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 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 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. For September 2020 intake, we are also accepting IELTS Indicator.  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 Tier 4 visa.

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 online 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 B2 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-SessionalOverall 169 with no less than 162 in each component. 
  • Cambridge IGCSE (English as a second language)
    IELTS 5.0IELTS 5.5IELTS 6.0IELTS 6.5IELTS 7.0
    NA Reading - 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 6.0IELTS 6.0IELTS 6.5IELTS 7.0
    NA NANAPass at Level C1Pass at Level C1
  • LanguageCert
    IELTS 5.0IELTS 5.5IELTS 6.0IELTS 6.5IELTS 7.0
    B1 Achiever (all skills) High Pass, with a minimum of 33 in each band score.B2 Communicator (all skills) Pass, with a minimum of 33 in each band scoreB2 Communicator (all skills) High Pass, with a minimum of 33 in each band score.B2 Communicator (all skills) High Pass, with a minimum of 33 in each band score.NA
  • 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-Sessional55 (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 5.0 IELTS 5.5 IELTS 6.0 IELTS 6.5IELTS 7.0
    NANAThis is mapped to IELTS scoresNANA
  • TOEFL iBT/TOEFL iBT Home
    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