English language requirements

Source: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/study/prospective-students/undergraduate/how-apply/english-language-requirements

The following information gives English language requirement guidance for undergraduate applicants.

Providing evidence of English language proficiency

Any student who is not a national of a UK Home Office majority English-speaking country is required to provide recent evidence of English language proficiency.

In individual cases UCL reserves the right to:

specify an additional language requirement for an applicant, or
request additional confirmation of education or employment for your institution or employee.

Who does not need to provide evidence of English language proficiency

You do not need to prove your level of English language proficiency if you are a national of one of the following countries:

List of countries

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

Who does need to provide evidence of their English language proficiency

If you are not a national of one the countries above, you will need to provide recent evidence of one of the following before you become a student at UCL:

12 months education which leads to an academic qualification in a majority English-speaking country
An English language qualification or test result accepted by UCL
Completed a school leaving qualification containing English, accepted by UCL

You do not need to provide this evidence as part of your UCAS application. This will not affect the assessment of your application. If we need evidence of your English language proficiency and make you an offer, this offer is conditional on you providing us with evidence at the appropriate level.

Please read on to see how you can meet UCL’s English language proficiency through these categories.

12 months education which leads to an academic qualification

This option means you must complete at least 12 consecutive months in academic education leading to an awarded qualification.

This must be in a country that UCL considers to be “majority English-speaking”. Please see the list of acceptable countries below.

You must complete your 12 months of education during one continuous period, ending no earlier than the summer two years before the proposed date of enrolment (e.g. if you are starting your course in September 2026, we will accept 12 months education completed in Summer 2024 or later). You must also be awarded with an academic qualification at the end of this period.

Countries UCL considers majority English-speaking after 12 months education

Antigua and Barbuda
Australia
the Bahamas
Barbados
Belize
Botswana
Cameroon (only if the qualification is taught in English)
Canada
Caribbean / West Indies (English-speaking Caribbean Commonwealth territories)
Dominica
Fiji
Gambia
Ghana
Grenada
Guyana
Ireland
Jamaica
Kenya
Malawi
Malta
Mauritius
the Netherlands (only if the qualification is taught entirely in English)
New Zealand
Nigeria
Singapore
South Africa
St Kitts and Nevis
St Lucia
St Vincent and the Grenadines
Swaziland (Eswatini)
Tanzania
Trinidad and Tobago
Uganda
United Kingdom
United States of America
Zambia
Zimbabwe

An English language qualification of test result

For this option you must receive the qualification or test result no more than two years before the proposed date of enrolment. For entry in September 2026, this means a test must have been sat on or after 1 September 2024.

Accepted English language qualifications

Listed below are all the English language qualifications and tests accepted by UCL.

There are five levels of English proficiency needed to meet UCL’s English language requirements for undergraduate study:

Level 1(previously referred to as “Standard Level”)
Level 2(previously referred to as “Good Level”)
Level 3
Level 4 (previously referred to as “Advanced Level”), or
Level 5

See each programme’s page in our Undergraduate Prospectus to confirm which level of English proficiency you will need to meet. Below you can find the scores and grades required for each level.

Applicants have until 17:00 UK time on 3 September 2026 to meet all conditions of their offer including English language requirements. The exact date can also be found in your Portico account and offer letter. However, we would advise you to take a test as soon as possible, as test centres are very busy during the summer.

Please note we can only consider tests that meet the score requirements for the overall and all individual component parts (speaking, listening, reading, writing).

We encourage applicants to take a test centre exam if possible, however, we also accept the online exams mentioned in the list below. Please note that regardless of the form of the exam, UCL takes fraud very seriously. If evidence of malpractice is found in a submitted test result, it will result in the submitted application being withdrawn and not being considered further.

Undergraduate Prospectus

Test providers

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic Version

This test is UCL's preferred English language qualification.

