English language requirements

Our courses are taught and assessed in English. The UK Visa and Immigration Authority and the university will need you to meet their English language requirements for your chosen course in order to be granted a student visa.

You can meet our English language proficiency requirements if:

  • we assess that your academic record demonstrates your ability to study and be examined in English, or
  • you show us that you are competent in English by providing proof that you have recently passed an English language qualification.

On this page

Meeting the university's English language requirements

English language tests

We accept a wide range of English language tests. You can view the full list, along with the different levels required for our undergraduate, postgraduate taught and research degree courses, under the relevant sections.

You should have taken and passed the test within two years of starting your course at Brighton.

Check our course finder for specific English language requirements for your course.

Got a question? Get in touch with our admissions team

Undergraduate

We have three main levels of English for undergraduate, depending on the course that you apply for: Standard, High and Advanced. 

English language tests accepted for undergraduate degrees

IELTS Academic for UKVI (SELT), IELTS Academic, IELTS Online and IELTS One Skill Retake (non-SELTs)
  • Standard: 6.0 overall, minimum 5.5 in all components.
  • High: 6.5 overall, minimum of 5.5 in all components.
  • Advanced: 7.0 overall, minimum of 6.5 in all components.

Pearson PTE Academic UKVI (SELT) and Pearson PTE Academic – Centre-based test only (non-SELT)
  • Standard: 59 overall, 59 in all components.
  • High: 59 overall, 59 in all components.
  • Advanced: 76 overall, 59 in all components.

TOEFL iBT – Centre-based test only (non-SELT)
  • Standard: 72 overall, 18 in writing, 10 in Reading, 10 in Listening and 17 in Speaking.
  • High: 85 overall, 18 in writing, 10 in Reading, 10 in Listening and 17 in Speaking.
  • Advanced: 97 overall, 25 in writing, 21 in Reading, 22 in Listening and 21 in Speaking.

LanguageCert Academic SELT
  • Standard: 65 overall, minimum of 60 in all components.
  • High: 70 overall, minimum of 60 in all components.
  • Advanced: 75 overall, minimum of 70 in all components.

KTE (Kaplan Test of English) (non-SELT)

Discounted KTE test fee available for University of Brighton applicants
  • Standard: Minimum 442 overall with all four components at 411.
  • High: Minimum 477 overall with all four components at 411.
  • Advanced: Minimum 511 overall with all four components at 477.

Duolingo English Test (non-SELT)
  • Standard: 110 overall with 100 in Speaking, Writing and Listening, and 105 in Reading.
  • High: 125 overall with 100 in Speaking, Writing and Listening, and 105 in Reading. 
  • Advanced: 135 overall with 125 in all component scores.

Trinity Integrated Skills in English (ISE) III (SELT)
  • Standard: A minimum of Pass in all components.
  • High: A minimum of Pass in all components.
  • Advanced: A minimum of Merit in all components.

Trinity Integrated Skills in English (ISE) IV (SELT)
  •  All levels: A minimum of Pass in all components.
Cambridge Assessment English: B2 First (FCE) and C1 Advanced (CAE) (non-SELT)
  • Standard: 169 with no less than 162 in each component.
  • High: 176 with no less than 162 in each component.
  • Advanced: 188 with no less than 176 in each component.
Cambridge Assessment English (non-SELT): C2 Proficiency (CPE)
  • Standard: 180 with no less than 162 in each component.
  • High: 180 with no less than 162 in each component.
  • Advanced: 180 with no less than 176 in each component.
Oxford ELLT Digital and Global (non-SELT)
  • Standard: 6 overall with a minimum of 5 in each component.
  • High: 7 overall with a minimum of 5 in each component.
  • Advanced: 8 overall with a minimum of 7 in each component.

Oxford Test of English (non-SELT) 
  • Standard: 126 overall, minimum of 111 in each component.
  • High: 135 overall, minimum of 111 in each component.
  • Advanced: Not accepted.

Occupational English Test (OET)

ONLY accepted for courses related to nursing, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, podiatry and radiography in the School of Education, Sport and Health Sciences, pharmacy in the School of Applied Sciences, and medicine at BSMS. 

  • Standard: 250 overall average of component scores, with a minimum of 200 in each component score
  • High: 300 overall average of component scores, with a minimum of 200 in each component score
  • Advanced: 350 overall average of component scores, with a minimum of 300 in each component score

Postgraduate taught

We have two main levels of English for taught postgraduate degrees depending on the course that you apply for: Standard and High.

