English language requirements for postgraduate students
All postgraduate applicants must demonstrate a standard level of academic English or Welsh language that will enable them to benefit fully from their course of study. For the majority of applicants, this will be an IELTS (Academic) of 6.5 with a 5.5 in each subskill or a GCSE in English or Welsh language at Grade C/4 or above.
In addition to meeting the academic language standard, applicants who require a Student Route visa to study in the UK must also present an acceptable English language qualification to meet UKVI (UK Visas and Immigration) requirements - in most cases, this will be the same language evidence.
We accept a variety of English language qualifications for entry. We have minimum admission requirements but for some courses, our admissions tutors may ask for higher grades or test scores. Search our course list to find out the English language requirement for the course you are interested in.
Except for Vocational Law programmes (excluding GDL) or clinical programmes in the School of Dentistry, you will not be required to further demonstrate your English language level if:
- you have obtained a full bachelor or higher degree which has been taught through the medium of English and awarded by a UK institution (including degrees jointly awarded by a UK institution and another institution) or
- you have obtained a full bachelor (e,g, BA, BSc) or higher (e.g. MA, MSc) degree which has been taught (in its entirety) in a country on the UKVI list of exceptions (excluding Canada) or
- you are a national of Canada and have obtained a full bachelor or higher degree which has been taught (in its entirety) in Canada and awarded by a Canadian institution
- you are a national of and have the equivalent of a pass in a High School qualification from, a majority English-speaking country on the UKVI list of exceptions, including Canada
Distance learning and self-taught degrees are not acceptable for English language evidence.
Top-up degrees studied in the UK and awarded by a UK institution (or an institution based in another country on the UKVI list of exceptions) will be accepted based on one or two academic years of UK-based study (or study in another country on the UKVI list of exceptions), subject to individual course requirements.
If you're applying to the Vocational Law programmes (excluding GDL) or clinical programmes in the School of Dentistry, you must fulfil the programme-specific English language requirements regardless of whether you're a national of or have a degree from a majority English-speaking country.
Accepted language tests
Other accepted language qualifications
If you can submit acceptable evidence that you have completed one of the following academic qualifications and attained the required grade or score, you will not be required to provide additional evidence of English language ability.
Accepted qualifications from India
The Indian Standard XII English qualification from the following examination boards are accepted:
- Andhra Pradesh Board of Intermediate Education
- Arunachal Pradesh State Board (Class 12th)
- Assam Higher Secondary Education Council
- Bihar School Examination Board
- Board of High School and Intermediate Education, Uttar Pradesh
- Board of Secondary Education, Madhya Pradesh, Bhopal
- Board of Secondary Education, Rajasthan
- Central Board of Secondary Education
- Chhattisgarh Board of Secondary Education (CGBSE)
- Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations, ICSE/ISC
- Council of Higher Secondary Education, Manipur (COHSEM)
- Council of Higher Secondary Education, Odisha
- Goa Board of Secondary & Higher Secondary Education
- Government of Karnataka Department of Pre-University Education
- Government of Kerala Board of Higher Secondary Examination
- Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board
- Haryana Board of School Education
- Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education
- Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE)
- Jharkhand Academic Council (JAC)
- Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education
- Meghalaya Board of School Education (MBOSE)
- Mizoram Board of School Education
- Nagaland Board of Secondary Education
- National Institute of Open Schooling
- Punjab School Education Board
- Tamilnadu Board of Higher Secondary Education
- Telangana Board of Intermediate Education
- Tripura Board of Secondary Education
- Uttarakhand Board of School Education
- West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education
If you don’t meet the requirements
We offer a range of English language courses to help you meet our entry requirements.
Find out more about our English Language and Foundation Programmes.
