English language requirements
To benefit fully from an undergraduate, postgraduate taught or postgraduate research course at the University of Surrey, you will need a good standard of English language.
The score or level of English language required varies between courses. Please visit our undergraduate, postgraduate taught and postgraduate research course pages for specific requirements.
Accepted qualifications
In light of current challenges students face, we are accepting the following for courses that start in February or September 2023:
- IELTS Indicator
- Duolingo English Test
- TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition.
| IELTS Academic/ Indicator | Duolingo English Test | TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition |
|---|---|---|
7.0 overall with no component below 6.5 | 120 overall with 110 in each component | 95 overall with 23 in Reading, 23 in Listening, 22 in Speaking and 26 in Writing |
6.5 Overall with no component below 6.0 | 110 overall with 100 in each component | 88 overall with 18 in Reading, 19 in Listening, 19 in Speaking and 23 in Writing |
6.5 Overall with 5.5 in each band 6.0 in writing | 110 overall with a minimum of 90 in each component and 100 in both Literacy and Production | 88 overall with 12 in Reading, 11 in Listening, 17 in Speaking and 23 in Writing |
6.0 Overall with no component below 5.5 | 100 overall with 90 in each component | 79 overall with 12 in Reading, 11 in Listening, 17 in Speaking and 20 in Writing |
5.5 overall with 5.0 in each component | 90 overall with 80 in each component | 59 overall with 7 in Reading, 6 in Listening, 15 in Speaking and 17 in Writing |
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 grade 4 at either standard or higher level where the IB meets the standard academic entry requirements
- 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
- Pearson Test of English, taken within two years of the start of the course
- IELTS Academic, taken within two years of the start of the course
- TOEFL (ibt), 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
- Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English
- Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English
- LanguageCert International ESOL.
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.
- Brunei Darussalam – Brunei/Cambridge O-level C.
- 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), 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 at grade C (Standard Grade) or grade E (Higher Grade).
- Sri Lanka – Cambridge O-level grade C.
- Switzerland -Matura English as first language, 4.
View more information regarding our English language requirements in our English Language Policy.
IELTS equivalents
The table below shows our typical IELTS offers and the grades we accept in other English language qualifications.
| IELTS Academic | 5.5 overall with 5.0 in each component | 6.0 overall with 5.5 in each component | 6.5 overall with 5.5 in each band (with 6.0 in writing) | 6.5 overall with 6.0 in each band | 7.0 overall with 6.5 in each band | 7.5 overall with 7.0 in each band |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency | 162 overall with 154 in each component | 169 overall with 162 in each component | 176 overall with 162 in each component (with 169 in writing) | 176 overall with 169 in each component | 185 overall with 176 in each component | 191 overall with 185 in each component |
| Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English | 162 overall with 154 in each component | 169 overall with 162 in each component | 176 overall with 162 in each component (with 169 in writing) | 176 overall with 169 in each component | 185 overall with 176 in each component | 191 overall with 185 in each component |
| Pearson Test of English | 42 overall with 36 in each component | 50 overall with 42 in each component | 58 overall with 42 in each component (with 50 in writing) | 58 overall with 50 in each component | 65 overall with 58 in each component | 73 overall with 65 in each component |
| TOEFL (ibt) | 59 overall with 7 in Reading, 6 in Listening, 15 in Speaking and 17 in Writing | 79 overall with 12 in Reading, 11 in Listening, 17 in Speaking and 20 in Writing | 88 overall with 12 in Reading, 11 in Listening, 17 in Speaking and 23 in Writing | 88 overall with 18 in Reading, 19 in Listening, 19 in Speaking and 23 in Writing | 95 overall with 23 in Reading, 23 in Listening, 22 in Speaking and 26 in Writing | 102 overall with 26 in Reading, 26 in Listening, 23 in Speaking and 28 in Writing |
| Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE) | N/A | ISE II with Distinction in each skill | ISE III with Pass in each skill | ISE II with Distinction in each skill | ISE III with Pass in each skill | ISE III with Distinction |
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 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 21-week, 11-week, eight-week and five-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.
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.