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English language requirements

Find out which English qualifications you need to study online with us.

This article explains:

Why we ask for English language qualifications

All our online courses and degrees are delivered in English.

If English is not your first language, we want to make sure you can use English well enough to study with us.

You need to be able to speak, read and write English fluently so you can:

  • understand lectures and teaching materials
  • produce high standards of work
  • perform well in assessments and exams.

When we ask for your English language qualifications

We will ask for your English language qualifications when:

  • English is not your first language, and
  • you’re applying for an online degree, or
  • you’re applying for an online short course where you apply via our Applicant Portal. These courses have an ‘Apply via our Applicant Portal’ button on the page and have minimum entry requirements.

We will not ask for English language qualifications when:

  • you’re joining one of our self-evaluating online short courses, or
  • you have a degree from a UK university, or
  • you fulfil our English language requirements in another way. See our checklist to see if you qualify.

Most of our online short courses are self-evaluating.

  • These courses have an ‘Apply now’ button on the page.
  • You can purchase and join them without providing any formal qualifications.
  • They are taught at the same level of English as our online degrees. You should check the level of English required by any course before deciding if it’s right for you.

English language requirements for online study

Where to find our English language requirements

We’ve listed our English language requirements below.

You’ll also find the requirements on each of our online degree and short course pages, in the International Students section.

Always check the International Students section of a degree or short course page for its specific language requirements before applying.

English language tests we accept

We accept the following online English language tests:

We also accept:

Your English language qualifications should be recent, no more than two years before the start date of the course or degree you wish to join.

English language test scores we require

The test scores we require vary depending on:

  • the subject you wish to study, and
  • the study level of your chosen course or degree – postgraduate or undergraduate.

Postgraduate Standard requirements

Online courses and degrees delivered by the following Schools use our Postgraduate Standard requirements:

  • Biological Sciences
  • Engineering
  • Geosciences
  • Natural and Computing Sciences
  • Psychology

These are the minimum scores they require.

IELTS Academic, IELTS UKVI Academic, and IELTS Online (not IELTS Indicator or IELTS General Training)

  • 6.5 overall
  • 5.5 for listening, reading and speaking
  • 6.0 for writing

TOEFL iBT and TOEFL iBT Home Edition

  • 90 overall
  • 17 for listening
  • 18 for reading
  • 20 for speaking
  • 21 for writing
  • TOEFL DI code is 0818

Cambridge English: B2 First, C1 Advanced, or C2 Proficiency

  • 176 overall
  • 162 for listening, reading and speaking
  • 169 for writing

LanguageCert Academic/LanguageCert Academic SELT

  • 70 overall
  • 60 for listening, reading and speaking
  • 65 for writing

LanguageCert International ESOL B2 Communicator (Written and Spoken) – Online / In-centre

  • Overall High Pass
  • 33 for listening, reading and speaking
  • 38 for writing

Oxford ELLT Digital – English Language Level Test Online

  • 7.0 overall
  • 5.0 for listening, reading and speaking
  • 6.0 for writing

PTE Academic (online test not accepted)

  • 62 overall
  • 59 for listening, reading, speaking and writing

Duolingo – tests taken from 1 July 2024 onward

  • 120 overall
  • 95 for listening, reading and speaking
  • 105 for writing

University of Aberdeen English Pre-sessional Programme (PSE)

  • Pass
  • Valid for one year. Refresher can be offered if out of date

Pre-sessional academic English preparation programmes undertaken at other UK universities

  • Pass at an equivalent of 6.5 (C1)
  • B2 in all four skills
  • Certification must be within one year prior to the start of your course

If you hold a degree from a UK university then evidence of proficiency in English may not be required.

More information about our Postgraduate Standard language requirements.

Postgraduate Higher requirements

Online courses and degrees delivered by the following Schools use our Postgraduate Higher requirements:

  • Business
  • Divinity, History, Philosophy and Art History
  • Education
  • Language, Literature, Music and Visual Culture
  • Law
  • Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition – except MSc Clinical Nutrition (see its distinct requirements below)
  • Social Sciences.

These are the minimum scores they require.

IELTS Academic, IELTS UKVI Academic, and IELTS Online (not IELTS Indicator or IELTS General Training)

  • 6.5 overall
  • 5.5 for listening and speaking
  • 6.0 for reading and writing

TOEFL iBT and TOEFL iBT Home Edition

  • 90 overall
  • 17 for listening
  • 21 for reading
  • 20 for speaking
  • 21 for writing
  • TOEFL DI code is 0818

Cambridge English: B2 First, C1 Advanced, or C2 Proficiency

  • 176 overall
  • 162 for listening and speaking
  • 169 for reading and writing

LanguageCert Academic/LanguageCert Academic SELT

  • 70 overall
  • 60 for listening and speaking
  • 65 for reading and writing

LanguageCert International ESOL B2 Communicator (Written and Spoken) – Online / In-centre

  • Overall High Pass
  • 33 for listening, reading and speaking
  • 38 for writing

Oxford ELLT Digital – English Language Level Test Online

  • 7.0 overall
  • 5.0 for listening and speaking
  • 6.0 for reading and writing

PTE Academic (online test not accepted)

  • 62 overall
  • 59 for listening, reading, speaking and writing

Duolingo – tests taken from 1 July 2024 onward

  • 120 overall
  • 95 for listening and speaking
  • 105 for reading and writing

University of Aberdeen English Pre-sessional Programme (PSE)

  • Pass
  • Valid for one year. Refresher can be offered if out of date

Pre-sessional academic English preparation programmes undertaken at other UK universities

  • Pass at an equivalent of 6.5 (C1)
  • B2 in all four skills
  • Certification must be within one year prior to the start of your course

If you hold a degree from a UK university then evidence of proficiency in English may not be required.

