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English language requirements for international students

If your education so far hasn’t been in English, or if you are not a national of a majority English-speaking country*, you’ll need to provide evidence of your English language ability when making your application.

How to provide evidence of your English

  • IELTS

    The most common way to provide evidence of your English is with the IELTS Academic test.

    Required IELTS scores

    • Undergraduate (bachelor) courses - 6.0 (with minimum 5.5 in all components)
    • Postgraduate (masters) courses - 6.5 (with minimum 6.0 in all components)

  • Other approved tests

    See our table below for other approved English Language tests.

    We accept a wide range of country-specific qualifications (second table). Please ensure that your test results are in date when you make your application.

    View the tables below as a PDF

    As indicated some courses may require a higher score.

    Check your course page for your specific requirements

*Majority English speaking countries

We define these as Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, New Zealand, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom and USA.

Middlesex University approved English Language tests

Type Undergraduate Programmes
(apart from exceptions)
All Postgraduate Research and Taught and BSc Veterinary Nursing (year 1 entry). MA Scriptwriting * Other Exceptions
GCSE/IGCSE/O‐Level/International Cambridge O Level English (as a first or second language) Grade C or 4 if taken in England since September 2016 Grade C or 4 if taken in England since September 2016
MA Scriptwriting overall grade B/3
Grade C or 4 if taken in England since September 2016
IELTS 6.0 (with 5.5 in each component) 6.5 (with 6.0 in each component)
*MA Scriptwriting – must have minimum 6.5 overall with 6.5 in Reading, Listening and Speaking and a minimum 7.0 in Written component
7.0 *All BSc Healthcare Science must have 7.0 overall with 6.5 in written component
Pearson Test of English 59 (with 59 in all components) 59 (with 59 in all components)
* MA Scriptwriting - written component must be minimum 66
59 (with 59 in all components)
Pearson Versant (proctored version) Not accepted for Tier 4 applicants Overall 51 Overall 56 Not Acceptable
TOEFL (IBT) 72 (with at least 17 in listening & writing, 20 in speaking and 18 in reading) 87 (with at least 21 in listening & writing, 22 in speaking and 23 in reading)
*MA Scriptwriting - written component must be minimum 27
87 (with at least 21 in listening & writing, 22 in speaking and 23 in reading)
Scottish National Grade 5 or Intermediate Grade 2 C C C
Cambridge First, Advanced, Proficiency – taken post January 2015 169 overall (no less than 162 in each component) 176 overall ( no less than 169 in any component) *MA Scriptwriting - written component must be minimum 185 185 overall (no less than 176 in any component)
Cambridge ESOL CPE Grade C CAE Grade B CPE Grade B CAE Grade A CPE Grade B CAE Grade A
Language Cert International ESOL B2 SELT version ONLY B2 High Pass overall and min 33/50 in each skill B2 High Pass overall and min 33/50 in each skill Not Acceptable
International Baccalaureate English A1 (Standard or Higher) Grade 5 Grade 5 Grade 5
International Baccalaureate English B (Higher Level) Grade 5 Grade 5 Grade 6
Trinity College (ISE only) ISE II as evidence of all skills in English (B2) Not accepted please take another qualification Not accepted please take another qualification
TEEP Uni of Reading 6.0 (with 5.5 in each component) 6.5 (with 6.0 in each component)
* MA Scriptwriting - 6.5 (with 6.5 in each component and 7.0 in writing)
7.0
City and Guilds International ESOL Communicator Expert Mastery
Michigan (MELAB) NB ECPE scores must be converted to MELAB 80 90 90
European Baccalaureate Language 1 Grade 6.0 Grade 7.0 Grade 7.0
European Baccalaureate Language 2 Grade 6.0 Grade 7.0 Grade 7.0
European Baccalaureate Language 3 Grade 7.5 Not acceptable Not Acceptable
ESB ESOL International Level 1‐Step 2 Level 2‐Step 1 Level 2‐Step 2
Ascentis/Aim Level 2 Certificate in ESOL International Pass Pass Pass
Pre‐Sessional English programmes that are BALEAP accredited and studied in the UK https://www.baleap.org/aboutbaleap/accredited-institutions Pass Pass Not Acceptable
Year 1 of University study taught in English (only for applicants not requiring a T4 Visa) 55% overall and no less than 50% in each module GPA of 2.6 out of 4 and no less than 2.2 in each module GPA of 3.2 out of 5 and no less than 2.8 in each module Or C in each module Not acceptable Not Acceptable

