English language requirements 2025/26: 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):
    • Antigua and Barbuda
    • Australia
    • The Bahamas
    • Barbados
    • Belize
    • Canada
    • Dominica
    • Grenada
    • Guyana
    • Ireland
    • Jamaica
    • Malta
    • New Zealand
    • St Kitts and Nevis
    • St Lucia
    • St Vincent and the Grenadines
    • Trinidad and Tobago
    • United States of America
  • 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.

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
  • Cambridge Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR)
  • KTE
  • Skills For English
  • Oxford ELLT (University of York Oxford ELLT registration link)

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 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.

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

Contact us

Got a question about applying to York? Email our friendly Admissions Team for advice and support.

If you've already applied to study at York please use You@York to upload any documents. Please do not email documents to us.

Postgraduate Admissions

pg-admissions@york.ac.uk
+44 (0)1904 322142

  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • IELTS: 7.0 with no less than 6.5 in each component
  • PTE Academic: 67, with a minimum of 61 in Writing and no less than 55 in all other components
  • CAE and CPE (from January 2015): 185, with a minimum of 176 in Writing and no less than 169 in all other components
  • TOEFL: 96, 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: 130, minimum 120 in all components
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • IELTS:7.0, minimum 6.0 in each component
  • iBT: 96, minimum 21 in each component
  • ISE: Level 3, with Distinction in each component
  • PTE: 67, minimum 55 in each component
  • CAE and CPE: 185, minimum 169 in each component
  • LanguageCert SELT C1: 33/50 in each component
  • LanguageCert IESOL C1 Expert: Pass with 25/50 in each component
  • Duolingo: 130, with 105 in each component
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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 (taken 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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

Contact us

Got a question about applying to York? Email our friendly Admissions Team for advice and support.

If you've already applied to study at York please use You@York to upload any documents. Please do not email documents to us.

Postgraduate Admissions

pg-admissions@york.ac.uk
+44 (0)1904 322142