English Language Requirements - Postgraduate Research
Please note: English Language requirements for 2022 will be available soon.
If you are a national of a majority English-speaking country you may be accepted without an English language qualification if during the application process you have demonstrated that you are able to understand written and spoken English to the required level.
Accepted English language tests
- IELTS (International English Language Testing System – academic version)
- TOEFL iBT
- Pearson Test of English Academic
- LanguageCert SELT
- Other English language tests (see below)
Please note, we now accept the TOEFL iBT Home Edition and the IELTS Indicator online tests, however, we do not accept TOEFL Institutional Testing Programme (ITP)
Programmes starting from January 2021 to July 2021 - these tests are valid for 2 years and 6 months prior to the start of the programme.
Programmes starting from September 2021 onwards - these tests are valid for 2 years prior to the start of the programme.
Programme requirements
What test scores do I need?
English language requirements vary by programme, please see the individual programme pages for specific requirements.
If you are an international student from outside the European Union and you need a visa in order to study at the University you must:
- fulfil the English language requirements and conditions of your intended degree programme and
- have taken an English language test which satisfies Home Office requirements.
From 6 April 2015 there have been changes to the Home Office Secure English Language Test (SELT) list for the purpose of obtaining a UK visa. These changes do NOT affect Higher Education Institutions' ability to choose their own method of assessing English language competence for degree level programmes. This means universities will still be able to decide what English language tests and scores to accept as evidence of a degree student's ability to speak English at the appropriate level, even if the test is taken after the 6 April 2015 changes.
The University is pleased to confirm that it will accept all qualifications stated on this page as evidence of linguistic ability (subject to meeting our minimum requirements) for applicants joining the university* in 2018/19. * Applicants to programmes offered by INTO University of Exeter, will need to view the INTO University of Exeter website for information on acceptable English language qualifications. This is due to a different ruling by the Home Office regarding non-degree level programmes.
What if I do not meet your English language requirements?
If you do not reach the required English standard in one of the above recognised English language tests, undergraduate study at Exeter could still be a possibility if you successfully complete a Pre-Sessional Course at the INTO University of Exeter Centre. These intensive six- or ten-week courses are designed for students who wish to improve their ability in English and study skills before they start their degree programme.
The tables on the INTO website show if you will need to attend a pre-sessional course based on your IELTS test scores. If you have taken any other acceptable test and wish to confirm if a Pre-Sessional English Course is required or recommended, please enquire online.
If you successfully complete a Pre-Sessional Course and meet the progression requirements from the programme for entry to your academic course of study, it is not necessary to undertake an additional IELTS test at the end of the course to demonstrate your English language proficiency. Please note that we do not accept pre-sessional courses provided by other bodies.
If you do not meet the pre-sessional entry requirements or want to have longer to understand and learn new skills, the Centre also offers a number of other English language options such as the Academic English course.
The University can accept one of the other tests listed below, provided that they have been completed no more than seven years prior to enrolment**. However, if you are an international student from outside the European Union, and you need a visa in order to study at the University, this will be in exceptional circumstances only, and in line with UKVI guidance. In such cases we may also require applicants to satisfactorily complete an interview or further assessment before we issue a CAS (Certificate of Acceptance to Study). Our strong recommendation is therefore that students requiring a visa obtain an IELTS, PTE, CAE or TOEFL IBT test if possible.
Applicants who have completed a full degree in a majority English-speaking country no more than two years prior to enrolment are exempt from the need to provide a further assessment of their linguistic ability.
If the IELTS requirement for your programme of interest differs from that listed below, please enquire online for clarification.
** ** Duolingo is acceptable for 2021 entry only provided it is taken within 2 years prior to the start of the programme.
