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Alternative English Language requirements

We can only accept an alternative English language qualification if:

  • You are a national of a majority English-speaking country. Majority English speaking countries are designated by UK Visas and Immigration. Check the list on GOV.UK: Student Visa.
  • You do not require a student visa to study at UAL.

If one of these apply to you, check the scores below to see if we can accept your alternative English language qualification.

Click on each test score to review the list of minimum scores.

IELTS 5.0

IELTS Academic for UKVI (valid for 2 years)

  • Overall score: 5.0
  • Minimum score for each skill: 4.5

PTE Academic UKVI (valid for 2 years)

  • Overall score: 43
  • Minimum score for each skill: 43

LanguageCert Academic SELT* (valid for 2 years)

  • Overall score: 54
  • Minimum score for each skill: 47

*LanguageCert International ESOL tests are not accepted. LanguageCert Academic Online is not accepted.

A Level English (Language or Literature) (valid for 3 years)

  • D

European Baccalaureate (valid for 3 years)

  • L1 grade 6
  • L2 grade 7

GCSE English (valid for 3 years)

  • 3/D

IGCSE* English (valid for 3 years)

  • D

*First or second language. We take Language or Literature for the GCSE, but for the IGCSE only Language or Language and Literature combined.

Cambridge B2 First (valid for 2 years)

  • Overall: 154

Cambridge Advanced (CAE) (valid for 2 years)

  • 154

Cambridge C2 Proficiency (valid for 2 years)

  • 154

Danish Studentereksamen (valid for 3 years)

  • Level A grade 7
  • Level B grade 10

German Abitur (valid for 3 years)

  • Grade 11

Hong Kong (HKDSE) (valid for 3 years)

  • 3

Iceland Studentsprof (valid for 3 years)

  • Grade 6

Trinity ISE (valid for 2 years)

  • ISE II Pass in all components

TOEFL iBT* (TOEFL iBT Home Edition is NOT accepted) (valid for 2 years)

  • Overall score: 60
  • Minimum score for each skill: Listening (10), Reading (10), Writing (13), Speaking (16)

*If you take the TOEFL iBT you should use this comparison chart not the comparison given with the TOEFL certificate.

Baccalauréat Français International (BFI) (valid for 3 years)

  • BFI 10  (in the English section)

South Africa National senior Certificate (valid for 3 years)

  • Level 4

Malaysia GCE O Level English (valid for 3 years)

  • D

Malaysia GCE A Level English (valid for 3 years)

  • D

Singapore GCE O Level (valid for 3 years)

  • D (7)

Singapore GCE A Level (valid for 3 years)

  • D

New Zealand NCEA Level 1 / Level 3 (valid for 3 years)

  • A (3/4)

Australia SSCE (all states) (valid for 3 years)

  • 70

USA High School Diploma (valid for 3 years)

  • D/0.7

Canada High School Diploma (valid for 3 years)

  • D/1.0

Swiss Matura Certificate (valid for 3 years)

  • 4

PSI Skills for English B1 (valid for 2 years)

  • Pass with Merit

PSI Skills for English B2 (valid for 2 years)

  • Pass

PSI Skills for English C1 (valid for 2 years)

  • Pass

Norwegian Vitnemal (valid for 3 years)

  • Grade 4

Swedish Slutbetyg (valid for 3 years)

  • G or E

International Baccalaureate (IB) (English Language or English Language and Literature combined)* (valid for 3 years)

  • IB Higher Level (A syllabus): Grade 4

*IB English must be achieved as part of the full International Baccalaureate Diploma; we do not accept the individual certificate to meet the UAL English requirement.

IELTS 5.5

IELTS Academic for UKVI (valid for 2 years)

  • Overall score: 5.5
  • Minimum score for each skill: 4.5

PTE Academic UKVI (valid for 2 years)

  • Overall score: 43
  • Minimum score for each skill: 43

LanguageCert Academic SELT* (valid for 2 years)

  • Overall score: 60
  • Minimum score for each skill: 47

*LanguageCert International ESOL tests are not accepted. LanguageCert Academic Online is not accepted.

