Postgraduate English Requirements

 

Accepted English Tests/Qualifications Academic Department
 

Computer Science

Physics

Mathematics

Management & Business
(MSc and MBA)

Art

Biological, Environmental & Rural Sciences

Education

History & Welsh History

Information Studies

Law & Criminology (Taught LLM courses)

Management &  Business (PhD and MPhil)

Modern Languages

Welsh

English Literature & Creative Writing (Masters)*

Geography and Earth Sciences

International Politics

Law & Criminology (PhD, MPhil and LLM by Research)

Psychology

Theatre, Film & Television Studies

 English and Creative Writing (PhD)

Oxford ELLT Digital (Online)

 

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 Score of 6 with minimum 5 in each component Score of 7 with minimum 5 in each component

Score of 8 with minimum 6 in each component

 Score of 9 with minimum 8 in each component

Oxford ELLT Global (in-person)

 Score of 6 with minimum 5 in each component Score of 7 with minimum 5 in each component

Score of 8 with minimum 6 in each component

 Score of 9 with minimum 8 in each component
IELTS* 6.0 with minimum 5.5 in each component  6.5 with minimum 5.5 in each component 

7.0 with minimum 6.0 in each component. *English and Creative Writing (Masters) 

 7.5 with minimum 7.0 in each component

TOEFL iBT

(School Code = 0226)

 88 with minimum component scores: Reading 18, Listening 17, Speaking 20, Writing 17  93 with minimum component scores: Reading 18, Listening 17, Speaking 20, Writing 17  100 with minimum component scores: Reading 24, Listening 22, Speaking 25, Writing 24  105 with minimum component scores: Reading 25, Listening 25, Speaking 25, Writing 25

Cambridge C1 Advanced

Formerly known as Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE)

 C with a minimum score of 162 in each component C with a minimum score of 169 in each component. English & Creative Writing (Masters): 180 in each component  B with a minimum score of 191 in each component 

Cambridge C2 Proficiency

Formerly known as Cambridge Proficiency in English (CPE)

 C with a minimum score of 162 in each component C with a minimum score of 169 in each component. English & Creative Writing (Masters): 180 in each component  B with a minimum score of 191 in each component 

Cambridge B2 First

Formerly known as Cambridge First Certificate in English (FCE)

 B with a minimum score of 162 in each component  A with a minimum score of 162 in each component  Cambridge C1 Advanced, Cambridge C2 Proficiency or IELTS (7.0)  Cambridge C1 Advanced, Cambridge C2 Proficiency or IELTS (7.0) 

Cambridge C1 Business Higher

Formerly known as Cambridge English: Business Higher
(BEC Higher)

 C with a minimum score of 162 in each component C with a minimum score of 169 in each component C with a minimum score of 191 in each component

Cambridge B2 Business Vantage

Formerly known as Cambridge English: Business Vantage
(BEC Vantage)

 C with a minimum score of 162 in each component B with a minimum score of 162 in each component  A with a minimum score of 169 in each component  A with a minimum score of 191 in each component 
Trinity Integrated Skills Test ISEII - Pass all components  ISEIII - Pass all components ISEIV - Pass all components 
Pearson PTE Academic  55 with minimum scores of 51 in each component  62 with minimum scores of 51 in each component  68 with minimum scores of 65 in each component  75 with minimum scores of 73 in each component 
City & Guilds International ESOL Diploma  Pass or above at Expert level, with Pass in all components  Pass or above at Expert level, with Pass in all components  Pass or above at Mastery level, with Pass in all components  IELTS 7.5 instead 
IGCSE  C/4 B/6
UK A/S level English Language  E D C
Cambridge O Level  Grade C or above Grade B or above 
UK GCSE or O level English Language  C/4 B/6
UK - International Baccalaureate 

Standard Level Grade 5 or Higher Level Grade 4 in English B (Group 2)

Please note Standard or Higher Level English A (Group 1) is not acceptable. Students who have studied English A should present an alternative test as proof of English proficiency

  		 IELTS 7.5 instead 

 

*If you didn’t show your full potential on your IELTS test day in one of the four skills (Listening, Reading, Writing, or Speaking), IELTS One Skill Retake can help you get back on track.

Alternative English Language Qualifications, European Economic Area (EEA) applicants.

These qualifications are used as part of the University's own assessment of English language ability.

Country

Name of Test/Qualification

Computer Science

Physics

Mathematics

Management and Business
(MSc and MBA)

Art

Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences

Education and Lifelong Learning

Food and Water Security (MSc)

History and Welsh History

Information Studies

Law and Criminology (Taught LLM courses)

Management and Business
(PhD and MPhil)

Modern Languages

Welsh

English Literature and Creative Writing (Masters)

Geography and Earth Sciences

International Politics exc Food and Water Security (MSc)

Law and Criminology (PhD, MPhil and LLM by Research)

Psychology

Theatre, Film and Television Studies 

English & Creative Writing (PhD) 

Requirement on
IELTS scale

6.0

6.5

7.0

 7.5

Denmark:
Studentereksamen 

Old system (pre-2008) at least 9 for English

New system (2008 onwards) at least 7 for English. 

Old system (pre-2008) at least 10 for English

New system (2008 onwards) at least 8 for English. 