| Qualification | Minimum equivalent grade for programmes requiring IELTS 6.5 overall with no less than 6 in any section | Minimum equivalent grade for programmes requiring equivalent of IELTS 7 overall and no less than 6 in any section |
|---|---|---|
| A or AS level English | Grade D or above | Grade C or above |
| GCSE English Language / Cambridge GCE O Level / Cambridge Overseas School Certificate | Grade C or above | Grade B or above |
| Bellerbys AES |
Minimum of 65% overall, no less than 60% in any subskill | Minimum of 70% overall, no less than 60% in any subskill |
| Cambridge IGCSE English as a First Language | Grade C or above | Grade B or above |
| Cambridge IGCSE English as a Second Language | Grade B or above | Grade A or above |
| Cambridge Pre-U Literature in English (Principal Subject) | P2 or above | M3 or above |
| Botswana General Certificate of Secondary Education (BGCSE) | Grades 3-6 (credit); Grade C | Grades 1 and 2 (distinction); Grades A and B |
| Cambridge English: Advanced or Proficiency | 176 overall, no less than 169 in any element | 185 overall, no less than 169 in any element |
| Duolingo (acceptable for 2021 entry only). | 115 | 125 |
| Edexcel IGCSE English as a First Language | Grade C or above | Grade B or above |
| Edexcel IGCSE English as a Second Language | Grade B or above | Grade A or above |
| European Baccalaureate | L1: English: 60% or above L2: English: 70% or above L3: English: 70% or above |
L1: English: 70% or above L2: English: 80% or above L3: English: 80% or above |
| French Baccalaureate (option International du Baccalaureat) | English: Grade 10 | English: Grade 10 |
| Hong Kong applicants | HKDSE English (Core) Level 4 overall | HKDSE English (Core) Level 5** overall |
| IELTS Indicator | IELTS 6.5 overall and no less than 6 in any section | IELTS 7.0 overall and no less than 6 in any other section |
| Indian Standard XII English at first attempt (CBSE, ISC, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala Boards) |
75% | 80% |
| Indian Standard XII English at first attempt (West Bengal Board) | 65% | 70% |
| Indian Standard XII English at first attempt (Tamil Nadu and Karnataka Boards) | at least 85% | at least 90% |
| International Baccalaureate English | Standard Level Grade 5 or Higher Level Grade 4 or above | Standard Level Grade 5 or Higher Level Grade 4 or above |
| Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education | English: Grade C (4) or above | English: Grade B or above |
| LanguageCert SELT | B2 Communicator with minimum of 39 in speaking, writing, listening & reading | C1 Expert with minimum of 25 in speaking, writing, listening & reading |
| Malaysian SPM English (1119 / O level paper only) | Grade C or above | Grade B or above |
| Norwegian Vitnemal – videregaende opplaering | English: Overall score of 4 or above | English: Overall score of 5 or above |
| Ontario Secondary School Certificate | English Grade C (75%) or above | English Grade B (80%) or above |
| Singaporean Applicants | Singapore-Cambridge O level English grade C or Singapore Integrated Programme Secondary 4 English Language/Language Arts grade C or better General Paper is not acceptable proof of English Language proficiency. |
Singapore-Cambridge O level English grade C or Singapore Integrated Programme Secondary 4 English Language/Language Arts grade B or better General Paper is not acceptable proof of English Language proficiency. |
| South African National Senior Certificate/South African Matriculation Certificate | English: Grade 4 | English: Grade 5 |
| Trinity ISE exams (SELT variant only) | ISE III (SELT variant only) with merit in writing section and pass in all other sections | ISE III (SELT variant only) with merit in writing and one other section and pass in all other sections |
| West African Examinations Council SSCE in English at first sitting | English: Grade C6 or above | English: Grade B3 or above |
| Uganda National Examinations Board Certificate of Education (UCE) | Grades 3-6 (credit); Grade C | Grades 1 and 2 (distinction); Grades A and B |
| USA High School Graduation Diploma | English Grade C (75–79%) or above | English Grade B (80–89%) or above |
| Zimbabwe General Certificate of Education O level | English: Grade C or above | English: Grade B or above |
| Zimbabwe General Certificate of Education Advanced level English (ZIMSEC) | English: Grade D or above | English: Grade C or above |
The INTO University of Exeter Centre, based on the Streatham Campus, offers intensive, pre-sessional courses lasting six or ten weeks. If you do not meet the University’s English language requirements for direct entry to postgraduate study, pre-sessional study can help to raise your linguistic ability to the required standard for the degree programme.
If you have taken any other acceptable test and wish to confirm if a pre-sessional English course is required or recommended, please enquire online.
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 or TOEFL 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. This course will be offered online only from April to July 2021 and is an acceptable test.
View the latest Pre-sessional English brochure 2022 (.pdf)
The following countries are those we deem to be a majority English-speaking country:
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Australia
- The Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belize
- Canada*
- Dominica
- Grenada
- Guyana
- Jamaica
- Malta
- New Zealand
- St Kitts and Nevis
- St Lucia
- St Vincent and the Grenadines
- Trinidad and Tobago
- USA
If you are a national of one of the above countries, you are not required to submit evidence of English language proficiency.
If you have undertaken a full degree in one of the above countries, you will not be required to submit further evidence of your English language if you have:
- Completed it no more than two years before the intended start of your chosen postgraduate programme.
- The degree certificate is successfully verified with the issuing body on receipt. Any applicant found to have submitted a fraudulent score will have their application withdrawn.
* Canadian nationals are exempt from English language requirements but non-Canadian nationals who have studied in Canada are required to meet standard English language requirements due to Home Office policy.
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. Our English language programme requirements and other accepted tests provide details of how long your qualification is deemed valid.
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.
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.
Exemptions
Full degrees studied in full and completed in a majority speaking English country if taken no more than two years prior to enrolment.