Postgraduate Research Study - Accepted English Qualifications

English Requirements For Our Courses

Postgraduate Research Study - Accepted English Qualifications

It is essential that you can read and interpret academic journal articles, communicate effectively and write at a doctorate level. If English is not your first language, regardless of your nationality or country of residence you will need to demonstrate the required language skills

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 as well as other standalone English tests, are valid for a period of 2 years only 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
All India Secondary School Examination XII/12th Year - - - - 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: B2 First 176 176 176 176 176
Cambridge English: C1 Advanced 176 176 176 176 176
Cambridge English: C2 Proficiency 176 176 176 176 180
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 – Mauritius 1125 Syllabus - - - - B
Cambridge English – Singapore 1128 Syllabus - - - - B
Cambridge English – All other countries with 1123 Syllabus - - - - B
Canadian Secondary Schooling Certificate or Diploma - - - - B
Heriot Watt Portfolio Pre Sessional Programme B B B B B
HKDSE English Language - - - - 5 or above
Hong Kong HKALE AS Level English - - - - C or above
IELTS Academic 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.5
IELTS Academic  SELT Consortium - UKVI IELTS 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.5
Integrated Skills in English (ISE III) Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass
Integrated Skills in English (ISE II) Distinction Distinction Distinction Distinction Distinction
International Baccalaureate - English A Literature/Literature & Language - - - - HL5
International Baccalaureate - English B  - - - - HL6
INTO Foundation Programme English 65% 65% 65% 65% 65%
Kaplan Foundation Programme English 65% 65% 65% 65% 65%
Kaplan KTE - Kaplan International Test for English 478 478 478 478 478
Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education - English - - - - C or above
LanguageCert International ESOL SELT B2 38 38 38 38 38
LanguageCert Academic SELT B2 38 38 38 38 38
Linguaskill General Test 175 175 175 175 175
Malaysian Secondary English CEFR standard C1 C1 C1 C1 C1
MUET - Malaysian University Entrance Test - - - - Band 5
NCUK Masters Preparation B B B B B
Nigerian Examinations Council (NECO) - English - - - - C6 or above
OI Digital Institute (Oxford International) - OPSE 7 7 7 7 7
OI Digital Institute (Oxford International) - ELLT 7 7 7 7 7
Password English B2/6.5 B2/6.5 B2/6.5 B2/6.5 B2/6.5
PTE Academic 61 61 61  61  61
Skills for English - PSI Pass with Merit Pass with Merit Pass with Merit Pass with Merit Pass with Merit
TOEFL iBT & MyBest™ 22 22 23 22 88 
TOEFL iBT - Home Edition 22 22 23 22 88 
TOEFL iBT Paper Edition 22 22 23 22 88
Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) with English - - - - C6 or above
West African Senior School Certificate (WAEC) - English - - - - C6 or above
Zimbabwe Certificate of Secondary Education (ZIMSEC)/ Cambridge Higher School Certificate O Level - - - - C

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.

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