English language requirements

English language requirements for admission at Ulster University.

All applicants to the University (from the UK and overseas) are required to show evidence of English language proficiency.

UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) requires that every student from outside the UK and the EU must show evidence of a minimum level of English language in order to be granted a UK visa (Tier 4 visa) to study at undergraduate or postgraduate level. This level is often referred to as the ‘B2 level’.

Most of our courses require a minimum English level of IELTS 6.0 or equivalent, with no band score under 5.5. Trinity ISE: Pass at level III (with a pass in each component) also meets this requirement. Some of our courses ask for a higher score. It is therefore important to look at individual course requirements.

If you do not meet the English language requirement we will give you a conditional offer subject to you meeting the requirement before the commencement of the course.

We accept a wide range of alternative English language examinations and tests so please check the list of other accepted tests.

Pre-sessional courses

If you do not quite meet our English language requirements then you should consider taking one of our Pre-sessional English for Academic Purposes courses.

English Language Qualifications we accept

English Language Tests we accept

(Must have been awarded or certified within the last two years)

  • Cambridge Advanced English
    IELTS 5.0IELTS 5.5IELTS 6.0IELTS 6.5IELTS 7.0
    NAPass at Level B2 NB: Any offers made will be conditional on successful completion of Standard Pre-SessionalPass at Level B2 (with minimum of 170 on Cambridge English Scale)Pass at Grade CPass at Grade C
  • Cambridge English Business Higher
    IELTS 5.0IELTS 5.5IELTS 6.0IELTS 6.5IELTS 7.0
    NANAGrade C with all parts ‘weak’ or higherGrade C with all parts ‘weak’ or higherGrade C with all parts ‘weak’ or higher
  • Cambridge English Financial
    IELTS 5.0IELTS 5.5IELTS 6.0IELTS 6.5IELTS 7.0
    NAPass with all parts ‘borderline’ NB: Any offers made will be conditional on successful completion of Standard Pre-SessionalPass with all parts ‘merit’NANA
  • Cambridge English: first
    IELTS 5.0IELTS 5.5IELTS 6.0IELTS 6.5IELTS 7.0
    NAPass at Grade C NB: Any offers made will be conditional on successful completion of Standard Pre-SessionalPass at Grade BPass at Grade APass at Grade A
  • Cambridge English Legal
    IELTS 5.0IELTS 6.0IELTS 6.0IELTS 6.5IELTS 7.0
    NANANAPass with ‘merit’ and all parts ‘good’NA
  • Cambridge IGCSE (English as a second language)
    IELTS 5.0IELTS 5.5IELTS 6.0IELTS 6.5IELTS 7.0
    NAReading - D Writing - D Speaking - C Listening - A NB: Any offers made will be conditional on successful completion of Standard Pre-SessionalReading - C Writing - C Speaking - C Listening - ANANA
  • Cambridge Proficiency in English
    IELTS 5.0IELTS 5.5IELTS 6.0IELTS 6.5IELTS 7.0
    NANANAPass at Level C1Pass at Level C1
  • PTE Academic
    IELTS 5.0IELTS 5.5IELTS 6.0IELTS 6.5IELTS 7.0
    46 (with min. of 41 in each part) NB: Any offers made will be conditional on successful completion of Pre-Sessional PLUS51 (with min. of 46 in each part) NB: Any offers made will be conditional on successful completion of Standard Pre-Sessional56 (with min. of 51 in each part)61 (with min. of 56 in each part)66 (with min. of 61 in each part)
  • QA Higher Education English Language Test
    IELTS 5.0IELTS 5.5IELTS 6.0IELTS 6.5IELTS 7.0
    NANA

    40 with a minimum:

    L - 23

    R - 23

    9 with a minimum:

    W - 6

    S - 6

    		NANA
  • TOEFL iBT
    IELTS 5.0IELTS 5.5IELTS 6.0IELTS 6.5IELTS 7.0
    NANA80 with a minimum:
    L – 17
    R – 18
    S - 20
    W– 17    		90 with a minimum:
    L – 20
    R – 20
    S - 20
    W– 20    		100 with a minimum:
    L – 22
    R – 24
    S - 25
    W– 24