English language requirements for postgraduates

If you want to study at the University of Sheffield, you must be able to show that your English is good enough for you to successfully complete your course.

This webpage lists the English language tests and other qualifications we accept. We also accept some first degrees taught in English. We consider these qualifications alongside other evidence of English language ability included in your application, for example in the supporting statement. We will base our decision on the English language qualification you were awarded most recently.

If your qualification is not included in the lists below, or if you need further information, please contact the Admissions Service.

If you need help to improve your English, our English Language Teaching Centre offers a range of pre-sessional courses.

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Degrees taught in English

If you have recently been awarded a first degree or postgraduate diploma taught in English in person in a majority native English speaking country, you will not normally need to provide other evidence of English language ability. You should have been awarded your degree/diploma within five years of the start date of your Sheffield course.

If you have recently been awarded a first degree or postgraduate diploma taught in English in a non-majority native English speaking country, you will still need to present one of the tests or qualifications listed below. However, if you were awarded your degree/diploma within 12 months of the start date of your Sheffield course, we will exempt you from the time limits listed below. You should also provide an official letter from your university that confirms you were taught in English.

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Pre-sessional English language courses

Successfully completing an appropriate pre-sessional English language course offered by the University's English Language Teaching Centre (ELTC) meets our English language requirements. The pre-sessional course should be completed no more than two years before the start date of the degree course.

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Pathway programmes at the University of Sheffield International College

Successfully completing a Pre-Masters at the University of Sheffield International College meets our English language requirements. The Pre-Masters should be completed no more than two years before the start date of the degree course.

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English language tests

Tests measure English language ability at a single point in time. If you are presenting one of the tests listed in this section, it should have been completed no more than two years before the start date of your Sheffield course.

For most of these tests, different courses require different levels of achievement. For postgraduate taught courses, the IELTS requirements are published in each course listing. The IELTS requirements for research degrees are published on our PhD webpages.

We will verify the scores you declare with the test provider.

English language tests

Test	Standard	Good	Advanced	Proficiency
International English Language Testing Service (IELTS)*	Overall score of 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each component	Overall score of 7.0 with a minimum of 6.5 in each component	Overall score of 7.5 with a minimum of 7.0 in each component	Overall score of 8.0 with a minimum of 7.5 in each component
Cambridge C1 Advanced	Overall score of 176 with a minimum of 169 in each component	Overall score of 185 with a minimum of 176 in each component	Overall score of 191 with a minimum of 185 in each component	Overall score of 200 with a minimum of 191 in each component
Cambridge C2 Proficiency	Overall score of 176 with a minimum of 169 in each component	Overall score of 185 with a minimum of 176 in each component	Overall score of 191 with a minimum of 185 in each component	Overall score of 200 with a minimum of 191 in each component
LanguageCert Academic SELT**	70 Overall with 65 in each component	75 Overall with 70 in each component	80 Overall with 75 in each component	85 Overall with 80 in each component
NCUK English Language Test	Overall score of 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each component	Overall score of 7.0 with a minimum of 6.5 in each component	Overall score of 7.5 with a minimum of 7.0 in each component	Overall score of 8.0 with a minimum of 7.5 in each component
NCUK International Foundation Year: English for Academic Purposes module	Overall EAP score of B with a minimum of C in each component	Overall EAP score of A with a minimum of B in each component	Overall EAP score of A* with a minimum of A in each component	Not accepted
Occupational English Test (OET)***	300 or above in each component	350 or above in each component	400 or above in each component	450 or above in each component
Oxford Test of English Advanced	136 overall with 126 in each component	146 overall with 136 in each component	156 overall with 146 in each component	166 overall with 156 in each component
Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic or PTE Academic UKVI)****	Overall score of 61 with a minimum of 56 in each component	Overall score of 67 with a minimum of 61 in each component	Overall score of 72 with a minimum of 67 in each component	Overall score of 76 with a minimum of 72 in each component
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) internet-based test (iBT), internet-based test (iBT) Home Edition, or internet-based test (iBT) Paper Edition*****	Overall score of 88 with a minimum of 19 in Listening, 20 in Reading, 22 in Speaking and 19 in Writing	Overall score of 95 with a minimum of 21 in Listening, 22 in Reading, 23 in Speaking and 22 in Writing	Overall score of 103 with a minimum of 22 in Listening, 24 in Reading, 25 in Speaking and 24 in Writing	Overall score of 110 with a minimum of 24 in Listening, 26 in Reading, 27 in Speaking and 26 in Writing
Trinity Integrated Skills in English (ISE) III	Grade of Pass or above in each component	Grade of Merit or above in each component	Grade of Distinction in each component	Grade of Distinction in each component
Trinity Integrated Skills in English (ISE) IV	Grade of Pass or above in each component	Grade of Pass or above in each component	Grade of Pass or above in each component	Grade of Pass or above in each component