A Level English (Language or Literature) (valid for 3 years)

  • D

European Baccalaureate (valid for 3 years)

  • L1 grade 6
  • L2 grade 7

GCSE English (valid for 3 years)

  • 3/D

IGCSE* English (valid for 3 years)

  • D

*First or second language. We take Language or Literature for the GCSE, but for the IGCSE only Language or Language and Literature combined.

Cambridge B2 First (valid for 2 years)

  • Overall: 162

Cambridge Advanced (CAE) (valid for 2 years)

  • 162

Cambridge C2 Proficiency (valid for 2 years)

  • 162

Danish Studentereksamen (valid for 3 years)

  • Level A grade 7
  • Level B grade 10

German Abitur (valid for 3 years)

  • Grade 11

Hong Kong (HKDSE) (valid for 3 years)

  • 3

Iceland Studentsprof (valid for 3 years)

  • Grade 6

Trinity ISE (valid for 2 years)

  • ISE II Pass in all components

TOEFL iBT* (TOEFL iBT Home Edition is NOT accepted) (valid for 2 years)

  • Overall score: 70
  • Minimum score for each skill: Listening (13), Reading (13), Writing (13), Speaking (16)

*If you take the TOEFL iBT you should use this comparison chart not the comparison given with the TOEFL certificate.

Baccalauréat Français International (BFI) (valid for 3 years)

  • BFI 10  (in the English section)

South Africa National senior Certificate (valid for 3 years)

  • Level 4

Malaysia GCE O Level English (valid for 3 years)

  • D

Malaysia GCE A Level English (valid for 3 years)

  • D

Singapore GCE O Level (valid for 3 years)

  • D (7)

Singapore GCE A Level (valid for 3 years)

  • D

New Zealand NCEA Level 1 / Level 3 (valid for 3 years)

  • A (3/4)

Australia SSCE (all states) (valid for 3 years)

  • 70

USA High School Diploma (valid for 3 years)

  • D/0.7

Canada High School Diploma (valid for 3 years)

  • D/1.0

Swiss Matura Certificate (valid for 3 years)

  • 4

PSI Skills for English B1 (valid for 2 years)

  • Not valid

PSI Skills for English B2 (valid for 2 years)

  • Pass

PSI Skills for English C1 (valid for 2 years)

  • Pass

Norwegian Vitnemal (valid for 3 years)

  • Grade 4

Swedish Slutbetyg (valid for 3 years)

  • G or E

International Baccalaureate (IB) (English Language or English Language and Literature combined)* (valid for 3 years)

  • IB Higher Level (A syllabus): Grade 4

*IB English must be achieved as part of the full International Baccalaureate Diploma; we do not accept the individual certificate to meet the UAL English requirement.

IELTS 6.0

IELTS Academic / IELTS Academic for UKVI / IELTS Academic (Online) (valid for 2 years)

  • Overall score: 6.0
  • Minimum score for each skill: 5.5

PTE Academic UKVI (valid for 2 years)

  • Overall score: 59
  • Minimum score for each skill: 59

LanguageCert Academic SELT / LanguageCert Academic* (valid for 2 years)

  • Overall score: 65
  • Minimum score for each skill: 60

*LanguageCert International ESOL tests are not accepted. LanguageCert Academic Online is not accepted.

A Level English (Language or Literature) (valid for 3 years)

  • C

European Baccalaureate (valid for 3 years)

  • L1 grade 6
  • L2 grade 7

GCSE English (valid for 3 years)

  • 4/C

IGCSE* English (valid for 3 years)

  • C

*First or second language. We take Language or Literature for the GCSE, but for the IGCSE only Language or Language and Literature combined.

