English language requirements - 2022 entry
English Language requirements for 2023 entry will be published shortly.
Click on the box below that relates to your chosen undergraduate subject to see the English Language tests we accept and required scores.
These tests are valid for 2 years prior to the start of the programme
| Test name | Required score |
|---|---|
| IELTS and IELTS Indicator (International English Language Testing System – academic version) | 6.5 overall and no less than 5.5 in any other section |
| TOEFL iBT and TOEFL iBT Home Edition and TOEFL iBT Paper Edition | 90 with minimum scores of 21 in speaking and at least 18 in all other sections. MyBest scores are not accepted |
| Pearson Test of English (Academic) PTE and Pearson Test of English (Academic) PTE online | 67 with a minimum of 59 in all communicative skills |
| LanguageCert International ESOL SELT | LanguageCert International ESOL SELT B2 Communicator with minimum 33 in speaking, writing, listening & reading |
| AES-Bellerbys (Study Group) | Minimum of 65% overall, no less than 55% in any subskill |
These tests are valid for 7 years prior to the start of the programme
| Test name | Required score |
|---|---|
| A or AS level English | Grade D |
| GCSE English Language/Cambridge GCE O level/Cambridge Overseas School Certificate | Grade C |
| Cambridge IGCSE English as a First Language | Grade C |
| Cambridge IGCSE English as a Second Language | Grade B |
| Cambridge Pre-U Literature in English (Principal Subject) | P2 |
| Botswana General Certificate of Secondary Education (BTGCSE) | Grades 3-6 (credit); Grade C |
| Cambridge English: Advanced or Proficiency | 176 overall and no less than 162 in any other section |
| Edexcel IGCSE English as a First Language | Grade C |
| Edexcel IGCSE English as a Second Language | Grade B |
| European Baccalaureate L1 | 60% |
| European Baccalaureate L2 | 70% |
| European Baccalaureate L3 | 70% |
| French Baccalaureat | Grade 12 |
| French Baccalaureat (option International du Baccalaureat) | Grade 10 |
| HKDSE English (Core) | Level 4 overall |
| Indian Standard XII English at first attempt (ISC, CBSE, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala Boards) | 70% |
| Indian Standard XII English at first attempt (West Bengal Board). | 65% |
| International Baccalaureate English | Standard Level Grade 5 or Higher Level Grade 4 |
| Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education | Grade C (4) |
| Malaysian SPM English (1119/O level paper only) | Grade C |
| Norwegian Vitnemal – videregaende opplaering | Overall score of 4 |
| NCUK's EAP (English for Academic Purposes) | B overall and no less that D in any other section. |
| Ontario Secondary School Certificate | Grade C (75%) |
| Canada Year 12 Secondary School Certificate / High School Diploma (except Quebec) | Grade C (75%) |
| Singaporean Applicants | Singapore-Cambridge O level English grade C or Singapore Integrated Programme Secondary 4 English Language/Language Arts grade C or better |
| South African National Senior Certificate/South African Matriculation Certificate | Grade 4 |
| Trinity ISE III exams (SELT variant only) | Merit in writing section and pass in all other sections |
| West African Examinations Council SSCE in English at first sitting | Grade C6 |
| Uganda National Examinations Board Certificate of Education (UCE) | Grades 3-6 (credit); Grade C |
| USA High School Graduation Diploma | Grade C (75%) |
| Zimbabwe General Certificate of Education O level English | Grade C |
| Zimbabwe General Certificate of Education Advanced level English (ZIMSEC) | Grade D |
These tests are valid for 2 years prior to the start of the programme
| Test name | Required score |
|---|---|
| IELTS and IELTS Indicator (International English Language Testing System – academic version) | 6.5 overall and no less than 6 in any other section |
| TOEFL iBT and TOEFL iBT Home Edition and TOEFL iBT Paper Edition | 90 with minimum scores of 21 for writing, 21 for listening, 22 for reading and 23 for speaking. MyBest scores are not accepted |
| Pearson Test of English (Academic) PTE and Pearson Test of English (Academic) PTE online | 67 with no less than 64 in all communicative skills |
| LanguageCert International ESOL SELT | LanguageCert International ESOL SELT B2 Communicator with minimum 39 in speaking, writing, listening, reading |
| AES-Bellerbys (Study Group) | Minimum of 65% overall, no less than 60% in any subskill |
These tests are valid for 7 years prior to the start of the programme
| Test name | Required score |
|---|---|
| A or AS level English | Grade D |
| GCSE English Language/Cambridge GCE O level/Cambridge Overseas School Certificate | Grade C |
| Cambridge IGCSE English as a First Language | Grade C |
| Cambridge IGCSE English as a Second Language | Grade B |
