It is essential that you can read and interpret academic journal articles, communicate effectively and write at a doctorate level, regardless of your nationality or country of residence.
We welcome a range of internationally recognised formal English tests and in addition if you have already completed an undergraduate or postgraduate degree in an official English recognised speaking country, this may also meet the requirement.
Postgraduate Research courses (e.g, MRes, MPhil, PhD) normally require an IELTS (or acceptable equivalent test) with a score of 6.5 with a minimum of 6.5 in all 4 components. SELT Test reports, such as IELTS, are valid for a period of 2 years and can be used as proof of English for admission if valid on the start date of your course.
English test qualifications we accept
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| Qualification | Reading | Writing | Speaking | Listening | Overall |
| All Indian State Boards - Senior Secondary and CISCE/CBSE (Year 12) – English or English Core | - | - | - | - | 65% or above |
| BACIET – English Test | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
| Bellerby's Foundation Programme English | 65% | 65% | 65% | 65% | 65% |
| Cambridge English: C2 Proficiency, C1 Advanced and B2 First | 176 | 176 | 176 | 176 | 176 |
| Cambridge - IGCSE - First language | B | B | B(2) | B | B |
| Cambridge - IGCSE - Second language - Oral Counted in | A | A | A | A | A |
| Cambridge - IGCSE - Second language - Oral separate endorsement | A | A | 1 | A | A(1) |
| Cambridge English – Brunei 1120 Syllabus | - | - | - | - | B |
| Cambridge English – Malaysia SPM 1119 Syllabus | - | - | - | - | B |
| Cambridge English – Mauritius 1125 Syllabus | - | - | - | - | B |
| Cambridge English – Singapore 1128 Syllabus | - | - | - | - | B |
| Cambridge English – All other countries with 1123 Syllabus | - | - | - | - | B |
| Heriot Watt Portfolio Pre Sessional Programme | B | B | B | B | B |
| HKDSE English Language | - | - | - | - | 4 or above |
| Hong Kong HKALE AS Level English | - | - | - | - | C or above |
| IELTS Academic | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
| IELTS Indicator | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
| Integrated Skills in English (ISE III) | Pass | Pass | Pass | Pass | Pass |
| INTO Foundation Programme English | 65% | 65% | 65% | 65% | 65% |
| Kaplan Foundation Programme English | 65% | 65% | 65% | 65% | 65% |
| Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education - English | - | - | - | - | C or above |
| Language Cert ESOL (B2) SELT Test | 33/50 | 33/50 | 33/50 | 33/50 | - |
| Language Cert ESOL (B2) Online Test *Spoken Test is a separately assessed exam |
High Pass | High Pass | High Pass* | High Pass | High Pass |
| Linguaskill | 175 | 175 | 175 | 175 | 175 |
| MUET - Malaysian University Entrance Test | - | - | - | - | Band 5 |
| NCUK Masters Preparation | B | B | B | B | B |
| Nigerian Examinations Council (NECO) - English | - | - | - | - | C6 or above |
| ONCampus Foundation Programme English | 65% | 65% | 65% | 65% | 65% |
| PTE Academic | 61 | 61 | 61 | 61 | 61 |
| TOEFL iBT & MyBest™ | 22 | 22 | 23 | 21 | 88 |
| TOEFL iBT - Special Home Edition | 22 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 88 |
| Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) with English | - | - | - | - | C6 or above |
| UKVI approved HEI Pre-sessional Programme results | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
| West African Senior School Certificate (WAEC) - English | - | - | - | - | C6 or above |
| Zimbabwe Certificate of Secondary Education (ZIMSEC)/ Cambridge Higher School Certificate O Level | - | - | - | - | C |
Need to improve your English language qualifications?
If you don't quite meet the requirements for our courses, we have a few options for you.
RGU English Language Test
RGU holds English language test in cities across the world. Find out more about the locations where these are taking place and how to book your test:
RGU Pre-sessional English Programme
If you feel you need more English training before being tested, you can join the RGU Pre-sessional English Programme
If you do not have the required level of English to start your degree course at the University, you may wish to apply for our intensive English Language Pre-sessional Programme:
The Pre-sessional Programme aims to increase your English Language level before you start studying for your degree course.
Please note, some courses may require a higher standard of English than stated in this page. Refer to course details or contact admissions@rgu.ac.uk for further information.