English language requirements

English language requirements in IELTS levels

The university’s English language requirements in IELTS levels are as follows:

Foundation level

Course	IELTS level
International Foundation Business and Technology and International Foundation Arts, Humanities and Law	5.5 overall with 5.5 in all skills
Art and Design Foundation	UKVI-approved SELT 5.0 with 5.0 in all skills
International Foundation Art and Design	5.5 overall with 5.5 in all skills
Built Environment Foundation, Computing Foundation, Engineering Foundation, Foundation in Humanities, Life Sciences Foundation	6.0 with 6.0 in reading and writing, 5.5 in listening and speaking

Undergraduate level

Course	IELTS level
All other undergraduate courses	6.0 overall with 6.0 in reading and writing, 5.5 in listening and speaking
Law, Architecture, Interior Architecture, English Literature (including combined honours), English Literature and Creative Writing	6.5 overall with 6.0 in reading and writing, 5.5 in listening and speaking
Health and Social Care courses	6.5 or 7.0 overall with 6.5 or 7.0 in all components (see individual entries for course details)
Nutrition BSc (Hons)	6.5 overall with a minimum of 6.0 in each component

Pre-Master's programmes

Course	IELTS level
Pre-Master’s Diploma: English Language and Study Skills	5.5 with 5.5 in all skills
Pre-Master’s Certificate: English Language and Study Skills	6.0 with 6.0 in reading and writing, 5.5 in listening and speaking
Pre-Master’s Certificate: Study Skills	7.0 (6.5 in all skills)
Two-Year Master's Degree	5.5 with 5.5 in all skills

Postgraduate level

Faculty of Health and Life Sciences

Course	IELTS level
Medical Genetics and Genomics Nursing (Mental Health) Midwifery (pre-registration) Psychology Management in Health and Social Care Public Health Global Public Health Applied Human Nutrition Applied Sport and Exercise Nutrition	IELTS 6.5 with 6.5 in reading and writing, and 6.0 listening and speaking
Physiotherapy	IELTS 6.5 with 6.5 in reading, writing, listening and speaking
Social Work	IELTS 7.0 with 7.0 in reading and writing, and 6.5 listening and speaking
Occupational Therapy	IELTS 7.0 with 6.5 in reading, writing, listening and speaking
Dietetics	IELTS 7.0 with no component lower than 6.5

Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

Course	IELTS level
Education Education (Artist Teacher Practice) Education (Leadership & Management) Education (SEND) Education (Childhood & Youth Studies) History	IELTS 6.5 with 6.0 in reading and writing, and 5.5 listening and speaking
Education (TESOL)	IELTS 6.5 with 6.0 in reading, writing, listening and speaking
PGCE	IELTS 6.5 with 6.5 in reading, writing, listening and speaking
Criminology	IELTS 6.5 with 6.0 in reading and writing
English Literature Creative Writing	IELTS 7.0 overall including a minimum of 6.0 in all components
International Law Human Rights Law International Commercial Law and Trade Global Business and Human Rights International Relations International Security Primate Conservation/Primatology courses	IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.0 in all skills
Legal Practice Graduate Diploma in Law	IELTS 7.0 with a minimum of 6.5 in each component

Oxford Brookes Business School

Course	IELTS level
Business & Management courses Accounting, Finance & Economics courses Hospitality, Tourism & Events courses Marketing courses	IELTS 6.0 with 6.0 in reading and writing, and 5.5 listening and speaking

Faculty of Technology, Design and Environment

Course	IELTS level
MArchD Applied Design in Architecture Architecture Digital Craft in Architecture Sustainable Architecture: Evaluation & Design Building Information, Modelling & Management Infrastructure Planning and Sustainable Development Construction Project Management Industrialised Construction Spatial Planning Project Management in the Built Environment Quantity Surveying Environmental Impact Historic Conservation Real Estate Real Estate Investment Finance Global Development & Humanitarian Practice Humanitarian Action & Peacebuilding Shelter After Disaster Fine Art Creative Industries Digital Media Production Professional Photography Journalism Publishing	IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.0 in all skills
Interior Architecture	IELTS 6.5 to include 6.0 in reading and writing and 5.5 in listening and speaking
Urban Design Motorsport Engineering Automotive Engineering Mechanical Engineering Racing Engine Systems Artificial Intelligence Advanced Computer Science Computer Science for Cyber Security Computing Science Data Analytics	IELTS 6.0 overall with 6.0 in all skills

