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University of the Year Dean's Scholarship

Up to £4,200 off tuition for international (non-UK and ROI) starting this September.

No separate application.

Apply today

All applicants to the University (from the UK and overseas) are required to show evidence of a minimum English language level in order to be accepted on to our courses.

UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) requires that every student from outside the UK must show evidence of a minimum level of English language in order to be granted a UK Student Visa to study at undergraduate or postgraduate level unless the student is exempt.

For students who are applying for our Study Abroad Programme (EU nationals included) we require evidence of a minimum English language level in order to be accepted onto our programme. This applies to students travelling as a non-visa national or on a standard visitor visa.

This level is often referred to as the ‘B2 level’.

  • Most of our courses require a minimum English level of IELTS 6.0 (Academic) or equivalent, with no band score under 5.5. We also accept IELTS Academic Online.
  • We accept One Skill Retake.
  • 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 meet the English language level for entry to your chosen course, you will also meet the minimum English language level required by UK Visa and Immigration (UKVI) for a Student Visa.
  • If you do not meet the English language requirement we may 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.
  • Ulster University has its own English language test called ‘Password’ which is valid for one year.
  • Password Test must be valid on the first day of the semester of your course.

Join our pre-sessional programmes

If you have not yet met the English language requirements of your chosen degree programme, then we encourage you to join our summer pre-sessional course.

Pre-sessional course information
Pre-sessional courseYour current overall IELTS score or equivalentCourse dates (2025)Tuition feeApplication closing date (2025)
7 weeks5.5 (Only 1 band score acceptable at 5.0)16 July – 5 September£133023 May 2025

Accepted English Language Qualifications

Cameroon GCE O Level
Cameroon GCE O Level
IELTS 5.0 IELTS 5.5 IELTS 6.0 IELTS 6.5 IELTS 7.0
NA  NA  Grade C  NA  NA
Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination (HKALE) - Use of English
Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination (HKALE)
IELTS 5.0 IELTS 5.5 IELTS 6.0 IELTS 6.5 IELTS 7.0
NA  NA  Grade D or higher with Grade D or better in at least 3 of the 4 sub-skill areas.   NA  NA
Hong Kong Advanced Supplementary Level Examination (HKASLE) - Use of English
Hong Kong Advanced Supplementary Level Examination (HKASLE)
IELTS 5.0 IELTS 5.5 IELTS 6.0 IELTS 6.5 IELTS 7.0
NA  NA  Grade D or higher with Grade D or better in at least 3 of the 4 sub-skill areas.   NA  NA
Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) - English Language
Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE)
IELTS 5.0 IELTS 5.5 IELTS 6.0 IELTS 6.5 IELTS 7.0
NA  NA  Grade 4 overall with no less than 3 in any of the 4 sub skills  NA  NA
Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination (HKCEE) - English Language Syllabus B (before 2007)
Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination (HKCEE) - English Language Syllabus B (before 2007)
IELTS 5.0 IELTS 5.5 IELTS 6.0 IELTS 6.5 IELTS 7.0
NA  NA  Grade C or higher including only one Grade D in any of the four sub-skills, with Grade C or better in the at least the other three sub-skills.  NA  NA
Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination (HKCEE) - English Language Syllabus B (after 2007)
Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination (HKCEE) - English Language Syllabus B (after 2007)
IELTS 5.0 IELTS 5.5 IELTS 6.0 IELTS 6.5 IELTS 7.0
NA  NA  Grade 3 in all test elements  NA  NA
Indian Standard XII English
Indian Standard XII English
IELTS 5.0 IELTS 5.5 IELTS 6.0 IELTS 6.5 IELTS 7.0
NA  NA

A minimum mark of 70% in English in the Standard Xll examinations in the Central Boards (CBSE/ICSE or the State Boards of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal.). No time limit.

NA  NA
International Baccalaureate (IB)
International Baccalaureate (IB)
IELTS 5.0 IELTS 5.5 IELTS 6.0 IELTS 6.5 IELTS 7.0
NA  NA  Higher or Standard level in English Language (grade 4 or above)  NA  NA
International GCSE: English as a first language
International GCSE: English as a first language
IELTS 5.0 IELTS 5.5 IELTS 6.0 IELTS 6.5 IELTS 7.0
NA  NA  Grade C in IGSCE English as a First Language (Syllabus 0522) Grade C in IGCSE English as a First Language (Syllabus 0500) with Grade 2 in Speaking + Listening components 

Grade C in IGSCE English as a First Language (0522)

Grade C in IGCSE English as a First Language (0500) with Grade 2 in Speaking + Listening components

Grade C in IGSCE English as a First Language (0522)

Grade C in IGCSE English as a First Language (0500) with Grade 2 in Speaking + Listening components

