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English language requirements - 2024 entry

English language requirements vary by programme, and our individual programme pages list the required profile.

There are a number of ways you can meet our requirements. We accept a number of English language tests. Our programme pages list these as Profiles. Once you know the required Profile for your chosen programme you can check that Profile page which will list the tests, via the links below.

Profiles

Other ways of meeting English Requirements 

Nationals of a majority English-speaking country will be accepted without an English qualification.

Nationals of a majority English-speaking country may be accepted without an English qualification if during the application process it has been demonstrated that you are able to understand written and spoken English to the required level.

Antigua and Barbuda Dominica St Kitts and Nevis
Australia Grenada St Lucia
The Bahamas Guyana St Vincent and the Grenadines
Barbados Jamaica Trinidad and Tobago
Belize Malta United Kingdom
Canada* New Zealand USA

*Canadian nationals are exempt from English Language requirements. Non-Canadian nationals are exempt from English if their entire degree has been studied at an Anglophone Canadian university. 

The following scenarios also meet our English language requirements:

  • Full degrees studied in full and completed in a majority English-speaking country if taken no more than two years prior to enrolment.
  • Degrees awarded by:
    • UK Institutions with overseas campuses
    • UK Institutions awarding degrees on a 2+2 basis
    • UK Institutions awarding degrees on a 3+1 basis for Profiles A, B1, B2 and B3
    • UK Institutions awarding Masters in the UK
  • Provide evidence of an accepted High School qualification with scores we accept for English Language (shown on our profile pages), but taken more than seven years before our course start date. We will extend the validity of the test, if you can also provide official evidence (normally a ‘Medium of Instruction’ letter) that you have graduated with a Bachelor degree ‘taught and examined’ in English in the past seven years.  We will need you to evidence both the test and the Medium of Instruction letter for this to be considered. 

Please note: All test scores are verified with the issuing body on receipt. Any applicant found to have submitted a fraudulent score will have their application withdrawn. If you wish to defer your entry to the University, we may ask you to re-take your test if your original offer was based on a test which will be out of date at the point of registration.

The University reserves the right to change minimum English Language requirements during an application cycle in-line with any compliance guidance released by the Home Office. In the event of a change in Home Office policy which affects entry requirements, the University will notify affected applicants in writing.

Further consideration will be given in the following scenarios.  In all instances approval granted is at the discretion of the Academic Faculty.

  • Evidence of substantial professional experience, ideally with an English language test that may not be valid.  Evidence such as a letter from a recent employer if the following criteria are met:
    • Applicants have worked for a minimum of 12 months in majority English-speaking country or for an English-language-speaking organisation in a non-MESC where the main language for the role was English.
    • The role involved daily professional use of each of the four language components (reading, writing, listening, and speaking).
    • Applicants worked in an appropriately technical context to demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively in an academic or professional environment; and
    • The role has ended no more than two years before the course's start date.
  • Where the English Language evidence provided is outside of the current validity period by no more than three months; or the IELTS Academic equivalents are no lower than 0.5 points in any one subskill the lead academic supervisor will be contacted to establish if this can be accepted. This will remain dependant on meeting the UKVI minimum criteria for English Language.
  • Graduated with a Bachelor degree ‘taught and examined’ in English.

Need support with meeting the requirements?

INTO University of Exeter offer Pre-sessional courses designed to improve your English language skills to the standard required for your chosen degree. These tests are valid for 2 years prior to the start of the programme. Details of requirements needed to progress are included in the Profile pages. Find out more about the Presessional English course on the INTO website.

If you have taken any other acceptable test and wish to confirm if a pre-sessional English course is required or recommended, please contact us.

If you successfully complete a pre-sessional course at INTO University of Exeter and meet the progression requirements for entry to your academic programme of study, it is not necessary to undertake an additional IELTS Academic or equivalent test. Please note that we do not accept pre-sessional courses delivered by other INTO centres or organisations.

The Centre also offers an Academic English course.

Visa information

Student visa

A student applying for a Student Visa who is not a national of a majority English speaking country is required to demonstrate a minimum proficiency in English language equivalent to B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) in speaking, reading, writing and listening. The University’s minimum English Language requirements are specified above.

Visitor visa

If you are coming to the university to study or conduct research for a period of less than 6 months (for example as an exchange student) you can do this using a Visitor Visa. Credit-mobility students entering the UK on a Visitor visa will be exempt from the English Language requirements above if the Partner Institution completes the Exeter English Language Proficiency form confirming their student has the minimum proficiency in English language equivalent to B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR).