Overview
Our International Team is here to guide you through the process of becoming an AUB student from the start to the end of your course
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International
English Language Requirements
Here you'll find all you need to know about applying to AUB as an international student.
English Language Requirements
To apply to AUB, you'll need to have an English language qualification at the required level for the course you would like to study.
You can find guidance about which qualifications we accept below – this depends on the course you are applying for and whether you need a visa to study in the UK.
Unfortunately, we can't accept a letter from your school confirming your English Language proficiency.
If you need to take an external test, we recommend that you take this as soon as you can, ideally between March and May.
We also offer Pre-Sessional English courses for those who do not quite meet the scores for the BA and MA courses.
Qualifications and tests that are accepted for admission will normally need to have been completed within three years of the application submission. Some exceptions to the three-year expiration may apply including the following:
- British Nationals with accepted English language qualifications.
- Nationals of a majority English-speaking country with a suitable English qualification (such as English as a part of a high school qualification or a bachelor’s degree where the language of instruction is English). Find out if you're exempt here.
All English qualifications used to obtain a CAS for a Student Route Visa may only be used within a limited window:
- External tests (such as IELTS or TOEFL) must be taken in the three years before the start date of the course.
- School-based English results (including IB or national school curricula) must be taken in the three years prior to the application date
- GCSE English may be completed more than three years prior to the application providing that the applicant completed their Level 3 qualification within a year of applying.
If you struggle to book a suitable test or are unsure which test is best for you, please contact us for advice.
Please note, that we do accept IELTS One Skill Retake scores that meet our minimum stated entry requirements.
Though English is your first language, you may need to provide us with an English language qualification. If you apply for the Foundation Diploma and are under 18 then we require that you have one of the following qualifications:
This demonstrates that you have the English language skills necessary to succeed at university.
- GCSE English Grade C/Grade 4
- GCE O-Level English Grade C
- SQA Standard Grade Credit English
- SQA Higher Grade English Grade D
- Intermediate 2 Certificate English Grade A-C
- National 5 Certificate English Grade A-C
- Irish Leaving Certificate Ordinary Level English Grade C2/O4
- Irish Leaving Certificate Higher Level English Grade D3/H6
- IGCSE First or Second Language English Grade C
If you don't hold one of the qualifications above, we'll request that you gain one of these as part of any Conditional offer that we make to you.
By gaining this qualification, you'll also learn transferrable skills which will strengthen your CV and skill set for the future.
If you’re a national of one of the countries listed below, we can accept English studied as part of your English Language high school qualifications. We would expect to see English studies in every year of your high school qualifications, including the last (graduating) year with a grade of C or above. Find more information about exemptions.
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Australia
- The Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belize
- British Overseas Territories
- Canada*
- Dominica
- Grenada
- Guyana
- Ireland
- Jamaica
- New Zealand
- St Kitts and Nevis
- St Lucia
- St Vincent and the Grenadines
- Trinidad and Tobago
- USA
*Canadian nationals educated in Canada must be educated in English. Canadians educated in French will be asked to demonstrate English proficiency via an accepted qualification.
All applicants who require a Student Visa to study the Foundation Diploma must submit a Secure English Language Test (SELT) as defined by UKVI, that's been completed within two years of the start of the Foundation Diploma. AUB won't be able to issue a CAS in support of a Student Route Visa without the appropriate SELT result. Tests that AUB will accept include:
- IELTS for UKVI Academic SELT with 5.5 overall and at least 5.0 in each band
- Pearson Test of English Academic UKVI with 51 overall and at least 46 in each section
- LanguageCert International ESOL SELT B2 Communicator with at least 25 in each section (Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking)
- Trinity College London SELT Integrated Skills in English (ISE) Level II or Level III with a pass
- PSI Skills for English SELT B2 Exam with grade of Pass overall and Pass in each section
Applicants for Foundation who don't require a Student Route Visa may submit either a Secure English Language Test (SELT) or a normal academic version of the tests listed below.
- Academic IELTS with 5.5 overall and at least 5.0 in each band. We will accept IELTS Academic (online) scores.
- Pearson Test of English Academic with 51 overall, and at least 46 in each section.
- LanguageCert Academic SELT with at least 60 overall and 54 or above in each section (Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking).
- Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE) Level II or Level III with a pass.
- TOEFL iBT with 59 overall and a minimum score of 7 in reading, 6 in listening, 15 in speaking and 20 in writing. Please note the home version of this test is not accepted.
- Cambridge C1 Advanced English exam with a minimum grade of C.
- Cambridge C2 Proficiency English exam with a minimum grade of C.
- PSI Skills for English SELT B2 Exam with grade of Pass overall and Pass in each section.
