Entry requirements
Academic and English language entry requirements for inbound exchange students.
Academic requirements
To be considered, you must be a registered student at a university or college. For the academic requirements you need to reach, please refer to our country list. If you cannot find your country listed, please refer to the general information pages linked from the top of the page.
English language requirements
If you will study with us through one of our exchange partners for a single semester, and you do not require a Student Visa* to enter the UK, your home institution can confirm your English language proficiency when completing the nomination form. More information about this will be provided to your home university before nominations open.
Single-semester students from a partner university can have their language level confirmed by their home university via the nomination form, but partner universities should consider the higher requirements for certain subject areas
Students from a partner studying with us for a full year, or those joining via a direct enrolment exchange for any duration, must provide an accepted English Language test showing that they meet the level for the subject areas they want to study.
*Tip: You can check UK visa entry requirements here.
Subject Area English language requirements
The general minimum level of English required by the University of Sheffield is IELTS 6.5 with 6.0 in each component or equivalent.
However, the subject areas listed below require a different level, and some postgraduate modules may require a higher IELTS (or equivalent) score.
| Subject area | IELTS requirement | TOEFL requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Automatic Control and Systems Engineering | Autumn 2025: 6.0 overall (with 5.5 in each component). Spring 2026: 6.5 overall (with 6.0 in each component). | Autumn 2025: 80 (minimum 17 in Listening, 17 in Writing, 18 in Reading, 20 in Speaking) Spring 2026: 88 (minimum 19 in Listening, 19 in Writing, 20 in Reading, 22 in Speaking) |
| English | 7.0 overall (with 6.5 in each component) | 95 (minimum 21 in Listening, 22 in Writing, 22 in Reading, 23 in Speaking) |
| Chemical Engineering | Autumn 2025:
| Autumn 2025: 80 (minimum 17 in Listening, 17 in Writing, 18 in Reading, 20 in Speaking) Spring 2026: 88 (minimum 19 in Listening, 19 in Writing, 20 in Reading, 22 in Speaking) |
| History | 7.0 overall (with 6.5 in each component) | 95 (minimum 21 in Listening, 22 in Writing, 22 in Reading, 23 in Speaking) |
| Journalism | 7.5 overall (with 7.0 in each component) | 103 (minimum 22 in Listening, 24 in Writing, 24 in Reading, 25 in Speaking) |
| Languages and Cultures | 7.0 overall (with 6.5 in each component) | 95 (minimum 21 in Listening, 22 in Writing, 22 in Reading, 23 in Speaking) |
| Modern Language Teaching Centre | 6.0 overall (with 5.5 in each component) | 80 (minimum 17 in Listening, 17 in Writing, 18 in Reading, 20 in Speaking) |
| Law | 7.0 overall (with 6.5 in each component) | 95 (minimum 21 in Listening, 22 in Writing, 22 in Reading, 23 in Speaking) |
Acceptable English language qualifications
Undergraduate (Bachelor) students: Accepted English Language Tests
Postgraduate (Master's) study: Accepted English Language Tests
Important:
- You are expected to meet the minimum scores in each component (reading, writing, listening and speaking) as well as the overall score
- We do not accept internal or institutional English language tests, and we do not accept MyBest TOEFL scores
- All documents will need to be submitted in English. See this webpage for further information about the translation of documents.
- If you join for a single semester, then request to extend to a full year, you may be asked to provide an accepted English language test before you can do this.
International students at English speaking universities
If you were previously educated in a non-English speaking country and now study in an institution where the language of instruction and assessment is in English (for example a Chinese national studying at an Australian university) then you can request an additional reference from your university which confirms you are taught in English and your current level of English in addition to sending a University of Sheffield recognised English language qualification.
You can email globalopps@sheffield.ac.uk to check if you are unsure what you are required to submit as proof of English language proficiency with your application.
Study in the English Language Teaching Centre (ELTC)
If you want to study in the ELTC to raise your level of English through a pre-sessional English programme during the summer or your first semester, you must hold an IELTS for UKVI certificate. No other English language certificate can be accepted for a pre-sessional English course due to UK visa regulations. You can see the list of approved IELTS for UKVI test centres here.