Subject Area English Language Requirements

English language entry requirements by subject area for inbound students

Student studying
Off

Requirements

The minimum level of English required by the University of Sheffield is IELTS 6.0 with 5.5 in each component (reading, writing, listening and speaking) or equivalent. However, each academic subject area sets its own individual English Language level and most of these are higher than this minimum score.

You must meet the minimum score for each subject you wish to study before registration to be accepted onto modules taught by that subject. 

Subject area requirements

Subject area TOEFL requirement IELTS requirement
Aerospace Engineering 88 (minimum 19 in Listening, 19 in Writing, 20 in Reading, 22 in Speaking) IELTS 6.5 (minimum 6.0 in each component)
Archaeology 88 (minimum 19 in Listening, 19 in Writing, 20 in Reading, 22 in Speaking) IELTS 6.5 (minimum 6.0 in each component)
Architecture 88 (minimum 19 in Listening, 19 in Writing, 20 in Reading, 22 in Speaking) IELTS 6.5 (minimum 6.0 in each component)
Automatic Control and Systems Engineering 80 (minimum 17 in Listening, 17 in Writing, 18 in Reading, 20 in Speaking) IELTS 6.0 (minimum 5.5 in each component)
Bioengineering 88 (minimum 19 in Listening, 19 in Writing, 20 in Reading, 22 in Speaking) IELTS 6.5 (minimum 6.0 in each component)
Biosciences (including Biology, Biomedical Science, and Molecular Biology and Biotechnology) 88 (minimum 19 in Listening, 19 in Writing, 20 in Reading, 22 in Speaking) IELTS 6.5 (minimum 6.0 in each component)
Chemical and Biological Engineering 80 (minimum 17 in Listening, 17 in Writing, 18 in Reading, 20 in Speaking) IELTS 6.0 (minimum 5.5 in each component)
Chemistry 88 (minimum 19 in Listening, 19 in Writing, 20 in Reading, 22 in Speaking) IELTS 6.5 (minimum 6.0 in each component)
Civil and Structural Engineering 88 (minimum 19 in Listening, 19 in Writing, 20 in Reading, 22 in Speaking) IELTS 6.5 (minimum 6.0 in each component)
Computer Science 88 (minimum 19 in Listening, 19 in Writing, 20 in Reading, 22 in Speaking) IELTS 6.5 (minimum 6.0 in each component)
East Asian Studies 88 (minimum 19 in Listening, 19 in Writing, 20 in Reading, 22 in Speaking) IELTS 6.5 (minimum 6.0 in each component)
Economics 88 (minimum 19 in Listening, 19 in Writing, 20 in Reading, 22 in Speaking) IELTS 6.5 (minimum 6.0 in each component)
Electronic and Electrical Engineering 80 (minimum 17 in Listening, 17 in Writing, 18 in Reading, 20 in Speaking) IELTS 6.0 (minimum 5.5 in each component)
English Language Teaching Centre (credit modules) 80 (minimum 17 in Listening, 17 in Writing, 18 in Reading, 20 in Speaking) IELTS 6.0 (minimum 5.5 in each component)
English 95 (minimum 21 in Listening, 22 in Writing, 22 in Reading, 23 in Speaking) IELTS 7.0 (minimum 6.5 in each component)
Geography 88 (minimum 19 in Listening, 19 in Writing, 20 in Reading, 22 in Speaking) IELTS 6.5 (minimum 6.0 in each component)
History 95 (minimum 21 in Listening, 22 in Writing, 22 in Reading, 23 in Speaking) IELTS 7.0 (minimum 6.5 in each component)
Human Communication Sciences 110 (minimum 24 in Listening, 26 in Reading, 27 in Speaking and 26 in Writing) IELTS 8.0 (minimum 7.5 in each component)
Journalism, Media and Communications 103 (minimum 22 in Listening, 24 in Writing, 24 in Reading, 25 in Speaking) IELTS 7.5 (minimum 7.0 in each component)
Landscape Architecture 88 (minimum 19 in Listening, 19 in Writing, 20 in Reading, 22 in Speaking) IELTS 6.5 (minimum 6.0 in each component)
Law 95 (minimum 21 in Listening, 22 in Writing, 22 in Reading, 23 in Speaking) IELTS 7.0 (minimum 6.5 in each component)
Management School (Business) 88 (minimum 19 in Listening, 19 in Writing, 20 in Reading, 22 in Speaking) IELTS 6.5 (minimum 6.0 in each component)
Materials Science and Engineering 88 (minimum 19 in Listening, 19 in Writing, 20 in Reading, 22 in Speaking) IELTS 6.5 (minimum 6.0 in each component)
Mathematics and Statistics 88 (minimum 19 in Listening, 19 in Writing, 20 in Reading, 22 in Speaking) IELTS 6.5 (minimum 6.0 in each component)
Mechanical Engineering 88 (minimum 19 in Listening, 19 in Writing, 20 in Reading, 22 in Speaking) IELTS 6.5 (minimum 6.0 in each component)
Modern Languages Teaching Centre 80 (minimum 17 in Listening, 17 in Writing, 18 in Reading, 20 in Speaking) IELTS 6.0 (minimum 5.5 in each component)
Music 88 (minimum 19 in Listening, 19 in Writing, 20 in Reading, 22 in Speaking) IELTS 6.5 (minimum 6.0 in each component)
Nursing & Midwifery 88 (minimum 19 in Listening, 19 in Writing, 20 in Reading, 22 in Speaking) IELTS 6.5 (minimum 6.0 in each component)
Philosophy 88 (minimum 19 in Listening, 19 in Writing, 20 in Reading, 22 in Speaking) IELTS 6.5 (minimum 6.0 in each component)
Physics 88 (minimum 19 in Listening, 19 in Writing, 20 in Reading, 22 in Speaking) IELTS 6.5 (minimum 6.0 in each component)
Politics 88 (minimum 19 in Listening, 19 in Writing, 20 in Reading, 22 in Speaking) IELTS 6.5 (minimum 6.0 in each component)
Psychology 88 (minimum 19 in Listening, 19 in Writing, 20 in Reading, 22 in Speaking) IELTS 6.5 (minimum 6.0 in each component)
Sociological Studies (including Digital Media) 88 (minimum 19 in Listening, 19 in Writing, 20 in Reading, 22 in Speaking) IELTS 6.5 (minimum 6.0 in each component)
Urban Studies and Planning 88 (minimum 19 in Listening, 19 in Writing, 20 in Reading, 22 in Speaking) IELTS 6.5 (minimum 6.0 in each component)

NB: Some postgraduate modules may require a higher IELTS (or equivalent) score. 

Four students laughing while sat at a bench, outside the Students' Union

International scholarships

We offer a generous package of financial support for international students, including undergraduate and postgraduate taught scholarships worth £10,000 towards the annual tuition fee.

Applications are open for existing offer holders for programmes starting in autumn 2025.