Undergraduate English language requirements 2023/24

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)
  • C1 Advanced (Certificate in Advanced English)
  • C2 Proficiency (Certificate of Proficiency in English)
  • PTE Academic/PTE Academic Online
  • 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 International ESOL
  • KITE

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 / Hǿjere Forberedelseseksamen

7

Finland

Ylioppilastutkintotodistus / Studentexamenbetyg

4 (Cum laude approbatur)

France

  • French Baccalauréat
  • Option Internationale du Baccalauréat

11

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%

Liberia

West African Secondary School Certificate

C6

Luxembourg

Diplôme de Fin d'Etudes Secondaires

36

Malaysia

Malaysia SPM – Advanced English 1119 (Cambridge O Level 1119)

Grade C

Mauritius 

Cambridge O Level

C

Netherlands

VWO

6

Nigeria

  • West African Secondary School Certificate
  • National Examinations Council - Nigeria (NECO)

C6

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
  • 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)

 4

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

Related links

 

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

Related links