Cambridge B2 First (valid for 2 years)

  • Overall: 169
  • Minimum scores for each skill: 162

Cambridge Advanced (CAE) (valid for 2 years)

  • Overall: 169
  • Minimum scores for each skill: 162

Cambridge C2 Proficiency (valid for 2 years)

  • Overall: 169
  • Minimum scores for each skill: 162

Danish Studentereksamen (valid for 3 years)

  • Level A grade 7
  • Level B grade 10

German Abitur (valid for 3 years)

  • Grade 11

Hong Kong (HKDSE) (valid for 3 years)

  • 4

Iceland Studentsprof (valid for 3 years)

  • Grade 7

Trinity ISE (valid for 2 years)

  • ISE II Merit in all components

TOEFL iBT/TOEFL iBT Home Edition* (valid for 2 years)

  • Overall score: 80
  • Minimum score for each skill: Listening (17), Reading (18), Writing (17), Speaking (20)

*If you take the TOEFL iBT you should use this comparison chart not the comparison given with the TOEFL certificate.

Baccalauréat Français International (BFI) (valid for 3 years)

  • BFI 12  (in the English section)

South Africa National senior Certificate (valid for 3 years)

  • Level 5

Malaysia GCE O Level English (valid for 3 years)

  • C

Malaysia GCE A Level English (valid for 3 years)

  • C

Singapore GCE O Level (valid for 3 years)

  • C (6)

Singapore GCE A Level (valid for 3 years)

  • C

New Zealand NCEA Level 1 / Level 3 (valid for 3 years)

  • M (5/6)

Australia SSCE (all states) (valid for 3 years)

  • 80

USA High School Diploma (valid for 3 years)

  • C/1.7

Canada High School Diploma (valid for 3 years)

  • C/1.7

Swiss Matura Certificate (valid for 3 years)

  • 4.5

PSI Skills for English B1 (valid for 2 years)

  • Not valid

PSI Skills for English B2 (valid for 2 years)

  • Pass with Merit

PSI Skills for English C1 (valid for 2 years)

  • Pass

Norwegian Vitnemal (valid for 3 years)

  • Grade 4

Swedish Slutbetyg (valid for 3 years)

  • G or D

International Baccalaureate (IB) (English Language or English Language and Literature combined)* (valid for 3 years)

  • IB Higher Level (A syllabus): Grade 5
  • IB Standard Level (A syllabus): Grade 6

*IB English must be achieved as part of the full International Baccalaureate Diploma; we do not accept the individual certificate to meet the UAL English requirement.

IELTS 6.5

IELTS Academic / IELTS Academic for UKVI / IELTS Academic (Online) (valid for 2 years)

  • Overall score: 6.5
  • Minimum score for each skill: 5.5

PTE Academic UKVI (valid for 2 years)

  • Overall score: 59
  • Minimum score for each skill: 59

LanguageCert Academic SELT / LanguageCert Academic* (valid for 2 years)

  • Overall score: 70
  • Minimum score for each skill: 60

*LanguageCert International ESOL tests are not accepted. LanguageCert Academic Online is not accepted.

A Level English (Language or Literature) (valid for 3 years)

  • C

European Baccalaureate (valid for 3 years)

  • L1 grade 6
  • L2 grade 7

GCSE English (valid for 3 years)

  • 4/C

IGCSE* English (valid for 3 years)

  • C

*First or second language. We take Language or Literature for the GCSE, but for the IGCSE only Language or Language and Literature combined.

Cambridge B2 First (valid for 2 years)

  • Not valid

Cambridge Advanced (CAE) (valid for 2 years)

  • Overall: 176
  • Minimum scores for each skill: 162

Cambridge C2 Proficiency (valid for 2 years)

  • Overall: 176
  • Minimum scores for each skill: 162

Danish Studentereksamen (valid for 3 years)

  • Level A grade 7
  • Level B grade 10

German Abitur (valid for 3 years)

  • Grade 12

Hong Kong (HKDSE) (valid for 3 years)

  • 4

Iceland Studentsprof (valid for 3 years)

  • Grade 8

Trinity ISE (valid for 2 years)

  • ISE III Pass in all components

TOEFL iBT/TOEFL iBT Home Edition* (valid for 2 years)

  • Overall score: 90
  • Minimum score for each skill: Listening (17), Reading (18), Writing (17), Speaking (20)

*If you take the TOEFL iBT you should use this comparison chart not the comparison given with the TOEFL certificate.