| Cambridge Pre-U Literature in English (Principal Subject) | P2 |
| Botswana General Certificate of Secondary Education (BTGCSE) | Grades 3-6 (credit); Grade C |
| Cambridge English: Advanced or Proficiency | 176 overall, no less than 169 in any element |
| Edexcel IGCSE English as a First Language | Grade C |
| Edexcel IGCSE English as a Second Language | Grade B |
| European Baccalaureate L1 | 60% |
| European Baccalaureate L2 | 70% |
| European Baccalaureate L3 | 70% |
| French Baccalaureat | Grade 12 |
| French Baccalaureat (option International du Baccalaureat) | Grade 10 |
| HKDSE English (Core) | Level 4 overall |
| Indian Standard XII English at first attempt (ISC, CBSE, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala Boards) | 70% |
| Indian Standard XII English at first attempt (West Bengal Board). | 65% |
| International Baccalaureate English | Standard Level Grade 5 or Higher Level Grade 4 |
| Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education | Grade C (4) |
| Malaysian SPM English (1119/O level paper only) | Grade C |
| Norwegian Vitnemal – videregaende opplaering | Overall score of 4 |
| NCUK's EAP (English for Academic Purposes) | B overall, no less than C in any section |
| Ontario Secondary School Certificate | Grade C (75%) |
| Canada Year 12 Secondary School Certificate / High School Diploma (except Quebec) | Grade C (75%) |
| Singaporean Applicants | Singapore-Cambridge O level English grade B or Singapore Integrated Programme Secondary 4 English Language/Language Arts grade B or better |
| South African National Senior Certificate/South African Matriculation Certificate | Grade 4 |
| Trinity ISE III exams (SELT variant only) | Merit in writing section and pass in all other sections |
| West African Examinations Council SSCE in English at first sitting | Grade C6 |
| Uganda National Examinations Board Certificate of Education (UCE) | Grades 3-6 (credit); Grade C |
| USA High School Graduation Diploma | Grade C (75%) |
| Zimbabwe General Certificate of Education O level English | Grade C |
| Zimbabwe General Certificate of Education Advanced level English (ZIMSEC) | Grade D |
These tests are valid for 2 years prior to the start of the programme
| Test name | Required score |
|---|---|
| IELTS and IELTS Indicator (International English Language Testing System – academic version) | 6.5 overall and no less than 6 in any other section |
| TOEFL iBT and TOEFL iBT Home Edition and TOEFL iBT Paper Edition | 90 with minimum scores of 21 for writing, 21 for listening, 22 for reading and 23 for speaking. MyBest scores are not accepted |
| Pearson Test of English (Academic) PTE and Pearson Test of English (Academic) PTE online | 67 with no less than 64 in all communicative skills |
| LanguageCert International ESOL SELT | LanguageCert International ESOL SELT B2 Communicator with minimum 39 in speaking, writing, listening, reading |
| AES-Bellerbys (Study Group) | Minimum of 65% overall, no less than 60% in any subskill |
These tests are valid for 7 years prior to the start of the programme
| Test name | Required score |
|---|---|
| A or AS level English | Grade D |
| GCSE English Language/Cambridge GCE O level/Cambridge Overseas School Certificate | Grade B |
| Cambridge IGCSE English as a First Language | Grade B |
| Cambridge IGCSE English as a Second Language | Grade B |
| Cambridge Pre-U Literature in English (Principal Subject) | P2 |
| Botswana General Certificate of Secondary Education (BTGCSE) | Grades 3-6 (credit); Grade C |
| Cambridge English: Advanced or Proficiency | 176 overall, no less than 169 in any element |
| Edexcel IGCSE English as a First Language | Grade B |
| Edexcel IGCSE English as a Second Language | Grade B |
| European Baccalaureate L1 | 60% |
| European Baccalaureate L2 | 70% |
| European Baccalaureate L3 | 70% |
| French Baccalaureat | Grade 12 |
| French Baccalaureat (option International du Baccalaureat) | Grade 10 |
| HKDSE English (Core) | Level 4 overall |
| Indian Standard XII English at first attempt (ISC, CBSE, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala Boards) | 70% |
| Indian Standard XII English at first attempt (West Bengal Board). | 65% |
| International Baccalaureate English | Standard Level Grade 5 or Higher Level Grade 4 |
| Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education | Grade C (4) |
| Malaysian SPM English (1119/O level paper only) | Grade C |
| Norwegian Vitnemal – videregaende opplaering | Overall score of 4 |
| NCUK's EAP (English for Academic Purposes) | B overall, no less than C in any section |
| Ontario Secondary School Certificate | Grade C (75%) |
| Canada Year 12 Secondary School Certificate / High School Diploma (except Quebec) | Grade C (75%) |
| Singaporean Applicants | Singapore-Cambridge O level English grade B or Singapore Integrated Programme Secondary 4 English Language/Language Arts grade B or better |
