English language requirement

As part of the application process, you will be asked to show that you have met the College’s English-language requirement. You can do this in a number of ways:

  • Pass the Imperial College London Pre-Sessional English Programme
  • Take an English language proficiency test
  • Provide evidence of a previous qualification that you have taken that confirms your English level
  • Provide evidence that you meet one of our English language exemptions

The Business School no longer offers its own pre-sessional courses, or recognises other pre-sessional courses, as a means of meeting the English language requirement. If you have any questions about this, please contact the Business School directly.

More details on the proficiency tests and qualifications we accept, along with our English language exemptions, can be found below.

Please note the College has two attainment levels of English language: standard and higher. Please refer to the course pages for undergraduate and postgraduate programmes to determine which level your course requires.

For more details on how to submit your English language results to Imperial please visit our pages on meeting the condition(s) of your offer for undergraduate and postgraduate students. 

Note for postgraduate research (doctoral) applicants

After fulfilling the English language entry requirement for admission, all doctoral students must also fulfil the Imperial College London Doctoral Academic Communication Requirement (DACR). This is done through taking Doctoral Academic Communication Requirement Assessment 1 (DACR A1). Depending on the result of this initial assessment (DACR A1), students may also need to have a progress check, referred to as Doctoral Academic Communication Requirement Assessment 2 (DACR A2). DACR A2 will form part of the Early Stage Assessment (ESA), which is carried out by the student’s host department.

To fulfil this requirement, sudents must take the first available DACR A1 after registering onto their doctoral programme. This must be within 3 months of the registration date. This is because the aim of the Requirement is to identify as soon as possible those who may need to improve their writing competence, and to ensure they can access support in the first 9 months of their doctoral programme. 

For more information please see the Centre for Academic English website. 

**Visa requirements - English language**

Please note that as a Tier 4 Sponsor, Imperial College London is able to make its own assessment of students’ English language ability. The College has therefore decided to accept English language tests (as listed below), which meet our own entry requirements for admission to courses taught at degree level, provided the test certificate is valid and the scores achieved meet either our Standard level or Higher level requirements (please note that some courses require the Higher level).

If you require a Tier 4 visa, your Confirmation for Acceptance of Studies (CAS), will include a statement which confirms the College has made its own assessment of your English language. When applying for your Tier 4 visa, you will not be required to provide evidence of your English language ability with your visa application. However, you are still required to provide official evidence to the College of the accepted English language test you have taken. The only exception to this is in the case of pre-sessional English students, who are studying below degree level and will therefore have to take a Home Office Approved English Language Test and provide evidence of this test with their visa application. You can book an IELTS for UKVI test through the IELTS website. 

For information and advice on applying for your visa please go to our International Student Support pages. 

Proficiency Tests

Duolingo English Test

Duolingo English Test
Standard LevelHigher Level
 115 Overall with no less than 105 in any band score  125 Overall with no less than 115 in any band score

*Test scores are only considered valid if taken within 2 years of the intended course start date

IELTS (Academic)

StandardHigher
6.5 overall (minimum 6.0 in all elements)  7.0 overall (minimum 6.5 in all elements)
Summary of the table's contents

*IELTS indicator accepted for admissions in the 2020/21 and 2021/22 academic year.

Imperial College London considers IELTS scores to be valid for 2 years. Scores must be valid at the beginning of your studies at Imperial if your application is successful. For more information relating regarding IELTS please visit the IELTS website. Please note if you are planning on taking a pre-sessional English programme at the College you must take an IELTS for UKVI test. More details on how to book this test can be found on the IELTS website. 

LanguageCert International ESOL

LanguageCert International ESOL Test
Standard LevelHigher Level
 ESOL B2 Test with grade High Pass  ESOL C1 or C2 Test with grade Pass
 

Occupational English Test

Occupational English Test
Standard LevelHigher Level
 Grade C+ in all elements  Grade B in all elements

*Test results must be within 2 years of programme start date in order to be treated as valid and subject to online verification

PTE Academic

StandardHigher
62 overall (minimum 56 in all elements)  69 overall (minimum 62 in all elements)
Summary of the table's contents


Imperial College London considers Pearson (PTE) scores to be valid for 2 years. Scores must be valid at the beginning of your studies at Imperial if your application is successful. For more information relating regarding Pearson please visit the Pearson website. 

TOEFL (iBT)

StandardHigher
92 overall (minimum 20 in all elements) 100 overall (minimum 22 in all elements)
Summary of the table's contents

*ETS at Home accepted for admission in the 2020/21 and 2021/22 academic year.

Imperial College London considers TOEFL scores to be valid for 2 years. Scores must be valid at the beginning of your studies at Imperial if your application is successful. You must meet the entry requirement in one test from your scaled scores ('My Best Scores' reported by TOEFL will not be considered). For more information relating regarding TOEFL please visit the ETS website. Please note if you would like ETS to send your TOEFL scores directly to the College, our TOEFL Institution Code is 0891. 

