Policy on minimum English language entry requirements

This policy specifies minimum English language entry requirements for students applying to the University of Nottingham. Please note that these are minimum entry requirements and many subjects require higher entry qualifications.

These requirements apply to students undertaking both award and non-award bearing studies at the University.

Home students are required to have an appropriate grade or score in an approved examination in English language before they can register on an academic programme.

This is normally Grade C or 4 in GCSE English Language or equivalent. Please check individual course listings as some courses may have higher GCSE requirements.

EU and international students whose first language is not English are required to have an appropriate grade or score in an approved examination in English language (such as International English Language Testing System (IELTS)) before they can register on an academic programme.

Students will also be deemed to have an acceptable English language qualification if they have either:

• taken their education entirely in the medium of English or can demonstrate that they have successfully completed a recognised UK degree
• successfully completed the whole of their secondary education up to and including the equivalent of year 12 (including a GCSE-equivalent English language qualification) in one of the countries on the Home Office's list of recognised countries

In addition to the Home Office's list, we can also accept degrees from selected other English-speaking countries and institutions as evidence of English proficiency.

For more information, please consult the following:

UK Government website

Policy on alternative English language qualifications

IELTS website

Centre for English Language Education (CELE)

Recognised and equivalent qualifications

The following are the recognised primary English Language qualifications:

• The academic version of the IELTS. IELTS tests are available worldwide. See the IELTS website to find your nearest test centre.

• Successful final assessment of an appropriate pre-sessional English language course offered by the University of Nottingham's Centre for English Language Education (CELE).

A number of alternative language qualifications can also be accepted as B2 equivalent alternatives for NQF Level 6 (undergraduate degree level) study and above. For more information, please consult the following:

• English language equivalencies  

Below are the grades or scores normally required for immediate entry on to academic programmes at the University. Grades or scores are valid for a maximum period of two years prior to the date of registration.

If you intend to apply for your visa outside the UK, the only tests available as a SELT for University of Nottingham applicants are an 'IELTS for UKVI' test (UK Visas and Immigration) from an approved IELTS SELT Consortium test centre, or a 'Pearson Test of English (PTE) for UKVI'.  If you apply within the UK you can take an IELTS for UKVI test or a Trinity College London SELT test. We do not accept LanguageCert for entry to our courses.

The IELTS entry requirement for foundation programmes is:

• IELTS 5.5 with no less than 5.0 in any element.

The PTE entry requirement for foundation programmes is:

• an overall score of at least 59 and with no less than 53 in any element.

For full details of this policy including a list of approved test centres around the world and Trinity College London SELT test centres in the UK, please consult the following.

UK Government website

Centre for English Language Education (CELE)

Since students will be receiving an offer for an NQF Level 6 or 7 qualification, they are required to meet the University's English language minimum for undergraduate study upon entry to the initial foundation year. 

• International English Language Testing System (IELTS) 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in any element

• Centre for English Language Education (CELE) pre-sessional course final assessment of "Pass to Integrated Foundation". 

Medicine

• IELTS 7.5 with no less than 7.0 in any element

Nursing and Midwifery

• IELTS 7.5 with no less than 7.0 in any element

Physiotherapy and Sports Rehabilitation

• IELTS 7.5 with no less than 7.0 in any element

Veterinary Medicine and Science

• IELTS 7.5 with no less than 7.0 in any element

Other Undergraduate and Postgraduate Programmes

• IELTS 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in any element

• CELE pre-sessional course final assessment of "Pass"

or 

• IELTS 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in any element

• CELE pre-sessional course final assessment of "Pass with Merit"

or

• IELTS 7.0 with no less than 6.0 in any element

• CELE pre-sessional course final assessment of "Pass with Distinction"

Further information

For more information about individual requirements, please consult the following:

• English language bandings  

Online prospectus

IELTS website

Centre for English Language Education (CELE)

Make an enquiry

Admissions Office

Please be aware that the following Exceptional Regulations were developed and applied during academic years 2019/20 and 2020/21 in response to the coronavirus pandemic. These records were only applicable to the University of Nottingham UK (UNUK) and should be read in conjunction with all other content on this page.

• Covid-19 English language equivalencies - UNUK 

For more information about the Exceptional Regulations as a whole, please consult the following:

Exceptional Regulations: Covid-19 - 2019/20 - 2020/21