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English language equivalencies

We accept a wide variety of qualifications and tests as evidence of English language ability. Check the tables below to find the grades or scores required for your course.

The exact English language requirements vary across our courses, and there are different ways you can demonstrate your English ability, depending on the courses and tests you have taken previously.

See our English language requirements page for general guidance on our typical requirements, including how we recognise applicants who have studied in English speaking countries.

IELTS requirements for each of our courses are listed in our course listings. Use the tables below to find out the equivalent grade you would need to match this IELTS score in other English tests or qualifications.

Last updated November 2024.

Secure English language tests – SELTs

SELTs
Qualification	Level required
IELTS for UKVI Academic Must have been taken within the last two years. Will accept IELTs One Skill Retake.	6.0 with no less than 5.5 in each element	6.5 with no less than 6.0 in each element	7.0 with no less than 6.0 in each element
Language Cert SELT We do not accept non -ELT Language Cert.	SELT B2 Communicator – 39 overall with no less than 33 in any skills (out of 50) SELT B2 Communicator – 65 overall with no less and 60 in any skill (Out of 100	SELT B2 Communicator – 45 overall with no less than 39 in any skills (out of 50) SELT B2 Communicator – 70 overall with no less and 65 in any skill (Out of 100)	SELT C1 Expert – 33 overall with no less than 33 in any skills (out of 50) SELT C1 Expert – 75 overall with no less and 65 in any skill (Out of 100)
PTE Academic UKVI Must have been taken within the last two years.	65 (minimum 59)	71 (minimum 65)	76 (minimum 65) (7.5 IELTS with no less than 7.0 in each element requires 79 (minimum 76))
Trinity College London ISE (Integrated Skills in English) Must have been taken within the last two years. We do not accept 'best scores' i.e the best scores in each element across multiple tests.	ISE II Merit overall with no lower that ISE II Pass in any level	ISE II Distinction overall with no lower that ISE II Merit in any level	ISE III Pass overall

Non-country-specific English language tests

Non-country-specific English language tests
Qualification	Level required
IELTS	6.0 with no less than 5.5 in each element	6.5 with no less than 6.0 in each element	7.0 with no less than 6.0 in each element
GCE A Level English Language or English Literature	C	C	B
GCE AS Level English Language or English Literature	C	C	B
Cambridge International AS Level English General Paper	C	C	B
Cambridge International Level 2 Certificate Must have been taken within the last two years. We do not accept 'best scores' i.e the best scores in each element across multiple tests.	C	C	B
Cambridge Proficiency/Advanced test (CAE) (from January 2015) Must have been taken within the last two years. We do not accept 'best scores' i.e the best scores in each element across multiple tests.	169 with no element below 162	184 with no element below 169	190 with no element below 169 (7.5 IELTS with no less than 7.0 in each component requires 191 with no element below 185)
GCSE / IGCSE / O Level English Language or English Literature (including as a first or second language – except for IGCSE as a second language – see below)	C / 4	C / 4	B / 6
IELTS (Academic version taken in person) Must have been taken within the last two years. IELTs One Skill Retake is accepted. IELTs Online is not accepted.	6.0 with no less than 5.5 in each element	6.5 with no less than 6.0 in each element	7.0 with no less than 6.0 in each element
IGCSE Second Language English	B / 6	B / 6	A / 7
International Baccalaureate English A1 or A2 or English Literature (Standard or Higher Level)	4	4	5
International Baccalaureate English B (Higher Level)	4	4	5
International Baccalaureate English B (Standard Level)	5	5	6
European Baccalaureate (first or second language)	6	6	7
Kaplan Foundation English Test (KITE) When taken as part of full Kaplan academic programme. Marks shown are for Academic English element.	60% (min 55%)	65% (min 60%)	70% (min 60%)
Occupational English Test (OET)	250 in each element	300 in each element	350 in each element
PTE Academic Must have been taken within the last two years. We do not accept 'best scores' i.e the best scores in each element across multiple of tests.	65 (minimum 59)	71 (minimum 65)	76 (minimum 65) (7.5 IELTS with no less than 7.0 in each element requires 79 (minimum 76)
Study Group Foundation courses Marks shown are for Academic English Skills element.	50% (min 40)	60% (min 50)	70% (min 50)
TOEFL (IBT) Taken within the last two years. We do not accept: TOEFL Home Edition or 'best scores' i.e. the best scores in each element across multiple tests.	80 (minimum 17 in Writing and Listening, 18 in Reading and 20 in speaking)	90 (minimum 19 in Writing and Listening, 20 in Reading and 22 in Speaking)	100 (minimum 19 in Writing and Listening, 20 in Reading and 22 in Speaking)
University of Nottingham Malaysia or China Campus	Satisfactory completion of 2 years at UNMC or UNNC	Satisfactory completion of 2 years at UNMC or UNNC	Satisfactory completion of 2 years at UNMC or UNNC
University of Reading TEEP	6.0 with no less than 5.5 in each element	6.5 with no less than 6.0 in each element	7.0 with no less than 6.0 in each element

