Postgraduate

English language requirements for master's and other postgraduate degrees

If you are an international student who needs a Student visa (previously Tier 4), you'll be required to take a Secure English Language Test (SELT) in order to study a postgraduate (master's) degree with us. These requirements apply to all applicants that are not of majority English speaking nationality as defined by the UK Home Office, or those who do not possess a degree awarded, studied and conferred in a majority English speaking country. Applicants of majority English speaking nationality who do not require a SELT to confirm their competency in the English language will still be asked to provide a UK GCSE English language equivalent qualification.

How do I find out what the English language requirements are for my course?

1. Visit your course page
2. Find the English language requirements section in the entry requirements – this will tell you whether you need to meet the standard or higher requirements, or whether your course is an exception with specialised requirements
3. Select the relevant tab below to see the English language requirements for your chosen course

IGCSE and International Baccalaureate (IB)

In addition to the tests listed in the tabs below, we also accept IGCSE English Second Language at grade C/4 and International Baccalaureate Standard or Higher level English B or English A: Language and Literature at grade 5 or above.

Exceptions – higher requirements

Some of our postgraduate degrees require you to have higher English language test scores. This applies to the following degrees (please see further exceptions below for Creative, Digital and Professional Writing MA, Sports Therapy MSc and the Common Professional Exam):

• Biomedical Science MSc (Overall 6 is accepted for IELTS)
• Blood Science MSc and Blood Science (Distance Learning) MSc (Overall 6 is accepted for IELTS)
• Cancer Immunotherapy MSc (Overall 6 is accepted for IELTS)
• Conference Interpreting MA
• Construction Project Management - MSc (Overall 6 is accepted for IELTS with 6.0 in each element)
• Education MA and other education and teaching courses
• Legal Practice (Top-up)
• Interpreting MA 
• Legal Practice LLM (all routes)
• Maritime Law (Distance-learning)
• Maritime Law LLM
• Maritime Law PG Cert
• Maritime Law PG Dip
• Media Law (Distance-learning) PG Cert
• Media Law (Distance-learning) PG Dip
• Media Law LLM
• Medical Genomics MSc (Overal 6 is accepted for IELTS)
• Pharmaceutical Science and Drug Delivery (Overall 6 is accepted for IELTS)
• Psychology MSc and other psychology courses
• Psychology of Mental Health MSc
• Specialised Translation PG Cert
• English Language Teaching MA
• Translation Technology PG Cert
• Translation MA and other translation courses
• Food Science MSc

For these degrees you'll be required to have the following scores:

Academic IELTS

Overall score required: 6.5

Component scores required:

Listening: 6.0
Reading: 6.0
Writing: 6.0
Speaking: 6.0

IELTS Indicator

Overall score required: 6.5

Component scores required:

Listening: 6.0
Reading: 6.0
Writing: 6.0
Speaking: 6.0

Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic

Component scores required:

Listening: 70
Reading: 70
Writing: 70
Speaking: 70

TOEFL iBT

Component scores required:

Listening: 21
Reading: 22
Writing: 21
Speaking: 23

TOEFL iBT Home Edition

Component scores required:

Listening: 21
Reading: 22
Writing: 21
Speaking: 23

Further exceptions

• Common Professional Examination (Graduate Diploma in Law) 
• Dietetics and Nutrition - MSc
• Social Work MSc
• Sports Therapy MSc

For these degrees you'll be required to have the following scores:

Academic IELTS

Overall score required: 7

Component scores required:

Listening: 6.5
Reading: 6.5
Writing: 6.5
Speaking: 6.5

IELTS Indicator

Overall score required: 7

Component scores required:

Listening: 6.5
Reading: 6.5
Writing: 6.5
Speaking: 6.5

Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic

Component scores required:

Listening: 70
Reading: 70
Writing: 70
Speaking: 70

TOEFL iBT

Component scores required:

Listening: 22
Reading: 24
Writing: 24
Speaking: 25

TOEFL iBT Home Edition

Component scores required:

Listening: 22
Reading: 24
Writing: 24
Speaking: 25

Cambridge English

Cambridge C1 Advanced, formerly Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) – grade C and above

Cambridge C2 Proficiency, formerly Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE) – grade C and above

A certifying statement of results is also required.

Special exceptions

Please note, some of our courses require even higher English language requirements:

• Pre-registration Physiotherapy MSc, Sports Therapy MSc and Law: Common Professional Exam - GDL: We require a minimum average score of 7.0, with a minimum of 7 in writing and 6.5 in all other components.
• Creative, Digital and Professional Writing MA: We require a minimum average score of 7.0, with a minimum of 6.5 in all components except Writing, where we require a minimum of 7.0.
• Teaching Languages (Arabic) MA: We require a minimum average score of 6.5 overall, with a minimum of 5.5 in all components.