Exceptions:

  • BSc Nursing  /BSc Midwifery
  • MSc Forensic Psychology
  • MSc Cardiac Ultrasound
  • BSc Healthcare Science (Audiology)
  • BSc Healthcare Science (Cardiac Physiology)
  • BSc Healthcare Science (Neurophysiology)
  • MSc Clinical Health Psychology and Wellbeing
  • BSc Biomedical Science
  • MSc/PGDip Advanced Clinical Practice (Nursing)
  • MSc/PGDip Advanced Clinical Practice (Midwifery)
  • MSc/PGDip Advanced Clinical Practice (Mental Health)
  • MSc/PGDip Advanced Clinical Practice (Primary Care)

Territory specific approved English Language tests

TerritoryQualificationUG (apart from exceptional programmes) All Postgraduate Research and Taught and BSc Veterinary Nursing (year 1 entry). MA Scriptwriting * Exceptions (detailed at bottom of section)
Austria Matura / Reifeprufung 2 (gut) in English when both written and oral exams have been taken 2 (gut) in English when both written and oral exams have been taken 2 (gut) in English when both written and oral exams have been taken
Belgium Diploma van Secundair Onderwijs or Certificat d'Enseignement Secondaire Superieur Distinction in English Distinction in English Distinction in English
Bulgaria Secondary School Diploma Not accepted Not accepted Not accepted
Croatia Maturi Extended English Grade 4 or 5 Grade 4 or 5 Not accepted please take another qualification
Cyprus Apolyterion Apolyterion final average of 18/20 Not accepted please take another qualification Not accepted please take another qualification
Czech Republic Vysvedceni o Maturitni Zkousce/Maturita Grade 2 in English Grade 1 in English Not accepted please take another qualification
Denmark Stundentereksamen Grade 7 in English Grade 10 in English Grade 10 in English
Estonia Gumnaasumi Loputunnistus Pass in the English State Exam at level B2 Pass in the English State Exam at level B2 or overall grade 5 in English Pass in the English State Exam at level C1
Finland Ylioppilastutkintotodistus 5 (magna cum laude approbatur) in English 5 (magna cum laude approbatur) in English 5 (magna cum laude approbatur) in English
France French Baccalaureate (General) 14 (bien) in English Not accepted Not accepted
France French Bacclaureate (OIB) 14/20 in English Not accepted Not accepted
Germany Abitur/Zeugnis der Allgemeinen Hochschulreife 11 (gut) in English when taken as an achievement/ main/intensive course 13 (sehr gut) in English when taken as an achievement/ main/intensive course 13 (sehr gut) in English when taken as an achievement/ main/intensive course
Germany Fachhochschulreife 2 (Gut) in English Not accepted Not accepted
Germany DAAD B2 Not accepted Not accepted
Greece Apolyterion Apolyterion final average of 18/20 Not accepted Not accepted
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China HKALE Use of English Grade E or better Grade D Grade B
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China HKCEE English Language Level 3 or better Level 4 Level 5
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China HKDSE English Language Level 3 or better Level 4 Level 5
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China Associate Degree, Higher Degree or degree taught in English – evidence from the institution confirming the medium of instruction as English must be supplied Pass Pass Pass
Hungary Advanced Level Matura (Erettsegi) English advanced level grade 4 Not accepted Not accepted
Iceland Studentsprof 8 in English when taken as a compulsory language 8 in English when taken as a compulsory language 8 in English when taken as a compulsory language
India Standard XII 65% Not accepted from the Punjab or Haryana boards 70% Not accepted from the Punjab or Haryana boards 70% Not accepted from the Punjab or Haryana boards