| South African National Senior Certificate/South African Matriculation Certificate | Grade 4 |
| Trinity ISE III exams (SELT variant only) | Merit in writing section and pass in all other sections |
| West African Examinations Council SSCE in English at first sitting | Grade C6 |
| Uganda National Examinations Board Certificate of Education (UCE) | Grades 3-6 (credit); Grade C |
| USA High School Graduation Diploma | Grade C (75%) |
| Zimbabwe General Certificate of Education O level English | Grade C |
| Zimbabwe General Certificate of Education Advanced level English (ZIMSEC) | Grade D |
These tests are valid for 2 years prior to the start of the programme
| Test name | Required score |
|---|---|
| IELTS and IELTS Indicator (International English Language Testing System – academic version) | 7 overall and no less than 6.5 in any other section |
| TOEFL iBT and TOEFL iBT Home Edition and TOEFL iBT Paper Edition | 100 with minimum scores of 25 for writing, 21 for listening, 22 for reading and 23 for speaking. MyBest scores are not accepted |
| Pearson Test of English (Academic) PTE and Pearson Test of English (Academic) PTE online | 70 with no less than 67 in all communicative skills |
| LanguageCert International ESOL SELT | LanguageCert International ESOL SELT C1 Expert with minimum 33 in speaking, writing, listening, reading |
| AES-Bellerbys (Study Group) | Minimum of 70% overall, no less than 65% in any subskill |
These tests are valid for 7 years prior to the start of the programme
| Test name | Required score |
|---|---|
| A or AS level English | Grade C |
| GCSE English Language/Cambridge GCE O level/Cambridge OverseasSchool Certificate | Grade B. English as a second language not accepted |
| Cambridge IGCSE English as a First Language | Grade B |
| Cambridge IGCSE English as a Second Language | Not accepted |
| Cambridge Pre-U Literature in English (Principal Subject) | M3 |
| Botswana General Certificate of Secondary Education (BTGCSE) | Not accepted |
| Cambridge English: Advanced or Proficiency | 185 overall, no less than 176 in any element |
| Edexcel IGCSE English as a First Language | Grade B |
| Edexcel IGCSE English as a Second Language | Not accepted |
| European Baccalaureate L1 | 70% |
| European Baccalaureate L2 | 80% |
| European Baccalaureate L3 | 80% |
| French Baccalaureat | Grade 14 |
| French Baccalaureat (option International du Baccalaureat) | Grade 12 |
| HKDSE English (Core) | Level 5 overall |
| Indian Standard XII English at first attempt (ISC, CBSE,Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Goa, Karnataka, KeralaBoards) | 85% from ISC/CBSE Board only. Other State Boards not accepted |
| Indian Standard XII English at first attempt (West BengalBoard). | 75% |
| International Baccalaureate English | Standard Level Grade 6 or Higher Level grade 4. English as a first language only acceptable |
| Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education | Not accepted |
| Malaysian SPM English (1119/O level paper only) | Grade B |
| Norwegian Vitnemal – videregaende opplaering | Overall score of 5 |
| NCUK's EAP (English for Academic Purposes) | A overall, no less than B in any section |
| Ontario Secondary School Certificate | Grade B (85%) |
| Canada Year 12 Secondary School Certificate / High School Diploma(except Quebec) | Grade B (85%) |
| Singaporean Applicants | Singapore-Cambridge O level English grade B or Singapore Integrated Programme Secondary 4 English Language/Language Arts grade B or better |
| South African National Senior Certificate/South AfricanMatriculation Certificate | Grade 5 |
| Trinity ISE III exams (SELT variant only) | Distinction in speaking and listening and nothing less than merit in other sections |
| West African Examinations Council SSCE in English at firstsitting | Not accepted |
| Uganda National Examinations Board Certificate of Education (UCE) | Not accepted |
| USA High School Graduation Diploma | Grade B (85%) |
| Zimbabwe General Certificate of Education O level English | Grade B |
| Zimbabwe General Certificate of Education Advanced level English(ZIMSEC) | Grade C |
These tests are valid for 2 years prior to the start of the programme
| Test name | Required score |
|---|---|
| IELTS and IELTS Indicator (International English Language Testing System – academic version) | 7.5 with no less than 7.0 in speaking & listening sections and no less than 6.0 in any other section |
| TOEFL iBT and TOEFL iBT Home Edition and TOEFL iBT Paper Edition | 110 with minimum scores of 21 for writing, 25 for listening, 22 for reading and 25 for speaking. MyBest scores are not accepted |
| Pearson Test of English (Academic) PTE and Pearson Test of English (Academic) PTE online | 75 with no less than 70 in speaking and listening and 67 in all other communicative skills |
