English Language Requirements

International and EU applicants are required to satisfy the specific English language entry requirement of their chosen course before they will be formally accepted to commence their studies.

You are welcome to apply for postgraduate study before you have taken an English language test or received the results of a relevant qualification. If you do this, and the University decides to make you an offer for a place to study with us, then the submission of relevant additional documents to demonstrate your English language proficiency at the required level, will be a condition of the offer made to you.

Please note that our International English Centre offers English language courses that could help you achieve the English language requirement for your chosen postgraduate course. Please see their website (www.aber.ac.uk/en/international-english) or e-mail tesol@aber.ac.uk for further information.

All students who require a Student Visa must demonstrate that they satisfy the University’s English language requirements as outlined on this page. The following qualifications and test listed below, when passed at the required level, are accepted by the University and are considered to satisfy a minimum of Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) B2 level in each component (speaking, writing, listening and reading). This is the minimum level acceptable for degree level study in order to secure entry to the UK with a Student Visa.

Please note that the results of English language tests are only valid for a maximum of two years.

Applicants who have been awarded a degree (i.e. Bachelors or Masters) from a majority English speaking Country (e.g UK) do not need to take an additional English language proficiency test. Online study does not apply. 

Is English your Official Language?

As the countries listed below teach and assess in 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 therefore exempt from providing proof of English language ability to meet University requirements. 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.

International English Centre at Aberystwyth University

The International English Centre (IEC) at Aberystwyth University, a British Council accredited centre, provides a range of English language courses including Pre-Sessional Courses and a Pre-Master Programme in Business Management.  Evidence of successful completion of these IEC courses, when passed at the required level, can be used to satisfy the English language entry requirement for postgraduate study. 

Please visit the International English Centre website for further details or contact them by email or telephone:
Tel: +44 (0)1970 622545; Email: tesol@aber.ac.uk

Non-Country specific English proficiency tests

Each postgraduate course has an English language entry requirement, which is expressed in terms of an IELTS score or equivalent.  The University accepts the results of a wide range of internationally recognised tests and a range of alternative qualifications, passed at the required level, as satisfactory evidence of English language proficiency.  

You are welcome to apply postgraduate study at Aberystwyth University before securing evidence of your current English language proficiency. If you do this, and the university decides to make you an offer for a place to study with us, then submitting evidence of your currently English proficiency will be a condition of the offer made to you. You will need to submit evidence to meet the English language condition of your offer before you can complete the admissions process.

The advantages of these online tests is that you can take them from home, waiting lists are currently short, and you receive your results quickly.

Name of Test Computer Science
Physics
Mathematics
Management and Business
(MSc and MBA)
Art
Life Sciences
Education
History and Welsh History
Information Studies
Law and Criminology (Taught LLM courses)
Management and Business (PhD and MPhil)
Modern Languages
Welsh
Education (PGCE) English Literature and Creative Writing (Masters)*
Geography and Earth Sciences
International Politics
Law and Criminology (PhD, MPhil and LLM by Research)
Psychology
Theatre, Film and Television Studies
English and Creative Writing (PhD)
IELTS
Test availability
Please provide your TRF number
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) 7.0 in each component
7.5 with minimum 7.5 in each component
International English Centre (Aberystwyth University)
Pre-sessional Course report 
50% Pass overall with minimum of 40% in each component 60% Merit overall with minimum of 40% in each component 70% Distinction overall with minimum of 50% in each component English & Creative Writing (Masters): 70% in each component 80% Distinction overall with minimum of 80% in each component

Alternative English Language Tests/Qualifications

TOEFL iBT
School Code = 0226
Test availability
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 Advanced English (CAE)
Please provide your Candidate ID Number and Secret Number
C with a minimum score of 162 in each component 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 Proficiency in English (CPE)
Please provide your Candidate ID Number and Secret Number
C with a minimum score of 162 in each component 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
C with a minimum score of 191 in each component
Cambridge First Certificate in English (FCE)
Please provide your Candidate ID Number and Secret Number
B with a minimum score of 162 in each component A with a minimum score of 162 in each component Take CAE, CPE or IELTS (7.0) Take CAE, CPE or IELTS (7.5)
Cambridge English: Business Higher (BEC Higher)
Please provide your Candidate ID Number and Secret Number
C with a minimum score of 162 in each component 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 English: Business Vantage (BEC Vantage)
Please provide your Candidate ID Number and Secret Number
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 ISEIII - Pass all components ISEIV - Pass all components
Pearson PTE Academic
Test availability
Ensure to assign your score report to Aberystwyth University
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
(excludes spouse/partner test)
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 C C B
UK A/S level English language E E D C
UK GCSE or O level English language C C C B
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.
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.
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.
Take IELTS 7.5 instead

Alternative English Language Qualifications for Non-EEA applicants (International applicants)

The qualifications listed below can be used as part of the University's own assessment of English Language ability.  If using this route, applicants must demonstrate that they have a result in the English Language component of the qualification, at the required level for entry to their chosen scheme/academic department.  Applicants will be required to provide formal 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
Education
European Languages
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 
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 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 & Creative Writing (Masters) 7.0 in each component

7.5 with minimum 7.5 in each component
University of Cambridge Botswana International / General Certificate of Secondary Education 
Grade C / Credit (5-6) or above  Grade C / Credit (5-6) or above  Grade B / Good (3-4) or above  IELTS 7.5
Cambridge O Level 
Grade C or above  Grade C or above  Grade C or above  Gradeor 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
Indian Standard XII

(awarded by CBSE or CISCE central boards, or West Bengal, Karnataka or Maharashtra state boards.  Standard XII result must have been achieved within 5 years of the proposed course start date)

70% or above in English 75% or above in English 80% or above in English IELTS 7.5 with minimum 7.5 in each component
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 or above 
Zambia Secondary School Certificate 
Grade 6 or above  Grade 6 or above  Grade 4 or above  IELTS 7.5

 

 

Alternative English Language Qualifications for European Economic Area (EEA) applicants

The qualifications listed below can be used as part of the University's own assessment of English Language ability.  If using this route, applicants must demonstrate that they have a result in the English Language component of the qualification, at the required level for entry to their chosen scheme/academic department.  Applicants will be required to provide formal 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

Education 

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 

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 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 & Creative Writing (Masters) 7.0 in each component

7.5 with minimum 7.5 in each component

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 

4 in written and spoken English  4 in written and spoken English  4 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