Accepted English Qualifications

AS Level/A-level

StandardHigher
Grade C in English Language* Grade C in English Language*
Summary of the table's contents

*For this qualification our standard and higher English requirements are set at the same level. 

Australia Territory High School Certificate (HSC)

 
Territory High School Certificate (HSC)
TerritoryStandard Grade*Higher Grade*
 Australian Capital Territory  C  C
 New South Wales  4  4
 Northern Territory  C  C
 Queensland  SA / C  SA / C
 South Australia  C  C
 Tasmania  CA  CA
 Victoria  C in all units  C in all units
 Western Australia  C  C
 

*For this qualification our standard and higher English requirements are set at the same level. 

Cambridge Advanced English (CAE)

 StandardHigher
Tests taken before January 2015

Grade C

Grade B
Tests taken from January 2015

176 overall (minimum 169 in all elements)

185 overall (minimum 176 in all elements)

Canadian High School Diploma

StandardHigher
Grade 12 English at 65%* Grade 12 English at 65%*
Summary of the table's contents

*For this qualification our standard and higher English requirements are set at the same level. Must be studied in Canada and excludes Quebec High School Diploma

Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE)

 StandardHigher
Tests taken before January 2015

Any pass grade with a pass in each element OR Level C1 certificate*

Any pass grade with a pass in each element OR Level C1 certificate*
Tests taken from January 2015

Any pass grade with a pass in each element

185 overall (minimum 176 in all elements)

*For this qualification our standard and higher English requirements are set at the same level. 

European Baccalaureate

 StandardHigher
English as a First Language Grade 6  Grade 7 
English as a Second Language Grade 7* Grade 7*
Summary of the table's contents

*For this qualification our standard and higher English requirements are set at the same level. 

GCSE or GCE 'O' Level

 StandardHigher
GCSE Post 2017: Grade 6 in English Language* Grade 6 in English Language*
GCSE Pre 2017: Grade B in English Language* Grade B in English Language*
GCE O Level: Grade B in English Language* Grade B in English Language*
Summary of the table's contents

*For this qualification our standard and higher English requirements are set at the same level. 

Hong Kong AS Level

StandardHigher
Grade C in English* Grade C in English*
Summary of the table's contents

*For this qualification our standard and higher English requirements are set at the same level. 

Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examinations Syllabus B

StandardHigher
Level 4 in English in Syllabus B* Grade 4 in English in Syllabus B*
Summary of the table's contents

*For this qualification our standard and higher English requirements are set at the same level. 

Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education

StandardHigher
Level 3 in English* Level 3 in English*
Summary of the table's contents

*For this qualification our standard and higher English requirements are set at the same level. 

IGCSE

StandardHigher
Grade B in English as a First Language*  Grade B in English as a First Language*
Summary of the table's contents

*For this qualification our standard and higher English requirements are set at the same level. 

International Baccalaureate

For qualifications taken after 2013

 StandardHigher
English A: Language & Literature Grade 4 (if taken at either Standard or Higher Level)* Grade 4 (if taken at either Standard or Higher Level)*
English A: Literature Grade 4 (if taken at either Standard or Higher Level)* Grade 4 (if taken at either Standard or Higher Level)*
English B  Grade 6 (if taken at Standard Level) or Grade 5 (if taken at Higher Level)* Grade 6 (if taken at Standard Level) or Grade 5 (if taken at Higher Level)*

For qualifications taken before 2013

 StandardHigher
English A1 Syllabus                        Grade 4 (if taken at either Standard or Higher Level)* Grade 4 (if taken at either Standard or Higher Level)*
English A2 Syllabus Grade 5 (if taken at Standard Level) or Grade 4 (if taken at Higher Level)* Grade 5 (if taken at Standard Level) or Grade 4 (if taken at Higher Level)*
English B Syllabus Grade 6 (if taken at Standard Level) or Grade 5 (if taken at Higher Level)* Grade 6 (if taken at Standard Level) or Grade 5 (if taken at Higher Level)*
Summary of the table's contents

*For this qualification our standard and higher English requirements are set at the same level. 

International Option of the French Baccalaureat (OIB)

StandardHigher
Grade 12 in English in the final examinations* Grade 12 in English in the final examinations*
Summary of the table's contents

*For this qualification our standard and higher English requirements are set at the same level. 

Irish Leaving Certificate

StandardHigher

Post 2017: Grade H5 in English*

Pre 2017: Grade B2 in English at Standard/Ordinary Level*

Post 2017: Grade H5 in English*

Pre 2017: Grade B2 in English at Standard/Ordinary Level*
Summary of the table's contents

*For this qualification our standard and higher English requirements are set at the same level. 