Study Abroad and Exchange Programmes

Course	IELTS level
All undergraduate courses	6.0 overall with 6.0 in reading and writing, 5.5 in listening and speaking
All postgraduate courses	6.5 overall with 6.0 in reading and writing, 5.5 in listening and speaking

Alternative English qualifications

We may be able accept alternative qualifications as evidence of your language skills if:

You do not need a student visa to come to the UK.
You have applied for a undergraduate or postgraduate level course and are not able to take a UK Visas and Immigration approved test.

The following information is a guide and your ability will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Oxford Brookes pathways courses

Our Pre-sessional English course can help you to meet the language requirements for all our undergraduate and postgraduate. Entry levels are from IELTS 4.5 overall with 4.0 in all skills.

Even if your current English qualifications are high enough, you may choose to take this course to boost your confidence in English (writing, reading, listening and speaking) before starting your degree.

Undergraduate - Pass with 50% or 60%* depending on the IELTS level you started with.
Postgraduate - Pass with 60%* overall

* Overall passes at 50% or 60% must also include the same % in Academic Reading and Writing.

Pre-Master’s

Normally, you can progress to your chosen master's by achieving an average grade of 60% (55% for business/hospitality degrees).

Country specific qualifications

Austria

Undergraduate and postgraduate - Grade 2 in Reifeprüfung/Matura with both written and spoken parts completed

Bulgaria

Undergraduate and postgraduate - Grade 5 in Diploma Za Sredno Obrazovanie - (Диплома за Cредно Oбразование)

Canada

Undergraduate - Minimum of 70% in grade 12 English
Postgraduate - Minimum of 70% in grade 12 English with academic or professional use of English following this

Cyprus (EU)

Undergraduate and postgraduate - Grade 17 in Apolytirio Lykeiou

Czech Republic

Undergraduate and postgraduate - Grade 2 in Vysvědčení o maturitní zkoušce (Maturita)

Denmark

Undergraduate and postgraduate - Grade 7 in Bevis for Studentereksamen

Estonia

Undergraduate and postgraduate - B2 in Passing State Examination (Gümnaasiumi lõputunnistus with the Riigieksamitunnistus)

Finland

Undergraduate and postgraduate - 5 Magna cum laude approbatur in Ylioppilastutkinto / Studentexamensbetyg (Matriculation Examination)

France

Undergraduate and postgraduate - Grade 12 in Baccalauréat

Germany

Undergraduate and postgraduate - Grade 10 in Abitur/Zeugnis der Allgemeinen Hochschulreife

Greece

Undergraduate and postgraduate - Grade 17 in Apolytirio Genikou Lykeiou

Hong Kong

Undergraduate - HKDSE English 4 overall, 4 reading and writing, 3 speaking and listening
Postgraduate - HKDSE English 4 overall, 4 reading and writing, 3 speaking and listening with academic or professional use of English following this

Hungary

Undergraduate and postgraduate - Grade 4 in Érettségi Bizonyítvány (Matura)

Iceland

Undergraduate and postgraduate - Grade 8 (as a compulsory) in Stúdentspróf (matriculation certificate)

India

For programmes requiring IELTS 5.5 or 6.0, we will require 60% in English. For programmes requiring IELTS 6.5 or higher, we will require 65% in English from the following examination boards:

Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)
Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE)
Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education

We are pleased to confirm that we have expanded the examination boards we are able to accept. For programmes requiring IELTS 6.0, we will require 65% in English. For programmes requiring an IELTS 6.5 or higher, we will accept 70% in English from the following examination boards:

