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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.
  • Trinity ISE: Pass at level III (with a pass in each component) also meets this requirement.
  • We accept One Skill Retake.
  • 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 one of our summer pre-sessional programmes.

Pre-sessional programme information
Pre-sessional courseYour current overall IELTS score or equivalentCourse dates (2024)Tuition feeApplication closing date (2024)
12 weeks5.0 (Only 1 band score acceptable at 4.5)13 June – 6 September£270019 April
7 weeks5.5 (Only 1 band score acceptable at 5.0)17 July – 6 September£129024 May

Accepted English Language Qualifications

Unless indicated, your qualification should have been awarded no more than 3 years prior to the start of semester.

Accepted English Language Tests

You must have been awarded or certified within the last two years with the exception of QA, which must have been awarded to you within the last year.

  • 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)

  • 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. 
  • 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

  • Occupational English Test (OET)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)
    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 to complete a pre-sessional English language and study skills course run by the Centre for English Language Teaching (CELT).

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 Examity.