Old system (pre-2008): at least 11 for English

New system (2008 onwards): at least 9 for English. 		 IELTS 7.5

France:
Baccalaureat General,
Baccalaureat Technologique,
Option International du Baccalaureat 

 10/20 12/20 20/20 IELTS 7.5

Germany:
Abitur 

12 (Gut)

Unless taken as a Hauptfach / Leistungskurs, and a mark of 8 / gut has been obtained 

12 (Gut)

Unless taken as a Hauptfach / Leistungskurs, and a mark of 9 / gut has been obtained 

13 (Gut)

Unless taken as a Hauptfach / Leistungskurs, and a mark of 10 / gut has been obtained 		 IELTS 7.5

Norway:
Vitnemal,
videregaende opplaring 

 5 in written and spoken English  5 in written and spoken English  5 in written and spoken English  IELTS 7.5

Poland:
Matura 

 To include min 90% average in English written and oral at standard level or min 65% average in written or oral at extended level  To include min 95% average in English written and oral at standard level or min 70% average in written or oral at extended level  To include min 95% average in English written and oral at standard level or min 75% average in written or oral at extended level  IELTS 7.5

Sweden:
Slutbetyg fran Grundskola 

 VG  VG  IELTS 7.0 IELTS 7.5

Switzerland:
Maturita 

4/genugend/suffisant/sufficiente or better (for a marking scale from 1 to 6 (max.))

3/genugend/suffisant/sufficiente or better (for a marking scale from 5 to 1 (max.)) 

4/genugend/suffisant/sufficiente or better (for a marking scale from 1 to 6 (max.))

3/genugend/suffisant/sufficiente or better (for a marking scale from 5 to 1 (max.)) 		 IELTS 7.0 IELTS 7.5

Alternative English Language Qualifications, International (Non-EEA) Applicants

These qualifications are used as part of the University's own assessment of English Language ability. Applicants will be required to provide evidence of their qualification.

Country
Name of Test/Qualification
Computer Science
Physics
Mathematics

 

Management and Business
(MSc and MBA)
Art
Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences
Computer Science (Research only)
Education and Lifelong Learning
European Languages
Food and Water Security (MSc)
History and Welsh History
Information Studies
Law and Criminology (Taught LLM courses)
Management and Business
(PhD and MPhil)
Welsh 
English Literature and Creative Writing (Masters)*
Geography and Earth Sciences
International Politics exc Food and Water Security (MSc)
Law and Criminology (PhD, MPhil and LLM by Research)
Psychology
Theatre, Film and Television Studies 
English and Creative Writing (PhD) 
Comparable IELTS level 
 6.0 6.5 7.0 7.5
Botswana Cambridge Overseas School Certificate 
 Credit (3-6) or above  Credit (3-6) or above  Good (2) or above  IELTS 7.5
Cambridge O Level 
 Grade C or above  Grade C or above  Grade C or above  Grade B or above 
Cameroon GCE O Level (British system) 
 Grade C or above  Grade C or above  Grade C or above  Grade B or above 
Caribbean Examination Council General Proficiency 
 Grade I & II  Grade I & II  Grade I & II  Grade I & II 
Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) 
 Level 4  Level 4  Level 5 Level 5*
Hong Kong Use of English AS level 
 C C B A
INDIA Standard XII (awarded by CBSE or CISCE or other recognized boards, excluding those from Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh. The qualification must be obtained within 7.5 years of the proposed course start date.)
 
 70% or above (from these boards when education has been completed in English Medium)  75% or above (from these boards when education has been completed in English Medium)  80% or above (from these boards when education has been completed in English Medium)  IELTS 7.5
Kenyan Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) 
 C C B A
Malawi School Certificate of Education 
 Credit (3-6) or above  Credit (3-6) or above  Good (2) or above  IELTS 7.5
Malaysian SPM 1119 / Cambridge O Level English Language (1119)
 C C B A
Singapore Cambridge O Level 
 C C B A
South Africa National Senior Certificate 
 C/5 C/5 B/6 A/7
Tanzania Certificate of Secondary Education (CSE) 
 C C B A
Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) 
 Credit (3-6) or above  Credit (3-6) or above  Good (2) or above  IELTS 7.5
WAEC/NECO SSC or WASSC
(Gambia, Liberia, Nigeria & Sierra Leone) 
 Credit (4-6) or above  Credit (4-6) or above  Good (3) or above  IELTS 7.5
WAEC Senior Secondary School Certificate
(Ghana) 
 Grade C6 or above  Grade C6 or above  Grade B3 or above  Grade A1
West African Senior School Certificate Examination
(Ghana) 
 Grade D or above  Grade D or above  Grade C or above  Grade B or above 
Zambia Secondary School Certificate 
 Grade 6 or above  Grade 6 or above  Grade 4 or above  IELTS 7.5

Is English your Official Language?

As the countries listed below teach through the medium of English and English is used widely for administrative purposes, it is expected that nationals from these countries would not be required to have an English Language qualification. They are thus exempt from providing proof  to meet the UK Visa and Immigrations requirements and the University's requirements for English language ability. Likewise, those who have gained a degree (be it a Bachelors, Masters or a PhD) from any of these countries are also exempt.

Countries Where English is an Official Language as recognised by the Home Office 

Antigua & Barbuda

Belize

Guyana

St Lucia

Australia

*Canada

Jamaica

St Vincent & the Grenadines

Bahamas

Dominica

New Zealand

Trinidad and Tobago

Barbados

Grenada

St Kitts & Nevis

USA

*Canada is only considered to be majority English-speaking for Canadian nationals. If you are not Canadian, and you hold a degree from Canada, you will not be able to use it as evidence of your English language ability.

We are fortunate at Aberystwyth University to have a British Council accredited centre which offers a wide range of English language training courses that may enable you to meet our entrance requirements before the start of your postgraduate studies. Please visit the International English Centre for details.