Skip to content

English Language Requirements and Support

We are proud to welcome students from all over the world, and for many of our students, English is a second language. The Home Office (UKVI) defines certain countries as “majority English Speaking countries”, and nationals from these countries are typically not required to obtain an English language qualification for entry onto one of our courses. You can check the following section for the UKVI list of majority English-speaking countries. 

 

If English is not your first language, you may be required to undertake an English Language assessment to prove your level of English. Typically, we would expect admitting English language qualification to be no more than two years old at the time of entry onto your course. English language qualifications older than this can only be considered on an individual basis.  An exception to this would be if you are applying directly onto a Level 5 course and completed one year on a degree level programme in the UK.

 

If this is the case, you may be required to take a Secure English Language Test (SELT). The SELT will assess your reading, writing, speaking and listening abilities. The level of test you will need, known as the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) level, will depend on your level of study. 

 

If you are a home student and do not already hold a UK college-approved qualification which demonstrates the required level of English for entry, you will be required to obtain one from another educational provider or your offer from us will be conditional on the successful completion of a pre-sessional English Language course. These classes will be provided free of charge by us.

Applicants who are nationals from the following countries will automatically meet the UKVI Student Route visa requirements for English language, but we may still require some evidence of English language ability to meet the general entrance requirements.

A-H I-P Q-Z
Antigua Ireland St Kitts and Nevis
Australia Jamaica St Vincent and the Grenadines
The Bahamas Malta Trinidad and Tobago
Barbados New Zealand United States of America
Belize
Canada
Dominica
Grenada
Guyana

Test, Foundation Year, HND / Foundation Degree, Bachelor’s Degree, Top-Up Degree, Master’s Degree

IELTS Academic (taken within 2 Years), 5.0 with no element below 4.5, 5.5 with no element below 5.0 (with no less than 5.5 in reading and writing), 6.0 with no band below 5.5, 6.0 with no band below 5.5, 6.0 with no band below 5.5

IELTS Indicator, 5.0 with no element below 4.5, 5.5 with no element below 5.0 (with no less than 5.5 in reading and writing), 6.0 with no band below 5.5, 6.0 with no band below 5.5, 6.0 with no band below 5.5

Pearson PTE Academic for UKVI: Overall score of 59 with no less than 59 in each component for B2; an overall score of 43 with no less than 43 in each element for B1

TOEFL iBT Including Special Home Edition, Overall Score of 63 with minimum component scores for; Reading (9), Writing (15), Listening (12) and Speaking (8), Overall Score of 72 with minimum component scores for; Reading (14), Writing (16), Listening (15) and Speaking (19), Overall Score of 80 with minimum component scores for; Reading (18), Writing (17), Listening (17) and Speaking (20), Overall Score of 80 with minimum component scores for; Reading (18), Writing (17), Listening (17) and Speaking (20), Overall Score of 80 with minimum component scores for; Reading (18), Writing (17), Listening (17) and Speaking (20)

Pearson Versant, Overall score of 41 and no less than 37 in each component, Overall score of 46 and no less than 37 in each component (with no less than 46 in reading and writing), Overall score of 51 and no less than 46 in each component, Overall score of 51 and no less than 41 in each component, Overall score of 51 and no less than 41 in each component

Duolingo Equivalence: HND/Foundation degrees: 95 (with no less than 95 in reading and writing and no less than 80 in Speaking and Listening.), Foundation Year: 80 (with no less than 65 in any area), Bachelor’s/Top-Up/Master’s Degree: 105 (with no less than 95 in any area).

Trinity College (Integrated Skills), ISE I with a merit in each component, ISE II with a pass in each component, ISE II with Distinction in all four components, Requires IELTS 6.0 and ISE II- Distinction for each component, Requires IELTS 6.0 and ISE II- Distinction for each component.

GCSE in English Language (from a UK awarding body), E or 3, D or 3, C or 4, C or 4, C or 4

Irish Leaving Certificate Ordinary Level English, E, D3, C3, C3, C3

Irish Leaving Certificate Higher Level English, E, D3, D2, D2, D2

IGCSE English as a First language (for syllabus 0500 Listening and Speaking must be separately endorsed on the certificate), E, D, C, C, C

IGCSE English as a Second language (for syllabus 0510 Speaking must be separately endorsed on the certificate), E, D, C, C, C

Cambridge Advanced English, Overall score of 154 points with no Component below 146, Overall score of 162 points with no Component below 154 (with no less than 162 in reading and writing), Overall score of 169 points with no Component below 162, Overall score of 169 points with no Component below 162, Overall score of 169 points with no Component below 162

International Baccalaureate (IB) Standard or Higher level English Language(Syllabus A), 3, 3, 4, 4, 4

International Baccalaureate (IB) Standard or Higher Level English Language (Syllabus B), 3, 4, 5, 5, 5

European Baccalaureate English Language, 60%, 65%, 70%, 70%, 70%

Functional Skills English, 1, 2, 2, 2, 2

Adult Literacy, 1, 2, 2, 2, 2

* This list above is not exhaustive, however if the qualification you hold is not listed in the above table, you may be required to take an English Assessment and / or a pre-sessional English course and formal test.

