English language requirements 2026/27: research degrees
If you're a non-native English speaking applicant you must provide evidence of your English language ability.
Exceptions
You may not need to provide evidence of your English language abilities 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 UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).
- You've completed a degree either in the UK, Ireland or in a country listed above. The degree must have been completed within seven years of the course start date here at York (except Canada).
- You've completed a degree within seven 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.
- You have a secondary school qualification included in this list at the grade that meets your course entry requirements. The qualification must have been completed within seven years of the course start date here at York. This option is not available to applicants for any Hull York Medical School course.
, 53kb)For more information see the Student and Child Student guidance.
Accepted tests
The following tests are accepted for entry into degree-level courses:
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS) (Academic and Online)
- IELTS One Skill Retake
- PTE Academic
- TOEFL IBT (internet based and special home edition) (TOEFL MyBest score is not acceptable for meeting the English language requirement)
- Trinity ISE
- Duolingo (except for Hull York Medical School courses)
- LanguageCert SELT
- LanguageCert Academic
- LanguageCert Academic (Online)
- Cambridge B2 First
- Cambridge C1 Advanced
- KTE
- Skills For English
- Oxford ELLT (University of York Oxford ELLT registration link)
- Oxford Test of English Advanced
We seek formal confirmation of all test results. If you are intending to take a TOEFL test, please enter our Designated Institution code 3065 on your test form.
We must be able to verify your test. You must have completed the test up to two 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.
If you take a Duolingo test please ensure you nominate York as an institution on the Duolingo system at the earliest available opportunity so that we can verify your results.
The requirements for these tests vary by academic department.
If you require a Student Visa
If you're applying for an on-campus pre-sessional English course and require a Student Visa then you must take a UK government approved Secure English Language Test (gov.uk). Only IELTS for UKVI (Academic), Trinity ISE or PTE Academic UKVI can be accepted for entry to pre-sessional courses.
For more information about visas and English language requirements see Student Visas (gov.uk).
Academic requirements by subject area
Archaeology
- IELTS: 6.5, with a minimum of 6.5 in Writing and no less than 6.0 in all other components
- PTE Academic: 61, with a minimum of 61 in Writing and no less than 55 in all other components
- CAE and CPE (from January 2015): 176, with a minimum of 176 in Writing and no less than 169 in all other components
- TOEFL: 87, with a minimum of 23 in Writing and a minimum of 21 in all other components
- Trinity ISE: level 3 with Merit in all components
- Duolingo: 120, minimum 120 in production and 105 in all other components
Architecture
- IELTS: 7.0, with 6.5 in each component
- PTE: 67, with 61 in each component
- ISE: Level 3, with 'Distinction' in each component
- iBT: 96, with 23 in each component
- Cambridge C1 Advanced: 185, with 176 in each component
- LanguageCert SELT C1: 33/50 in each component
- LanguageCert Academic: 75 with a minimum of 70 in each component
- Duolingo: 130, with 120 in each component
- KITE: 495-526, with 459-494 in all other components
- Skills for English C1: Pass overall, with Pass in each component
- Oxford ELLT: 8, with 7 in each component
Biology
- IELTS: 6.5, with no less than 6.0 in each component
- PTE Academic: 61, with no less than 55 in each component
- CAE and CPE (from January 2015): 176, with no less than 169 in each component
- TOEFL: 87, with a minimum of 21 in each component
- Trinity ISE: level 3 with Merit in all components
- Duolingo: 120, minimum 105 in all components
Chemistry
- IELTS: 6.0, with no less than 5.5 in each component
- PTE Academic: 55, with no less than 51 in each component
- CAE and CPE (from January 2015): 169, with no less than 162 in each component
- TOEFL: 79, with a minimum of 17 in Listening, 18 in Reading, 20 in Speaking and 17 in Writing
- Trinity ISE: level 3 with Pass in all components
- Duolingo: 105, minimum 95 in all components
Computer Science
- IELTS: 6.0, with no less than 5.5 in each component
- PTE Academic: 55, with no less than 51 in each component
- CAE and CPE (from January 2015): 169, with no less than 162 in each component
- TOEFL: 79, with a minimum of 17 in Listening, 18 in Reading, 20 in Speaking and 17 in Writing
- Trinity ISE: level 3 with Pass in all components
- Duolingo: 105, minimum 95 in all components
Economics
- IELTS: 6.5, with no less than 6.0 in each component
- PTE Academic: 61, with no less than 55 in each component
- CAE and CPE (from January 2015): 176, with no less than 169 in each component