Level 1: Overall score of 6.5 and a minimum of 6.0 in each component
Level 2: Overall score of 7.0 and a minimum of 6.5 in each component
Level 3: Overall score of 7.0 and a minimum of 7.0 in each component
Level 4: Overall score of 7.5 and a minimum of 7.0 in each component
Level 5: Overall score of 8 and a minimum of 8.0 in each component

Applicants may take the IELTS Academic Online test to meet the requirement.

We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake test to meet the requirement.

International English Language testing System

British Council

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

UCL will continue to accept the TOEFL iBT after 21 January 2026. Tests taken from this date onwards will need to meet the new score requirements in full. Tests taken before 21 January will be accepted according to the old requirement as long as they are taken within the two-year timeframe. For more information on the test update please refer to the test provider's website.

Tests taken from 21 January 2026:

Level 1: Overall score of 4.5 and 4.0 in reading, writing, speaking and listening
Level 2: Overall score of 4.5 and 4.5 in reading, writing, speaking and listening
Level 3: Overall score of 5.0 and 5.0 in reading, writing, speaking and listening
Level 4: Overall score of 5.5 and and 5.0 in reading, writing, speaking and listening
Level 5: Overall score of 5.5 and and 5.5 in reading, writing, listening and 6.0 in speaking

Tests taken before 21 January 2026:

Level 1: Overall score of 92 with 24/30 in reading and writing and 20/30 in speaking and listening
Level 2: Overall score of 96 with 24/30 in reading and writing and 22/30 in speaking and listening
Level 3: Overall score of 100 with 25/30 in reading and writing and 23/30 in speaking and listening
Level 4: Overall score of 109 with 27/30 in reading and writing and 23/30 in speaking and listening
Level 5: Overall score of 110 with 29/30 in reading and writing and 23/30 in speaking and listening

Applicants may take the TOEFL iBT Home Edition test to meet the requirements.

Please note that TOEFL iBT MyBestScore is not acceptable for meeting the English language requirement.

UCL’s institution code for TOEFL is 9163.

Visit the TOEFL website for more details.

UCL Pre-sessional English courses

Level 1: Overall score of 65% and a minimum of 60% in each component
Level 2: Overall score of 70% and a minimum of 65% in each component
Level 3: Overall score of 70% and a minimum of 70% in each component
Level 4: Overall score of 75% and a minimum of 70% in each component
Level 5: Overall score of 80% and a minimum of 80% in each component

These courses are run by UCL Centre for Languages & International Education (CLIE).

Find out more about UCL Undergraduate Preparatory Certificates

UCL Undergraduate Preparatory Certificate (UPCSE; UPCH)

UCL Undergraduate Preparatory Certificates (UPCSE; UPCH)

Level 1: Overall score of 65% and a minimum of 60% in each component

Level 2: Overall score of 70% and a minimum of 65% in each component

Level 3: Overall score of 70% and a minimum of 70% in each component

Level 4: Overall score of 75% and a minimum of 70% in each component

Level 5: Overall score of 80% and a minimum of 80% in each component

Find out more about UCL Undergraduate Preparatory Certificates.

Cambridge English: C2 Proficiency (CPE), previously Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English

Level 1: Overall score of 176 with 169 in all subtests
Level 2: Overall score of 180 with 172 in all subtests
Level 3: Overall score of 185 with 180 in all subtests
Level 4: Overall score of 191 with 180 in all subtests
Level 5: Overall score of 210 with 200 in all subtests

Cambridge English Language Assessment

Cambridge English: C1 Advanced (CAE), previously known as Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English

Level 1: Overall score of 176 with 169 in all subtests
Level 2: Overall score of 180 with 172 in all subtests
Level 3: Overall score of 185 with 180 in all subtests
Level 4: Overall score of 191 with 180 in all subtests
Level 5: Overall score of 210 with 200 in all subtests

Cambridge English Language Assessment

Pearson Test of English (Academic)

UCL will accept the Pearson Test of English (Academic), often referred to as PTE (Academic), with the following grades:

Level 1: Overall score of 75 with a minimum of 67 in each Communicative Skill
Level 2: Overall score of 76 with a minimum of 75 in each Communicative Skill
Level 3: Overall score of 76 with a minimum of 76 in each Communicative Skill
Level 4: Overall score of 80 with a minimum of 76 in each Communicative Skill
Level 5: Overall score of 88 with a minimum of 80 in each Communicative Skill

