English language requirements

Chemistry students and tutor

All of our courses are taught and assessed in English, so as an applicant you must meet our minimum English language entry requirements. We accept a range of qualifications and we also offer several English language courses which help you gain entry onto our degrees. Read more below.

Equivalent qualifications

English language requirements are shown on individual course pages. Generally, this is shown as an IELTS grade, however we accept a range of equivalent qualifications. 

As a general guide:

For undergraduate courses we require IELTS ACADEMIC 6.0 (with a minimum 5.5 in each component) or equivalent. Please check the course page to confirm your required IELTS grade.

For postgraduate taught courses, we require IELTS ACADEMIC 6.0 (with a minimum 5.5 in each component) or equivalent. Please check the course page to confirm your required IELTS grade.

For postgraduate research courses, we require IELTS ACADEMIC 6.5 (with a minimum of 6.0 in each component). For postgraduate research courses that are based in Salford Business School we require IELTS ACADEMIC 7.0 (with a minimum of 6.5 in each component).

For the International Foundation Year, we require IELTS 4.5 (with a minimum 4.0 in each component) in UKVI IELTS for UKVI (Academic)

Please check the tab below for a list of approved equivalent English language qualifications. 

Applicants who require a Student Route visa to study in the UK may require evidence of a Secure English Language test rather than an examination or qualification due to visa requirements, as deemed by the UK Government Home Office, Visa and Immigration (UKVI).

Equivalent qualifications

Secure English language tests

Applicants with the following SELT (Secure English Language Test) qualifications are deemed to be approved for entry to our courses, depending on the level of entry measured through IELTS.

Common European Framework

 

UKVI IELTS Academic

Trinity College London – Integrated Skills in English

 

LanguageCert Academic SELT
 
Pearson Test of English (PTE Academic UKVI) (note: we cannot accept online versions of the Pearson Test of English) PSI Service (UK) Ltd: Skills for English UKVI B2 (4 component)

B1 + 0.5

(International Foundation Year)

4.5 with no less than 4.0 in any given skill
 
ISE I Merit with no less than a pass in any given skill 47 overall with no less than 40 in any given skill  48 with no less than 43 in any given skill  

B2 + 0.5

(UG/PGT)

6.0 with no less than 5.5 in any given skiIl

ISE II Merit with no less than a pass in any given skill

 

65 overall with no less than 60 in any given skill 59 overall with no less than 59 in any given skill Listening: Pass; Reading: Pass; Writing: Pass; Speaking: Pass

B2 + 1.0

(PGT High)

6.5 with no less than 5.5 in any given skill ISE II Distinction with no less than a pass in any given skill 70 overall with no less than 60 in any given skill 70 with no less than 59 in any given skill  

Note: By UKVI regulations, SELTs are deemed to prove knowledge of English and applicants will not require a further test for Student Route sponsorship. This list is managed by the UK Government Home Office (UKVI) and may be subject to change.

University of Salford English language courses

  • University of Salford International Foundation Year (IFY) - this course prepares non-native speakers of English who want to study for an undergraduate degree at a university in the UK.
    This course is for you if you have finished high school in your own country but don't yet have the qualifications to go straight onto a UK university programme.
    When you pass the IFY at the required standard you will then be able to progress onto over 80 undergraduate degree courses at the University of Salford.
     
  • Pre-sessional English - This is a full-time English language course for international students with a UKVI IELTS level of 4.0 or above and a general level of education which is adequate for entry into Higher Education. This course is designed to improve your four skills in reading, writing, listening and speaking and has a specific focus on improving English for academic purposes.

 

Regional based qualifications

These qualifications are deemed to be equivalent to English GCSE grade C/grade 4 or above and are suitable for entry onto all of our courses at degree level or above.  

We accept the following qualifications as proof of English for Student Route visa sponsorship purposes, therefore applicants will not require an additional SELT.

Worldwide

  • GCSE English (all UK boards): Grade C.
  • iGCSE English: Grade C.
  • O Level English (all UK boards): Grade C.
  • A Level English (all UK boards): Grade E.
  • AS Level English (all UK boards): Grade D.
  • European Baccalaureate: 80% or 6 in English
  • International Baccalaureate: Higher level English  4/5/5; Standard level English 5/6/6
  • TOEFL and TOEFL IBT: 79 overall including minimum listening - 17; reading - 18; writing - 17; speaking - 20. Please note we do not accept TOEFL Home Edition.
  • NCUK – all programmes: EAP C, no components below D.
  • NCUK English Language test (online) -  6.0 = IELTS 6.0 / 6.5 = IELTS 6.5
  • INTO Foundation: EAP C, no components below D.
  • Kaplan International College - Foundation Year / Pre-Masters: 60% in English with all components 55% or above.
  • University of Michigan - Examination for the Certificate of Competency in English (ECCE): ECCE test takers will receive a scaled numeric score for all four sections. Test takers who achieve an average score of 650 or higher will be awarded a certificate. Additionally, ECCE test takers who achieve a score of 840 or higher in all four sections will be awarded a Certificate of Competency with Honours.
     