More information about our Postgraduate Higher language requirements.

MSc Clinical Nutrition requirements

Our accredited online degree MSc Clinical Nutrition has its own distinct requirements.

This is due to the requirements of the accrediting body.

These are the minimum scores they require.

IELTS Academic, IELTS UKVI Academic, and IELTS Online (not IELTS Indicator or IELTS General Training)

  • 6.5 overall
  • 6.0 for listening, reading, speaking and writing

TOEFL iBT and TOEFL iBT Home Edition

  • 90 overall
  • 21 for listening, reading, speaking and writing
  • TOEFL DI code is 0818

Cambridge English: B2 First, C1 Advanced, or C2 Proficiency

  • 176 overall
  • 169 for listening, reading, speaking and writing

LanguageCert Academic / LanguageCert Academic SELT

  • 70 overall
  • 65 for listening, reading, speaking and writing

LanguageCert International ESOL C1 Expert (Written and Spoken)

  • All skills: C1

Oxford ELLT Digital – English Language Level Test Online

  • 7.0 overall
  • 6.0 for listening, reading, speaking and writing

PTE Academic (online test not accepted)

  • 62 overall
  • 59 for listening, reading, speaking and writing

Duolingo – tests taken from 1 July 2024 onward

  • 120 overall
  • 105 for listening, reading, speaking and writing

University of Aberdeen English Pre-sessional Programme (PSE)

  • Pass
  • Valid for one year. Refresher can be offered if out of date

Pre-sessional academic English preparation programmes undertaken at other UK universities

  • Pass at an equivalent of 6.5 (C1)
  • B2 in all four skills
  • Certification must be within one year prior to the start of your course

If you hold a degree from a UK university then evidence of proficiency in English may not be required.

Undergraduate requirements

The following undergraduate level requirements are used for all of our online undergraduate short courses and degrees.

These are the minimum scores required.

IELTS Academic, IELTS UKVI Academic, and IELTS Online (not IELTS Indicator or IELTS General Training)

  • 6.0 overall
  • 5.5 for listening, reading and speaking
  • 6.0 for writing

TOEFL iBT and TOEFL iBT Home Edition

  • 78 overall
  • 17 for listening
  • 18 for reading
  • 20 for speaking
  • 21 for writing
  • TOEFL DI code is 0818

Cambridge English: B2 First, C1 Advanced, or C2 Proficiency

  • 169 overall
  • 162 for listening, reading and speaking
  • 169 for writing

LanguageCert Academic/LanguageCert Academic SELT

  • 65 overall
  • 60 for listening, reading and speaking
  • 65 for writing

LanguageCert International ESOL B2 Communicator (Written and Spoken) – Online / In-centre

  • Overall Pass
  • 33 for listening, reading and speaking
  • 38 for writing

Oxford ELLT Digital – English Language Level Test Online

  • 6.0 overall
  • 5.0 for listening, reading and speaking
  • 6.0 for writing

PTE Academic (online test not accepted)

  • 59 overall
  • 59 for listening, reading, speaking and writing

Duolingo – tests taken from 1 July 2024 onward

  • 105 overall
  • 95 for listening, reading and speaking
  • 105 for writing

Trinity ISE – Trinity Integrated Skills in English

  • Pass overall at ISE II
  • A merit in lisening, reading and speaking
  • A distinction in writing

University of Aberdeen English Pre-sessional Programme (PSE)

  • Pass
  • Valid for one year. Refresher can be offered if out of date

Pre-sessional academic English preparation programmes undertaken at other UK universities

  • Pass at an equivalent of 6 (B2)
  • B2 in all four skills
  • Certification must be within one year prior to the start of your course

More information on undergraduate English requirements.

How to improve your English test scores

If you do not meet our English language requirements at the moment, we have some options for you.

Our Language Centre can help

If you’re an international student planning to study with us or any other British university, you can apply to study English at our Language Centre. It offers a range of English language courses, including online courses.

Successful completion of our Language Centre programme removes a language condition from your university conditional offer. To find the right English language course for you, use our Course Finder.

Contact the British Council

Alternatively, the British Council can help you find out about English courses available in your country. Visit the British Council website.

The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for educational and cultural relations between the UK and the rest of the world. It provides English language courses from 135 outlets in 58 countries worldwide, as well as online.

If the British Council office in your country does not offer any English courses, it will be able to recommend other English language courses in your own country that you may wish to attend before beginning your studies with us.

Have questions about our English language requirements?

We’re here to help.

Get in touch