Pearson Test of English

Trinity College London, Integrated Skills in English (ISE) II

Level 1: Successful completion of ISE II with a ‘merit’ in all components
Level 2: Successful completion of ISE II with a ‘distinction’ in all components
Level 3: Not accepted
Level 4: Not accepted
Level 5: Not accepted

Trinity College

Trinity College London, Integrated Skills in English (ISE) III

Level 1: Successful completion with a ‘pass’ in all components
Level 2: Successful completion with a ‘pass’ in all components
Level 3: Successful completion with a ‘pass’ in all components
Level 4: Successful completion with a ‘distinction’ in all components
Level 5: Not accepted

Trinity College

Trinity College London, Integrated Skills in English (Trinity ISE) IV

Level 1: Successful completion of ISE IV with a ‘pass’ in all components
Level 2: Successful completion of ISE IV with a ‘pass’ in all components
Level 3: Successful completion of ISE IV with a ‘pass’ in all components
Level 4: Successful completion of ISE IV with a ‘pass’ in all components
Level 5: Successful completion of ISE IV with a ‘pass’ in all components

Trinity College

GCSE/IGCSE English Language

For English Language GCSE and iGCSEs you must receive the qualification or test result no more than the summer two years before the proposed date of enrolment. For entry in September 2026, this means the GCSE or iGCSE must have been awarded no earlier than summer 2024.

For all GCSE English Language qualifications we require the following grades.

Level 1: Pass at 4 (or grade C) with Merit in spoken component (where applicable) for 2025 entry
Level 2: Pass at 4 (or grade C) with Merit in spoken component (where applicable) for 2025 entry
Level 3: Pass at 6 (or grade B) with Distinction in spoken component (where applicable)
Level 4: Pass at 6 (or grade B) with Distinction in spoken component (where applicable)
Level 5: Pass at 7 (or grade A) with Distinction in spoken component (where applicable)

GCSE qualifications are only accepted if all four skills are assessed or the spoken language component is separately endorsed on the certificate.

OCR English language (9-1) [J351] - Spoken language endorsement required
AQA English language (9-1) [8700]- Spoken language endorsement required
Pearson/Edexcel English language (9-1) [1En0]- Spoken language endorsement required
WJEC/Eduquas English language (A*-E)
CCEA (NI) English language (A*-E) [5030]

For all IGCSEs, we require a copy of both the official certificate and statement of results. This allows us to confirm your grade and syllabus studied.

For IGCSE qualifications, please see our syllabus requirements below (requirements are given for 2025 entry).

Cambridge Assessments International Education (CAIE)

Cambridge IGCSE English – First Language (0500) (0990) or (0524)

Level 1: Pass at 4 (or grade C) with Merit/grade 2 in the speaking and listening component
Level 2: Pass at 4 (or grade C) with Merit/grade 2 in the speaking and listening component
Level 3: Pass at 6 (or grade B) with Distinction/grade 1 in the speaking and listening component
Level 4: Pass at 6 (or grade B) with Distinction/grade 1 in the speaking and listening component
Level 5: Pass at 7 (or grade A) with Distinction/grade 1 in the speaking and listening component

Cambridge IGCSE English as a Second Language (Speaking endorsement) (0510) or (0993)

Level 1: Pass at 4 (or grade C) with Merit/grade 2 in the speaking component
Level 2: Pass at 6 (or grade B) with Merit/grade 2 in the speaking component
Level 3 and above: Not acceptable

Cambridge IGCSE English as a Second Language (Count-in speaking) (0511) or (0991)

Level 1: Pass at 4 (or grade C)
Level 2: Pass at 6 (or grade B)
Level 3 and above: Not acceptable

Cambridge Assessment International Education

Pearson Edexcel

Edexcel IGCSE English Language A (4EA1 or 4EXA1) or B (4EB1)