| LanguageCert International ESOL SELT | LanguageCert International ESOL SELT C1 Expert with minimum 39 in speaking, writing, listening, reading |
| AES-Bellerbys (Study Group) | Minimum of 75% overall, no less than 60% and at least 70% in each of the Speaking and Listening sections |
These tests are valid for 7 years prior to the start of the programme
| Test name | Required score |
|---|---|
| A or AS level English | Grade B |
| GCSE English Language/Cambridge GCE O level/Cambridge Overseas School Certificate | Grade A. English as a second language not accepted |
| Cambridge IGCSE English as a First Language | Grade A |
| Cambridge IGCSE English as a Second Language | Not accepted |
| Cambridge Pre-U Literature in English (Principal Subject) | M2 |
| Botswana General Certificate of Secondary Education (BTGCSE) | Not accepted |
| Cambridge English: Advanced or Proficiency | 191 overall, no less than 185 in Speaking and Listening and no less than 169 in any other element |
| Edexcel IGCSE English as a First Language | Grade A |
| Edexcel IGCSE English as a Second Language | Not accepted |
| European Baccalaureate L1 | 75% |
| European Baccalaureate L2 | 85% |
| European Baccalaureate L3 | 85% |
| French Baccalaureat | Grade 16 |
| French Baccalaureat (option International du Baccalaureat) | Grade 14 |
| HKDSE English (Core) | Level 5** overall |
| Indian Standard XII English at first attempt (ISC, CBSE, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala Boards) | 90% from ISC/CBSE Board only. Other State Boards not accepted |
| Indian Standard XII English at first attempt (West Bengal Board). | 80% |
| International Baccalaureate English | Standard Level Grade 6 or Higher Level grade 4. English as a first language only acceptable |
| Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education | Not accepted |
| Malaysian SPM English (1119/O level paper only) | Grade A |
| Norwegian Vitnemal – videregaende opplaering | Overall score of 5.5 |
| NCUK's EAP (English for Academic Purposes) | A* overall, no less than C in any section and a minimum of A in Speaking and Listening |
| Ontario Secondary School Certificate | Grade A (90%) |
| Canada Year 12 Secondary School Certificate / High School Diploma (except Quebec) | Grade A (90%) |
| Singaporean Applicants | Singapore-Cambridge O level English grade A or Singapore Integrated Programme Secondary 4 English Language/Language Arts grade A or better |
| South African National Senior Certificate/South African Matriculation Certificate | Grade 6 |
| Trinity ISE III exams (SELT variant only) | Distinction in speaking and listening and nothing less than merit in other sections |
| West African Examinations Council SSCE in English at first sitting | Not accepted |
| Uganda National Examinations Board Certificate of Education (UCE) | Not accepted |
| USA High School Graduation Diploma | Grade A (90%) |
| Zimbabwe General Certificate of Education O level English | Grade A |
| Zimbabwe General Certificate of Education Advanced level English (ZIMSEC) | Grade B |
These tests are valid for 2 years prior to the start of the programme
| Test name | Required score |
|---|---|
| IELTS and IELTS Indicator (International English Language Testing System – academic version) | 6.5 and no less than 6.0 in the writing section and no less than 5.5 in any other section |
| TOEFL iBT and TOEFL iBT Home Edition and TOEFL iBT Paper Edition | 90 with minimum scores of 21 for writing, 21 for listening, 22 for reading and 23 for speaking. MyBest scores are not accepted |
| Pearson Test of English (Academic) PTE and Pearson Test of English (Academic) PTE online | 67 with a minimum of 64 in writing and 59 in all other communicative skills |
| LanguageCert International ESOL SELT | LanguageCert International ESOL SELT IB2 Communicator with minimum 39 in writing and minimum 33 in speaking, listening & reading |
| AES-Bellerbys (Study Group) | Minimum 65% overall, no less than 60% in writing and no less than 55% in any other subskill |
These tests are valid for 7 years prior to the start of the programme
| Test name | Required score |
|---|---|
| A or AS level English | Grade D |
| GCSE English Language/Cambridge GCE O level/Cambridge Overseas School Certificate | Grade C |
| Cambridge IGCSE English as a First Language | Grade C |
| Cambridge IGCSE English as a Second Language | Grade B |
| Cambridge Pre-U Literature in English (Principal Subject) | P2 |
| Botswana General Certificate of Secondary Education (BTGCSE) | Grades 3-6 (credit); Grade C |
| Cambridge English: Advanced or Proficiency | 176 overall, no less than 169 in writing and no less than 162 in any other section |
| Edexcel IGCSE English as a First Language | Grade C |
| Edexcel IGCSE English as a Second Language | Grade B |