English language requirements and approved English qualifications

 

If you are unsure or have questions about your English Language qualification, please speak to one of our Applicant Advisors and they will be able tell you whether you can be exempted.

    • IELTS SELT Consortium

    • Trinity College London

    • LanguageCert

    • Pearson

    • PSI Services (UK) Ltd.

Provider requirements

    • IELTS for UKVI: For B1: Overall 5.0 with no less than 4.5 in any components; for B2: Overall 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in any components

    • Trinity College London: a pass in test ISE1 for B1 and a pass in test ISEII for B2

    • LanguageCert International ESOL SELT: 60/100 for B1 and 33/50 for B2

    • Pearson PTE Academic for UKVI: Overall score of 59 with no less than 59 in each component for B2; an overall score of 43 with no less than 43 in each component for B1

    • PSI Services (UK) Ltd: Pass in Skills for English UKVI B1 or B2

More information on how you can prove your knowledge of English. 

 

Our Applicant Advisors will be able to confirm with you at your initial consultation whether you are required to take part in a pre-sessional English course. 

If you are advised that you need to take a pre-sessional English course, you will first need to take an English Assessment Test. This supervised assessment will take around 90 minutes to complete and will test your reading, writing, listening and speaking skills.

These initial English assessments allow us to assess what additional support (if any) you may need to meet the English language requirements for your chosen course.

Based on the outcome of this initial assessment you will be advised which pre-sessional English course you need to attend and what classes are available across our study London study locations.

English Language requirements vary slightly depending on the course you wish to study.

Study Level  English Language 
HND/Foundation degrees

IELTS 5.5 (with no less than 5.5 in reading and writing and no less than 5.0 in Speaking and Listening) or equivalent

Foundation Year IELTS 5.0 (with no less than 4.5 in any area) or equivalent
Bachelor’s/Top-Up IELTS 6.0 (with no less than 5.5 in any area) or equivalent

Preparing for your English Language Assessment:

    • Consider taking a short functional skills course to gain an approved English qualification

    • Practice your English with friends, family, or colleagues before taking the English assessment

    • Make sure you are well rested, not hungry, thirsty, or distracted when you take the test
    • If you have an English qualification, make sure we have seen it so you can be exempted

Our English language specialists at Click English have arranged a quick but very reliable and comprehensive online English admissions test for home students to assess their English language level.

Test Summary
  • Delivery: Online (fully invigilated)
  • Test group size: 5 students
  • Test duration: 1 hr 40 mins
  • Test format: Speaking (10 minutes), Reading (30 mins), Listening (20 mins), Writing (40 mins)
  • Test content: General English
  • Levels: 3.0-7.0 (IELTS equivalent)
  • Test results: Within 48 hours
Benefits
  • Gain direct access to our courses
  • Understand your current level of English and what you need to improve
  • Access the test easily online with one click from your home or work laptop
  • Choose a time that suits you: 10am-12pm, 2-4pm or 5-7pm, 5 days a week
  • Live invigilation and support throughout the test
  • Receive the test result and recommendations within 48 hours
  • Learn how to improve from our post-test English consultation

Call to book a test: 0203 870 6666

 

 

Our partner, Click English offers all international students free English classes that focus specifically on your areas of weakness so that you can pass our admissions test faster. You can attend classes two or three times a week or come full-time, 15 hours a week, at times that suit you.
Course summary
  • Delivery: Online
  • Average group size: 10
  • Average age: 38
  • Average duration: 6 weeks X 15 hrs/week
  • Hours: 15 hours/week, Monday to Friday
  • Class times: 14.00-17.00 or 18.00-21.00
  • Course start: Every Monday of the week
  • Levels: 3.0-4.5 or 4.5-6.0 (IELTS equivalent)
  • See sample timetable
Benefits
  • Learn tips on how to pass the admissions test
  • Improve areas of weakness in your English (reading, writing, speaking, listening, grammar, pronunciation)
  • Study on days and at times that suit you (2-5pm or 6-9pm Mon-Fri)
  • Dynamic, interactive online lessons from your home or place of work
  • Fully qualified, expert tutors, experienced in teaching mature students who have been out of formal education for a while
  • Regular progress testing and one to one tutor feedback keeps you on track
  • Meet and study with similar-aged, mature, motivated students from a similar background
  • Average course duration: 6-12 weeks (depending on starting level) to pass the admissions test
  • 75% pass rate on admissions test after successful completion of the course
  • Improve study, intercultural, communication and ICT skills too
  • 90% Excellent in our student feedback

Call to reserve a place:  0203 870 6666