ask for additional evidence of English language if we have concerns about an applicant’s abilities.
Accepted Secure English Language Tests (SELT)
The tests listed below are valid where they are taken no more than two years before the start date of your chosen programme of study.
Qualification |
Grade required |
IELTS Academic for UKVI from authorised test centres only (otherwise see English language proficiency tests): |
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 SELT |
C1 Expert High Pass |
Pearson PTE Academic UKVI |
UG: 67 overall with 71 in writing and 64 in all other skills PG: 67 overall with 64 in all skills |
English Language Proficiency Tests
The tests listed below are valid where they are taken no more than two years before the start date of your chosen programme of study. Component scores must be met fully through one sitting of the test; we cannot combine scores from multiple certificates.
Qualification |
Grade required |
IELTS |
UG: 7.0 overall with 7.0 in writing and 6.5 in all other skills |
TOEFL iBT: |
UG: 95 overall with R22, L21, S23, W24 |
Pearson PTE: |
UG: 67 overall with 71 in writing and 64 in all other skills |
Cambridge CAE: |
Grade C, or Level B2 with 184 in writing and 176 in all other skills |
Cambridge 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
|
Masters degree from an English-speaking country plus supporting SELT (can be expired) |
SELT IELTS 6.5 or equivalent in every band if taken before the Masters. If taken during or after, must comply with the main requirement above. |
NCUK EAP |
A overall with A in Writing and B in all other skills |
Pearson Versant |
Versant UG: 62 overall with 69 in Writing and 60 in all skills Versant PG: 62 overall with 60 in all skills |
University of Portsmouth Pre-Sessional English |
70 in Writing and 65 in all other skills |
English Language Proficiency Tests (continued)
The tests listed below are valid where they are taken no more than two years before the start date of your chosen programme of study. Component scores must be met fully through one sitting of the test; we cannot combine scores from multiple certificates.
Qualification |
Grade required |
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 |
IELTS Indicator |
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 other skills |
Heriot-Watt Pre-Sessional English | Grade B in Academic Literacy, Grade C in Academic Engagement |
TOEFL at Home |
UG: 95 overall with R22, L21, S23, W24 PG: 95 overall with R22, L21, S23, W22 |
UK and worldwide school qualifications
The qualifications listed below are valid where they are taken no more than seven years before the start date of your chosen programme of study.
Qualification |
Grade required |
GCSE English Language |
B or 6 |
GCSE English Literature |
B or 6 |
IGCSE English as a 1st Language |
A |
IGCSE English as a 1st language with speaking and listening endorsement |
B with Grade 2 |
IGCSE English as a 2nd Language |
A* |
IGCSE English as a 2nd Language with speaking endorsement |
A* |
IGCSE English Literature |
A |
IGCSE English Language |
A |
AS Level or A Level English Language or English Language and Literature |
C |
AS Level or A Level English Literature |
C |
International Baccalaureate English A: Literature |
6 at SL or 5 at HL |
International Baccalaureate English A: Literature and Language |
6 at SL or 5 at HL |
International Baccalaureate Language B: English |
7 at SL or 6 at HL |
Cambridge Assessment International Education (CIE) O Level English specifications 1119, 1120, 1123, 1125, 1127 |
B |
European school qualifications
The qualifications listed below are valid where they are taken no more than seven years before the start date of your chosen programme of study.
Qualification |
Requirement |
Austria: Reifeprüfung/ Matura |
2 (gut) in both written and oral |
Belgium |
16/20 or 80% |
Croatia |
English A/ visa razina at 5 |
Denmark Studentereksamen Level A |
Grade 10 |
European Baccalaureate |
L1 English at 60%, L2 English at 75%, L2A at 80% |
Finland: Ylioppilastut-kintotodistus |
5 in English A |
France: Baccalaureat |
15 in English LV1 |
France: Option Internationale du Baccalaureat – British English or American English |
12 in English |
Germany where English is taken as a Leistungskurs / Kernfächer / erhöhtem Anforderungsniveau |
12 |
Germany where English is not taken at higher level |
15 |
European school qualifications (continued)
The qualifications listed below are valid where they are taken no more than seven years before the start date of your chosen programme of study.