Level 1: Pass at 4 (or grade C) with Merit in the spoken language component
Level 2: Pass at 4 (or grade C) with Merit in the spoken language component
Level 3: Pass at 6 (or grade B) with Distinction in the spoken language component
Level 4: Pass at 6 (or grade B) with Distinction in the spoken language component
Level 5: Pass at 7 (or grade A) with Distinction in the spoken language component

Edexcel IGCSE English as a Second Language (4ES1)

Level 1: Pass at 4 (or grade C) with pass in the spoken language component
Level 2: Pass at 6 (or grade B) with pass in the spoken language component
Level 3: Pass at 7 (or grade A) with pass in the spoken language component
Level 4 and above: Not acceptable

Edexcel IGCSE English as a Second Language (4XES2)

- Level 1: Pass at 9
Level 2: Pass at 9
Level 3 and above: Not acceptable

Pearson Edexcel

Oxford International AQA Examinations

Oxford AQA IGCSE English Language (9270)

Level 1: Pass at grade 4 with Merit in the speaking and listening component
Level 2: Pass at grade 6 with Merit in the speaking and listening component
Level 3: Pass at grade 7 with Distinction in the speaking and listening component
Level 4: Pass at grade 8 with Distinction in speaking and listening component
Level 5: Pass at grade 9 with Distinction in speaking and listening component

Oxford AQA IGCSE English as a Second Language (9280)

Level 1: Pass at grade 6
Level 2: Pass at grade 6
Level 3: Pass at grade 9
Level 4 and above: Not acceptable

Oxford International AQA Examinations

International Ordinary (O) Levels in English Language

Only the following Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE) International O Levels are considered to meet our English Language requirements.

Cambridge O Level in English Language (1120) Brunei – Spoken language must be separately endorsed on the certificate
Cambridge O Level in English Language (1127/1128) Singapore

Please note: Cambridge O Level (1123) International is NOT accepted under any circumstances.

Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE)

UCL Institute of Education Preparation for Academic Studies in Higher Education (PASHE)

The PASHE courses are intended for applicants applying to the IOE for graduate and undergraduate programmes who need to improve their English language skills. IOE applicants should apply for this programme only and not the UCL Pre-sessional courses run by the Centre for Languages & International Education (CLIE).

Level 1: Overall score of 65% and a minimum of 60% in each component
Level 2: Overall score of 70% and a minimum of 65% in each component
Level 3: Overall score of 70% and a minimum of 70% in each component
Level 4: Overall score of 75% and a minimum of 70% in each component
Level 5: Overall score of 80% and a minimum of 80% in each component

Applicants can contact the IOE Academic Writing Centre at Preparation for Academic Studies in Higher Education.

LanguageCert (Academic)

UCL will accept LanguageCert (Academic) with the following results:

Level 1: Overall score of 70 and a minimum of 65 in each component
Level 2: Overall score of 75 and a minimum of 70 in each component
Level 3: Overall score of 75 and a minimum of 75 in each component
Level 4: Overall score of 80 and a minimum of 75 in each component
Level 5: Overall score of 85 and a minimum of 85 in each component

Applicants will need to share their scores with UCL on their LanguageCert Portal.

Applicants may take the LanguageCert Academic Online test to meet the requirements.

Oxford Test of English Advanced

The test is developed by the Oxford University Press, certified by the University of Oxford.

Level 1: Overall score of 140 with 125 in Speaking, Listening, Reading, and Writing

Level 2: Overall score of 150 with 140 in Speaking, Listening, Reading, and Writing

Level 3: Overall score of 150 with 150 in Speaking, Listening, Reading, and Writing

Level 4: Overall score of 160 with 150 in Speaking, Listening, Reading, and Writing

Level 5: Overall score of 170 with 170 in Speaking, Listening, Reading, and Writing

Other versions, such as Oxford Test of English and Oxford Test of English for Schools are not acceptable.

Contact OUP.

Accepted school leaving qualifications

UCL also accepts a number of school leaving qualifications containing English. These are considered by UCL as meeting the CEFR B2 level in all four skills.