* We accept IELTS Academic (paper-based or on computer), IELTS for UKVI Academic (paper-based or on computer), IELTS Online, IELTS Indicator (taken from 1 July 2020) and IELTS One Skill Retake scores. We do not accept IELTS Life Skills or IELTS General Training scores.
** All components should be taken within the same 14-day period
*** The OET is only accepted for entry to courses offered by the Faculty of Health
**** We do not accept PTE Academic Online
***** We do not accept the TOEFL paper-based test (discontinued April 2021), or MyBest scores

If the IELTS requirements for your course are not included in this table, you can check what you need to achieve in the Cambridge C1 Advanced, Cambridge C2 Proficiency, Pearson and TOEFL tests on our ELTC webpages. If you are taking a different test, please contact the Admissions Service for advice.

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Other English language qualifications

We also accept a wide range of English language qualifications that include a formal programme of study.

The levels of achievement we normally require are detailed below. A few courses do not accept certain qualifications, or ask for higher levels of achievement. Where this is the case, it will be made clear in the course information.

If you were awarded one of these qualifications more than five years before the start date of your Sheffield course, we may ask you to complete a new English language qualification. Please include with your application any evidence you have of ongoing use of English.

If your certificates or transcripts are in a language other than English, we may ask you to supply official, authenticated translations.

We will normally verify the achievements you declare with your school or examination board.

International qualifications

Qualification	Level
International Baccalaureate (IB) Standard or Higher Level English A: Language and Literature	Grade 4 or above
International Baccalaureate (IB) Standard or Higher Level English A: Literature	Grade 4 or above
International Baccalaureate (IB) Standard Level English B	Grade 6 or above
International Baccalaureate (IB) Higher Level English B	Grade 5 or above
International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Programme English Language and Literature	Grade 4 or above
European Baccalaureate (EB) English	7.5 or 75%, or above

UK qualifications

Qualification	Level
GCSE English Language	Grade 4/C or above
A Level or AS Level English Language	Grade C or above
A Level or AS Level English Language and Literature combined	Grade B or above
AQA Level 2 Certificate (IGCSE) in English Language	Grade 4/C or above
CIE IGCSE English as a First Language (Syllabus 0500)	Grade 4/C or above, with Grade 2 in Speaking and Listening
CIE IGCSE English as a First Language (Syllabus 0522)	Grade 4/C or above
CIE IGCSE English as a First Language (Syllabus 0627)	Grade 4/C or above, with Merit in Speaking and Listening
CIE IGCSE English as a First Language (Syllabus 0990)	Grade 4/C or above, with Merit in Speaking and Listening
CIE IGCSE English as a Second Language (Syllabus 0510)	Grade 6/B or above, with Grade 2 in Oral and Aural
CIE IGCSE English as a Second Language (Syllabus 0993)	Grade 6/B or above, with Grade 2 in Oral and Aural
CIE IGCSE English as a Second Language (Syllabus 0511)	Grade 6/B or above
CIE IGCSE English as a Second Language (Syllabus 0991)	Grade 6/B or above
Oxford AQA IGCSE English as a Second Language (Syllabus 9280)	Grade 6/B or above
Pearson Edexcel IGCSE English Language A	Grade 4/C or above, including the Spoken Endorsement
Pearson Edexcel IGCSE English Language B	Grade 4/C or above, including the Spoken Endorsement
Pearson Edexcel IGCSE English as a Second Language	Grade 6/B or above, including the Spoken Endorsement
SQA Intermediate 2 English or National 5 English	Grade B or above
SQA Higher or Advanced Higher English	Grade C or above
Scottish Higher, English for Speakers of Other Languages (Syllabus C222)	Grade B or above

European qualifications

Qualification	Level
Austrian Reifeprüfung/Matura	Grade 2 (Gut) or above in Written and Oral components
Belgian Certificat d'Enseignement Secondaire / Diploma van hoger Secundair Onderwij / Abschlusszeugnis der Oberstufe des Sekundarunterrichts	Grade 15 out of 20 or 70%, or above
Czech Maturitni Zkousce / Maturita	Grade 3 or above
Danish Bevis for Studentereksamen (STX)	Grade 7 or above in Written and Oral components
French Baccalauréat l'Option Internationale, English (awarded until 2023)	Grade 12 or above
Baccalauréat Français International (BFI) (awarded from 2024)	Grade 12 or above
French Baccalauréat Général, English LV1 or A	Grade 14 or above
German Abitur, English	Grade 12 or above
Irish Leaving Certificate, English	Grade H4/O4 or above
Maltese Matriculation Certificate, English	Grade C or above
Netherlands VWO, English	Grade 7 or above
Norwegian Vitnemål for videregående opplæring, English	Grade 4 or above
Swedish Fullstandigt fran Gymnasieskolan or Hogskoleforberedand, English	Grade C or above
Swiss Certificat de Maturité / Maturitätszeugnis / Maturitätsausweis / Attestato di Maturità	Grade 4.5 or above