National Institute of Open Schooling (formerly National Open School)
Assam Higher Secondary Education Council
Bihar School Examination Board, Patna (formerly Bihar Intermediate Education Council to 2016)
Chhattisgarh Board of Secondary Education
Delhi Board of School Education (DBSE)
Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education
Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (formerly Jammu and Kashmir State Board of School Education)
Jharkhand Academic Council
Government of Karnataka Department of Pre-University Education (to 2022) / Karnataka School Examination and Assessment Board, Bengaluru (from 2023)
Government of Kerala Board of High Secondary Examinations
Board of Secondary Education, Madhya Pradesh
Council of Higher Secondary Education, Manipur
Meghalaya Board of School Education
Mizoram Board of School Education
Nagaland Board of School Education
Council of Higher Secondary Education, Odisha
Board of Secondary Education, Rajasthan
Tripura Board of Secondary Education

Kenya

Undergraduate - C in O-level English of KCSE plus qualifications above this level in English
Postgraduate - C in O-level English of KCSE with academic or professional use of English following this

Lithuania

Undergraduate and postgraduate - 75% in Brandos Atestatas (Matura - state exam)

Malaysia

Undergraduate - Pass SPM1119A with C6 or CEFR B2 overall and B2 in each individual component

Netherlands

Undergraduate and postgraduate - Grade 8 in VWO (Voorbereidend Wetenschappelijk Onderwijs) Diploma

Norway

Undergraduate - 4-5 in the English language module of Vitnemal (Upper Secondary School leaving certificate
Postgraduate - 4-5 in the English language module of Vitnemal (Upper Secondary School leaving certificate) with academic or professional use of English following this

Poland

Undergraduate and postgraduate - 70% in Extended/80% in Basic in Świadectwo Dojrzałości (Certificate of Maturity)

Portugal

Undergraduate and postgraduate - Grade 14 in Certificado de fim de Estudos Secundários/Diploma de Ensino Secundario

Singapore

Undergraduate - Minimum grade of C6 in Singapore/Cambridge O-level plus qualifications above this level in English
Postgraduate - Minimum grade of C6 in Singapore/Cambridge O-level with academic or professional use of English following this

South Africa

Undergraduate - National Senior Certificate with 5 or above in English
Postgraduate - National Senior Certificate with 5 or above in English with academic or professional use of English following this

Spain

Undergraduate and postgraduate - Grade 8 in Titulo de Bachiller

Sweden

Undergraduate and postgraduate - C (Väl godkänd - pass with distinction) in Avgångsbetyg/Slutbetyg från Gymnasieskola (Upper secondary school leaving certificate)

Uganda

Undergraduate - Credit Pass in English on EACE or UCE plus qualifications above this level in English
Postgraduate - Credit Pass in English on EACE or UCE with academic or professional use of English following this

USA

Undergraduate - US High School Diploma studied in English with English Grade C (75%) plus SAT or AP qualifications
Postgraduate - US High School Diploma studied in English with English Grade C (75%) plus SAT or AP qualifications with academic or professional use of English following this

West African Examinations Council (WAEC ) nations

Undergraduate - WASSCE with C6 (awarded in Nigeria by NECO)
Postgraduate - WASSCE with C6 (awarded in Nigeria by NECO) with academic or professional use of English following this

Zimbabwe

Undergraduate - GCE A-levels with grade C or above in an essay based subject
Postgraduate - GCE A-levels with grade C or above with academic or professional use of English following this

Other qualifications and tests

The table below compares the scores and components for a number of English Language qualifications we are able to accept based on the UK Border Agency's requirements for the Student Route Visa. We accept a range of other qualifications also listed on this page. If you have received a verification ID number with your English Language qualification, please send this (along with your applicant ID number) to our admissions team via admissions@brookes.ac.uk in order to verify your qualification.