You must receive this qualification no more than the summer two years before the proposed date of enrolment. This includes the summer two years before enrolment if starting in September.

To be considered acceptable, you must provide us with a copy of your final officially issued certificate and transcript. If these documents are not in English, we will also require a translation.

International Baccalaureate

We accept the following International Baccalaureate English Language subjects taken as part of the IB Diploma.

IB English Language A: Literature, IB English Language A: Language and Literature

Level 1: Grade 5 at either higher or standard level
Level 2: Grade 5 at either higher or standard level
Level 3: Grade 6 at either higher or standard level
Level 4: Grade 6 at higher level or grade 7 at standard level
Level 5: Grade 7 at either higher (not acceptable at standard level)

IB English Language B

Level 1: Either grade 5 at higher level or grade 6 at standard level
Level 2: Either grade 6 at higher level or grade 7 at standard level
Level 3: Either grade 7 at higher level (not acceptable at standard level)
Level 4: Either grade 7 at higher level (not acceptable at standard level)
Level 5: Not acceptable at either level

IB English Language A: Literature and Performance (standard level only)

Level 1: Grade 5
Level 2 and above: Not acceptable

International Baccalaureate

School leaving qualifications (by country)

Austria: Matura/Reifeprufung

All levels: In the Matura/Reifeprufung, 2 (gut) in English when both written and oral examinations have been taken.

Belgium: Diploma van Secundair or the Certificat d'Enseignement Secondaire Superieur

All levels: In the Diploma van Secundair or the Certificat d'Enseignement Secondaire Superieur, the equivalent of 8.5/10 or 85% in English.

Denmark: Studentereksamen

All levels: In the Studentereksamen, 7 in English.

European Baccalaureate

All levels: 7.5 in English as either an Obligatory Subject (Language I or II) or as a Full Option (Language III or IV).

Finland: Ylioppilastutkinto/Studentexamen matriculation examination

All levels: In the Ylioppilastutkinto/Studentexamen matriculation examination, 5 (magna cum laude approbatur) in English at the Advanced Level.

France: Baccalaureat General and Baccalauréat Français International

All levels: In the Baccalaureat General or the Baccalauréat Français International (BFI),13 (assez bien) in English, where the co-efficient applied to the subject is greater than 1.

Germany: Abitur

All levels: In the Abitur, 12 (gut) in English when taken as an achievement/main/intensive course (LK/Advanced Level)

Iceland: Studentsprof matriculation examination

All levels: In the Studentsprof matriculation examination, 8 in English when taken as a compulsory modern language.

India: Year 12 High School Certificate

All levels: In the CISCE Indian School Certificate and CBSE Senior School Certificate Examinations, 85 in English Core (CBSE) or in English (compulsory, CISCE) subjects.

Luxembourg: Examen de Fin d'Etudes Secondaires

All levels: In the Examen de Fin d'Etudes Secondaires, 46 in English.

The Netherlands: Voorbereidend Wetenschappelijk Onderwijs (VWO) diploma

All levels: In the Voorbereidend Wetenschappelijk Onderwijs (VWO) diploma, 7 (ruim voldoende) in English.

Norway: Vitnemal - videregaende opplaering

All levels: In the Vitnemal - videregaende opplaering, 4 in English.

Sweden: Avgangsbetyg

All levels: In the Avgangsbetyg, C in English.

Switzerland: Maturitatzeugnis/Certificat de Maturite/Attestato de Maturita federal maturity certificate or the federally-recognised cantonal maturity certificate

All levels: In the Maturitatzeugnis/Certificat de Maturite/Attestato de Maturita federal maturity certificate or the federally-recognised cantonal maturity certificate, 4.5 in English.

Submitting your results

We encourage you to:

provide your IELTS Test Report Form (TRF) number or TOEFL iBT appointment number within your UCAS test results, as part of your application form or,
only send us any other test results if they meet our requirements given above. In these cases, you must provide the official document issued by the test provider.

Please be aware, that we cannot accept any unofficial test reports or screenshots of your results.

Applying as an international student