Quality Manual

Admissions

This page contains the University's policy on countries and qualifications which already meet its minimum English language requirements. Its content is primarily directed at prospective international students but may also be of interest to staff and current students across all of the UK, China and Malaysia campuses.

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For the full permanent list of English language qualifications we accept please see our English language equivalencies document listed in the Overview below.

Overview

Includes: English language equivalencies document; students on split site degree programmes

Students whose first language is not English are required to have an appropriate result in an approved examination in English language before they can register on an academic programme.

Details of recognised English Language qualifications are available on our Minimum English Entry Requirements page, which can be found here:

Policy on minimum English entry requirements

Students will automatically be classed as having an alternative acceptable English language qualification if they have either:

  • taken their education entirely in the medium of English and can demonstrate that they have completed a recognised undergraduate or full masters degree (excluding postgraduate diploma or certificate)
  • successfully completed the whole of their secondary education up to and including the equivalent of year 12 in one of the countries on the Home Office list of countries. For more information, please consult the following:

Gov.uk - Student visa - knowledge of English

Students on split site degree programmes (such as 2+2 programmes) who have undertaken the latter 2 years of their degree in the medium of English, at an approved English speaking institution, can be classed as having an acceptable alternative qualification.

 

Degree level studies from other English language speaking countries

Includes: table indicating the level of vouching for B2 Level English equivalents; key Workspace links

While the following countries are not on the Home Office list, the International Student Recruitment team has agreed that degree level qualifications from certain countries (recognised institutions only) are an acceptable alternative to B2 level English.

Candidates who have successfully completed degree level study from the list in the following box are not required to submit any further evidence of English language ability.

Table indicating the level of vouching for B2 Level English equivalents
CountryLevel of recognitionAdditional information and links
Anguilla All institutions recognised by the University of Nottingham  
Barbados All institutions recognised by the University of Nottingham  
Bermuda All institutions recognised by the University of Nottingham  
Botswana All institutions recognised by the University of Nottingham  
Canada All institutions recognised by the University of Nottingham Non-bilingual institutions only
Cayman Islands All institutions recognised by the University of Nottingham  
Europe Selected institutions only – staff should refer to the English language guidance on the International Office Workspace for further details  
Gambia All institutions recognised by the University of Nottingham  
Ghana All institutions recognised by the University of Nottingham  
India Selected institutions only – please refer to the University's list of recognised institutions List of recognised institutions – Workspace
Kenya All institutions recognised by the University of Nottingham  
Lesotho All institutions recognised by the University of Nottingham  
Liberia All institutions recognised by the University of Nottingham  
Mauritius All institutions recognised by the University of Nottingham  
Montserrat All institutions recognised by the University of Nottingham  
Nigeria All institutions recognised by the University of Nottingham  
Pakistan Selected institutions only – please refer to the University's list of recognised institutions List of recognised institutions – Workspace
Seychelles All institutions recognised by the University of Nottingham  
Sierra Leone All institutions recognised by the University of Nottingham  
Singapore Selected institutions only – please refer to the University's list of recognised institutions List of recognised institutions – Workspace
South Africa All institutions recognised by the University of Nottingham  
Tanzania All institutions recognised by the University of Nottingham  
Uganda All institutions recognised by the University of Nottingham  
Virgin Islands (British and US) All institutions recognised by the University of Nottingham  
Zambia All institutions recognised by the University of Nottingham  
Zimbabwe All institutions recognised by the University of Nottingham  

Further information

For more information about recognised institutions, please consult the following (entering your university username and password when prompted):

List of recognised institutions – Workspace

 

Non-integrated foundation programmes

Includes: Secure English Language Test (SELT)

All international applicants for non-Integrated foundation programmes are required by the Home Office to have taken a Secure English Language Test (SELT) and achieve the University’s minimum requirements for the programme.

 

Acceptable alternative English language evidence

Includes: Acceptable alternative English language evidence form; performance at interview

This policy is not suitable for students requiring sponsorship under the Student route of the immigration rules.

If you wish to admit an applicant who does not meet the above criteria or the normal minimum requirements for their course but consider that the applicant has the required proficiency in English language you may submit acceptable evidence to the Head of Admissions. When compiling your evidence, please use the following online form:

Acceptable alternative English language evidence form

Such requests will only be considered where there is strong documented evidence that the student has attained the required level of English to meet the published requirements in all four elements (listening, reading, speaking and writing) but has not taken a recognised English language qualification.

Performance at interview alone will not be considered as acceptable alternative English language evidence.
 
If you have any problems or queries relating to this page, please contact:
 
 
This content was last modified on 06 February 2023

 

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