English language ability for Student visa holders
Applicants who need a Student visa have a specific set of requirements, to comply with Home Office regulations.
Your English language ability will be sufficient if you meet one of the following criteria:
- You are a national of a majority English-speaking country (see list below).
- You have completed a qualification at a level comparable to RQF 6 that was awarded and taught in a majority English-speaking country (see list below), completed within three years of admission to the College.
- You have been awarded one of the following International School Qualifications:
- Germany: Arbitur - Advanced English
- Standard requirement: 9
- Advanced requirement: 12
- Hong Kong: Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) - English Language subject
- Standard requirement: 4
- Higher requirement: 5*
- Poland: Swiadectwo Dojrzalosci (Certificate of Maturity/Matura) - Advanced English
- Standard requirement: 70%
- Advanced requirement: 75%
- Sweden: Avgangsbetyg/Slutbetgy fran Gymnasieskola - English 5
- Standard requirement/advanced requirement: A
- Malaysia: The Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia - SPM English
- Standard requirement: A
- Advanced requirement: A
- You have already proved your level of English in a previous UK visa application. This must be at the CEFR B2 level.
- You have completed one of the following English language tests. Please see our main English language page for details of the test scores required:
- AS or A Level in English Language or Literature (including Cambridge International A Levels)
- Standard and higher requirement: C
- Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English
- Standard requirement: 176 with 169 in each sub-test
- Higher requirement: 185 with 176 in each sub-test
- Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English
- Standard requirement: 176 with 169 in each sub-test
- Higher requirement: 185 with 176 in each sub-test
- Cambridge IGCSE: First Language English (Syllabus 0500 or 0522)
- Standard and higher requirement: C
- Syllabus 0500 must demonstrate a minimum grade 2 in listening and speaking
- Cambridge IGCSE: Second Language English (Syllabus 0510 or 0511)
- Standard and higher requirement: C
- Syllabus 0510 must demonstrate a minimum grade 2 in listening and speaking.
- GCSE in English Language or Literature (where studied at a School in the UK when under 18)
- Standard and higher requirement: C
- IELTS Academic and IELTS Indicator
- Standard requirement: 6.5 overall with minimum of 6.0 in sub-tests.
- Higher requirement: 7.0 overall with minimum of 6.5 in sub-tests.
- International Baccalaureate English A: Literature or Literature and Language
- Standard requirement: Standard or higher level 4
- Higher requirement: Standard or higher level 5
- International Baccalaureate: English B
- Standard requirement: Standard level 5, higher level 4
- Higher requirement: Standard level 6, higher level 5
- INTO Test of English: IELA
- Standard requirement: 176 overall with 169 in sub-tests / 65% overall with 60% in sub-tests
- Higher requirement: 185 overall with 169 in sub-tests / 70% overall with 65% in sub-tests
- OnCampus Test of English: OCTOE
- Standard requirement: 65% overall with 60% in sub-tests
- Higher requirement: 70% overall with 65% in sub-tests
- Pearson's Test of English (Academic)
- Standard requirement: 62 with 60 in each sub-test
- Higher requirement: 68 with 62 in each sub-test and 67 in writing
- PSI: Skills for English (only valid when taken outside of the UK)
- Standard entry (equivalent to IELTS 6.5): B2 Pass with Merit
- Higher entry (equivalent to IELTS 7.0): C1 Pass
- TOEFL: IBT and TOEFL Special Home Edition
- Standard requirement: 79 (reading: 18, writing: 23, listening: 19, speaking: 19)
- Higher requirement: 94 (reading: 19, writing: 24, listening: 20, speaking: 20)
- Trinity College London: Integrated Skills in English
- Standard requirement: ISE II
- Higher requirement: ISE III
- Your IELTS, IELA, OCTOE, Pearson's, TOEFL or Trinity result must have been awarded no more than two years before your proposed course start date.
- If you don't meet the minimum IELTS (or equivalent) requirement, we offer online pre-sessional English courses and foundation programmes to help you improve your English language skills and get your place at Birkbeck.
MAJORITY ENGLISH-SPEAKING COUNTRIES
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Australia
- The Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belize
- Canada (non-Canadian nationals with a degree from Canada will be required to take an English language test)
- Dominica
- Grenada
- Guyana
- Ireland
- Malta
- Jamaica
- New Zealand
- Republic of Ireland
- St Kitts and Nevis
- St Lucia
- St Vincent and the Grenadines
- Trinidad and Tobago
- United Kingdom
- United States of America