Baccalauréat Français International (BFI) (valid for 3 years)

  • BFI 12  (in the English section)

South Africa National senior Certificate (valid for 3 years)

  • Level 5

Malaysia GCE O Level English (valid for 3 years)

  • C

Malaysia GCE A Level English (valid for 3 years)

  • C

Singapore GCE O Level (valid for 3 years)

  • C (6)

Singapore GCE A Level (valid for 3 years)

  • C

New Zealand NCEA Level 1 / Level 3 (valid for 3 years)

  • M (5/6)

Australia SSCE (all states) (valid for 3 years)

  • 80

USA High School Diploma (valid for 3 years)

  • C/1.7

Canada High School Diploma (valid for 3 years)

  • C/1.7

Swiss Matura Certificate (valid for 3 years)

  • 4.5

PSI Skills for English B1 (valid for 2 years)

  • Not valid

PSI Skills for English B2 (valid for 2 years)

  • Not valid

PSI Skills for English C1 (valid for 2 years)

  • Pass

Norwegian Vitnemal (valid for 3 years)

  • Grade 5

Swedish Slutbetyg (valid for 3 years)

  • VG or C

International Baccalaureate (IB) (English Language or English Language and Literature combined)* (valid for 3 years)

  • IB Higher Level (A syllabus): Grade 5
  • IB Standard Level (A syllabus): Grade 6

*IB English must be achieved as part of the full International Baccalaureate Diploma; we do not accept the individual certificate to meet the UAL English requirement.

IELTS 7.0

IELTS Academic / IELTS Academic for UKVI / IELTS Academic (Online) (valid for 2 years)

  • Overall score: 7.0
  • Minimum score for each skill: 6

PTE Academic UKVI (valid for 2 years)

  • Overall score: 66
  • Minimum score for each skill: 59

LanguageCert Academic SELT / LanguageCert Academic* (valid for 2 years)

  • Overall score: 75
  • Minimum score for each skill: 65

*LanguageCert International ESOL tests are not accepted. LanguageCert Academic Online is not accepted.

A Level English (Language or Literature) (valid for 3 years)

  • B

European Baccalaureate (valid for 3 years)

  • L1 grade 7
  • L2 grade 7.5

GCSE English (valid for 3 years)

  • 6/B

IGCSE* English (valid for 3 years)

  • B

*First or second language. We take Language or Literature for the GCSE, but for the IGCSE only Language or Language and Literature combined.

Cambridge B2 First (valid for 2 years)

  • Not valid

Cambridge Advanced (CAE) (valid for 2 years)

  • Overall: 185
  • Minimum scores for each skill: 169

Cambridge C2 Proficiency (valid for 2 years)

  • Overall: 185
  • Minimum scores for each skill: 169

Danish Studentereksamen (valid for 3 years)

  • Level A grade 7
  • Level B grade 11

German Abitur (valid for 3 years)

  • Grade 12

Hong Kong (HKDSE) (valid for 3 years)

  • 5

Iceland Studentsprof (valid for 3 years)

  • Grade 8

Trinity ISE (valid for 2 years)

  • ISE III Merit in all components

TOEFL iBT/TOEFL iBT Home Edition* (valid for 2 years)

  • Overall score: 100
  • Minimum score for each skill: Listening (20), Reading (20), Writing (20), Speaking (20)

*If you take the TOEFL iBT you should use this comparison chart not the comparison given with the TOEFL certificate.

