English language entry requirements

Source: https://study.ed.ac.uk/undergraduate/entry-requirements/english-language Parent: https://www.ed.ac.uk/studying/international/english

Regardless of your nationality or where you live, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency which will enable you to succeed in your studies.

Degree requirements

English language requirements vary between degrees.

Find the specific requirements for your chosen degree in our degree finder.

Undergraduate degree finder

Unless a higher level is specified in the published entry requirements in our degree finder, you will need a pass in English at the following grades or higher:

• National 5 at C
• GCSE/IGCSE at C or 4
• Level 2 Certificate at C (Level 2 Functional Skills English is not accepted for entry)
• IB Standard Level at 5 (English ab initio is not accepted for entry)
• IB Middle Years Programme English Language and Literature at 5

Accepted qualifications

We also accept a wide range of international English qualifications and English language tests.

The qualifications we accept meet both the English language proficiency requirements listed above and the minimum standards for Student visas.

If you have already met our English language entry requirements for your degree at the time you apply, your application may be considered more competitive in selection than applications where you still need to take an English language test.

Unless you are a national of a majority English-speaking country or region, your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start of the month in which the degree you are applying to study begins. If you are using an IELTS, TOEFL, Trinity ISE, Oxford ELLT test, or Oxford Test of English Advanced, it must be no more than two years old on the first of the month in which the degree begins, regardless of your nationality.

The English language requirements for MBChB Medicine and BVM&S Veterinary Medicine may be higher than the levels listed below. For more information, please check your country or region's qualification page or contact us using our undergraduate enquiry form.

International qualifications by region

Two year expiry

Three and a half year expiry

Applicants undertaking mandatory military service

We understand that applicants from Singapore are required to complete mandatory military service. If you began your military service immediately after completing school, the three and a half year expiry period for your qualification will apply from the point you finished school, providing that you were taught and assessed in English.

This extension does not apply if you are using IELTS, TOEFL and Trinity ISE to meet English language requirements.

Foundation English for Academic Purposes

We also accept satisfactory completion of all Foundation English for Academic Purposes (FEAP) modules in one of our International Foundation Programmes as meeting our English language requirements.

Access programmes delivered in Scottish Colleges

We accept satisfactory completion of all Access programmes delivered in Scottish Colleges (including Scottish Wider Access Programme) as meeting our English language requirements.

Certificates

We will need to verify your qualifications and/or test results. If your certificates are not in English you will also need to submit a certified translation.

Submitting your qualification certificates  

Submitting multiple forms of evidence

If you provide more than one form of evidence of your English language competence, for example a school qualification and an English language test, be aware that we will take all evidence into account when we assess your application.

Students who require a visa to study in the UK

In addition to our English language proficiency requirements, the UK Home Office sets its own minimum standards for applicants who require a Student visa to study in the UK. Our English language entry requirements are set at a level that will also meet the English language proficiency requirements of the UK Home Office.

If you require a Student visa to study in the UK, the English qualification that you use for admission to an undergraduate degree must be included in our list of accepted qualifications, unless you are a national of a majority English-speaking country or territory as defined by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).

UKVI majority English-speaking countries and territories

English Language Education/International Foundation Programme

If you are interested in our English language programmes as preparation for degree entry, or our International Foundation Programme in Arts, Humanities and Social Science you must have an approved secure English language test (SELT) for entry. Our approved SELTs meet our English language proficiency requirements and the minimum standard for Student visas.

English Language Education

International Foundation Programme in Arts, Humanities and Social Science

UKVI approved test centres

English language courses

If you do not have the English grades we require for entry, you can improve your language skills through our range of English courses.

English language courses at Edinburgh

Related links

Admissions policies and procedures

This article was published on 2026-03-02