Case-by-case qualifications

Case-by-case qualifications
Qualification	Level required
University degrees from an overseas campus of a recognised university of a majority English speaking country	These will be accepted on a case by case basis where the course at the overseas campus is taught and assessed entirely in English and awarded by the home university
*Russell Group universities'** English language assessments (CELE equivalent)	We accept other Russell Groups' English Language tests (CELE equivalents) on a case by case basis where there are clear IELTS equivalencies and testing in all four elements and this course is undertaken at the University and not an affiliated private provider. * For a list of Russell group universities please visit the Russell Group website.

Country-specific qualifications

Country-specific qualifications
Country	Qualification	Level required
all	IELTS	6.0 with no less than 5.5 in each element	6.5 with no less than 6.0 in each element	7.0 with no less than 6.0 in each element
Austria	Matura / Reifeprufung	2 (gut) when both written and oral exams have been taken	2 (gut) when both written and oral exams have been taken	2 (gut) when both written and oral exams have been taken
Belgium	Abschlusszeugnis der Oberstufe des Sekundarunterrichts (German speaking) Certificat d'Enseignement Secondaire Superieur (CESS) (French speaking) Diploma van Secundair Onderwijs (previously Getuigschrift) (Dutch speaking)	8 / 80% or Grote avec grande distinction	8 / 80% or Grote avec grande distinction	8 / 80% or Grote avec grande distinction
Bermuda	Bermuda Secondary School Certificate	C	C	B
Botswana	Botswana GCSE (BGCSE)	C	C	B
Brunei	O-Level	C	C	B
Cameroon	O level	C	C	B
Canada	English 11/English 12 (Alberta, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, North West Territories, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan – General High School Diploma; British Colombia, Yukon – Senior Secondary Graduation Diploma; Manitoba – High School Graduation Diploma, Ontario)	English 11 or 12 – 75%	English 11 or 12 – 75%	English 11 or 12 – 81%
Caribbean	CXC CSEC English A	3	3	2
Denmark	Stundentereksamen	7	7	7
Finland	Ylioppilastutkintotodis tus	5 (magna cum laude approbatur)	5 (magna cum laude approbatur)	5 (magna cum laude approbatur)
France	French Baccalaureat (General) – to 2020	14 (bien) where the co-efficient applied to the subject is greater than 1	14 (bien) where the co-efficient applied to the subject is greater than 1	14 (bien) where the co-efficient applied to the subject is greater than 1
	French Baccalaureat (General) – from 2021	14 (bien)	14 (bien)	14 (bien)
	French Bacclaureate (OIB/BFI)	12/20	12/20	12/20
Germany	Abitur – Leistungskurse, (LK) or Leistungsfacher, (LF)	12 (gut)	12 (gut)	13 (sehr gut)
Germany	Abitur – Grundkurse (GK)/ Grundfacher (GF) (must be taken as an Abitur exam)	13 (sehr gut)	13 (sehr gut)	14 (sehr gut)
Ghana	WAEC / WASSCE NECO / iGCSE	C 6	C 5	B 3
Hong Kong	HKCEE HKDSE – core English Language (from 2012)	4	4	5
