See the list below for the minimum grades required for each qualification.
Please note:
The grades shown are the minimum standards – courses may vary.
IELTS Academic for UKVI from authorised test centres only
Grade required (Minimum standards - courses may vary): 6.0 Overall with 5.5 in each component.
Register: Book a new test on the British Council IELTS website.
Trinity Integrated Skills in English II (ISEII) – B2 Level
Grade required (Minimum standards - courses may vary): Pass in all Skills.
Further information: Visit Trinity College London’s Student information webpage.
Trinity Integrated Skills in English III (ISEIII) – C1 Level
Grade required (Minimum standards - courses may vary): Pass in all Skills.
Further information: Visit Trinity College London’s Student information webpage.
LanguageCert Academic SELT
Alignment to the CEFR and IELTS
Grade required (Minimum standards - courses may vary): 65 overall, with no component below 60/100 (IELTS 6.0 equivalent) or 70 overall, with no component below 60/100 (IELTS 6.5 equivalent)
Please note:
The university does not accept Language Cert, Pearson Versant or ELLT for students from Pakistan.
Register: LanguageCert Academic SELT.
LanguageCert International ESOL SELT B2
Grade required (Minimum standards - courses may vary): B2 pass - no component below 33/50
Please note:
The university does not accept Language Cert, Pearson Versant or ELLT for students from Pakistan.
Register: LanguageCert International ESOL SELT B2.
Pearson PTE Academic UKVI
Grade required (Minimum standards - courses may vary): 61 (Minimum of 59 in each component).
PSI Service UKVI Skills for English test
Grade required (Minimum standards - courses may vary): B2 pass in all 4 components (equivalent to IELTS 6.0, 5.5 for each component).
See the list below for the minimum grades required for each qualification.
Please note:
The grades shown are the minimum standards – courses may vary.
IELTS Online (Academic)
Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): 6.0 Overall with 5.5 in each component.
Register: Visit the IELTS for study webpage.
TOEFL IBT
Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): 78 Overall with R18, W17, L17, S20.
New TOEFL- valid from 21 January 2026
Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): (4), R(4), W(4), L(4), S(4)
Register: Book a test on the ETS TOEFL website.
TOEFL IBT Home Edition
Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): 78 Overall with R18, W17, L17, S20.
New TOEFL- valid from 21 January 2026
Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): (4), R(4), W(4), L(4), S(4)
Register: Book a test on the ETS TOEFL website.
Cambridge B2 First
Grade required (Minimum standards - courses may vary): 170 overall (minimum of 160 in each component).
Register: Cambridge B2 First
Cambridge C2 Proficiency
Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): 170 overall (minimum of 160 in each component).
Register: Cambridge C2 Proficiency
Cambridge C1 Advanced
Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): 170 overall (minimum of 160 in each component).
Register: Cambridge C1 Advanced
Kaplan Test for English
Grade required: (Minimum standards – courses may vary): Minimum of 426 Overall and minimum of 396 in each component
KTE (Kaplan Test of English) - An easy-to-access online English Language test that can be taken anywhere at any time.
Use this discount code to claim a 25% discount: LJMUKRS25
Simply enter this code on the booking form to claim the discount.
You’ll receive your KTE certificate within five working days of completing the test.
Book the KTE test
For more information read the Student Guide.
LanguageCert Academic
Grade required (Minimum standards - courses may vary): 65 overall, with no component below 60/100 (IELTS 6.0 equivalent) or 70 overall, with no component below 60/100 (IELTS 6.5 equivalent).
Register: LanguageCert Academic
LanguageCert International ESOL B2 Communicator
Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): B2 pass - no component below 33/50.
Register: LanguageCert International ESOL B2 Communicator
NCUK English Language Test
Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): 6.0.
Register: Visit NCUK website
Oxford Test of English (OTE)
Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): 120 Overall with 111 in each component (equivalent to IELTS 6.0, 5.5 for each component).
Oxford Test of English (OTE)
Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): 130 Overall with 111 in each component (equivalent to IELTS 6.5, 5.5 for each component).
Pearson PTE Academic
Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): 61 (Minimum of 59 in each component).
PSI Service UKVI Skills for English test
Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): B2 pass in all 4 components (equivalent to IELTS 6.0, 5.5 for each component)
Online English Language Level Test (ELLT)
Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): ELLT 6 Overall, Reading 5, Listening 5, Writing 5, Speaking 5 (for courses that require IELTS 6.0 with 5.5 in each component) or ELLT 7 Overall, Reading 5, Listening 5, Writing 5, Speaking 5 (for courses that require IELTS 6.5 with 5.5 in each component).
