If you'd like to study at UCA, you'll need to have a certain level of English language skill. And so, to make sure you meet the requirements of your course, we ask for evidence of your English language ability.

If your language skills need improving we offer a number of courses to get your English up to the required level.

Accepted
language tests

When you apply for a Student Route visa, you need to prove your English language ability.

If you need a Student Route visa to study a below degree course (RQF level 3 or 4), e.g. International Foundation, Further Education or Pre-sessional English Language courses, you need to take a test recognised by the Home Office. This is called a Secure English Language Test. UCA accepts SELT tests below.

  • IELTS for UKVI
  • LanguageCert International ESOL SELT
  • Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic UKVI
  • Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE) SELT (if you are in the UK)
  • PSI SELT (if you are outside the UK)

The SELT is only valid for two years, so if you have taken it before applying to UCA, please make sure it is still in date.

If you need a Student Route visa, you do not need to take a SELT if one of the following applies:

  • You study a degree course (RQF level 6 or above).
  • AND; you have taken one of the accepted non-SELT tests listed below within two years of your start date.
  • You are a national of a majority English speaking country, as defined by the UKVI, and have taken your academic qualifications in that country.

 


A table of accepted English language tests for undergraduate applicants (excluding BA Architecture)
Test Listening Reading Speaking Writing Total
IELTS UKVI or Academic (Online test accepted) 5.5 5.5 5.5 5.5 6.0
TOEFL IBT (Online test not accepted) 17 18 20 17 80
Pearson PTE-Academic (Online test accepted) 59 59 59 59 59
CAE or CPE (C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency) 162 162 162 162 169
Trinity ISE  Merit Merit Merit Merit ISE II
Language Cert International ESOL SELT (Online test accepted) 33 33 33 33 B2 Communicator Pass
Language Cert Academic (Online test accepted) 60 60 60 60 65
Password Skills Plus 5.5 5.5 5.5 5.5 6
Kaplan Test of English 410 410 410 410 444
Duolingo English Test (China only, January & September 2025) 100 100 100 100 110
A table of accepted English language tests for BA Architecture applicants
Test Listening Reading Speaking Writing Total
IELTS UKVI or Academic (Online test accepted) 5.5 5.5 5.5 5.5 6.5
TOEFL IBT (Online test not accepted) 17 18 20 17 90
Pearson PTE-Academic (Online test accepted) 59 59 59 59 59
CAE or CPE (C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency) 162 162 162 162 176
Trinity ISE Pass Pass Pass Pass ISE III
Language Cert International ESOL SELT (Online test accepted) 38 38 38 38 B2 Communicator High Pass 
Language Cert Academic (Online test accepted) 60 60 60 60 70
Password Skills Plus 5.5 5.5 5.5 5.5 6.5
Kaplan Test of English 410 410 410 410 478
Duolingo English Test (China only, January & September 2025) 100 100 100 100 120
A table of accepted English language tests for undergraduate degrees with an international foundation year applicants
Test Listening Reading Speaking Writing Total
IELTS UKVI or Academic (Online test accepted) 5.5 5.5 5.5 5.5 5.5
TOEFL IBT (Online test not accepted) 17 18 20 17 72
Pearson PTE-Academic (Online test accepted) 59 59 59 59 59
CAE or CPE (C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency) 162 162 162 162 162
Trinity ISE Merit Merit Merit Merit ISE II
Language Cert International ESOL SELT (Online test accepted) 33 33 33 33 B2 Communicator Pass
Language Cert Academic (Online test accepted) 60 60 60 60 60
Password Skills Plus 5.5 5.5 5.5 5.5 5.5
Kaplan Test of English 410 410 410 410 410
Duolingo English Test (China only, January & September 2025) 100 100 100 100 100
A table of accepted English language tests for International Foundation applicants
Test Listening Reading Speaking Writing Total
IELTS for UKVI 4.5 4.5 4.5 4.5 5.0
LanguageCert International ESOL SELT 33 33 33 33 B1 Achiever High Pass
Pearson PTE-Academic UKVI 43 43 43 43 43
A table of accepted English language tests for Master's degree (MA/MSc/MFA/MBA) applicants
Test Listening Reading Speaking Writing Total
IELTS UKVI or Academic (Online test accepted) 5.5 5.5 5.5 5.5 6.5
TOEFL IBT (Online test not accepted) 17 18 20 17 90
Pearson PTE-Academic (Online test accepted) 59 59 59 59 59
CAE or CPE (C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency) 162 162 162 162 176
Trinity ISE Pass Pass Pass Pass ISE III
Language Cert International ESOL SELT (Online test accepted) 38 38 38 38 B2 Communicator High Pass 
Language Cert Academic (Online test accepted) 60 60 60 60 70
Password Skills Plus 5.5 5.5 5.5 5.5 6.5
Kaplan Test of English 410 410 410 410 478
Duolingo English Test (China only, January & September 2025) 100 100 100 100 120
A table of accepted English language tests for postgraduate degrees with a 30 week integrated pre-masters courses
Test Listening Reading Speaking Writing Total
IELTS UKVI or Academic (Online test accepted) 5.5 5.5 5.5 5.5 5.5
TOEFL IBT (Online test not accepted) 17 18 20 17 72
Pearson PTE-Academic (Online test accepted) 59 59 59 59 59
CAE or CPE (C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency) 162 162 162 162 162
Trinity ISE Merit Merit Merit Merit ISE II
Language Cert International ESOL SELT (Online test accepted) 33 33 33 33 B2 Communicator Pass
Language Cert Academic (Online test accepted) 60 60 60 60 60
Password Skills Plus 5.5 5.5 5.5 5.5 5.5
Kaplan Test of English 410 410 410 410 410
Duolingo English Test (China only, January & September 2025) 100 100 100 100 100
A table of accepted English language tests for Postgraduate Research degree (PhD/MPhil) applicants
Test Listening Reading Speaking Writing Total
IELTS UKVI or Academic (Online test accepted) 6.5 6.5 6.5 7 7
TOEFL IBT (Online test not accepted) 20 20 20 27 100
Pearson PTE-Academic (Online test accepted) 59 59 59 65 65
CAE or CPE (C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency) 176 176 176 185 185
Trinity ISE Pass Pass Pass Merit ISE III
Language Cert International ESOL SELT (Online test accepted) 33 33 33 33