Kenya KCSE C C+ B
Latvia Atestatas par visparejo videjo izglitibu Grade 8 at Level A in English Not accepted Not accepted
Lithuania Brandos Atestatas Grade 8 in English B2 Level Not accepted Not accepted
Luxembourg Diplome de Fin d'Etudes Secondaires 45 (bien) in English 45 (bien) in English 45 (bien) in English
Malaysia UCLES 1119 Syllabus Grade C Grade C Grade C
Malaysia SPM C6 or better B4 or better A1
Malta MATSEC Grade 5 or above Grade 5 or above Not accepted
Netherlands VWO 7 in English 8 (goed) in English 8 (goed) in English
Norway Vitnemal Grade 4 in English Grade 5 in English Grade 5 in English
Poland Matura (new) Oral: 65% Written: Basic 75%, Extended 60% Oral Basic: 90% Written Basic 80% Oral Basic: 95% Written Basic 85%
Portugal Certificado de fim de Estudos Secundários (previously Certidão do Décimo Segundo Ano) or Diploma Nível Secundário de Educação / Certificado Nível Secundário de Educação 16 16 18
Romania Baccalaureat Minimum of B2 in the 5 English components from the Baccalaureat Not accepted Not accepted
Romania in house English test by SAAC agent TESA (only to be used for SAAC applicants). TESA‐ Overall grade of 6 with minimum 5.5 in each component Not accepted Not accepted
Singapore Polytechnics in Singapore A copy of successfully completed qualification from Polytechnics in Singapore. AND A copy of the IELTS certificate they used to gain admission to the Polytechnics in Singapore programme **   
Singapore GCSE O level English Language Pass (A1 – C6) Pass (A1 – C6) n/a
Slovakia Maturita English Grade 2 Grade 1 Not accepted please take another qualification
South Africa National Senior Certificate 3 3 n/a
South Africa Senior Certificate C C n/a
Spain Curso de Orientacion Universitaria (COU) Not accepted please take another qualification Not accepted please take another qualification Not accepted please take another qualification
Sri Lanka Sri Lankan A Level English Grade A Grade A Grade A
Sweden Slutbetyg fran Komvux/Avgangsbetyg VG (val godkant) in English or Grade C in English (after 2014) VG (val godkant) in English or Grade C in English (after 2014) VG (val godkant) in English or Grade B in English (after 2014)
Switzerland Maturita 5 (gut/bien/bene) in English 5 (gut/bien/bene) in English 5 (gut/bien/bene) in English
Tanzania Certificate of Secondary Education (CSE) C C n/a
Thailand Thai universities international programmes that is taught entirely in English A copy of successfully completed qualification from the Thai University International programme that is taught entirely in English. AND A copy of the IELTS certificate they used to gain admission to the Thai University International programme ***   
Uganda Ugandan Certificate of Education (UCE) 6 6 n/a
US US High School Diploma (for applicants that have studied in the US, not accepted for International schools) C or GPA of 2 on English Language component from Grade 12 level   
West Africa (Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and The Gambia) WAEC/WASSCE/SSSCE/ NECO C6 (or grade C or above) C6 B3
Zimbabwe Zimbabwe General Certificate of Education at Ordinary Level (ZIMSEC) C C C

Exceptions

  • BSc  Nursing   /BSc Midwifery
  • MSc Forensic Psychology
  • MSc Cardiac Ultrasound
  • BSc Healthcare Science (Audiology)
  • BSc Healthcare Science  (Cardiac Physiology)
  • BSc Healthcare Science  (Neurophysiology)
  • MSc Clinical Health Psychology and Wellbeing
  • BSc Biomedical Science
  • MSc/PGDip Advanced Clinical Practice (Nursing)
  • MSc/PGDip Advanced Clinical Practice (Midwifery)
  • MSc/PGDip Advanced Clinical Practice (Mental Health)
  • MSc/PGDip Advanced Clinical Practice (Primary Care)

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