IELTS	Pearson Test of English (PTE)	Language Cert Academic	Language Cert International ESOL B1	Language Cert International ESOL B2	Language Cert International ESOL C1	Kaplan Test of English (KTE)	Password	OIEG - ELLT	TOEFL
Overall 4.5	49	47	132
Components minimum 4.0	49	47	Components minimum 33
Overall 5.0	55	54	152
Components minimum 4.5	55	54	Components minimum 35
Overall 5.5	59	60		132		396- 425	5.5	5	72
Components minimum 5.0	59	60		Components minimum 33		Components minimum 396		Components minimum 4	R18, L17, S20, W17
Overall 6.0	65	65		132		426- 458	6.0	6	80
Components minimum - reading/writing: 6.0; listening/speaking: 5.5	65	65		Components minimum 35		Components minimum 426		Components minimum 5	R20, L17, S20, W19
Overall 6.5	71	70		152		459 - 494	6.5	7	88
Components minimum 6.0	71	70		Components minimum 35		Components minimum 459		Components minimum 6	R22, L21, S24, W21
Overall 7.0	76	75			132	495 - 526	7.0	8	95
Components minimum 6.5	76	75			Components minimum 33	Components minimum 495		Components minimum 7.0	R24, L22, S25, W24

Additional qualifications and tests

Cambridge English: C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency

Undergraduate and postgraduate - CEFR B2 overall and in all components on the Cambridge English Scale Score (160-179)

GCE A-level

Undergraduate - Grade C in an essay-based subject (eg English Literature, humanities subjects). Not A-levels in other languages or numeric-based subjects (eg French, Mathematics)
Postgraduate - As undergraduate with continued use of English to keep skills alive

GCSE English

Undergraduate - Grade C, plus qualifications above GCSE level studied in English (eg A levels, BTEC)
Postgraduate - As undergraduate with continued use of English to keep skills alive

IGCSE English

Undergraduate - Grade C English as First Language or English as Second Language, plus qualifications above GCSE level studied in English (eg A levels, BTEC)
Postgraduate - As undergraduate with continued use of English to keep skills alive

International Baccalaureate

Undergraduate - 4 at Standard Level in English
Postgraduate - As undergraduate with continued use of English to keep skills alive

INTO Grad Dip

Postgraduate - 55% overall with 65% plus in English Language Module

Kaplan Foundation - English for Academic Purposes

Undergraduate and postgraduate: 60% English with 55% in each skill

Kaplan Test of English (KTE)

The Kaplan Test of English is an online test which can be taken from home. Oxford Brookes University students and offer holders are entitled to a 25% discount.

Oxford ELLT

Oxford ELLT is an English Language Level Test, approved by Oxford Brookes University that can be used as evidence of a candidate’s English language proficiency for international admissions. Register to take the Oxford ELLT Digital. You can also benefit from using our discount code at check out to purchase the test for only £90.00 (Oxford ELLT Digital only): OBU25. Register to take the Oxford ELLT Global (Test Centre). For acceptable scores, please see the table above.

Skills for English

Undergraduate and postgraduate - from Upper Intermediate - B2 with merit

English language requirements for visas

If you have applied for our Pre-sessional English or International Foundation Diploma courses, or to a course that has an IELTS requirement below 6.0 and you need a student visa, you must take a UK Visa and Immigration approved SELT (Secure English Language Test). We are able to accept the following SELTs if they have been taken at a UKVI approved test centre:

IELTS for UKVI
PTE Academic UKVI
LanguageCert Academic SELT
LanguageCert International ESOL SELT B1 / B2 / C1

If you have any questions about this, our International Student Advice Team can help you to apply for your visa.

English speaking countries

If you are from a country that UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) considers as majority English speaking, or you’ve completed a qualification equivalent to a UK degree in one of them, you then you will not have to prove your English language level for visa purposes.

Antigua and Barbuda
Australia
the Bahamas
Barbados
Belize
The British Overseas Territories
Dominica
Grenada
Guyana
Ireland
Jamaica
Malta
New Zealand
St Kitts and Nevis
St Lucia
St Vincent and the Grenadines
Trinidad and Tobago
UK
USA

You also don’t need to prove your knowledge of English if you are a national of Canada or you have proved your level of English in a previous visa application.

Please refer to the UKVI for the latest information.