English language tests accepted for taught postgraduate degrees

IELTS Academic for UKVI (SELT), IELTS Academic, IELTS Online and IELTS One Skill Retake (non-SELTs)
  • Standard: 6.5 overall, minimum of 5.5 in all components.
  • High: 7.0 overall, minimum of 6.5 in all components.

Pearson PTE Academic UKVI (SELT) and Pearson PTE Academic – Centre-based test only (non-SELT)
  • Standard: 59 overall, 59 in all components.
  • High: 76 overall, 59 in all components.

TOEFL iBT – Centre-based test only (non-SELT)
  • Standard: 85 overall, 18 in writing, 10 in Reading, 10 in Listening and 17 in Speaking.
  • High: 97 overall, 25 in writing, 21 in Reading, 22 in Listening and 21 in Speaking.

LanguageCert Academic SELT

 
  • Standard: 70 overall, minimum of 60 in all components.
  • High: 75 overall, minimum of 70 in all components.

KTE (Kaplan Test of English) (non-SELT)

Discounted KTE test fee available for University of Brighton applicants
  • Standard: Minimum 477 overall with all four components at 411.
  • High: Minimum 511 overall with all four components at 477.

Duolingo English Test (non-SELT)
  • Standard: 125 overall with 100 in Speaking, Writing and Listening, and 105 in Reading. 
  • High: 135 overall with 125 in all component scores.

Trinity Integrated Skills in English (ISE) III (SELT)
  • Standard: A minimum of Pass in all components.
  • High: A minimum of Merit in all components.

Trinity Integrated Skills in English (ISE) IV (SELT)
  • All levels: A minimum of Pass in all components.

Cambridge Assessment English: B2 First (FCE) and C1 Advanced (CAE) (non-SELT)
  • Standard: 176 with no less than 162 in each component.
  • High: 188 with no less than 176 in each component.

Cambridge Assessment English (non-SELT): C2 Proficiency (CPE)
  • Standard: 180 with no less than 162 in each component.
  • High: 180 with no less than 176 in each component.

Oxford ELLT Digital and Global (non-SELT)
  • Standard: 7 overall with a minimum of 5 in each component.
  • High: 8 overall with a minimum of 7 in each component.

Oxford Test of English (non-SELT) 
  • Standard: 135 overall, minimum of 111 in each component
  • High: Not accepted

Occupational English Test (OET)

ONLY accepted for courses related to nursing, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, podiatry and radiography in the School of Education, Sport and Health Sciences, pharmacy in the School of Applied Sciences, and medicine at BSMS. 

  • Standard: 300 overall average of component scores, with a minimum of 200 in each component score
  • High: 350 overall average of component scores, with a minimum of 300 in each component score

Research degrees

Standard requirements by subject

Applied sciences
Technology and engineering

  • IELTS 6.5 overall with no component below 6.0.

Architecture
Art and media
Business and law
Education
Humanities and social science
Sport and health sciences

  • IELTS 7.0 overall, 7.0 for writing and no component below 6.5.

Countries exempt from English language requirements

You do not need to prove your knowledge of English if you are from one of the following countries or territories. Find out more at gov.uk

  • Jamaica
  • Malta
  • New Zealand
  • St Kitts and Nevis
  • St Lucia
  • St Vincent and the Grenadines
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • UK
  • USA.

Degree from the UK or UKVI majority English-speaking country

Bachelors or masters degree completed at a university in the UK (non-SELT)

  • Students who have successfully completed a degree in the UK are exempt from Home Office English language requirements.
  • You must have completed within 10 years of the start of your course at Brighton.

Bachelors or masters degree completed in UKVI-recognised majority English-speaking country (non-SELT)

Students who have successfully completed a degree that meets the following criteria:

  • ENIC recognises it as equivalent to a bachelors degree or above awarded by an ENIC-recognised institution from a UKVI-recognised majority English-speaking country
  • completed within 10 years of the start of your course at Brighton.

Please note for non-Canadian nationals, we can accept a degree from a majority English-speaking  province, as long as the qualification was taught in English as meeting our minimum English language proficiency requirements.

Non-Canadian nationals with degree-level qualifications from French-speaking provinces will require IELTS with the required scores or another equivalent English qualification.

Alternative English language qualifications

Intro

Listed here are the English language qualifications that the university accepts, with the standard grades for most of our undergraduate and taught postgraduate courses.

For all of these qualifications, you should have taken and passed the test within three years of starting your course at Brighton, or five years if you have an additional year of work or study experience in a majority English-speaking country.

Check our course finder for specific English language requirements for your course.

Got a question? Get in touch with our admissions team

Worldwide English language qualifications

A-level or International A-level English Language, English Literature and Language, or English Literature

  • Grade D overall.