- TOEFL: 87, with no less than 21 in each component
- Trinity ISE: level 3 with Merit in all components
- Duolingo: 120, minimum 105 in all components
Education
- IELTS: 7.0, with no less than 6.5 in each component
- PTE Academic: 67, with no less than 61 in each component
- CAE and CPE: (from January 2015) 185, with with no less than 176 in each component
- TOEFL: 96, with no less than 23 in each component
- Trinity: Level 3, with 'Distinction' in each component
- Duolingo: 130, minimum 120 in all components
Eighteenth Century Studies
- IELTS: 7.0, with no less than 6.5 in each component
- PTE Academic: 67, with no less than 61 in each component
- CAE and CPE: (from January 2015) 185, with no less than 176 in each component
- TOEFL: 96, with no less than 23 in each component
- Trinity: Level 3, with 'Distinction' in each component
- Duolingo: 130, minimum 120 in all components
Engineering
- IELTS: 6.0, with no less than 5.5 in each component
- PTE Academic: 55, with no less than 51 in each component
- CAE and CPE (from January 2015): 169, with no less than 162 in each component
- TOEFL: 79, with a minimum of 17 in Listening, 18 in Reading, 20 in Speaking and 17 in Writing
- Trinity ISE: level 3 with pass in all components
- Duolingo: 105, minimum 95 in all components
English
- IELTS: 7.0, with no less than 6.5 in each component
- PTE Academic: 67, with no less than 61 in each component
- CAE and CPE: (from January 2015) 185, with no less than 176 in each component
- TOEFL: 96, with no less than 23 in each component
- Trinity: Level 3, with 'Distinction' in each component
- Duolingo: 130, minimum 120 in all components
Environment and Geography
- IELTS: 6.0, with no less than 5.5 in each component
- PTE Academic: 55, with no less than 51 in each component
- CAE and CPE (from January 2015): 169, with no less than 162 in each component
- TOEFL: 79 with a minimum of 17 in listening, 18 in reading, 20 in speaking and 17 in writing
- Trinity ISE: level 3 with Pass in all components
- Duolingo: 105, minimum 95 in all components
Health Sciences
- IELTS: 7.0, with no less than 6.5 in each component
- PTE Academic: 67, with no less than 61 in each component
- CAE and CPE: (from January 2015) 185, with with no less than 176 in each component
- TOEFL: 96, with no less than 23 in each component
- Trinity: Level 3, with 'Distinction' in each component
- Duolingo: 130, minimum 120 in all components
History
- IELTS: 7.0, with no less than 6.5 in each component
- PTE Academic: 67, with no less than 61 in each component
- CAE and CPE: (from January 2015) 185, with no less than 176 in each component
- TOEFL: 96, with no less than 23 in each component
- Trinity: Level 3, with 'Distinction' in each component
- Duolingo: 130, minimum 120 in all components
History of Art
- IELTS: 7.0, with no less than 6.5 in each component
- PTE Academic: 67, with no less than 61 in each component
- CAE and CPE: (from January 2015) 185, with no less than 176 in each component
- TOEFL: 96, with no less than 23 in each component
- Trinity: Level 3, with 'Distinction' in each component
- Duolingo: 130, minimum 120 in all components
Language and Linguistic Science
- IELTS: 7.0, with no less than 6.5 in each component
- PTE Academic: 67, with no less than 61 in each component
- CAE and CPE: (from January 2015) 185, with no less than 176 in each component
- TOEFL: 96, with no less than 23 in each component
- Trinity: Level 3, with 'Distinction' in each component
- Duolingo: 130, minimum 120 in all components
Law
- IELTS: 7.0, with a minimum of 7.0 in Writing and no less than 6.5 in all other components
- PTE Academic: 67, with a minimum of 67 in Writing and no less than 61 in all other components
- CAE and CPE (from January 2015): 185, with a minimum of 185 in Writing and no less than 176 in all other components
- TOEFL: 96 with a minimum of 24 in Writing and no less than 23 in all other components
- Trinity ISE: level 3 with Distinction in all components
- Duolingo: 130, minimum 130 in Production and 120 in all other components
Mathematics
- IELTS: 6.0, with no less than 5.5 in each component
- PTE Academic: 55, with no less than 51 in each component
- CAE and CPE (from January 2015): 169, with no less than 162 in each component
- TOEFL: 79, with a minimum of 17 in Listening, 18 in Reading, 20 in Speaking and 17 in Writing
- Trinity ISE: level 3 with Pass in all components
- Duolingo: 105, minimum 95 in all components
Medicine (Hull York Medical School)
- IELTS: 6.5, with no less than 6.0 in each component
- PTE Academic: 61, with no less than 55 in each component
- CAE and CPE (from January 2015): 176, with no less than 169 in each component
- TOEFL: 87, with no less than 21 in each component
- Trinity ISE: level 3 with Merit in all components
- Duolingo: 120, minimum 105 in all components
Medieval Studies
- IELTS: 7.0 with no less than 6.5 in each component
- PTE Academic: 67, with no less than 55 in Listening and Speaking, a minimum of 61 in Reading and of 67 in Writing
