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.
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
- IB Standard Level at 5 (English ab initio is not accepted for entry)
Accepted qualifications
We also accept a wide range of international English qualifications and English language tests.
The qualifications we accept meet both our English language proficiency requirements and the minimum standards for Tier 4 visas.
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, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL, PTE Academic or Trinity ISE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.
Two year expiry
| IELTS | International English Language Testing System (taken at any IELTS test centre) |
| TOEFL-iBT |
Internet based Test of English as a Foreign Language Test English requirements must be met in a single test. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements. |
| PTE Academic | PTE Academic |
| Trinity ISE | Trinity Integrated Skills in English |
PTE Academic: change in entry requirements
The University is phasing out the use of PTE Academic to meet our English language entry requirements.
Does this apply to me?
My degree starts before 30 September 2020
- If your degree starts before 30 September 2020 you will be able to take PTE Academic in place of another English language test.
- Please see the degree finder entry for your degree to find the entry requirements for PTE Academic.
- Please note that no offers made on the basis of PTE Academic can be deferred.
My degree starts after 30 September 2020
- You will not be able to use PTE Academic for entry to a degree which starts after 30 September 2020.
- If you already have a conditional offer for a degree starting after 30 September 2020 where PTE Academic is specifically listed in the conditions, we will honour the offer.
- If you have an unconditional offer for a degree starting after 30 September 2020 which was made on the basis of a PTE Academic qualification, we will honour the offer providing it is dated before 31 January 2020.
Three and a half year expiry
| CAE | Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English |
| CPE | Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English |
| 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. | |
| SQA National 5 English | National 5 English and National 5 ESOL are accepted. |
| SQA Higher English | Higher English and Higher ESOL are accepted. |
| General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) English Language | GCSE English Language. |
| GCSE English Literature is not accepted. | |
| O Level English Language | From the following countries: Botswana; Brunei; Cameroon; Mauritius; Pakistan; Rwanda; Singapore; Zimbabwe |
| AS or A Level English | English Language; English Language and Literature; and English Literature |
| International Baccalaureate English | Standard or Higher Level, (ab initio not accepted) |
| Cambridge Pre-U English | Literature in English (Principal) |
| Singapore Integrated Programme | Secondary 4 English or Language Arts |
| South African National Senior Certificate English | Home/First Language |
| Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) | English Language |
| Malaysian SPM English plus Cambridge GCE O Level English 1119 | |
| Indian CBSE or CISCE, Class XII English | |
| AP English | English Language and Composition or English Literature and Composition |
| Canadian Secondary/High School Diploma |
Grade 12 - English Language Arts/English The Ontario Secondary School Diploma is only accepted if awarded by an Ontario Secondary School and not if taken online. |
| Singapore Cambridge GCE A levels | Higher 1, Higher 2, or Higher 3 English in Literature, or Higher 2 English Language and Linguistics |
| Uganda Certificate of Education | English |
| Certificate of Nile International Secondary Level 1 English | |
| Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate English A plus English B | |
| Option International du Baccalaureat (British/American version) | English Language and Literature |
| Botswana GCSE English (BGCSE) | |
| Gatehouse ESOL International (Classic) | Level 2 or Level 3 |
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.
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 Tier 4 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 Tier 4 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 IELTS for UKVI test from a UKVI-approved test centre.
International Foundation Programme in Arts, Humanities and Social Science
English language courses
If you do not have the English grades we require for entry, you can improve your language skills through our range of English courses.
English language courses at Edinburgh
