The English language requirements for our programmes are indicated by English bands, and therefore the specific test and score acceptable is based on the band assigned to the academic department within which a course of study is administered. See which English band each of our academic departments falls within to find the English band required for the course you wish to study.
We have a range of acceptable English tests and qualifications listed below categorised in our English bands for you to demonstrate your level of English Language proficiency. Queen Mary University of London approved English language tests must have been taken within the validity date stated, which is calculated against the proposed course start date.
If you are a national of any country NOT listed on UKVI’s ‘Differential evidence requirement for a Student’ list, we can only accept from you an English test (or qualification) from our approved list that can be verified by us at Queen Mary directly at source on the test (or qualification) provider’s verification portal.
UKVI’s ‘Differential evidence requirement for a Student’ list can be found under section ST 22.1 of the Immigration Rules.
See more important notes.
Queen Mary University of London will consider the IELTS Academic test, the IELTS Online test, and the IELTS Indicator test to satisfy our English language requirements, according to the English banding below. For the standard IELTS test, we only accept the Academic test - either the standard or UKVI version - we do not accept the IELTS General test. We will accept IELTS One Skill Retake if scores achieved meet our English language requirements. We normally only accept the latest results of an English test.
Find the English band required for the course you wish to study.
Validity period: This test should have been achieved no more than 2 years from the start date of your course*
Queen Mary University of London will consider the TOEFL iBT and TOEFL iBT Home Edition tests to satisfy our English language requirements, according to the English banding below.
Queen Mary University of London will consider the Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic and Academic UKVI and Academic Online tests to satisfy our English language requirements, according to the English banding below.
Queen Mary University of London will consider the College Board’s Advanced Placement test in English Language and Composition/English Literature and Composition to satisfy our English language requirements, according to the English banding below.
Validity period: This qualification should have been achieved no more than 7 years from the start date of your course**
Queen Mary University of London will consider the English component of the Austrian Reifeprufung/Matura to satisfy our English language requirements, according to the English banding below.
Validity period: This qualification should have been achieved no more than 5 years from the start date of your course**
Queen Mary University of London will consider the Bellerbys College Academic English Skills (AES) test to satisfy our English language requirements, according to the English banding below.
Queen Mary University of London will consider the Cambridge C1 Advanced (formerly known as Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE)) to satisfy our English language requirements, according to the English banding below.
Queen Mary University of London will consider the Cambridge C2 Proficiency (formerly known as Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE)) to satisfy our English language requirements, according to the English banding below.
Queen Mary University of London will consider the English module from Canada High School Qualifications to satisfy our English language requirements, according to the English banding below, provided the qualifications are delivered in Canada. The English module mark required relates to Year 12 but all students must have also taken the English module in Year 11.
Band 5: A minimum mark of 75% in the grade 12 English module from all provinces (except Quebec and New Brunswick). All students from all provinces must have also studied English in year 11.
From Quebec and New Brunswick, we can consider a mark of 75% in the grade 12 English module only if students can additionally demonstrate the whole High School Qualification was taught and examined in English (and also studied English in year 11).
Band 4: A minimum mark of 65% in the grade 12 English module from all provinces (except Quebec and New Brunswick). All students from all provinces must have also studied English in year 11.
From Quebec and New Brunswick, we can consider a mark of 65% in the grade 12 English module only if students can additionally demonstrate the whole High School Qualification was taught and examined in English (and also studied English in year 11).
Band 3: A minimum mark of 65% in the grade 12 English module from all provinces (except Quebec and New Brunswick). All students from all provinces must have also studied English in year 11.
Band 2: A minimum mark of 65% in the grade 12 English module from all provinces (except Quebec and New Brunswick). All students from all provinces must have also studied English in year 11.
Band 1: A minimum mark of 60% in the grade 12 English module from all provinces (except Quebec and New Brunswick). All students from all provinces must have also studied English in year 11.
From Quebec and New Brunswick, we can consider a mark of 60% in the grade 12 English module only if students can additionally demonstrate the whole High School Qualification was taught and examined in English (and also studied English in year 11).
Queen Mary University of London will consider the following English papers from the CIE iGCSE to satisfy our English language requirements, according to the English banding below.
Queen Mary University of London will consider the English component of the Danish Almen Studentereksamen (STX), Højere Forberedelseseksamen (HF), Mekantil Studentereksamen (HHX), Teknisk Studentereksamen (HTX) to satisfy our English language requirements, according to the English banding below.
Queen Mary University of London will consider the English component of the English component of the Voorbereidend Wetenshappelijk Onderwijs (VWO) to satisfy our English language requirements, according to the English banding below.
