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.

Studied in an English-speaking country

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

• Final four years of high school education
• One year of a full-time Bachelor’s degree
• One year of a Master’s degree.

In all cases, the period of English language study evidenced must be no more than seven years prior to the start of the degree programme and 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.

Applicants who have completed or are studying towards a degree in a country not listed in this section 

If your degree is fully taught, examined and delivered in English in a non-majority English-speaking country, and this can be evidenced through an official letter confirming the medium of instruction is English from the awarding institution, this may be considered as satisfying* our English language requirements. If you believe this to be the case, please contact cfsa-inbound@bristol.ac.uk for further information.

High school qualifications must have been completed no more than seven years prior to the start of the Study Abroad programme to which the applicant has applied. This is determined by the year of award, for example, completing high school in July 2017 would be acceptable for commencing your Bristol course in September 2024. Applicants who have completed their high school award outside of the seven-year timeframe may still be considered, provided suitable evidence to demonstrate ongoing engagement with English is presented.*

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

Students studying at one of our European exchange partner institutions and applying to study at Bristol for one semester can submit a letter from their home university attesting to their English language level. The letter of attestation must confirm that the student's current English proficiency is equivalent to a B2 level overall and a B2 level in all four components (writing, listening, speaking and reading) based on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. Students will need to submit the Letter of attestation template provided on our website as part of their application. The letter must be signed and stamped by their home university (electronic signatures are accepted).

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 courses starting in September, the test date must be no earlier than 1 September two years prior to entry (for example, 1 September 2022 for entry in September 2024). For 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 2021 for entry in January 2024).

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

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 courses starting in September, the test date must be no earlier than 1 September two years prior to entry (for example, 1 September 2022 for entry in September 2024). For 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 2021 for entry in January 2024).

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.