- CAE and CPE (from January 2015): 185, with a minimum of 169 in Listening and Speaking, a minimum of 176 in Reading, and of 185 in Writing
- TOEFL: 96, with a minimum of 21 in Listening and Speaking, a minimum of 23 in Reading, and of 24 in Writing
- Trinity ISE: level 3 with Distinction in all components
- Duolingo: 130, minimum 120 in all components
Music
- IELTS: 6.5, with 6.0 in each component
- TOEFL: 87, with 21 in each component
- ISE: Level 3 with Merit in each component
- PTE: 61, with 55 in each component
- Cambridge B2 First: 176, with 169 in each component
- LanguageCert SELT B2 with 33/50 in each component
- LanguageCert Academic: 70 with a minimum of 65 in each component
- Duolingo: 120, with 105 in each component
Philosophy
- IELTS: 7.0, with a minimum of 7.0 in Writing and no less than 6.5 in all other components
- PTE Academic: 67, with a minimum of 67 in Writing and no less than 61 in all other components
- CAE and CPE (from January 2015): 185, with a minimum of 185 in Writing and no less than 176 in all other components
- TOEFL: 96 with a minimum of 24 in Writing and no less than 23 in all other components
- Trinity ISE: level 3 with Distinction in all components
- Duolingo: 130, minimum 130 in Production and 120 in all other components
Physics
- IELTS: 6.0, with no less than 5.5 in each component
- PTE Academic: 55, with no less than 51 in each component
- CAE and CPE (from January 2015): 169, with minimum 162 in each component
- TOEFL: 79 with a minimum of 17 in Listening, 18 in Reading, 20 in Speaking and 17 in Writing
- Trinity ISE: level 3 with Pass in all requirements
- Duolingo: 105, minimum 95 in all components
Politics
- IELTS: 6.5, with no less than 6.0 in each component
- PTE Academic: 61, with no less than 55 in each component
- CAE and CPE (from January 2015): 176, with no less than 169 in each component
- TOEFL: 87, with a minimum of 21 in each component
- Trinity ISE: level 3 with Merit in all requirements
- Duolingo: 120, minimum 105 in all components
Psychology
- IELTS: 7.0, with a minimum of 7.0 in Writing and no less than 6.5 in all other components
- PTE Academic: 67, with a minimum of 67 in Writing and no less than 61 in all other components
- CAE and CPE (from January 2015): 185, with a minimum of 185 in Writing and no less than 176 in all other components
- TOEFL: 96 with a minimum of 24 in Writing and no less than 23 in all other components
- Trinity ISE: level 3 with Distinction in all components
- Duolingo: 130, minimum 130 in Production and 120 in all other components
Social and Public Policy, Criminal Justice, and Social Work
- IELTS: 6.5, with no less than 6.0 in each component
- PTE Academic: 61, with no less than 55 in each component
- CAE and CPE (from January 2015): 176, with no less than 169 in each component
- TOEFL: 87 with no less than 21 in each component
- Trinity ISE: level 3 with Merit in all components
- Duolingo: 120, minimum 105 in all components
Sociology
- IELTS: 6.5, with no less than 6.0 in each component
- PTE Academic: 61, with no less than 55 in each component
- CAE and CPE (from January 2015): 176, with no less than 169 in each component
- TOEFL: 87, with a minimum of 21 in each component
- Trinity ISE: level 3 with Merit in all components
- Duolingo: 120, minimum 105 in all components
Theatre, Film, Television and Interactive Media (TFTI)
- IELTS: 6.5, with no less than 6.0 in each component
- PTE Academic: 61, with no less than 55 in each component
- CAE and CPE (from January 2015): 176, with no less than 169 in each component
- TOEFL: 87, with a minimum of 21 in each component
- Trinity ISE: level 3 with Merit in all components
- Duolingo: 120, minimum 105 in all components
The York Management School
- IELTS: 7.0, with 6.5 in each component
- iBT: 96, with 23 in each component
- ISE: Level 3, with 'Distinction' in each component
- PTE: 67, with 61 in each component
- Cambridge C1 Advanced: 185, with 176 in each component
- LanguageCert SELT C1: 33/50 in each component
- LanguageCert Academic: 75 with a minimum of 70 in each component
- Duolingo: 130, with 120 in each component
- KITE: 495-526, with 478-509 in all other components
- Skills for English C1: Pass overall, with Pass in each component
- Oxford ELLT: 8, with a minimum of 7 in each component
- Oxford Test of English Advanced: 146, minimum 136 in each component
Women's Studies
- IELTS: 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each component
- PTE Academic: 61, with no less than 55 in each component
- CAE and CPE (from January 2015): 176, with no less than 169 in each component
- TOEFL: 87, with a minimum of 21 in each component
- Trinity ISE: level 3 with Merit in all requirement
- Duolingo: 120, minimum 105 in all components
If you've not met the departmental requirements
If you've taken one of the accepted tests but not met the departmental requirement, you may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language courses. These courses will provide you with the level of English needed to meet the conditions of your offer.
Visiting students
If you will be a visiting student see your English language requirements by subject.