International GCSE: English as a second language
International GCSE: English as a second language
IELTS 5.0 IELTS 5.5 IELTS 6.0 IELTS 6.5 IELTS 7.0
NA  NA  Grade C in IGCSE English as a Second Language (Syllabus 0510) with Grade 2 Oral endorsement Grade C in IGCSE English as a Second Language (Syllabus 0511) with Grade C in oral assessment 

Grade C in IGCSE English as a Second Language (0510) with Grade 2 Oral endorsement

Grade C in IGCSE English as a Second Language (0511) with Grade C in oral assessment

Grade C in IGCSE English as a Second Language (0510) with Grade 2 Oral endorsement

Grade C in IGCSE English as a Second Language (0511) with Grade C in oral assessment

INTO International English Language Assessment (IELA)
INTO International English Language Assessment (IELA)
IELTS 5.0 IELTS 5.5 IELTS 6.0 IELTS 6.5 IELTS 7.0
NA  NA 
  • IELA 169 overall
    minimum 162 in sub-skills
NA  NA
Kenyan Certificate in Secondary Education (KCSE)
Kenyan Certificate in Secondary Education (KCSE)
IELTS 5.0 IELTS 5.5 IELTS 6.0 IELTS 6.5 IELTS 7.0
NA  NA  Grade C  Grade C  Grade B
Malaysia (Bahasa Inggeris) English Language Syllabus 1119
Malaysia (Bahasa Inggeris) English Language Syllabus 1119
IELTS 5.0 IELTS 5.5 IELTS 6.0 IELTS 6.5 IELTS 7.0
NA  NA  Grade C  Grade B  Grade A
Singapore Syllabus 1127 / 1128
Singapore Syllabus 1127 / 1128
IELTS 5.0 IELTS 5.5 IELTS 6.0 IELTS 6.5 IELTS 7.0
NA  NA  Grade C  Grade C  Grade B
South Africa National Senior Certificate (SANSC) 

Grade 5 in either English Home Language OR English First Additional Language, as equivalent to IELTS 6.0. No time limit.

Tanzania O Level
Tanzania O Level
IELTS 5.0IELTS 5.5IELTS 6.0IELTS 6.5IELTS 7.0
NA NA Grade C NA NA
Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE)
Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE)
IELTS 5.0 IELTS 5.5 IELTS 6.0 IELTS 6.5 IELTS 7.0
NA  NA  Grade 6 NA  NA
WAEC / NECO

No time limit. Please provide a copy of your individual Scratch Card which conceals a PIN that is required to verify the results presented.

WAEC / NECO
IELTS 5.0 IELTS 5.5 IELTS 6.0 IELTS 6.5 IELTS 7.0
NA  NA  Grade C6  Grade C5  Grade C4
Zambia General Certificate of Education
Zambia General Certificate of Education
IELTS 5.0 IELTS 5.5 IELTS 6.0 IELTS 6.5 IELTS 7.0
NA  NA  Grade 6  NA  NA
Zimbabwe Zimsec at ordinary level

No time limit

Zimbabwe Zimsec at ordinary level
IELTS 5.0IELTS 5.5IELTS 6.0IELTS 6.5IELTS 7.0
NA NA Grade C NA NA
Zimbabwe Zimsec at ordinary level 

No time limit

Zimbabwe Zimsec at ordinary level
IELTS 5.0 IELTS 5.5 IELTS 6.0 IELTS 6.5 IELTS 7.0
NA  NA  Grade C  NA  NA

Accepted English Language Tests

Cambridge Advanced English
Cambridge Advanced English
IELTS 5.5 IELTS 6.0 IELTS 6.5 IELTS 7.0
C1 Advanced

162 overall with not less than 162 in 3 elements and a minimum 154 in the 4th element.

Any offers made will be conditional on successful completion of Standard Pre-Sessional

169 overall with not less than 162 in each element of the test (taken from January 2015)

176 overall with not less than 162 in each element of the test (taken from January 2015)

185 overall with not less than 162 in each element of the test (taken from January 2015)

Cambridge English Business Higher
Cambridge English Business Higher
IELTS 5.0 IELTS 5.5 IELTS 6.0 IELTS 6.5 IELTS 7.0
NA NA Grade C with all parts ‘weak’ or higher Grade C with all parts ‘weak’ or higher Grade C with all parts ‘weak’ or higher
Cambridge English B2 First
Cambridge English B2 First
IELTS 5.5 (only one 5.0) IELTS 6 (with minimum 5.5) IELTS 6.5 IELTS 7.0
B2 First

162 overall with not less than 162 in 3 elements and a minimum 154 in the 4th element.

Any offers made will be conditional on successful completion of Standard Pre-Sessional.