- OIDI ELLT Digital/Global with a minimum overall score of 5 with a score of 4 or above in each section. If you wish to take this test at a discounted rate, please contact international@aub.ac.uk for a bespoke link.
- AUB will accept certain national or international curricula results to meet the English requirement for admission to Foundation Diploma providing the applicant does not require a visa. Please visit this chart to see which national curricula are accepted. (Must be completed within three years of application submission.)
- Academic IELTS or UKVI IELTS 6.0 overall with at least 5.5 in each band. We'll accept IELTS Online (Academic) scores.
- TOEFL iBT with 80 overall with a minimum score of 18 in writing, listening, and reading and 19 in speaking. Please note the home version of this test is not accepted.
- PTE Academic UKVI or PTE Academic with 64 overall and at least 59 in each section
- LanguageCert Academic SELT with at least 65 overall and 60 or above in each section (Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking).
- Cambridge C1 Advanced English exam with a minimum grade of C
- Cambridge C2 Proficiency English exam with a minimum grade of C
- Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE) Level II, Level III or Level IV with a pass
- PSI Skills for English SELT B2 Exam with grade of Pass overall and Pass in each section
- OIDI ELLT Digital/Global with a minimum overall score of 6 with a score of 5 or above in each section. If you wish to take this test at a discounted rate, please contact international@aub.ac.uk for a bespoke link.
- AUB will accept certain national or international curricula results to meet the English requirement for admission to bachelor’s degree-level study. Please visit this chart to see which curricula are accepted. (Must be completed within three years of application submission).
- Academic IELTS or UKVI IELTS 6.5 overall with at least 5.5 in each band. We'll accept IELTS Online (Academic) scores.
- TOEFL iBT with 92 overall with a minimum score of 20 in speaking, and 19 in listening, reading and writing. Please note the home version of this test is not accepted.
- PTE Academic UKVI/PTE Academic with 70 overall and at 59 in each section
- LanguageCert Academic SELT with at least 70 overall and 60 or above in each section (Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking).
- Cambridge C1 Advanced English exam with a minimum grade of C
- Cambridge C2 Proficiency English exam with a minimum grade of C
- Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE) Level III or Level IV with a pass
- PSI Skills for English SELT B2 Exam with grade of Pass with Merit overall and Pass in each section
- OIDI ELLT Digital/Global with a minimum overall score of 7 with a score of 5 or above in each section. If you wish to take this test at a discounted rate, please contact international@aub.ac.uk for a bespoke link.
- Bachelor’s degree from a majority English-speaking country completed onshore in the English-speaking country (see UKVI list)
All qualifications that are accepted for MA will need to have been completed within three years prior to the start date of their course at AUB, apart from if the following applies:
- You've completed a degree and can provide a letter or other university issued document confirming English as the language of instruction throughout your studies, AND
- You met the requirements of any of the English language tests, national or international qualifications listed here prior to the start of your degree, but no earlier than five years before the date of the application.
- Academic IELTS or UKVI IELTS with a 7.0 overall 7.0 in writing band and 6.5 in other bands. We'll accept IELTS Online (Academic) scores.
- TOEFL iBT with 100 overall with a minimum score of 27 in writing and 22 in listening, and reading and speaking. Please note the home version of this test is not accepted.
- PTE Academic UKVI or PTE Academic with 74 overall and at least 64 in each section
- LanguageCert Academic SELT with at least 75 overall, with 75 in writing band and 70 or above in each section (Listening, Reading, and Speaking).
- Cambridge C1 Advanced English exam with a grade of A
- Cambridge C2 Proficiency English exam with a minimum grade of C
- Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE) Level III or Level IV with a pass
- PSI Skills for English SELT C1 Exam with grade of Pass overall and Pass in each section
- OIDI ELLT Digital/Global with a minimum overall score of 8 with a score of 7 or above in each section. If you wish to take this test at a discounted rate, please contact international@aub.ac.uk for a bespoke link.
All qualifications that are accepted for MPhil/PhD will need to have been completed within three years prior to the start date of their course at AUB, apart from if the following applies:
- You've completed a degree and can provide a letter or other university issued document confirming English as the language of instruction throughout your studies, AND
- You met the requirements of any of the English language tests, national or international qualifications listed here prior to the start of your degree, but no earlier than five years before the date of the application.
Accepted national and international qualifications
The accepted national and international qualifications may only be used when they've been completed within five years of the scheduled start of the course and may not be used when a Secure English Language Test is required to obtain a Student Route Visa. Please check the categories above or email the Admissions team to confirm if your qualification is acceptable for your level of study.
If you struggle to book a suitable test or are unsure which test is best for you, please contact us for advice.
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Contact us
Please contact the International team if you have any concerns about studying in the UK