English language entry requirements

You must demonstrate a level of English language competency that will enable you to succeed in your studies, regardless of your nationality or country of residence.

Degree requirements

English language requirements vary between degrees.

Find the specific requirements for your chosen degree in our degree finder.

Undergraduate degree finder

Unless a higher level is specified in the published entry requirements in our degree finder, you will need a pass in English at the following grades or higher:

National 5 at C
SQA Standard Grade at 3
SQA Intermediate 1 at A
SQA Intermediate 2 at C
GCSE/IGCSE at C or 4
Level 2 Certificate at C (Level 2 Functional Skills English is not accepted for entry)
IB Standard Level at 5 (English ab initio is not accepted for entry)
IB Middle Years Programme English Language and Literature at 5

Accepted qualifications

We also accept a wide range of international English qualifications and English language tests.

The qualifications we accept meet both the English language proficiency requirements listed above and the minimum standards for Student route visas.

Unless you are a national of a majority English speaking country, your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the degree you are applying to study. If you are using an IELTS, TOEFL or Trinity ISE test, it must be no more than two years old, regardless of your nationality.

The English language requirements for MBChB Medicine and BVM&S Veterinary Medicine may be higher than the levels listed below. For more information, please check your country's qualification page or contact us using our undergraduate enquiry form.

International qualifications by country

Two year expiry

IELTS Academic	International English Language Testing System (taken at any IELTS test centre)
PTE Academic and PTE Academic Online	Please see our detailed information on PTE Academic entry requirements.
TOEFL-iBT (including Special Home Edition)	Internet-based or Paper Edition Test of English as a Foreign Language. English requirements must be met in a single test. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
Trinity ISE	Trinity Integrated Skills in English

Three and a half year expiry

AP English	English Language and Composition or English Literature and Composition at 3
AS or A Level English	English Language; English Language and Literature; or English Literature at C
Austria: Matura/Reifeprufung	English at 2 (gut) in both written and oral exams
Botswana GCSE English (BGCSE)	Grade C
C1 Advanced, formerly known as Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE)	Overall score of 176 with 162 in each component
C2 Proficiency, formerly known as Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE)	Overall score of 176 with 162 in each component
Cambridge O Level English Language	Grade C
Cambridge Pre-U English	Literature in English (Principal) at M3 or above
Cameroonian O Level English Language	Grade C
Canadian Secondary/High School Diploma (All provinces/territories except Ontario and Québec)	Grade 12 English Language Arts/English at 70% when taught and assessed in English
Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate English A plus English B	English Language at 3
Certificate of Nile International Secondary Level 1 English	Grade C
Denmark: Studentereksamen	English A or English B at 7
European Baccalaureate	Either: L1 English - 6.0 L2 English - 7.0 L3 English - 7.5
Finland: Ylioppilastutkinto/ Studentexamen	Grade M / 5 (magna cum laude approbatur)
France: French Baccalaureate General (2021 entry onwards)	Langue vivante A (Anglais) – 14
Gatehouse ESOL International (Classic)	Level 2 or Level 3
General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) English Language / Pearson GCSE English Language 2.0	GCSE English Language at C / 4
	GCSE English Literature is not accepted
Germany: Abitur	English at 12 (Gut) when taken as a Hauptfach / Leistungskurs / Kur smit erhohtem Anforderungsniveau
Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE)	English Language at Level 4 overall and Level 4 in each component
International Baccalaureate English	Standard Level 5 or Higher Level 4, (ab initio or Literature and Performance are not accepted)
International General Certificate of Secondary Education (iGCSE) English	Grade C / 4. All First or Second Language iGCSE English qualifications are accepted
	iGCSE English literature qualifications are not accepted
Indian CBSE or CISCE	Class XII English at 75%
Ireland: Irish Leaving Certificate	Grade O4 or H4
Malaysian SPM English plus Cambridge GCE O Level English 1119	Grade C
Malta: MATSEC	Intermediate Level English Language at B
Netherlands: VWO Diploma	Grade 7
Norway: Vitnemål fra den Videregaende Skole	Core English Grade 4
Option International du Baccalaureat (British/American version)	English Language and Literature at 12
Poland: Matura	English at Advanced Level in the 60th percentile and a score of 70% in the oral exam
Rwandan O Level English Language	Grade C
Singapore Cambridge GCE A levels	Higher 1, Higher 2, or Higher 3 English in Literature, or Higher 2 English Language and Linguistics at C
Singapore Integrated Programme / NUS High School Diploma	Secondary 4 English or Language Arts at Grade Point 2.0
South African National Senior Certificate English	Grade 4 when studied as Home/First Language
SQA National 5 English	Grade C. National 5 English and National 5 ESOL are accepted.
SQA Higher English	Grade C. Higher English and Higher ESOL are accepted.
SQA Higher National Qualifications	Higher National Certificate (HNC) or Higher National Diploma (HND)
Sweden: Slutbetyg/Examensbevis från Gymnasieskolan – English	English 7 at Grade C (VG)
Uganda Certificate of Education	Grade 2 English
Zimbabwean O Level English Language	Grade C

Applicants undertaking mandatory military service

We understand that applicants from Singapore are required to complete mandatory military service. If you began your military service immediately after completing school, the three and a half year expiry period for your qualification will apply from the point you finished school providing that you were taught and assessed in English.

This extension does not apply if you are using IELTS, TOEFL and Trinity ISE to meet English language requirements.

Foundation English for Academic Purposes

We also accept satisfactory completion of all Foundation English for Academic Purposes (FEAP) modules in our International Foundation Programme in Arts, Humanities and Social Science as meeting our English language requirements.

Certificates

We will need to verify your qualifications and/or test results. If your certificates are not in English you will also need to submit a certified translation.

Submitting your qualification certificates

Students who require a visa to study in the UK

In addition to our English language proficiency requirements, the UK Home Office sets its own minimum standards for applicants who require a Student route visa to study in the UK. Our English language entry requirements are set at a level that will also meet the English language proficiency requirements of the UK Home Office.

If you require a Student route visa to study in the UK, the English qualification that you use for admission to an undergraduate degree must be included in our list of accepted qualifications, unless you are a national of a majority English speaking country as defined by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).

UKVI majority English speaking countries

English Language Education / International Foundation Programme

If you are interested in our English language programmes as preparation for degree entry, or our International Foundation Programme in Arts, Humanities and Social Science you must have an approved secure English language test (SELT) for entry. Our approved SELTs meet our English language proficiency requirements and the minimum standard for student route visas.

English Language Education

International Foundation Programme in Arts, Humanities and Social Science

UKVI approved test centres