University of Cumbria accepts a wide range of international tests and qualifications as an evidence of English language proficiency.
If you do not meet the English language criteria, you can enrol to one of our online English pre-sessional courses (OPSE). More information is available on our OPSE webpage.
Below you can find information about accepted tests, qualifications, grades and those who are exempt from providing evidence of English language proficiency.
ACCEPTED TESTS (2 YEARS VALIDITY)
Standard Undergraduate
IELTS ACADEMIC/UoC INTERNAL PASSWORD TEST - Overall 6.0 with 5.5 minimum in each area
LANGUAGE CERT - B2: Pass. Nothing less than 33/50 in each skill.
CAMBRIDGE CERTIFICATE IN ADVANCED ENGLISH (CAE) / CAMBRIDGE CERTIFICATE OF PROFICIENCY IN ENGLISH (CPE) - Overall 170 with a minimum of 162 in each skill.
OXFORD TEST OF ENGLISH - 120 Overall with at least 111 in each component.
TRINITY COLLEGE - ISEII – pass in each of the areas.
Standard Postgraduate
IELTS ACADEMIC/UoC INTERNAL PASSWORD TEST - Overall 6.5 with 5.5 minimum in each area.
LANGUAGE CERT - B2: High Pass. Nothing less than 33/50 in each skill.
CAMBRIDGE CERTIFICATE IN ADVANCED ENGLISH (CAE) / CAMBRIDGE CERTIFICATE OF PROFICIENCY IN ENGLISH (CPE) - Overall 176 with a minimum of 162 in each skill.
OXFORD TEST OF ENGLISH - 140 Overall with at least 111 in each component.
TRINITY COLLEGE - ISEII – merit in each of the areas.
BSC (Hons) Physiotherapy, BSC (Hons) Diagnostic Radiography, MSC Physiotherapy, MA Social Work, MSC Advanced Clinical Practice
IELTS ACADEMIC/UoC INTERNAL PASSWORD TEST - Overall 7.0 with 6.5 minimum in each area.
LANGUAGE CERT - C1: Pass. Nothing less than 33/50 in each skill.
CAMBRIDGE CERTIFICATE IN ADVANCED ENGLISH (CAE) / CAMBRIDGE CERTIFICATE OF PROFICIENCY IN ENGLISH (CPE) - Overall 185 with a minimum of 176 in each skill.
TRINITY COLLEGE - ISEIII – pass in each of the areas.
LANGUAGE CERT - C1: Pass. Nothing less than 35/50 in each skill.
CAMBRIDGE CERTIFICATE IN ADVANCED ENGLISH (CAE) / CAMBRIDGE CERTIFICATE OF PROFICIENCY IN ENGLISH (CPE) - Overall 185 with a minimum of 185 in each skill.
TRINITY COLLEGE - ISEIII – merit in each of the areas.
PGCE (From January 2023)
IELTS ACADEMIC/UoC INTERNAL PASSWORD TEST - Overall 6.5 with 6.0 minimum in each area.
LANGUAGE CERT - B2: High Pass. Nothing less than 33/50 in each skill.
CAMBRIDGE CERTIFICATE IN ADVANCED ENGLISH (CAE) / CAMBRIDGE CERTIFICATE OF PROFICIENCY IN ENGLISH (CPE) - Overall 185 with a minimum of 169 in each skill.
TRINITY COLLEGE - ISEIII – merit in each of the areas.
PGCE Secondary (English Language) and PGCE Secondary (Drama) (From January 2023)
IELTS ACADEMIC/UoC INTERNAL PASSWORD TEST - Overall 7.0 with 6.0 minimum in each area.
LANGUAGE CERT - C1: Pass. Nothing less than 33/50 in each skill.
CAMBRIDGE CERTIFICATE IN ADVANCED ENGLISH (CAE) / CAMBRIDGE CERTIFICATE OF PROFICIENCY IN ENGLISH (CPE) - Overall 185 with a minimum of 169 in each skill.
TRINITY COLLEGE - ISEIII – merit in each of the areas.
English Language Test
University of Cumbria offers all applicants to complete internal English test which is conducted online. The test is similar in structure to IELTS Academic and has the same grading system. Internal test will be accepted on all University of Cumbria programmes as the evidence of English language proficiency and will meet UKVI student visa requirements.
You can also prove your knowledge of English by having a GCSE, A-level, Scottish National Qualification (grade C or above in English) level 4 or 5, Scottish Higher or Advanced Higher in English, gained through study at a UK school that you began when you were under 18.
Or if you completed one of the following qualification within last 5 years:
Accepted English Qualification
iGCSE
Cambridge IGCSE English as first language (syllabus 0500/0522): Grade C or above and additional statement from the exam board confirming your grade breakdown in all 4 competencies: Reading Grade E, Writing Grade E, Speaking and Listening: Speaking Grade D (0522) or 2 (0500), Listening Grade D (0522) or 2 (0500)
Cambridge IGCSE English as a second language (syllabus 0510 and 0511): grade B or above and additional statement from the exam board confirming your grade breakdown in all 4 competencies: Reading and Writing: Reading Grade D, Writing Grade D, Oral (Speaking) Grade C (0511) or 2 (0510), Listening Grade A
Edexcel IGCSE English Language A: Grade C or Grade 4, or above, including Speaking and Listening and additional statement from the exam board confirming your grade breakdown in all 4 competencies.
Edexcel IGCSE English as a Second Language: Grade B or Grade 6, or above, including Speaking and Listening and additional statement from the exam board confirming your grade breakdown in all 4 competencies.
INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREAT
Syllabus A: Higher Level 4 / Standard Level 5
Syllabus B: Higher Level 5
EUROPEAN BACCALAUREAT
English Language 1: 60% +
English Language 2: 70% +
English Language 3: 80% +
INTERNATIONAL A-LEVELS
Grade C or above in English
HONG KONG HKDSE
Level 4 or above
SINGAPORE CAMBRIDGE O LEVEL
Grade C or above
WAEC/NECO BOARDS FOR GAMBIA, GHANA, LIBERIA, NIGERIA AND SIERRA LEONE
Currently only accepted for applications submitted via authorised agent in the region: A1 – C6
CURRENTLY NOT ACCEPTED
Cameroon GCE Ordinary Level, South Africa National Senior Certificate, Tanzania Certificate of Secondary Education (CSE), Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE), Zambia Secondary School English, Zimbabwe Certififcate of Secondary Education (CSE), Malaysia SPM.
Who Does Not Need to Prove Their Knowledge of English
You do not need to prove your knowledge of English if you’ve completed a qualification equivalent to a UK degree in one of the following countries, or are from one of the following countries:
Antigua and Barbuda
Australia
the Bahamas
Barbados
Belize
Dominica
Grenada
Guyana
Ireland
Jamaica
Malta
New Zealand
St Kitts and Nevis
St Lucia
St Vincent and the Grenadines
Trinidad and Tobago
UK
USA
You also do not need to prove your knowledge of English if one of the following applies:
you’re a national of Canada
you proved your level of English in a previous visa application