GCSE English Language

  • Overall grade of C/4.

IGCSE English Language

  • Please contact the Admissions team.

International Baccalaureate

  • Grade 5 Higher Level (HL) or grade 5 Standard Level (SL) English B.
  • Grade 5 Higher Level (HL) or grade 5 Standard Level (SL) English A Language and Literature.
  • Grade 5 Higher Level (HL) or grade 5 Standard Level (SL) English A Literature.
  • Grade 5 Higher Level (HL) or grade 5 Standard Level (SL) English A Literature and Performance.

English qualifications in Africa

Botswana General Certificate of Secondary Education Examination (BGCSE)

  • Minimum grade of C in the English component.

Cameroon General Certificate of Education Ordinary Level

  • Minimum grade of C in the English component.

Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education

  • Minimum grade of C in the English component.

Malawi School Certificate of Education

  • Minimum mark of 1–6 on the English component.

Namibia School Leaving Certificates

  • Mark of 1–6 on the English component of the Cambridge School Certificate (CSC)
  • Or a mark of A–C on the English component of the:
    • Namibia Senior Secondary Certificate (Ordinary Level)
    • Senior Certificate.

Senior School Certificate awarded by the National Examinations Council (NECO)

  • Minimum mark of A/1–C/6 on the English component.

South African National Senior Certificate

  • Minimum mark of 3 (40%) on the English component.

Tanzania Secondary School Leaving Certificate/Certificate of Secondary Education

  • Mark of A–C in the English component.

Uganda Certificate of Education

  • Grade of 1–6 in the English component.

West African Senior School Certificate (WASSC) awarded by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC)

  • Minimum mark of A1–C6 in the English component.

Zambian School Certificate/Secondary School Certificate/General Certificate of Education

  • Undergraduate: Grade 6 or above in the English component of the Zambian School Certificate / General Certificate of Education.
  • Postgraduate: Grade 6 or above in the English component of the Zambian Secondary School Certificate.

Zimbabwe General Certificate of Education

  • Undergraduate: Minimum grade C or above in the English component of the Zimbabwe General Certificate of Education at Ordinary Level or minimum grade E on the General Certificate of Education Advanced Level.
  • Postgraduate: Minimum grade C or above in the English component of the Zimbabwe General Certificate of Education at Ordinary Level or the General Certificate of Education Advanced Level.

English qualifications in Asia

Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE)

  • Minimum grade 4 in the English component.

Indian Higher Secondary School Certificate/Standard XII    

  • If awarded by the Council for Indian School Certificate Examination (CISCE) or the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), we will accept a minimum grade of 80% in Higher Secondary Certificate / Standard XII English.

Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia / Malaysia Certificate of Education (SPM) awarded by the Examinations Syndicate of the Ministry of Education Malaysia    

  • Minimum mark of C/6 or above in the SPM English 1119. For qualifications awarded from 2021 onwards certificates should indicate an CEFR level of B2, C1 or C2.

Singapore / Cambridge GCE O-level and GCE A-level

We will accept a mark of 1–6 (A1–C6) on the English component of the:

  • Singapore O-level
  • Cambridge GCE O-level.

Or a minimum mark of A–D on the English:

  • Singapore Cambridge GCE A-level. Note: this DOES NOT apply to the version of this qualification with ‘normal’ in title.

English qualifications in Europe

Austrian Reifeprüfung     

  • Minimum mark of 2 (Gut) on the English component of the Reifeprüfung.

Denmark School Leaving Qualifications    

We will accept a minimum mark of 7 on the English component of the:

  • Bevis for Studentereksamen (STX)
  • Bevis for Hojere Forberedelseseksamen (HF) – Higher Preparatory Examination Certificate
  • Bevis for Hojere Handelseksamen (HHX) – Higher Commerce Examination
  • Bevis for Hojere Teknisk Eksamen (HTX) – Higher Technical Examination Certificate

European Baccalaureate English language 1

  • Overall grade 5.63 (out of 10) or above

European Baccalaureate Advanced English language 1

  • Overall grade 6.76 (out of 10) or above

European Baccalaureate English language 2

  • Overall grade 5.91 (out of 10) or above

European Baccalaureate Advanced English language 2

  • Overall grade 6.30 (out of 10) or above.

German Zeugnis der Allemeinen Hochschulreife / Arbitur    

  • Minimum grade of 10 / gut on the English language component.

Iceland Stúdentspróf (from Gymnasium or a Technical/Vocational School)    

  • Minimum grade of 9 in the English component of the Stúdentspróf.