Baccalauréat Français International (BFI) (valid for 3 years)

  • Not Valid

South Africa National senior Certificate (valid for 3 years)

  • Level 6

Malaysia GCE O Level English (valid for 3 years)

  • B

Malaysia GCE A Level English (valid for 3 years)

  • B

Singapore GCE O Level (valid for 3 years)

  • B (4)

Singapore GCE A Level (valid for 3 years)

  • B

New Zealand NCEA Level 1 / Level 3 (valid for 3 years)

  • E (7/8)

Australia SSCE (all states) (valid for 3 years)

  • 90

USA High School Diploma (valid for 3 years)

  • B/2.7

Canada High School Diploma (valid for 3 years)

  • B/2.7

Swiss Matura Certificate (valid for 3 years)

  • 5

PSI Skills for English B1 (valid for 2 years)

  • Not valid

PSI Skills for English B2 (valid for 2 years)

  • Not valid

PSI Skills for English C1 (valid for 2 years)

  • Pass

Norwegian Vitnemal (valid for 3 years)

  • Grade 5

Swedish Slutbetyg (valid for 3 years)

  • VG or C

IELTS 7.5

IELTS Academic / IELTS Academic for UKVI / IELTS Academic (Online) (valid for 2 years)

  • Overall score: 7.5
  • Minimum score for each skill: 6.5

PTE Academic UKVI (valid for 2 years)

  • Overall score: 76
  • Minimum score for each skill: 59

LanguageCert Academic SELT / LanguageCert Academic* (valid for 2 years)

  • Overall score: 80
  • Minimum score for each skill: 70

*LanguageCert International ESOL tests are not accepted. LanguageCert Academic Online is not accepted.

A Level English (Language or Literature) (valid for 3 years)

  • B

European Baccalaureate (valid for 3 years)

  • Not valid

GCSE English (valid for 3 years)

  • 6/B

IGCSE* English (valid for 3 years)

  • B

*First or second language. We take Language or Literature for the GCSE, but for the IGCSE only Language or Language and Literature combined.

Cambridge B2 First (valid for 2 years)

  • Not valid

Cambridge Advanced (CAE) (valid for 2 years)

  • Overall: 191
  • Minimum scores for each skill: 176

Cambridge C2 Proficiency (valid for 2 years)

  • Overall: 191
  • Minimum scores for each skill: 176

Danish Studentereksamen (valid for 3 years)

  • Level A grade 7
  • Level B grade 11

German Abitur (valid for 3 years)

  • Not valid

Hong Kong (HKDSE) (valid for 3 years)

  • 5

Iceland Studentsprof (valid for 3 years)

  • Not valid

Trinity ISE (valid for 2 years)

  • ISE III Merit in all components

TOEFL iBT/TOEFL iBT Home Edition* (valid for 2 years)

  • Overall score: 110
  • Minimum score for each skill: 22

*If you take the TOEFL iBT you should use this comparison chart not the comparison given with the TOEFL certificate.

Baccalauréat Français International (BFI) (valid for 3 years)

  • Not Valid

South Africa National senior Certificate (valid for 3 years)

  • Level 6

Malaysia GCE O Level English (valid for 3 years)

  • B

Malaysia GCE A Level English (valid for 3 years)

  • B

Singapore GCE O Level (valid for 3 years)

  • B (4)

Singapore GCE A Level (valid for 3 years)

  • B

New Zealand NCEA Level 1 / Level 3 (valid for 3 years)

  • E (7/8)

Australia SSCE (all states) (valid for 3 years)

  • 90

USA High School Diploma (valid for 3 years)

  • B/2.7

Canada High School Diploma (valid for 3 years)

  • B/2.7

Swiss Matura Certificate (valid for 3 years)

  • 5

PSI Skills for English B1 (valid for 2 years)

  • Not valid

PSI Skills for English B2 (valid for 2 years)

  • Not valid

PSI Skills for English C1 (valid for 2 years)

  • Not valid

Norwegian Vitnemal (valid for 3 years)

  • Not valid

Swedish Slutbetyg (valid for 3 years)

  • MVG or B

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