Malaysian Certificate of Education (Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia)

StandardHigher
Grade A in English Language (1119)* Grade A in English Language (1119)*
Summary of the table's contents

*For this qualification our standard and higher English requirements are set at the same level. 

Malta Matriculation Certificate

 
StandardHiger
 Grade C at Higher or Intermediate Level*   Grade C at Higher or Intermediate Level*
*For this qualification our standard and higher English requirements are set at the same level. 

Malta Secondary Education Certificate

 
 
StandardHiger
 Grade 2  Grade 2
*For this qualification our standard and higher English requirements are set at the same level. 

National Certificate in Educational Achievement Level 2 or Level 3

StandardHigher

NCEA Level 2 English Grade: Merit*

NCEA Level 3 English Grade: Achieved*

NCEA Level 2 English Grade: Merit*

NCEA Level 3 English Grade: Achieved*
Summary of the table's contents

*For this qualification our standard and higher English requirements are set at the same level. 

Scottish Standard (SS) & National 5 (N5)

StandardHigher

Standard Grade 2 in English

National 5 Grade B

Standard Grade 2 in English

National 5 Grade B
Summary of the table's contents

Singapore Cambridge A-Levels

StandardHigher
Grade C in English* Grade C in English*
Summary of the table's contents

*For this qualification our standard and higher English requirements are set at the same level. 

Singapore Cambridge O-Levels

StandardHigher
Grade B in English* Grade B in English*
Summary of the table's contents

*For this qualification our standard and higher English requirements are set at the same level. 

Singapore Integrated Programme - NUS High School Diploma

StandardHigher
CAP 4.5 out of 5 in English Language* CAP 4.5 out of 5 in English Language*
Summary of the table's contents

*For this qualification our standard and higher English requirements are set at the same level. 

Singapore Integrated Programme Cambridge A Levels (SIPCAL)

StandardHigher
Grade C in the General Paper* Grade C in the General Paper*
Summary of the table's contents

*For this qualification our standard and higher English requirements are set at the same level. 

USA Advanced Placement Examination

StandardHigher
Grade 4 in English* Grade 4 in English*
Summary of the table's contents

*For this qualification our standard and higher English requirements are set at the same level. 

USA High School Diploma

StandardHigher
Year 12 English at Grade B* Year 12 English at Grade B*
Summary of the table's contents

*For this qualification our standard and higher English requirements are set at the same level. Must be studied in a majority English speaking country.

West African Examinations Council (WAEC)

StandardHigher
Level 4 in English* Level 4 in English*
Summary of the table's contents

*For this qualification our standard and higher English requirements are set at the same level. 

Exemptions

First Degree

If you have a first degree taught in English within the following countries then you meet the English requirement automatically:

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • Guyana
  • Ireland
  • Malta
  • New Zealand
  • South Africa
  • United Kingdom
  • United States of America
  • West Indies

If you have studied a joint degree programme with a university based in one of the above countries you are also considered to have met the English language requirement, providing that you also meet the following requirements:

a) Your final degree is awarded by a university based in one of the above countries and;
b) Your entire final year of study was completed at a university based in one of the above countries.

This applies only to degrees that were awarded by a university in the relevant country. 

Please note if you are applying for a programme within the Department of Mathematics or the Centre for Environmental Policy, you will only be granted an exemption if the full degree programme was studied within the accepted countries (i.e. exemptions will not be granted on the basis of partial study undertaken in an accepted country).

You may also be granted an exemption if you hold full membership or fellowship by examination to one of the UK or Ireland's Medical Royal Colleges, or if you hold registration with the UK General Medical Council.

Please note if you are applying for a programme within the Imperial College Business School, the English language exemption is not granted as standard and you may need to demonstrate your English proficiency through an approved test or qualification. If applying for a programme within Imperial College Business School you may be able to do this through passing an English language interview with the Business School’s English language instructor. More information can be found on Imperial College Business School’s English language pages.  

Masters' Degree

If you have successfully completed a one-year MSc degree (or equivalent) course at a University in one of the following countries then you meet the English requirement automatically: 

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • Guyana
  • Ireland
  • Malta
  • New Zealand
  • South Africa
  • United Kingdom
  • United States of America
  • West Indies

You may also be granted an exemption if you hold full membership or fellowship by examination to one of the UK or Ireland's Medical Royal Colleges, or if you hold registration with the UK General Medical Council.

The exemption applies only to degrees that were taught and awarded by a university in the relevant country. Please note if you are applying for a programme within the Department of Mathematics or Imperial College Business School, this English language exemption is not granted as standard and you will need to demonstrate your English proficiency through an approved test or qualification. If applying for a programme within Imperial College Business School you may be able to do this through passing an English language interview with the Business School’s English language instructor. More information can be found on Imperial College Business School’s English language pages.