English language requirements
Students who are 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
- 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
*Canadian nationals are exempt from English. Non-Canadian nationals are exempt from English if their entire degree has been studied at an Anglophone Canadian university.
If you reside in one of these countries, you are not required to submit evidence of English language proficiency if you:
- Have undertaken a full degree in one of these countries and 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 Any applicant found to have submitted a fraudulent score will have their application withdrawn.
- IELTS (International English Language Testing System – academic version)
- TOEFL IBT
- Pearson Test of English Academic
- Other English language tests
Please note, we now accept the TOEFL IBT Special Home Edition and the IELTS Indicator online tests. 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.
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 and Password are acceptable for 2021 entry only provided there are taken within 2 years prior to the start of the programme.
| Qualification | Minimum equivalent grade for programmes requiring IELTS 6.5 overall with not 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 | 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 12 (English: Grade 10) | English: Grade 12 (English: Grade 10) |
| Hong Kong applicants | HKDSE English (Core) Level 4 overall | HKDSE English (Core) Level 5** overall |
| IELTS Indicator | 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% |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| NCUK's EAP (English for Academic Purposes) | Please view the NCUK_EAP_Qualifications | |
| Ontario Secondary School Certificate | English Grade C (75%) or above | English Grade B (80%) or above |
| Password |
6.5, with no less than 6 in any section |
7, with no less than 6 in any section |
| 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 |
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.
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.
Our Pre-sessional English programmes are designed to improve your English language skills to meet the standard required for your chosen degree at the University of Exeter. To find out more, and to submit an application, please visit the INTO University of Exeter website.
If you successfully complete the Pre-Sessional English programme 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.
If you have taken any other accepted test and wish to confirm if a pre-sessional English course is required or recommended, please contact us.