Irish Leaving Certificate

  • Undergraduate: Minimum grade in the English component of O1–O4 (or A–C / A1–C3) achieved at Ordinary / Standard Level or H1–H7 (or A–D / A1–D3) achieved at Higher / Honours level.
  • Postgraduate: Minimum grade of O1–O4 (or A–C / A1–C3) achieved at Ordinary / Standard Level or H1–H7 (or A–D / A1–D3) achieved at Higher / Honours level.

Malta Secondary Education Certificate    

  • Mark of 1–5 on the English component.

Netherlands Voorbereidend Wetenschappelijk Onderwijs (VWO)  

  • Minimum grade of 8 in VWO English Language.

Norway Vitnemål for Videregående Opplæring (VVO)    

  • Minimum grade of 4 in the English component.

Sweden Högskoleförberedande    

  • Minimum grade C or above in the English 7 subject.

English qualifications in the rest of the world

Australian High School qualifications    

  • Capital Territory: Year 10 Certificate: acceptable provided grades A–C have been achieved or Year 12 Certificate: every subject passed (pass grade E)
  • New South Wales Higher School Certificate: every subject passed (pass grade 50)
  • Northern Territory Certificate of Education and Training: every subject passed (pass grade E/–7)
  • Queensland Certificate of Education: every subject passed (pass grade VLA)
  • South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE): every subject passed (pass grade 3/E)
  • Tasmanian Certificate of Education: every subject passed, when studied at TQA Level 2 or above  (pass grade 1)
  • Victorian Certificate of Education: every subject passed (no passmark)
  • Western Australia Certificate of Education (WACE): every subject passed (pass grade D)

Bermuda School Diploma    

  • Grade A–D in a 400 English course.

Canadian Secondary School Diploma    

We will accept any of the following results on the English language component:

  • Alberta General High School Diploma – 50%/C
  • British Columbia Certificate of Graduation – 50%/D
  • Manitoba High School Diploma – 50%/D
  • New Brunswick High School Diploma – 60%
  • Newfoundland and Labrador High School Graduation Diploma – 50%/D
  • Northwest Territories High School Diploma – 50%/D
  • Nova Scotia High School Graduation Diploma – 50%/D
  • Nunavut – must be studied as a first language – 50%/D
  • Ontario Academic Courses – Level 1/50%, Ontario Secondary School Diploma – Level 1/50%, Ontario Secondary School Graduation Diploma/ Diplôme d'Etudes Secondaires – 50%
  • Prince Edward Island High School Graduation Diploma – 50%
  • Quebec Diplôme d'Etudes Secondaires at 60% and Quebec Diplôme d’Etudes Collegiales at passmark of 50% when studied in Anglophone schools
  • Saskatchewan Transcript of Secondary Level Achievement – 50%
  • Yukon Certificate of Graduation – 50%.

Caribbean Examinations Council Secondary Certificate    

  • Grades One (I) to Three (III) at General Proficiency in the English Language component.

New Zealand School Leaving Qualifications    

We will accept grades of Achieved, Merit and Excellence in the English component of the:

  • National Certificate in Educational Achievement Level 2 – equivalent to GCSE A*–C / 9–4 provided grade Achieved, Merit or Excellence has been obtained.   
  • National Certificate in Educational Achievement Level 3 – equivalent to GCSE A*–C / 9–4 provided grade Achieved, Merit or Excellence has been obtained.

Or

  • University Entrance Examination subjects: English and Alternative English are both considered equivalent to GCSE A*–C / 9–4 provided grade A, B or C (or 46% or above) has been obtained. 

USA High School Graduation Diploma (HSGD)    

We will accept a grade C average or above in English provided it has been taken from years 9–12.

Meeting the UK Visa and Immigration Authority (UKVI) English language requirements

For courses below degree level, the UKVI requires prospective students to provide evidence they have met the language requirement through a secure English language test (SELT), with an approved test provider.

The University of Brighton accepts IELTS Academic UKVI, PTE Academic UKVI, LanguageCert SELT and Trinity College London SELT taken in the UK.

We also accept a range of non-SELTs for courses at degree level or above, if they meet our validity policy. The full list can be seen in our undergraduate and postgraduate sections above.

We need evidence of this before we can issue you with a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) which you will need for your visa application.

If you have any questions about the university or the UKVI English language requirements we recommend speaking to one of our helpful advisers.

Pre-sessional English courses

If you need to improve your level of English before joining us, you could join an in-person pre-sessional English course at the University of Brighton International College. 

Alternatively, you could join an online pre-sessional English course with partner Oxford International Digital Institute.