Qualification |
Requirement |
Iceland: Studentsprof when taken as a compulsory language in final year |
7 in English |
Ireland: Irish Leaving Certificate |
O2 or B1 (pre-2017) |
Luxembourg |
45 (bien) in English |
Malta: Secondary Education Certificate |
Grade 3 |
Netherlands |
8 |
Norway: Vitnemal where English is taken as a common core subject |
5 |
Poland |
90th percentile in extended level English |
Scotland: National 5 |
B in English |
Sweden: Slutbetyg where English 7 has been taken |
B |
Switzerland: Maturity Certificate |
6 (on a scale of 6) or 9 (on a scale of 10)
|
International school qualifications
The qualifications listed below are valid where they are taken no more than seven years before the start date of your chosen programme of study.
Qualification |
Requirement |
Cameroon O level |
B in English |
Canada Alberta |
70% in English Language Arts 30-1 or 65% in English Language Arts 30-2 |
Canada British Columbia |
65% in English 12 or 65% in English Literature 12 |
Canada Manitoba |
70% in ELA 40S/C or 65% in ELA 40U |
Canada Ontario |
70% in ENG4C or 65% in ENG4U |
Canada Quebec |
Not accepted |
Caribbean CSEC |
CSEC English with Three (III) at general proficiency |
Gambia WAEC where scratch-card number supplied |
B3 |
Ghana WAEC where scratch-card number supplied |
B3 |
Hong Kong: HKDSE |
5 in English |
India (CISCE and CBSE) Standard XII: |
80% in English |
Kenya KCSE |
English at grade B or 6 |
Liberia WAEC where scratch-card number supplied |
B3 |
International school qualifications (continued)
The qualifications listed below are valid where they are taken no more than seven years before the start date of your chosen programme of study.
Qualification |
Requirement |
Malawi MSCE |
English at 6 |
Malaysia SPM |
A- in English language |
Nigeria WAEC where scratch-card number supplied |
B3 |
Sierra Leone WAEC where scratch-card number supplied |
B3 |
Singapore: Integrated Programme Literature in English H2 or English Language and Linguistics H2: |
C |
Singapore Integrated Programme General Paper |
Grade A |
Singapore Ordinary Level |
Grade B in English |
Singapore: Secondary 4 English Language/Language Arts |
Grade A- |
Singapore: NUS Integrated Diploma where EL 6103 (Language in Society III) or EL5101 (Language in Society II) have been taken |
B+ |
South Africa NSC |
English Home Language with 5 or English First Additional Language with 7 |
Tanzania Secondary School Leaving Certificate |
Grade B in English |
Uganda Certificate of Education |
Grade 5 in English |
United States: AP Language and Composition or AP Literature and Composition |
4 |
United States: ACT plus education at an English-medium school |
28 with 7 in Writing |
United States: SAT (taken after 2016) Reading and Writing scores plus education at an English-medium school |
R 33, W 35
|
Centre for Academic Language and Development at the University of Bristol
Qualification |
Undergraduate (Score Required) |
Postgraduate (Score Required) |
International Foundation Programme |
68% overall for language units, minimum 68% in Academic Writing, 63% in Text Response Or 68% overall in Accelerated Academic Language and Literacy |
N/A |
Pre-sessional |
Pass in Problem Based Learning Pass in Portfolio 68% in presentation |
Pass in Problem Based Learning Pass in Portfolio 68% in presentation |
Undergraduate Admission
Different courses/programmes need different levels of language skills. We refer to these skill levels as ‘profiles’. For Profile B you need to achieve the listed levels.
