English language entry requirements policy
The purpose of this policy is to ensure that students admitted to the University of Bristol are able to cope with their studies. Admitting students with insufficient knowledge of the English language not only causes difficulties for the individuals concerned but also problems for the University.
- General requirement
- Responsibility for implementation
- Approved tests of English language
- Evidence
- Applicants who do not yet reach the standard of achievement specified in their offer
- Other approved English language tests
- Procedure for approval of other English language tests
1. General requirement
Applicants whose first language is not English are required to either:
- achieve a satisfactory standard in a University-approved test in English (usually a minimum requirement of 6.5 overall with a minimum of 6.0 in all bands in the UCLES/British Council International English Language Testing Service (IELTS) examination) OR
- offer a degree from a British university.
Exemptions may be granted to students where there is clear alternative evidence of an acceptable standard of English.
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2. Responsibility for implementation
- Undergraduate Admissions Tutors (for admission to undergraduate degrees) or Faculty Offices (for admission to postgraduate degrees) are responsible for the initial application of the policy.
- If an Admissions Tutor/Faculty Office wishes to waive the standard requirement or accept an unrecognised qualification, then a written case will need to be submitted to the relevant Faculty Undergraduate Admissions Officer or Graduate Dean for approval. This must be accompanied by a School commitment to fund additional support if the student subsequently struggles.
- Admissions Tutors/Faculty Offices should encourage an applicant whose first language is not English to attend one of the University’s Pre-sessional courses (either the 10-week (Course A) or 5-week (Course B)), and the requirement to take a pre-sessional course could be made part of an alternative offer. Please refer to section 5 of the policy for more details.
- It is strongly recommended that students with less than IELTS 6.5 in Writing (or equivalent) should be advised to take an in-sessional EAP unit in their first year, or attend a pre-sessional programme.
- Admissions tutors should make prompt decisions on candidates who need to take a language test or extra English language tuition so that the candidate can be informed in good time.
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Guidelines on procedures and accepted qualifications will be circulated annually to Admissions Tutors/Faculty Offices and are also available on the International Office intranet.
(UoB access only)
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3. Approved tests of English language
If a test is required, it should have been obtained within the last two years. Please see individual programme entries in the Prospectus for precise details of standards required. Other tests may also be acceptable (please see paragraph 6 of this document).
Approved tests of English Language
| Qualification |
Level Required |
| IELTS |
6.5 overall with 6.0 in all bands |
7.0 in all bands |
7.5 in all bands |
| TOEFL (paper based) |
600 minimum. All offers should include a score of 5 in the Test in Written English (TWE). |
627 minimum |
650 minimum |
| TOEFL (computer based) |
250 minimum. All offers should include a score of 5 in the Test in Written English (TWE) |
263 minimum |
280 minimum |
| TOEFL (internet based) |
100 minimum. All offers should include a score of 25 in the Test in Written English (TWE) |
107 minimum |
114 minimum |
| University of Bristol International Foundation Programme |
Pass with score specified by School |
Pass with score specified by School |
Pass with score specified by School |
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4. Evidence
If an offer specifies that an English language qualification needs to be achieved, independent evidence of the qualification is required. This can be provided either by the applicant submitting the original certificate, or through securing verification of the qualification from the testing body.
If an offer specifies that an English language qualification is required, then it must be strongly emphasised to the student that it is not advisable to arrive in Bristol without satisfying this requirement.
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5. Applicants who do not yet reach the standard of achievement specified in their offer
If an English language qualification was required as part of the offer, but the standard has not yet been met, the applicant must, before being admitted to the degree programme, EITHER:
- complete successfully the University’s 5-week Course B OR 10-week Course A of the Pre-sessional course OR
- complete successfully the University’s Pathway (International Foundation Year) programme.
Guidelines (based on IELTS scores):
- applicant needs to improve their IELTS (or equivalent) score by 0.5: successfully complete the 5-week pre-sessional course.
- applicant needs to improve their IELTS (or equivalent) score by 1.0: successfully complete the 10-week pre-sessional course.
- applicant achieves between IELTS 4.0-5.0 (or equivalent): successfully complete the Pathway (International Foundation Year) EAP programme.
At the end of the programme students will be assessed using the Centre for English Language and Foundation Studies in-house assessment (where a score of 65% is equivalent to IELTS 6.5 overall). It should be made clear that attendance on the pre-sessional course or Pathway programme does not automatically guarantee progression to the degree programme. If the applicant does not successfully achieve the University in-house assessment standard specified (65%), then the advice of the Centre for English Language and Foundation Studies and the approval of the Faculty Undergraduate Admissions Officer or Graduate Dean will be sought to identify an appropriate way forward for the applicant.
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6. Other approved English language tests
- UK GCE O Level or GCSE English Language (grade C or above).
- IGCSE English as a Second Language (grade C or above).
- Cambridge English: Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) (grade C or above).
- NEAB University Entrance Test for Speakers in Other Languages (UETESOL) (pass in all sections).
- Cambridge English: Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) (grade B or above).
- Cambridge English: Business English Certificates Higher (BEC) (grade B or above).
- ULEAC Certificate of Attainment in English (level 6 or above).
- GCE O-level English Language 1119 (grade B or above).
- International Baccalaureate (Syllabus A1: Grade 4 at either Higher or Standard level; syllabus A2: Grade 5 at Higher level or Grade 5 at Standard level where the IB subjects have been studied through the medium of English; Syllabus B: Grade 5 at Higher level).
- European Baccalaureate with a minimum 7.5 in English as the First Foreign Language L2 or First Foreign Language - Advanced L2A.
- Abitur with a minimum score of 11 out of 15 or 2 out of 6 in English Language as a Leistungskurs.
- Norwegian Vitnemål with minimum score of 4 in English.
- Netherlands VWO with minimum score of 8 in English.
- India English Exam for CBSE and ISC exam boards with a minimum score of 75%.
- University of Bristol Centre for English Language and Foundation Studies pre-sessional course in-house final assessment (pass at 65% or above).
- Other University foundation programmes will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
N.B. the scores listed above are minimum requirements.
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7. Procedure for approval of other English language tests
- Guidance and advice needs to be sought from both the Language Centre and the International Recruitment team, as well as the relevant School, as necessary.
- If they agree that the qualification may be added to the list, then the Head of Undergraduate Admissions or the Postgraduate Recruitment and Admissions Manager will seek formal approval from the Admissions, Recruitment and Widening Participation Strategy Group (ARWP), using Chair's Action, as appropriate.
- If the qualification is approved, then it may be added to the list, which will be circulated to admissions tutors/Faculty Offices.
- If either the Centre for English Language and Foundation Studies or the International Recruitment team believes that acceptance of a qualification should be rescinded, this needs to be approved by ARWP, and the qualification will be removed from the list and admissions tutors/Faculty Offices notified.
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