Further information: Visit the Oxford International Digital Institute website.
Please note:
The university does not accept Language Cert, Pearson Versant or ELLT for students from Pakistan.
Register: Complete the Oxford ELLT Digital registration form. If you are joining in September 2025 you can get a 20% discount with the code Summer20 (valid until 30 September 2025).
Duolingo English Test
Please note:
We do not accept Duolingo English test from students that are from countries that require a SELT.
Minimum English Language Requirements (may vary by course):
Overall score of 125, with at least 105 in each skill (equivalent to IELTS 6.5 overall, with 6.0 in each skill) or overall score of 135, with at least 125 in each skill (equivalent to IELTS 7.0 overall, with 6.5 in each skill)
Register: Visit the Duolingo English Test website for more details and to register.
Claim a 30% discount on this test by emailing us at international@ljmu.ac.uk.
The qualifications listed below are valid where they are taken no more than 4 years before the start date of your chosen programme of study. This is except for Indian qualifications which are valid for six year, Kenyan KCSE English, West African WASSCE and Sri Lankan SL O- Levels which both do not have a time limit.
Please note:
The grades listed are equivalent to IELTS with 6.0 overall and a minimum of 5.5 in each component. Selected programmes require grades equivalent to IELTS 6.5 overall.
IGCSE English as a First Language
Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): Grade C/4
IGCSE English as a Second Language
Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): Grade C/4
International Baccalaureate: Literature
Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): Grade 5 at SL or Grade 4 at HL
International Baccalaureate: Language
Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): Grade 5 at SL or Grade 4 at HL
AS Level English Language or Literature
Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): Grade D
A Level English Language or Literature
Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): Grade D
Botswana (BGCSE)
Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): Grade C
Brunei-Cambridge Certificate Education (CIE)
Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): Grade C
Cameroon O Level
Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): Grade B
Hong Kong (HKDSE)
Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): Grade 4
Hong Kong (HKALE)
Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): Grade D
India (Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka)
Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): 70%
India Standard XII English (CBSE and CISCE)
Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): 70%
Undergraduate
- Standard XII English from National Boards (CBSE and CISCE) at 70% or above.
- Standard XII English from 4 State Boards (Maharashtra, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka) at 70% or above (Valid for 2 years).
Postgraduate
- National Boards Standard XII English at 70% or above Valid for 6 years.
- Standard XII English from 4 State Boards (Maharashtra, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka) at 70% or above. Valid for 6 years.
Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE)
Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): Grade C
Malawi (MSCE)
Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): English 4
Malaysia (1119)
Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): Grade C/6
Nigeria National Examinations Council
- Grade C6 in English with no time limit (minimum standards – courses may vary)
- LJMU requires students applying to study BSc or MSc Nursing to have grade C5 in English, accepted with no time limit.
Norway (Vitnemal fra den Videregaende Skole)
Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): Grade 4
Singapore O Level
Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): Grade B
Singapore A Level
Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): Grade D
Singapore Integrated Programme (Literature in English H2 or English Language and Linguistics H2)
Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): Grade D
South Africa (NSC)
Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): Level 5
Sri Lanka, S O-Level
Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): SL O-Level B & above for IELTS 6.5 and SL O-Level C & above for IELTS 6.0
Tanzania Secondary School Leaving Certificate
Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): Grade C in English
Uganda Certificate of Education
Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): Grade 6 in English
Zimbabwe Cambridge School Certificate / Certificate of Secondary Education (CSE)
Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary): Grade C
West African Examination Council Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE)
- Grade C6 in English with no time limit (minimum standards – courses may vary)
- LJMU requires students applying to study BSc or MSc Nursing to have grade C5 in English, accepted with no time limit.
Applicants who are nationals of one of the following countries and have completed high school or three years of education in their home country, will normally be exempt from providing additional evidence (GOV.UK website) of their English language ability:
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Australia
- the Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belize
- Canada
- Dominica
- Grenada
- Guyana
- Jamaica
- Malta
- New Zealand
- St Kitts and Nevis
- St Lucia
- St Vincent and the Grenadines
- Trinidad and Tobago
- USA
The University reserves the right to ask for additional evidence of English language if we have concerns about an applicant’s level of English.
For further information, email the International Admissions team.