Anguilla

Caribbean Examinations Council Secondary Education Certificate or equivalent 12 year Secondary Education Qualification in English: Grade III in English Language.

Antigua and Barbuda

Caribbean Examinations Council Secondary Education Certificate: Grade III in English Language

Australia

Secondary School (Year 12 equivalent): Grade C in English

Austria

Reifeprufung/Matura: English subject – Mark of 2 or gut.

(The) Bahamas

Bahamas General Certificate of Secondary Education (BGCSE): Grade C in English

Barbados

Caribbean Examinations Council Secondary Education Certificate: Grade C in English

Belize

Caribbean Examinations Council Secondary Education Certificate: Grade C in English

Bermuda

Caribbean Examinations Council Secondary Education Certificate or equivalent 12 year Secondary Education Qualification in English: Grade III in English Language.

Botswana

Botswana General Certificate of Secondary Education: Grade C/4 in English

British Antarctic Territory

Caribbean Examinations Council Secondary Education Certificate or equivalent 12 year Secondary Education Qualification in English: Grade III in English Language.

British Indian Ocean Territory

Caribbean Examinations Council Secondary Education Certificate or equivalent 12 year Secondary Education Qualification in English: Grade III in English Language.

British Virgin Islands

Caribbean Examinations Council Secondary Education Certificate or equivalent 12 year Secondary Education Qualification in English: Grade III in English Language.

Brunei Darussalam

Cambridge O-Level English Language: Grade C6 or above.

Bulgaria

Diploma of Completed Secondary Education: English subject – pass (grade 3 or above).

Cameroon

General Certificate of Education Ordinary Level - Anglophone System Only: Grade C in English

Canada

General Education Development Test (GED) - not including Quebec and New Brunswick: English Language to be completed and passed at Grade 12 level.

Cayman Islands

Caribbean Examinations Council Secondary Education Certificate or equivalent 12 year Secondary Education Qualification in English: Grade III in English Language.

China

Sino-British College International Diploma: Pass including minimum EAP D.

Cyprus

Apolyterion: 15 or above in English.

Dominica

Caribbean Examinations Council Secondary Education Certificate: Grade III in English Language

Falklands Islands

Caribbean Examinations Council Secondary Education Certificate or equivalent 12 year Secondary Education Qualification in English: Grade III in English Language.

Finland

National Matriculation Exam Ylioppiastukintotodistus / Studentexamensbetyg at grade 5.

France

International Option of the French Baccalaureate (OIB): MUST be the English Language Stream - Pass in the OIB.

Germany

Abitur: 10 or above in English Language.

Ghana

WAEC/WASSCE English Language: Grade C6 or above.

Gibraltar

Caribbean Examinations Council Secondary Education Certificate or equivalent 12 year Secondary Education Qualification in English: Grade III in English Language.

Greece

Apolytirion – English subject: 15 or above.

Grenada

Caribbean Examinations Council Secondary Education Certificate: Grade III in English Language

Guyana

Caribbean Examinations Council Secondary Education Certificate: Grade III in English Language

Hong Kong

HKALE Use of English: grade D or above.

HKCEE (Syllabus B): grade C or above.

HKDSE: grade 4 or above.

India

For IELTS 6.5 - Standard XII: 70% English (only when awarded from CBSE, CISCE, Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana).

For IELTS 6.0 - Standard XII: 65% English (only when awarded from CBSE, CISCE, Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana).

Jamaica 

Caribbean Examinations Council Secondary Education Certificate: Grade III in English Language

Kenya

Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) English as a First Language: Grade C or above.

Malaysia

SPM 1119 English (Bahasa Inggeris): Grade C or above on the UCLES O level grade (or grade 6C or above if taken between 2000-2009).

Malaysian University Entrance Test (MUET) - if you need IELTS 6.0 or IELTS 6.5, your MUET score should be grade 4 with no less than grade 3 in each band

Mauritius

Cambridge High School Certificate (includes O Level/iGCSE English: Grade C or above.

Montserrat

Caribbean Examinations Council Secondary Education Certificate or equivalent 12 year Secondary Education Qualification in English: Grade III in English Language.

New Zealand

Higher School Certificate: English Language grade C (50-64)

Norway

Vitnemal: Four or above in English Language.

Nigeria

WAEC/WASSCE/NECO English Language: Grade C6 or above.

 

Pitcairn Islands

Caribbean Examinations Council Secondary Education Certificate or equivalent 12 year Secondary Education Qualification in English: Grade III in English Language.

Poland

Matura: 70% or above in English Language.

Republic of Ireland

Leaving Certificate: English Language Grade C (55-69%)

Singapore

Singapore/Cambridge GCE O level: Grade C6 or above

Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan O Level English: Credit or above.

St Helena, Ascension & Tristan da Cunha

Caribbean Examinations Council Secondary Education Certificate or equivalent 12 year secondary education qualification in English. Grade III in English Language.

St Kitts & Nevis

Caribbean Examinations Council Secondary Education Certificate: Grade III in English Language.