| European Baccalaureate L1 | 60% |
| European Baccalaureate L2 | 70% |
| European Baccalaureate L3 | 70% |
| French Baccalaureat | Grade 12 |
| French Baccalaureat (option International du Baccalaureat) | Grade 10 |
| HKDSE English (Core) | Level 4 overall |
| Indian Standard XII English at first attempt (ISC, CBSE, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala Boards) | 70% |
| Indian Standard XII English at first attempt (West Bengal Board). | 65% |
| International Baccalaureate English | Standard Level Grade 5 or Higher Level Grade 4 |
| Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education | Grade C (4) |
| Malaysian SPM English (1119/O level paper only) | Grade C |
| Norwegian Vitnemal – videregaende opplaering | Overall score of 4 |
| NCUK's EAP (English for Academic Purposes) | B overall, no less than C in writing, and no less that D in any other section. |
| Ontario Secondary School Certificate | Grade C (75%) |
| Canada Year 12 Secondary School Certificate / High School Diploma (except Quebec) | Grade C (75%) |
| Singaporean Applicants | Singapore-Cambridge O level English grade C or Singapore Integrated Programme Secondary 4 English Language/Language Arts grade C or better |
| South African National Senior Certificate/South African Matriculation Certificate | Grade 4 |
| Trinity ISE III exams (SELT variant only) | Merit in writing section and pass in all other sections |
| West African Examinations Council SSCE in English at first sitting | Grade C6 |
| Uganda National Examinations Board Certificate of Education (UCE) | Grades 3-6 (credit); Grade C |
| USA High School Graduation Diploma | Grade C (75%) |
| Zimbabwe General Certificate of Education O level English | Grade C |
| Zimbabwe General Certificate of Education Advanced level English (ZIMSEC) | Grade D |
Duolingo - for 2022 entry
We understand that some students may be facing difficulties accessing in-person English Language tests, for example due to the ongoing challenges posed by the COVID pandemic. Therefore we can confirm that where students are having difficulties taking an acceptable English language test in their home country, because of lockdowns, travel restrictions or test centres being closed for whatever reasons, we will accept Duolingo for students starting their studies in September 2022.
Requirements for Duolingo are shown in the below table. Please check the standard IELTS requirement for your subject in the dropdowns above, to confirm the equivalent score required within Duolingo.
| Required score | IELTS | Duolingo |
|---|---|---|
| 7.5 overall and no less than 7.0 in any other section | 130 with 120 in Literacy and conversation | |
| 7.5 overall and no less than 6.5 in any other section | 130 with 110 in Literacy and conversation | |
| 7.0 overall and no less than 7.0 in any other section | 125 with 120 in Literacy and conversation | |
| 7.0 overall and no less than 6.5 in any other section | 125 with 110 in Literacy and conversation | |
| 7.0 overall and no less than 6.0 in any other section | 125 with 100 in Literacy and conversation | |
| 6.5 overall and no less than 6.5 in any other section | 115 with 110 in Literacy and conversation | |
| 6.5 overall and no less than 6.0 in any other section | 115 with 100 in Literacy and conversation | |
| 6.0 overall and no less than 6.0 in any other section | 105 with 100 in Literacy and conversation | |
| 6.0 overall and no less than 5.5 in any other section | 105 with 90 in Literacy and conversation | |
| 5.5 (with no subskill less than 5.0) | 95 with 90 in Literacy and conversation |
Conditions
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 and UCAS will be advised.
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.
Also see
Our Pre-sessional courses are designed to improve your English language skills to the standard required for your chosen degree in September.
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, our 6, 10 and 18 week Pre-sessional courses will be running both online and on campus from April to August 2022.
- Find out more about the Presessional English course on the INTO website
- Download a Pre-sessional English brochure 2022 (.pdf)
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 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 and on campus from April to July 2022 and is an acceptable test.
All non-UK national students must have a visa to study for credit mobility programmes
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). The University’s minimum English Language requirements are specified above.
Visitor Visa
From 1 December 2020, the Visitor visa has replaced the Short-term study visa incorporating most of its rules. The short-term study visa is no longer applicable for exchange and study abroad students.
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).