169 overall with not less than 162 in each element of the test (taken from January 2015)

Not applicableNot applicable
Cambridge IGCSE (English as a second language)
Cambridge IGCSE (English as a second language)
IELTS 5.0 IELTS 5.5 IELTS 6.0 IELTS 6.5 IELTS 7.0
NA Reading - D Writing - D Speaking - C Listening - A NB: Any offers made will be conditional on successful completion of Standard Pre-Sessional Reading - C Writing - C Speaking - C Listening - A NA NA
Cambridge Proficiency in English
Cambridge Proficiency in English
IELTS 6.0 (with a minimum of 5.5) IELTS 6.5 (with a minimum of 5.5) IELTS 7.0 (with a minimum of 5.5)
C2 Proficiency

169 overall with not less than 162 in each element of the test (taken from January 2015)

176 overall with not less than 162 in each element of the test (taken from January 2015)

185 overall with not less than 162 in each element of the test (taken from January 2015)

Duolingo English Test (DET)

Ulster will now accept the Duolingo English Test as evidence of English language proficiency, provided the test was taken after July 2024.

The required DET scores are as follows:

  • For courses requiring IELTS 6.0 (with no band below 5.5):
    DET 110 with no subscore below 100
  • For courses requiring IELTS 6.5 (with no band below 6.0):
    DET 125 with no subscore below 110
  • For courses requiring IELTS 7.0 (with no band below 6.5):
    DET 135 with no subscore below 125

Please note that DET results from before July 2024 will not be accepted.

LanguageCert Academic (centre-based) and LanguageCert SELT (centre-based) 
LanguageCert
IELTS Score

LanguageCert Academic (centre-based only)

LanguageCert Academic SELT (centre-based only)

IELTS 6.0 (min 5.5)

Overall 65 with no element below 60

IELTS 6.5 (min 5.5)

Overall 70 with no element below 60

IELTS 6.5 (min 6.0)

Overall 70 with no element below 65

IELTS 7.0 (min 6.0)

Overall 75 with no element below 65

IELTS 7.0 (min 6.5)

Overall 75 with no element below 70

LanguageCert International ESOL (SELT only) 

*Please note, this is not accepted beyond September 2025 entry.

LanguageCert
IELTS 5.0 IELTS 5.5 IELTS 6.0 IELTS 6.5 IELTS 7.0
  Written Exam (includes Listening, Reading and Writing sections) B2 (high pass) overall with no section below 33/50, and Spoken Exam B2 (high pass) with minimum 33/50.
Occupational English Test (OET)
Occupational English Test (OET)
IELTS 5.0 IELTS 5.5 IELTS 6.0 IELTS 6.5 IELTS 7.0

NA

NA

C+

NA

NA

PTE ACADEMIC (UKVI and non-UKVI versions)
PTE ACADEMIC (UKVI and non-UKVI versions)
IELTS 5.0 IELTS 5.5 IELTS 6.0 IELTS 6.5 IELTS 7.0
46 (with min. of 41 in each part) NB: Any offers made will be conditional on successful completion of Pre-Sessional PLUS 51 (with min. of 46 in each part) NB: Any offers made will be conditional on successful completion of Standard Pre-Sessional 55 (with min. of 51 in each part) 61 (with min. of 56 in each part) 66 (with min. of 61 in each part)

We do not accept PTE Academic Online scores.

QA Higher Education English Language Test
QA Higher Education English Language Test
IELTS 5.0 IELTS 5.5 IELTS 6.0IELTS 6.5 IELTS 7.0
NA NA This is mapped to IELTS scores NA NA

You must have successfully completed your QA test within the last year.

TOEFL iBT/TOEFL iBT Home
TOEFL iBT/TOEFL iBT Home
IELTS 5.0 IELTS 5.5 IELTS 6.0 IELTS 6.5 IELTS 7.0
NA NA 80 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

Please note, we do not accept TOEFL MyBest scores.

Oxford Test of English (OTE)
  • IELTS 6.0 (with a minimum of 5.5)
    • 126 overall with no contributing module score below 111
  • Oxford Test of English (OTE)
Skills for English: SELT
Skills for English: SELT
IELTS 5.0 IELTS 5.5 IELTS 6.0 IELTS 6.5 IELTS 7.0

B1 Pass with Merit

B2 Pass

B2 Pass with Merit

B2 Pass with Merit

C1 Pass

In this section

Pre-Sessional English Language image

Pre-Sessional English Language

Apply now for the 7-week pre-sessional English language and study skills course run by the English for Academic Studies Centre (EASC).

In-Sessional English Language Support image

In-Sessional English Language Support

Ulster University offers in-sessional English language support to international students.

Password English Language Test  image

Password English Language Test

More information on the Ulster University Password English Language Test with Proctor U.