International entry requirements

See the list below for the minimum grades required for each qualification.

Please note:
The grades shown are the minimum standards – courses may vary.

IELTS Academic for UKVI from authorised test centres only

Grade required (Minimum standards - courses may vary): 6.0 Overall with 5.5 in each component.

Register: Book a new test on the British Council IELTS website.

Trinity Integrated Skills in English II (ISEII) – B2 Level

Grade required (Minimum standards - courses may vary): Pass in all Skills.

Further information: Visit Trinity College London’s Student information webpage.

Trinity Integrated Skills in English III (ISEIII) – C1 Level

Grade required (Minimum standards - courses may vary): Pass in all Skills.

Further information: Visit Trinity College London’s Student information webpage.

LanguageCert Academic SELT

Alignment to the CEFR and IELTS

Grade required (Minimum standards - courses may vary): 65 overall, with no component below 60/100 (IELTS 6.0 equivalent) or 70 overall, with no component below 60/100 (IELTS 6.5 equivalent)

Register: LanguageCert Academic SELT.

LanguageCert International ESOL SELT B2

Grade required (Minimum standards - courses may vary): B2 pass - no component below 33/50

Register: LanguageCert International ESOL SELT B2.

Pearson PTE Academic UKVI

Grade required (Minimum standards - courses may vary): 61 (Minimum of 59 in each component).

PSI Service UKVI Skills for English test

Grade required (Minimum standards - courses may vary): B2 pass in all 4 components (equivalent to IELTS 6.0, 5.5 for each component).

See the list below for the minimum grades required for each qualification.

Please note:
The grades shown are the minimum standards – courses may vary.

IELTS Online (Academic)

Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): 6.0 Overall with 5.5 in each component.

Register: Visit the IELTS for study webpage.

TOEFL IBT

Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): 78 Overall with R18, W17, L17, S20.

Register: Book a test on the ETS TOEFL website.

TOEFL IBT Home Edition

Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): 78 Overall with R18, W17, L17, S20.

Register: Book a test on the ETS TOEFL website.

Cambridge B2 First

Grade required (Minimum standards - courses may vary): 170 overall (minimum of 160 in each component).

Register: Cambridge B2 First

Cambridge C2 Proficiency

Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): 170 overall (minimum of 160 in each component).

Register: Cambridge C2 Proficiency

Cambridge C1 Advanced

Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): 170 overall (minimum of 160 in each component).

Register: Cambridge C1 Advanced

Kaplan Test for English

Grade required: (Minimum standards – courses may vary): Minimum of 426 Overall and minimum of 396 in each component

KTE (Kaplan Test of English) - An easy-to-access online English Language test that can be taken anywhere at any time.

Use this discount code to claim a 25% discount: LJMUKRS25

Simply enter this code on the booking form to claim the discount.

You’ll receive your KTE certificate within five working days of completing the test.

Book the KTE test

For more information read the Student Guide.

LanguageCert Academic

Grade required (Minimum standards - courses may vary): 65 overall, with no component below 60/100 (IELTS 6.0 equivalent) or 70 overall, with no component below 60/100 (IELTS 6.5 equivalent).

Register: LanguageCert Academic

LanguageCert International ESOL B2 Communicator

Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): B2 pass - no component below 33/50.

Register: LanguageCert International ESOL B2 Communicator

NCUK English Language Test

Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): 6.0.

Register: Visit NCUK website

Oxford Test of English (OTE)

Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): 120 Overall with 111 in each component (equivalent to IELTS 6.0, 5.5 for each component).

Oxford Test of English (OTE)

Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): 130 Overall with 111 in each component (equivalent to IELTS 6.5, 5.5 for each component).

Pearson PTE Academic

Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): (update to) 61 (Minimum of 59 in each component).

PSI Service UKVI Skills for English test

Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): B2 pass in all 4 components (equivalent to IELTS 6.0, 5.5 for each component)

Online English Language Level Test (ELLT)

Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): ELLT 6 Overall, Reading 5, Listening 5, Writing 5, Speaking 5 (for courses that require IELTS 6.0 with 5.5 in each component) or ELLT 7 Overall, Reading 5, Listening 5, Writing 5, Speaking 5 (for courses that require IELTS 6.5 with 5.5 in each component).

Further information: Visit the Oxford International Digital Institute website.

Register: Complete the Oxford ELLT Digital registration form. Please use the code LJMU25 to get a discounted test price of £78. If you are joining LJMU in January 2025, please use the discount code Jan35 to get an additional 10% off.

The qualifications listed below are valid where they are taken no more than 4 years before the start date of your chosen programme of study. This is except for Indian qualifications which are valid for six years and Kenyan KCSE English which does not have a time limit.

Please note
The grades listed are equivalent to IELTS with 6.0 overall and a minimum of 5.5 in each component.
Selected programmes require grades equivalent to IELTS 6.5 overall.

IGCSE English as a First Language

Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): Grade C/4

IGCSE English as a Second Language

Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): Grade C/4

International Baccalaureate: Literature

Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): Grade 5 at SL or Grade 4 at HL

International Baccalaureate: Language

Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): Grade 5 at SL or Grade 4 at HL

AS Level English Language or Literature

Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): Grade D

A Level English Language or Literature

Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): Grade D

Botswana (BGCSE)

Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): Grade C

Brunei-Cambridge Certificate Education (CIE)

Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): Grade C

Cameroon O Level

Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): Grade B

Hong Kong (HKDSE)

Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): Grade 4

Hong Kong (HKALE)

Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): Grade D

India Standard XII English (CBSE and CISCE)

Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): 70%

India (Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka)

Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): 70%

India Standard XII English (CBSE and CISCE)

Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): 70%

Please note
This qualification is not accepted for students from Chandigarh, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Odisha, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Assam, Bihar, Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, North East States (Arunachal/Assam/Mizoram/Meghalaya), who must provide a Secure English Language Test (SELT) such as IELTS for UKVI.

Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE)

Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): Grade C

Malawi (MSCE)

Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): English 4

Malaysia (1119)

Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): Grade C/6

Norway (Vitnemal fra den Videregaende Skole)

Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): Grade 4

Singapore O Level

Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): Grade B

Singapore A Level

Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): Grade D

Singapore Integrated Programme (Literature in English H2 or English Language and Linguistics H2)

Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): Grade D

South Africa (NSC)

Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): Level 5

Tanzania Secondary School Leaving Certificate

Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): Grade C in English

Uganda Certificate of Education

Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): Grade 6 in English

Zimbabwe Cambridge School Certificate / Certificate of Secondary Education (CSE)

Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): Grade C

West African Examination Council Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE)

Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): C6

Applicants who are nationals of one of the following countries and have completed high school or three years of education in their home country, will normally be exempt from providing additional evidence (GOV.UK website) of their English language ability:

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

The University reserves the right to ask for additional evidence of English language if we have concerns about an applicant’s level of English.

For further information, email the International Admissions team.