Queen Mary University of London will consider the following English papers from the Edexcel iGCSE to satisfy our English language requirements, according to the English banding below.
Queen Mary University of London will consider the English component of the European Baccalaureate to satisfy our English language requirements, according to the English banding below.
To be confirmed if accepting for 2025 entry.
Validity period: TBC if accepting for 2025 entry
Queen Mary University of London will consider the English component from the upper secondary cycle of the French Baccalaureate General, known as Langue vivante A (Anglais) or Langue vivante B (Anglais) to satisfy our English language requirements, according to the English banding below.
Queen Mary University of London will consider the 'English Language and Literature' module that is taken as part of the French Baccalaureate International Option provided it is the British or American version of this qualification to satisfy our English language requirements, according to the English banding below.
Queen Mary University of London will consider the GCE A-Level/AS-Level English Language, or English Literature, or English Language & Literature to satisfy our English language requirements, according to the English banding below.
Queen Mary University of London will consider the GCE O Level English to satisfy our English language requirements, according to the English banding below.
Queen Mary University of London will consider the GCE O Level English Language from the Cambridge International exam board to satisfy our English language requirements, according to the English banding below.
Queen Mary University of London will consider both GCSE English Language and GCSE English Literature to satisfy our English language requirements, according to the English banding below.
Queen Mary University of London will consider the English component of the German Abitur to satisfy our English language requirements, according to the English banding below.
Queen Mary University of London will consider the English core component of the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education to satisfy our English language requirements, according to the English banding below.
Important note: If you are a national of any country NOT listed on UKVI’s ‘Differential evidence requirement for a Student’ list, we can only accept from you an English test (or qualification) from our approved list that can be verified by us at Queen Mary directly at source on the test (or qualification) provider’s verification portal.
Queen Mary University of London will consider the English component of the CBSE and ISC Indian Standard XII examinations to satisfy our English language requirements, according to the English banding below.
Queen Mary University of London will consider the English component of the International Baccalaureate to satisfy our English language requirements, according to the English banding below.
Queen Mary University of London will consider Higher Level English component of the Irish Leaving Certificate to satisfy our English language requirements, according to the English banding below.
Irish Leaving Certificate awarded from 2017 onwards
Irish Leaving Certificate awarded up until 2016
Queen Mary University of London will consider the Kaplan Test of English to satisfy our English language requirements, according to the English banding below.
Queen Mary University of London will consider the English component of the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) to satisfy our English language requirements, according to the English banding below. Please note that normally the relevant indicated grades (e.g. B or C) must be achieved, and therefore for example C- and B - (grades shown with a minus) will be considered a level below.
Band 5: grade B in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) - English component
Band 4: grade B in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) - English component
Band 3: grade C in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) - English component
Queen Mary University of London will consider the LanguageCert Academic English Test to satisfy our English language requirements, according to the English banding below.
"Important note: If you are a national of any country NOT listed on UKVI’s ‘Differential evidence requirement for a Student’ list, we can only accept from you an English test (or qualification) from our approved list that can be verified by us at Queen Mary directly at source on the test (or qualification) provider’s verification portal.
UKVI’s ‘Differential evidence requirement for a Student’ list can be found under section ST 22.1 of the Immigration Rules. [For 'Immigration Rules' insert hyperlink: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/appendix-student ]"
Queen Mary University of London will consider the GCE O level 1119 English Language that appeared in the Malaysian SPM (Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia) and awarded in collaboration with the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES) to satisfy our English language requirements, according to the English banding below. This qualification can only be considered if awarded up to and including the year 2020.
Queen Mary University of London will consider the English component of the Mauritius CIE Higher School Certificate to satisfy our English language requirements, according to the English banding below.
Queen Mary University of London will consider the NCUK English to satisfy our English language requirements, according to the English banding below.
Queen Mary University of London will consider the NCUK English for Academic Purposes (EAP) module to satisfy our English language requirements, according to the English banding below.
Queen Mary University of London will consider the English component of the Vitnemål for videregaende opplaering (VVO) to satisfy our English language requirements, according to the English banding below.
Queen Mary University of London will consider the English component of the National University of Singapore High School Diploma to satisfy our English language requirements, according to the English banding below.
Queen Mary University of London will consider the On Campus Test of English (OCTOE) to satisfy our English language requirements, according to the English banding below.
