Undergraduate English language requirements

If you’re a non-native English-speaking applicant, you must show enough fluency in written and spoken English to study with us.

We accept a range of qualification types, depending on your course:

  • IELTS (Academic)
  • International Baccalaureate
  • Cambridge CEFR
  • Oxford ELLT
  • Duolingo (except for Hull York Medical School courses)
  • GCSE/IGCSE/O level English Language (as a first or second language)
  • LanguageCert SELT
  • LanguageCert Academic
  • Kaplan Test of English Language (previously KITE)
  • Skills for English
  • PTE Academic
  • TOEFL
  • Trinity ISE III

You can’t combine scores from more than one qualification attempt, or from multiple qualification types. 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 before your course's start date.

Check the requirements for your course

Exceptions

You don’t need to provide evidence of your English language if any of the following 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 in the UK, or in a majority-English-speaking country
  • You've completed a degree within two years of your course’s start date, which has been taught in English – you’ll need to provide official confirmation from the institution that the degree was taught in English

If you’re applying as a visiting student, our English language requirements also vary by subject.

Find advice for visiting students

Pre-sessional English language courses

Our on-campus pre-sessional English language courses can support you to improve your English language ability.

Learn about pre-sessional English language courses

School-leaving certificates

We also accept various school-leaving certificates if you meet the required grade of an English language subject.

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

Malaysia 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)