English language requirements

Accepted qualifications

The following qualifications are accepted by the University as evidence that you meet our minimum level of competence in English:

• GCSE English Language grade C (4), or above
• iGCSE English as a First Language grade C
• iGCSE Second Language with grade B in all four elements
• International Baccalaureate English A grade HL4/SL4 or International Baccalaureate English B grade HL5/SL6
• AS-level in English Language or English Literature
• A-level in English Language or English Literature
• European Baccalaureate English 6 (Language 1/2) or 7 (Language 3)
• Successful completion of a University of Surrey pre-sessional English language course immediately preceding the main degree course.

For entry in February 2025 and September 2025, the following test results are accepted:

• Pearson Test of English (PTE Academic), taken within two years of the start of the course. Please note we do not accept PTE Academic Online
• IELTS Academic, taken within two years of the start of the course. We will accept test results including a ‘One Skill Retake’ result.
• TOEFL (ibt) and TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition taken within two years of the start of the course
• Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE), taken within two years of the start of the course
• Duolingo English Test taken within two years of the start of the course. You will need to share your results with the University of Surrey. If your Doulingo English Test includes Speaking, Writing, Reading and Listening components, we will assess these components. If it does not, we will assess the Literacy, Comprehension, Conversation and Production components.
• Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English
• Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English
• LanguageCert Academic. Please note we do not accept the online test.
• English Language Level Test (ELLT)

In addition, we also accept a range of national qualifications providing they are your most recent study of English language.

The following can be considered for programmes requiring GCSE English Language C/4 or IELTS 6.5 with no lower than 6.0 in any component.

Please note that if your chosen programme requires a higher overall IELTS, or higher component scores, we may request higher grades in the national qualification or a recent English language test result.

• Brunei Darussalam – Brunei/Cambridge O-level C.
• China - Certificate of Excellence as a top-up to the IELTS, awarded by KL Communications.
• France – French Baccalauréat English, 12 or Option International du Baccalaureat (OIB) English, 10.
• Germany – Abitur English at intensified/major level, 10 (gut). Realschulabschluss English as first language, 2.  Mittlere Reife English as first language, 2.  Mittlerer Schulabschluss English as first language, 2.  Erweiterter English as first language, 2.  Realschulabschluss English as first language, 2.  Fachoberschulreife English as first language, 2.   Sekundarabschluss 1 English as first language, 2.
• Hong Kong – Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE), English 4.
• India – 70% in 12th board exam English from CBSE/ISC boards and 80% in 12th board exam English from the majority of Indian state boards (Excluding Haryana, Andhra Pradesh/Telangana/U.P/Bihar/Gujrat/Punjab).
• Ireland – Irish Leaving Certificate (Ordinary / Standard Level), English O4.
• Kenya – KCSE at grade C.
• Malaysia – Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) English with CEFR grade B2 in all components OR Pre-2021, Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM), 1119 Advanced English C.
• Nigeria and Ghana – West African Senior School Certificate or Senior School Certificate at grade C6.
• Singapore – Singapore/Cambridge O-level English at grade C. The Singapore Integrated Programme satisfies the English requirement.
• South Africa – Senior Certificate (with matriculation endorsement), English 5.
• Sri Lanka – Cambridge O-level grade C.
• Switzerland –Matura English as first language, 4
• Thailand – Students who have completed an International Programme at a Tier One institution within two years of the start of the course and have a course IELTS requirement of no higher than IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.0 in each category can meet our English language requirement by providing a letter from their university confirming the medium of instruction was English.

View more information regarding our English language requirements in our English Language Policy.

IELTS equivalents

We express the English language requirements for our programmes in terms of an overall score in IELTS (Academic) and minimum scores required in each component.

The table below shows the equivalent scores we would require in other English language tests that we recognise. Please check the text above for further details about test validity (e.g. when a test result expires).

Postgraduate students do not need to provide an English language test if:

1. You are a national of a majority English-speaking country:

• Antigua and Barbuda
• Australia
• The Bahamas
• Barbados
• Belize
• Canada
• Dominica
• Grenada
• Guyana
• Ireland
• Jamaica
• Malta
• New Zealand
• St Kitts and Nevis
• St Lucia
• St Vincent and the Grenadines
• Trinidad and Tobago
• The UK
• The US.

2. You have studied for a minimum of one year, and successfully completed within the past five years, a qualification equivalent to a UK bachelors degree or higher, taught in a majority English-speaking country:

• Antigua and Barbuda
• Australia
• The Bahamas
• Barbados
• Belize
• Canada
• Dominica
• Grenada
• Guyana
• Ireland
• Jamaica
• Malta
• New Zealand
• St Kitts and Nevis
• St Lucia
• St Vincent and the Grenadines
• Trinidad and Tobago
• The UK
• The US.

3. You have studied for a minimum of one year, and successfully completed in the past five years, a qualification equivalent to a UK bachelors degree or higher from a Russell Group university, taught entirely, or in part, at an overseas campus.

Other qualifications

Other tests, qualifications, or degree-level study from elsewhere are not normally acceptable as evidence of competence in English, even when the degree is said to be taught in English, except in exceptional circumstances (see below) .

Multiple qualifications

If you present a variety of pieces of evidence of competence in English, you will only be judged on the most recent piece of evidence. However, if you have taken an IELTS Academic test no more than six months before the end of a degree course, this will take precedence over degree study.

If you register for an IELTS test but withdraw before taking the test, we will not consider this as evidence.

Exceptions

In exceptional circumstances, you may still be considered if you do not meet the above English language requirements if you have sufficient evidence demonstrating your proficiency at the appropriate standard in each skill area (listening, speaking, reading and writing). Admissions staff will assess your eligibility and request further information from you if required. 

Pathway programmes

International students who do not quite meet the English language requirements for a degree have the option of studying a pathway programme at the University of Surrey International Study Centre.

International students can choose to study an International Foundation Year to prepare for the first year of an undergraduate degree, or a Pre-Masters programme to prepare for a postgraduate degree.

Additionally, students can study an English Language Preparation for International Foundation Year if they want to improve their English language skills before studying one of the pathway programmes.

Once completed successfully, students can progress to an undergraduate or postgraduate degree at the University of Surrey.

Pre-sessional English language courses

We offer 11-week, 8-week and 5-week pre-sessional English languages courses for international students.

These intensive courses are designed to help you improve your English language skills in order to meet your degree offer and begin studying at Surrey.

We also accept the British Council UK pre-sessional English course and the KL Excellence certificate offered by KL Communications.

English language and visa applications

You do not need to take a Secure English Language Test if you intend to study an undergraduate or postgraduate degree-level course, as we have our own method of assessing your language level under our Student Visa Sponsor status. For further details, please see our information for international applicants.