St Lucia

Caribbean Examinations Council Secondary Education Certificate: Grade III in English Language.

South Africa

Senior Certificate: Grade C (60-69%) in English

St Vincent & the Grenadines

Caribbean Examinations Council Secondary Education Certificate: Grade III in English Language

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

Caribbean Examinations Council Secondary Education Certificate or equivalent 12 year Secondary Education Qualification in English: Grade III in English Language.

Tanzania

Certificate of Secondary Education (Also known as Certificate of Secondary Education Examination or CSEE): Grade C or above.

Trinidad & Tobago

Caribbean Examinations Council Secondary Education Certificate: Grade III in English Language,

Turks & Caicos

Caribbean Examinations Council Secondary Education Certificate or equivalent 12 year Secondary Education Qualification in English: Grade III in English Language.

Uganda

Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE): Grade 1-6.

UK

UK bachelor’s degree/UK master’s degree: Successful completion of full award (CertHe, DipHE, PGCert, PGDip - not accepted)

USA

General Education Development Test (GED): English Language grade C

High School Graduation Diploma: (70-79) GPA 2.0

West Africa

WAEC/WASSCE English Language: Grade C6 or above.

Zambia

School Certificate/ General Certificate of Education: Grade 5-6/Credit in English

Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe General Certificate of Education at Ordinary Level: Grade C in English

 

Majority English speaking countries

Applicants with degrees from these countries (must be equivalent to a UK degree) are deemed to be equivalent to English GCSE grade C/grade 4 or above and are suitable for entry into all of our programmes.

Antigua and Barbuda

Australia

The Bahamas

Barbados

Belize

Dominica

Grenada

Guyana

Ireland

Jamaica

Malta

New Zealand

St Kitts and Nevis

St Lucia

St Vincent and the Grenadines

Trinidad and Tobago

UK

USA

Note: By UKVI regulations, nationals of the above countries, as well as Canada, do not need to prove knowledge of English, and applicants will not require a further test for Student Route visa sponsorship. This list is managed by the UK Home Office (UKVI) and may be subject to change.

Medium of English institutions

Students who have completed applicable courses at the following institutions are deemed to be equivalent to English GCSE grade C/grade 4 or above and are suitable for entry onto all of our programmes at degree level or above, provided the course has been completed in the past two years.

We accept the following qualifications for proof of English for Student Route visa sponsorship purposes and applicants will not require an additional SELT.

France

ESIEA - Must be applying for programme as part of the Partner Agreement with ESIEA AND have achieved a minimum of grade 12 (non-Student Route applicants) or grade 14 (Student Route applicants) in English Language in the French Baccalaureate

IPSA - Must be applying for programme as part of the Partner Agreement with IPSA AND have achieved a minimum of grade 12 (non-Student Route applicants) or grade 14 (Student Route applicants) in English Language in the French Baccalaureate

Hong Kong

LiPACE Open University Hong Kong (OUHK): Successful completion of Higher Diploma course

Institute of Certified Management Accountants (ICMA) Australia - CMA Hong Kong Branch: Must be applying for the level 7 programme as part of the Partner Agreement with CMA.

India

Indian Institute or Technology: Successful completion of course

Indian Institute of Management (various campuses): Successful completion of course

University of Delhi: Successful completion of course

University of Mumbai: Successful completion of course

University of Calcutta (Kolkatta): Successful completion of course

Malaysia

Taylors University College: Successful completion of course

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UiTM): Successful completion of course

Tunku Abdul Rahman College (TARC): Successful completion of course

INTI University College Malaysia: Successful completion of course

Laila Taib College (LTB): Successful completion of course

Additional qualifications for non-Student Route visa students

These qualifications are deemed to be equivalent to English GCSE grade C/grade 4 or above and are suitable for entry onto our courses at selected partners only. (These qualifications are not approved for Student Route sponsorship purposes. For students who require a Student Route visa for studies, you will need to submit an additional approved qualification).

UK University degrees:

A University of Salford awarded degree, delivered overseas or online.

A UK university awarded degree (where the UK university governs quality assurance) delivered overseas or online.

Hong Kong degrees:

Bachelor degree (Honours) taught at an institution in Hong Kong – applicant to provide a letter from the institution confirming the medium of instruction and medium of assessment was in English

Sentral College Penang (formerly Sentral Technology College Penang), Malaysia:

Diploma in Accounting, Business Studies;

Diploma in Computer Systems Technology;

Diploma in Information Technology in collaboration with NIIT;

Diploma in Tourism Management.

Applicants who have undertaken studies at other institutions in Malaysia will be required to either meet the general entry requirements for English Language or will be required to provide a letter from their College stating that the programme had been delivered and assessed in English. This will demonstrate equivalency to English Language requirements.

Pentecost University College, Ghana:

Level 6 Advanced Diploma in Accounting and Business - ACCA;

Level 6 International Advanced Diploma - Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT).

IPSA English Language Assessments

For IELTS 6.0 you must achieve IPSA English language assessment 11/20 with no less than 9/20 in each band

Digital Marketing Institute, Ireland:

Postgraduate Diploma in Digital marketing