Qualifications from the rest of the world

Qualification	Level
Cambridge Assessment International Education GCE O Level, English For example: Brunei O Level subject 1120 Malaysian O Level subject 1119 Mauritius O Level subject 1125/1126 Singapore O Level subject 1128 For other countries, O Level subject 1123	Grade C or above
Australian Secondary School Certificate of Education	Grade C/Satisfactory Achievement
Bahamas General Certificate of Secondary Education (BGCSE), English	Grade C or above
Botswana General Certificate of Secondary Education, English	Grade C or above
Cameroon GCE O Level, English	Grade C or above
Canada High/Secondary School Diploma, English (completed within Canada within the Anglophone system)	50-60% depending on the province/territory. For more information please contact the Admissions Service.
HKDSE English Language	Grade 4 or above overall, with Grade 4 or above in each component
Indian Standard XII, English Language (CBSE or CISCE examination boards)	75% or above
Indian Standard XII English Language (Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education, West Bengal Board of Secondary Education and Metro State Boards (Delhi, Maharashtra, Kolkata, Karnataka and Chennai))	80% or above
Indian Standard X, English Language (CISCE examination board only)	75% or above
Kenyan Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE), English	Grade B or above This qualification is exempt from the usual five-year time limit. Please note that we do not accept Grade B- in the KCSE English.
Malaysia SPM – English Language (Bahasa Inggeris)	Grade B or above The CEFR Level should state B2 or above
Namibian Senior Secondary Certificate (NSSC), Higher English	Grade C or above
New Zealand National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) Level 2	14 or more credits achieved in English Language
Nigerian Senior School Certificate awarded by the Nigerian Examinations Council (NECO)	Grade C or above
Singapore Integrated Programme (IP)	Students should go on to complete A Level or IB qualifications (in any subject taught in English) We require a scanned copy of the IP transcript as evidence of completion
South African National Senior Certificate (SANSC)	Grade 4 or above
Tanzanian Certificate of Secondary Education / Advanced Certificate of Secondary Education (awarded by the National Examinations Council of Tanzania), English Language	Grade C or above
Ugandan Certificate of Education (UCE)	Grade 6 or above
United States High School Diploma, Grade 12 English (completed within the United States)	Grade C or above
WAEC West African Senior School Certificate (WASSCE), English	Grade C or above This qualification is exempt from the usual five-year time limit
West Indies Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate, English A	Grade III (3) or above
Zambian General Certificate of Education, English	Grade 6/C or above

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Professional experience

You should still have completed an English language qualification or degree taught in English as listed above, but we may exempt you from our usual time limit requirements if you have at least 12 months of recent employment in a role that involves regular communication in English. This employment should either be ongoing, or have been completed no more than six months before the Sheffield course start date. You should include with your application an official letter from your current/most recent employer that confirms 1) your English language proficiency, in listening, reading, speaking and writing, 2) the dates of your employment and 3) how you use English in your role.

For applicants from Singapore, we also accept the National Service Certificate of Service as evidence of professional experience of using English.

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Registration with a professional body

Applicants to courses in the Faculty of Health: You should still have completed an English language qualification or degree taught in English as listed above, but we will exempt you from our usual time limit requirements if you include with your application 1) evidence that you are currently registered with the General Medical Council (GMC), General Dental Council (GDC), Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), or Medical Council of Ireland (MCI) and 2) a letter from your employer confirming your continued English language proficiency, in listening, reading, speaking and writing.

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Tests and qualifications we do not accept

Some of the English language tests and qualifications we do not accept are listed below. We are also not normally able to accept the English language modules studied as part of a degree course.

Qualifications not accepted

Anglia Examinations in English
Cambridge First Certificate in English (FCE)
Cambridge Key English Test (KET)
Cambridge Preliminary English Test (PET)
Duolingo English Test
GCSE equivalency tests
London Chamber of Commerce and Industry: English for Business
Michigan Test of English Language Proficiency
Oxford ELLT
Oxford International Business English Certificate
Oxford Test of English
Pearson ESOL Skills for Life
Pearson Versant
Pitman English Diploma
Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC)
Trinity Integrated Skills in English (ISE) II