Iceland	Studentsprof	8 when taken as a compulsory language	8 when taken as a compulsory language	8 when taken as a compulsory language
India	Standard XII ISC and CBSE Boards only	70%	75%	80%
India	Standard X ISC and CBSE Boards	61%-70% B2 7.0	71%-80% B1 8.0	71%-80% B1 8.0
Ireland	Leaving Cert English (Ordinary Level)	O4	O4	O3
Ireland	Leaving Cert English (Advanced Level)	H4	H4	H3
Italy	Diploma di Esame di Stato (formerly Diploma di Maturita)	80% in English as a second language	80% in English as a second language	90% in English as a second language
Kenya	KCSE / iGCSE (or equivalent)	C	C	B
Luxembourg	Diplome de Fin d'Etudes Secondaires	45 (bien)	45 (bien)	45 (bien)
Malaysia	UCLES 1119 Syllabus (pre 2021)	6C or C	4B or B	1A or A
Malaysia	CEFR (post 2021)	B2	B2	C1
Malta	IGCSE or Secondary Education Certificate Secondary Education Certificate Examinations (SEC)	C / 4	C / 4	B / 2
Netherlands	VWO	8 (goed)	8 (goed)	8 (goed)
Nigeria and West Africa	WAEC / WASSCE NECO / iGCSE	C C6	C C5	B B3
Norway	Vitnemal	4	4	5
Scotland	Advanced Higher or Higher English	C	C	B
Singapore	O-Level Secondary Four English Language or Language Arts (for IP students)	C C or CAP 2.0	C C or CAP 2.0	B B or CAP 3.0
South Africa	South African National Senior Certificate (SANSC – 'matric') IEB or gov board	5 or C	5 or C	6 or B
Spain	Título de Bachillerato (or Curso de Orientación Universitaria / COU)	8/10 in English as a second language	8/10 in English as a second language	9/10 in English as a second language
Sweden	Slutbetyg fran Gymnasieskol a/Komvux (until 2013)	VG (val godkant)	VG (val godkant)	VG (val godkant)
Sweden	Högskoleförb eredande Examen English 7 (since 2014)	VG (val godkant) / B	VG (val godkant) / B	VG (val godkant) / B
Switzerland	Maturita	5 (gut/bien/bene)	5 (gut/bien/bene)	5 (gut/bien/bene)
Uganda	UCE / IGCSE (or equivalent)	6	5	3
USA	US High School Diploma (English Grade)	Year 11 Grade C/2.0/70%	Year 11 Grade C/2.0/70%	Year 11 Grade B/3.0/80%
	SATr Evidence Based Reading & Writing	Minimum score of 500	Minimum score of 500	Minimum score of 600
	ACT English	Minimum score of 26	Minimum score of 26	Minimum score of 27
	SAT Subject Test English Literature	Minimum score of 600	Minimum score of 600	Minimum score of 650
	AP English Literature and Composition	Grade 3 or above	Grade 3 or above	Grade 4 or above
	AP English Language and Composition	Grade 3 or above	Grade 3 or above	Grade 4 or above

If a country is not listed here please refer to the guidance on our country-specific information pages.

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Policy on minimum English language entry requirements

Policy on alternative English language qualifications

Presessional English for Academic Purposes (PEAP)

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English language equivalencies

English language equivalencies

Secure English language tests – SELTs

Non-country-specific English language tests

Case-by-case qualifications

Country-specific qualifications

Find out more

International Student Recruitment

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