Undergraduate English language requirements 2024/25

If you're a non-native English speaking applicant you must provide evidence of your English language ability.

You need to show enough fluency in written and spoken English to the required level of the course you're applying to.

Exceptions

You do not need to provide evidence of your English language if any of the following conditions apply:

  • You're a UK national
  • You're a national from a majority English speaking country as specified by the UKVI
  • You've completed a degree either in the UK or in a majority English speaking country
  • You've completed a degree within two years of your start date which has been taught in English. You will need to provide official confirmation from the institution where you completed your degree that the medium of instruction was in English.

For more information see the Student and Child Student guidance.

Accepted tests and qualifications

The following tests are accepted for entry into degree-level courses:

  • International English Language Testing System (IELTS) (Academic)
  • IELTS One Skill Retake
  • Cambridge CEFR
  • PTE Academic
  • TOEFL IBT (internet based and special home edition) (TOEFL MyBest score is not acceptable for meeting the English language requirement)
  • Trinity Integrated Skills in English (ISE) III
  • GCSE/IGCSE/O level English Language (as a first or second language) with Grade C or grade 4
  • Duolingo
  • LanguageCert SELT
  • LanguageCert Academic
  • Kaplan Test of English
  • Skills for English
  • Oxford ELLT

We must be able to verify your test within two years of completion, but you may have completed the test up to two and a half years prior to the start date of your course. You cannot combine scores from more than one sitting of the test or multiple different tests.

Check the requirements for your course

Visiting students

If you are a visiting student see your English language requirements by subject

School leaving certificates

We can also accept the following school leaving certificates as proof of English language ability, if you are taking an English language subject and you meet the minimum grade required.

  • International Baccalaureate: Pass English A or obtain 5 in English B at either Standard or Higher Level.
  • European Baccalaureate: Obtain 6.5 in English.
Country Qualification English grade required
Austria Reifeprüfungszeugnis / Maturazeugnis 2
Belgium Diploma van Hoger Secundair Onderwijs 16
Certificat d'Enseignement 7
Abschlusszeugnis der Oberstufe des Sekundarunterrichts 70%
Brunei Cambridge O Level C
Canada

High School Graduation Diploma from any state excluding Quebec (where studied in Canada. Where studied outside Canada, IELTS or equivalent will be required)

75%
Denmark Studentereksamen / HÇ¿jere Forberedelseseksamen 7
Finland Ylioppilastutkintotodistus / Studentexamenbetyg 4 (Cum laude approbatur)
France

French Baccalauréat

11
Option Internationale du Baccalauréat
Gambia Gambia West African Secondary School Certificate C6 (where the school has confirmed that the medium of instruction in the school is English)
Germany Abitur 11
Ghana West African Secondary School Certificate C6
Hong Kong HKDSE 4 overall with 4 in each component
Iceland Stúdentspróf 6
India Standard XII (in some cases IELTS or equivalent may be required) 75%
Kenya Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education C (valid for 7 years before course start date)
Liberia West African Secondary School Certificate C6
Luxembourg Diplôme de Fin d'Etudes Secondaires 36
Malaysia

Malayisa SPM English Language

Minimum B2 overall, with B2 in each of the components

Advanced English 1119 (Cambridge O Level 1119)

Grade C

Mauritius  Cambridge O Level C
Netherlands VWO 6
Nigeria

West African Secondary School Certificate

C6
National Examinations Council - Nigeria (NECO)
Norway Vitnemål fra den Videregående Opplaering 4
Sierra Leone West African Secondary School Certificate C6
Singapore O-Level C
South Africa National Senior Certificate, English Home Language 5
Sweden

Slutbetyg från Gymnasieskola English 7

Grade C
Switzerland

Certificat de Maturité

 4
Certificat de Maturité Cantonal reconnu par la Confédération
Baccalauréat Vaudois
Maturität
Eidgenössisch anerkanntes kantonales Maturitätszeugnis
Attestato di Maturità
Attestato di Maturità Cantonale riconosciuto dalla Confederazione (Federal Secondary School Leaving Certificate)
Tanzania

Certificate of Secondary Education Examination

C (valid for 7 years before course start date)
Uganda

Uganda Certificate of Education

Grade 5 (valid for 7 years before course start date)

If you require a Student visa

If you're applying for an on campus pre-sessional English course and require a Student visa, you must take a test which is approved by UK Visas and Immigration.

Only IELTS for UKVI (Academic), Trinity ISE or PTE Academic UKVI can be accepted for entry to pre-sessional programmes.

For more general information about visas and English language requirements see: 

Contact us

If you have any questions about the application process, our Admissions team will be happy to help.

Undergraduate Admissions

ug-admissions@york.ac.uk
+44 (0)1904 324000

Contact us

If you have any questions about the application process, our Admissions team will be happy to help.

Undergraduate Admissions

ug-admissions@york.ac.uk
+44 (0)1904 324000