C1 Expert Pass
Language Cert Academic (Online test accepted) 70 70 70 75

75
Password Skills Plus 6.5 6.5 6.5 7

7
Kaplan Test of English 478 478 478 510 510
Duolingo English Test (China only, January & September 2025) 120 120 120 130 130
A table of accepted English language tests for Pre-Doctorate applicants
Test Listening Reading Speaking Writing Total
IELTS UKVI or Academic (Online test accepted) 5.5 5.5 5.5 5.5 6.0
TOEFL IBT (Online test not accepted) 17 18 20 17 80
Pearson PTE-Academic (Online test accepted) 59 59 59 59 59
CAE or CPE (C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency) 162 162 162 162 169
Trinity ISE  Merit Merit Merit Merit ISE II
Language Cert International ESOL SELT (Online test accepted) 33 33 33 33 B2 Communicator Pass
Language Cert Academic (Online test accepted) 60 60 60 60 65
Password Skills Plus 5.5 5.5 5.5 5.5 6
Kaplan Test of English 410 410 410 410 444
Duolingo English Test (China only, January & September 2025) 100 100 100 100 110

Alternative English language qualifications

If you are applying for an undergraduate course at UCA, we will consider equivalent academic qualifications from your home country as your English language skill evidence.

You can check the accepted qualification and the required score on the International equivalent qualifications page.

Please note that in general, there is a two year's validity of an alternative English language qualification, so please check with us if you are not sure whether your qualification can be used in place of the UCA approved test.

Academic
qualifications

If you are applying for an undergraduate course at UCA, we will consider equivalent academic qualifications from your home country.

We also accept both UK and internationally recognised qualifications as evidence of your English language efficiency. Please check the table below.

Please note that English qualifications are generally valid for two years, so please check with us if you're not sure whether your English qualification can be used in place of a SELT or UCA approved test.


  • Requirements: English Language Grade A*-C/9-4
  • AQA Level 2 Certificate in English Language C
  • OxfordAQA International GCSE English Language C/4
  • OxfordAQA International GCSE English as a Second Language B/6
  • Cambridge English First Language C/4
  • Cambridge English Second Language B/6. If a speaking component is taken, a grade Distinction/2 must be achieved.
  • Pearson Edexcel English Language C/4
  • Pearson Edexcel English as a Second Language B/6 with grade 7 in the speaking component
  • LRN International GCSE English Language C/4
  • English Syllabus A: Standard or Higher Grade 4, or above
  • English Syllabus B: Standard Grade 5 or Higher Grade 4, or above

  • English Language or English Literature: Grade A*-C

     

  • 60 overall with no less than 60 in listening, and 55 in reading, writing and speaking

  • 60 overall with no less than 55 in each subtest

  • 6.0 overall with no less than 5.5 overall

If you are applying for a postgraduate course at UCA, any of the following can be accepted as evidence of your English language efficiency:

  • You are a national of a majority English-speaking country:
    • Antigua and Barbuda
    • Australia
    • The Bahamas
    • Belize
    • Canada
    • Dominica
    • Grenada
    • Guyana
    • Ireland
    • Jamaica
    • Malta
    • New Zealand
    • St Kitts and Nevis
    • St Lucia
    • St Vincent and the Grenadines
    • Trinidad and Tobago
    • The UK
    • The USA
  • You have successfully completed a qualification at least equivalent to a UK Bachelor’s Degree from a recognised university (according to UK ENIC) in one of the majority English speaking countries, as defined by the UKVI, within the last 3 years from Non-ST22.1 country or 5 years from ST22.1 country as defined by the UKVI
  • You have successfully completed a qualification at least equivalent to a UK Bachelor’s Degree with at least two years of study from a recognised university (according to UK ENIC), where the Method of Instruction was entirely in English (teaching and assessment), within the last 3 years from Non-ST22.1 country or 5 years from ST22.1 country as defined by the UKVI, subject to UCA approval. We do not accept Method of Instruction from South Asia when applying for a Business course, unless you are an Indian national who studied at an institution in India (excluding those located in the Punjab or Haryana regions).

Pre-sessional English

Our Pre-sessional courses both online and on the campus in the UK support your English language development and academic context of art, design and media to raise your English language level before progressing on to your main UCA course.

Please visit the Pre-sessional English page for more information.

We offer English courses of different durations, to match your level and requirements.  Our English for Art and Design course is specifically designed to prepare you to study art and design, while English for Business is equally tailored to prepare for our business and management courses.

These pre-sessional courses at UCA are aimed at supporting international students who have received and accepted a conditional offer to study with us.