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  • English language requirements

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.

Changes to our requirements for 2022

COVID-19 continues to disrupt exams and English language testing in some parts of the world. For 2022 entry, we have expanded the number of qualifications we are able to accept. If you have, or are sitting, one of the qualifications listed here and it meets our validity policy then you do not need to take an IELTS test, even if we asked you to do so in your offer. Please let us know and send a copy of your results so we can check your qualification.

  • English language, English literature, or English language and literature A-levels at grade D or above.
  • English courses from other UK universities, subject to subject to being awarded from an accredited institution and at the CEFR B2 minimum levels required and meeting all four components.
  • A bachelors or masters degree from an accredited university in the UK or a Home Office majority English-speaking country.
  • TOEFL iBT At Home test – check the TOEFL website for more information about which countries are operating this test and the test eligibility.
  • IELTS Indicator home-based test – check the IELTS Indicator website for more information about which countries are operating this test and the test eligibility.
  • KITE (Kaplan International Tools for English) - an easy to access online English Language test from Kaplan online that can be taken from home.
  • LanguageCert International ESOL (IESOL) Exam.
  • Occupational English Test (OET) – accepted for Medicine and a range of allied health profession courses, including Pharmacy, which have vocational training elements.

If you need additional English language training we have pre-sessional courses available.

All qualifications are subject to our normal admissions checks and the above is only a summary and not a guarantee that your qualification will definitely be accepted. If you are applying for an undergraduate or postgraduate taught course, contact the enquiries and admissions team for more support and guidance. If you are applying for a postgraduate research degree, get in touch with the doctoral college team.

We will also continue accept the standard English language qualifications detailed below.

Meeting the university's English language requirements

You can meet our English language proficiency requirements if: 

  • we are satisfied that your previous academic record meets our validity policy and clearly demonstrates your ability to study and be examined in the English language, or
  • you provide us with certificated proof of your competence in English by having recently passed an English language qualification.

The tables show the English language qualifications we accept for most courses. However, please check individual course descriptions for the English language entry requirements for the specific course. 

Undergraduate: standard requirement for most taught undergraduate courses

LevelQualificationResult

Higher intermediate to lower advanced

IELTS/IELTS Indicator

6.0 (with no less than 5.5 in each component)

Higher intermediate to lower advanced

Cambridge

B2 First (FCE) 169 with no less than 162 in each component

Higher intermediate to lower advanced

Cambridge

C1 Advanced (CAE) 169 with no less than 162 in each component

Higher intermediate to lower advanced

Cambridge

C2 Proficiency (CPE) 180 with no less than 162 in each component

Higher intermediate to lower advanced

PTE Academic

56 (with no less than 51 in each component)

Higher intermediate to lower advanced

Trinity

ISE II with a Pass with Merit in each component

Higher intermediate to lower advanced

TOEFL iBT

72 overall, 18 in writing, 10 in reading, 10 in listening and 17 in speaking

Higher intermediate to lower advanced

LanguageCert International ESOL (IESOL) Exam – B2 Communicator or C1 Expert

33 overall with a minimum score of 33 in each component

Higher intermediate to lower advanced

KITE (Kaplan International Tools for English)

Minimum 442 overall with all four components at 411

Higher intermediate to lower advanced

Occupational English Test, accepted only for Medicine and a range of allied health profession courses, including Pharmacy, which have vocational training elements

Minimum 270 overall with all four components at 220

Postgraduate: standard requirement for most taught postgraduate courses

LevelQualificationResult

Lower advanced to advanced

IELTS/IELTS Indicator 

6.5 (with no less than 5.5 in each component)

Lower advanced to advanced

Cambridge

B2 First (FCE) 176 with no less than 162 in each component

Lower advanced to advanced

Cambridge

C1 Advanced (CAE) 176 with no less than 162 in each component

Lower advanced to advanced

Cambridge

C2 Proficiency (CPE) 180 with no less than 162 in each component

Lower advanced to advanced

PTE Academic

61 (with no less than 51 in each component)

Lower advanced to advanced

Trinity

ISE III with a Pass in each component

Lower advanced to advanced

TOEFL iBT

85 overall, 18 in writing, 10 in reading, 10 in listening and 17 in speaking

Lower advanced to advanced

LanguageCert International ESOL (IESOL) Exam – B2 Communicator or C1 Expert 39 overall with a minimum score of 33 in each component

Lower advanced to advanced

KITE (Kaplan International Tools for English) Minimum 477 overall with all four components at 411

Lower advanced to advanced

Occupational English Test, accepted only for Medicine and a range of allied health profession courses including Pharmacy, which have vocational training elements

Minimum 320 overall with all four components at 220

We accept a number of other qualifications, if you have a question about English qualifications please get in touch.

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

For some courses 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. We can also accept a number of non-SELTs as long as they meet our validity policy.

For a list of the current SELTs, visit the UKVI website.

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 speak to one of our advisers.

What if I do not meet the English requirements?

Brighton Student Skills Hub offers a range of English courses to prepare you for academic study at UK universities.

If you would like to take an English language course or talk to someone about the English qualifications you need, please contact us.

Learn English at Brighton student skills hub

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