Band 5: OCTOE minimum mark of 70% overall with 60% in each of Writing, Listening, Reading and Speaking
Band 4: OCTOE minimum mark of 65% overall with 60% in each of Writing, Listening, Reading and Speaking
Band 3: OCTOE minimum mark of 60% overall with 55% in each of Writing, Listening, Reading and Speaking
Band 2: OCTOE minimum mark of 55% overall with 55% in each of Writing, Listening, Reading and Speaking
Queen Mary University of London will consider the Pearson Edexcel International GCSE to satisfy our English language requirements, according to the English banding below.
Queen Mary University of London offers a range of pre-sessional English Language courses,which provide excellent preparation for your future study. If you fall below our standard English Language requirements, you may consider one of our Pre-sessional English courses. See Pre-sessional English course requirements. Further details on the application process can be found here.
Alternatively we will consider BALEAP accredited pre-sessional English language courses on a case by case basis. Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking scores will be evaluated against our standard entry requirements.
Pre-sessional courses must have been completed no more than 2 years from the start date of your course*
Queen Mary University of London will consider the SQA Higher/Advanced Higher English to satisfy our English language requirements, according to the English banding below.
Queen Mary University of London will consider the Singapore-Cambridge GCE O-Level English to satisfy our English language requirements, according to the English banding below.
Queen Mary University of London will consider the English component of the South African National Senior Certificate to satisfy our English language requirements, according to the English banding below.
TBC if accepting for 2025 entry
Queen Mary University of London will consider the Trinity College London, Integrated Skills in English (ISE) to satisfy our English language requirements, according to the English banding below, provided the qualification is delivered in the USA.
Validity period: This qualification should have been achieved no more than 2 years from the start date of your course*
Queen Mary University of London will consider the Grade 12 level English module from the US High School Graduation Diploma to satisfy our English language requirements, according to the English banding below, provided the qualification is delivered in the USA.
Queen Mary University of London will consider the English Language component of the West African Senior School Certificate to satisfy our English language requirements, according to the English banding below.
Queen Mary University of London will consider the English Language component of the West Indian Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate to satisfy our English language requirements, according to the English banding below.
* the validity period for this test will be extended to 5 years from the start date of the course for any of our programmes that are less than 6 months in duration (provided a Student visa is not required) or for our programmes delivered entirely by online study mode (excluding online delivered pre-sessional English courses)
** this qualification will not have a validity period for any of our programmes that are less than 6 months in duration (provided a Student visa is not required) or for our programmes delivered entirely by online study mode (excluding online delivered pre-sessional English courses)
Student Visa Regulations
If you will require a Student visa to study any of courses higher than level 3 (e.g. Bachelor Degrees or Masters Degrees), you must meet the minimum English Language requirements to meet the UKVI regulations (equivalent to IELTS 5.5 in each of Writing, Reading, Speaking and Listening and the overall score). However, note that many of our courses require higher grades.
Pre-sessional English Language Courses
If you fall below our standard English Language requirements, you may consider one of our Pre-sessional English courses. See Pre-sessional English course requirements. Please note that you will require a UK government approved Secure English Language Test (SELT) for entry to our Pre-sessional English courses (unless you qualify for a joint CAS for the 5 and 9 week Pre-sessional courses). Only IELTS Academic for UKVI, PTE Academic (UKVI), and Trinity ISE are accepted as SELT tests.
UK Qualifications at Majority English Speaking Countries
Two years of A-Level or BTEC study successfully completed in a Majority English Speaking Country (MESC as defined by UKVI) will automatically be accepted for entry, provided that it has been completed within five years of the proposed programme start date and delivered at the MESC.
Degrees from Majority English Speaking Countries
If you hold a degree from a majority English speaking country (MESC as defined by UKVI), provided we recognise the degree and deem it equivalent to UK degree, you may use this degree to satisfy the English language requirements for entry if it was delivered within the MESC. Such degrees must have sufficient minimum years of study. Canadian (or MESC) nationals with degrees delivered and awarded in Canada will be considered under this category. All other degree holders, including those with MESC degrees delivered outside of MESC, must meet English Language requirements with a Queen Mary approved English language test or qualification.
Recent use of English in employment
If you have at least one year of recent employment using English as the main language of communication, we can consider on an individual basis a letter from your employer confirming your English language proficiency in all four component scores provided you additionally have a Queen Mary approved English language test (with the required scores) outside the standard validity period.
Professional Registration
We will accept evidence of current full registration with a licence to practise the General Medical Council, General Dental Council or General Pharmaceutical Council in lieu of an English language qualification. Licence to practise or re-registration with a licence to practise must have been obtained within the past 5 years to be considered valid.
For further queries regarding acceptable English language qualifications, please contact the Admissions team directly via email to pgtadmissions@qmul.ac.uk.