Accepted Secure English Language Tests (SELT)
Qualification | Score Required |
---|---|
IELTS Academic for UKVI from authorised test centres only, otherwise will be treated as an exemption (see other qualifications accepted) |
7.0 overall, minimum 7.0 in writing |
Trinity Integrated Skills in English (ISE) Level IV | Pass in all elements |
Centre for English Language and Foundation Studies at the University of Bristol
Qualification | Undergraduate (Score Required) | Postgraduate (Score Required) |
---|---|---|
International Foundation Programme |
70% overall for language units, |
N/A |
International Pre-Masters Programme | N/A | 75% overall for language units, minimum 70% in any element |
Pre-sessional English for Academic Purposes | 70% overall | 75% overall, 70% in TImed Writing or Research Writing |
English Language Proficiency Tests accepted
Qualification | Score Required | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
IELTS Academic from non-authorised test centres |
7.0 overall, minimum 7.0 in writing and 6.5 in other bands |
|||
TOEFL Internet based iB |
100 minimum 24 any part, 27 in writing |
|||
Pearson's PTE (Academic) |
68 overall, minimum 60 in any band and 70 in writing |
|||
Cambridge CPE: Certificate of Proficiency in English (taken before January 2015) |
C, no less than borderline in writing |
|||
Cambridge CAE: Certificate in Advanced English (taken before January 2015) |
B, no less than good in writing and borderline in other elements |
|||
Cambridge CAE and CPE (taken after January 2015) |
185 overall, no less than 185 in writing and 176 in other elements |
|||
Cambridge Overseas School Certificate (COSC) |
Grade 2 | |||
IESOL/ISESOL (City and Guilds) |
‘Mastery’ level plus pre-sessional (only if taken before 5 April 2015) |
English Language Qualifications accepted
Qualification | Score Required | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
GCSE English/English Language/English | A | |||
GCE A-level English | B | |||
GCE AS-level English | A | |||
IGCSE English 1st language |
B | |||
IGCSE English 2nd language |
A | |||
GCE O-Level English |
A | |||
Cambridge GCE English 1119 |
A | |||
European Bac L1, L2 or L2A |
L1 any grade, L2 or L2A 8.0 | |||
IB English A1 or A2 |
Grade 6 at either level | |||
IB English B |
Grade 5 at higher or 6 at standard level | |||
IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) |
Grade 6 |
Qualifications we accept from Europe
Country | Grade required |
---|---|
Austria Matura/Reifeprufung | 2 (gut) in both written and oral |
Belgium Secondary Diploma | 80% |
Denmark Studentereksamen | Grade 10 |
Finland Lukion paastotodistus | Grade 8 in English A |
France OIB (Option Int’l de Bacc) British or American option | 14 or Bien |
French Baccalaureate General | 14 ‘bien’ |
Germany Abitur with English as Leistungskurs | 13 |
Iceland Studentsprof | 8 in English |
Luxembourg Examen de Fin d’Etudes Secondaires | 45 (bien) in English |
Netherlands VWO | 8 |
Norway Vitnemal | Grade 5 |
Sweden Slutbetyg | VG |
Switzerland – ‘maturity’ certificates on a scale of 6 | 5 bien |
Switzerland – ‘maturity’ certificates on a scale of 10 | 8 bien |
Qualifications we accept from the Americas
Country | Grade required |
---|---|
Canada ENG4C (Year 12, college preparation) | 70% |
Canada ENG4U (Year 12, uni preparation) | 60% |
Caribbean CXC CSEC | Grade 2 |
USA SAT I Writing | 630 |
USA ACT | 26 (writing 7) |
USA Advanced Placement English | 4 |
Qualifications we accept from Africa
Country | Grade required |
---|---|
East Africa EACE | Grade 4 |
West African Senior School Certificate (WASSC) | A1 |
South African National Senior Certificate/Matriculation Certificate | Standard grade A (80%) or Higher grade B (75%) |
West Africa WAEC | Grade 2 |