Important Notice for Applicants
Updated 15 May 2020
International students wishing to apply to Queen’s University Belfast (and for whom English is not their first language), must be able to demonstrate their competence in written and spoken English in order to benefit fully from their course of study or research. Non-EEA nationals require a Tier 4 visa to study in the UK for periods of 6 months or more. For qualifications completed on or after this date, only Trinity ISE taken inside the UK and IELTS taken at UK government-approved test centres will be considered SELTs. You can find more information about the changes on the UK Visas and Immigration webpages: Applying for a UK visa: approved English language tests
Universities have discretion to choose the methods by which they assess the English language competence of students. Queen's University will accept the IELTS Academic (both SELT and non-SELT), and TOEFL internet-based tests for direct admission to undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes.
We know that the closure of English language testing centres due to the COVID-19 pandemic has created some anxiety so we have increased the number of English language tests we accept, including some new online tests which are listed in the tables below. In addition, we are pleased to confirm that for admission in the 2020-21 academic year, the University will accept IELTS and TOEFL tests which have been taken up to three years prior to the start of the course.
Other tests which may be accepted by the University for direct admission to degree programmes are listed in the tables below.
Students applying for English Language preparation courses or pathway programmes offered by INTO Queen's are advised to contact INTO Queen's directly for information about English language requirements at into@qub.ac.uk. Further information from UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) regarding acceptable English language tests for visa purposes (for admission to programmes below degree level) and a list of test centres can be found at:
If you have any queries regarding your admission, please contact the International Admissions team at intl.student@qub.ac.uk
International students wishing to apply to Queen’s University Belfast (and for whom English is not their first language), must be able to demonstrate their competence in English in order to benefit fully from their course of study or research. Non-EEA nationals must also satisfy the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) immigration requirements for English language before the University can issue a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) for visa purposes.
Applicants who are either nationals of a country which is deemed by the UKVI to be majority-English-speaking*, or who hold a degree or an equivalent qualification which was taught in a country deemed to be majority-English-speaking** will normally be assumed to have met the UKVI requirements. However, in some circumstances, applicants may be required to submit evidence of an English Language qualification to satisfy University course entry requirements.
EU nationals will not be required to submit evidence of English language for visa purposes, but may be asked for evidence of English competency to satisfy University course entry requirements. The table below lists the English Language qualifications and minimum grades which are accepted by the University for entry to degree level study, and which are also considered to satisfy a minimum standard of CEFR Level B2 in each component of language learning (Listening, Reading, Speaking and Writing).
Please consult the University Coursefinder for details of the English Language requirements for entry to individual undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes (both taught and research).
* You are from a majority English-speaking country if you are a national of:
Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, New Zealand, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, United States of America
** If you have completed an academic qualification equivalent to a UK Bachelor's degree which was taught in one of the majority English-speaking countries listed below, you are normally exempt from additional English language requirements:
Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, New Zealand, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, The United Kingdom, United States of America
* For the 2020-21 academic year, the University will accept TOEFL MyBest scores, or a combination of two IELTS tests taken within two years prior to the start of the course.
Please note that some degree programmes may require higher scores in the individual sub-skill components of IELTS and TOEFL tests. Please check the Coursefinder for specific programme requirements. The following table may be used as a guide.
| IELTS Academic or IELTS Indicator |
7.0 with minimum of 6.0 in all four elements of the test | 7.5 with a minimum of 6.5 in all four elements of the test | 7.5 with a minimum of 7.0 in Speaking and Listening and 6.5 in Reading and Writing | 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 of all four elements of the test | 6.5 overall with 6.0 in Speaking and Listening, and 5.5 in Reading and Writing |
| TOEFL iBT (Internet based test or iBT Special Home Edition) | 95 with minimum marks as follows: Listening - 20 Reading - 19 Speaking - 21 Writing - 20 |
105 with minimum marks as follows: Listening - 23 Reading - 21 Speaking - 22 Writing - 23 |
105 with minimum marks as follows: |
90 with minimum marks as follows: Listening - 20 Reading - 19 Speaking - 21 Writing - 20 |
90 with minimum marks as follows: Listening - 20 Reading - 18 Speaking - 21 Writing - 17 |
| Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic | 55 overall with minimum of 51 in each component | 62 overall with minimum of 51 in each component | 67 overall with minimum of 51 in each component |
| Trinity ISE III Integrated Skills in English Examinations (with at least a Pass in all test components) | Pass | Pass | Pass |
| Trinity ISE IV Integrated Skills in English Examinations (with at least a Pass in all test components) | Pass | Pass | Pass |
| International Baccalaureate Diploma English A Syllabus |
Standard level 4 |
Standard level 4 Higher level 4 |
Standard level 4 Higher level 4 |
| International Baccalaureate Diploma English B Syllabus |
Standard level 5 |
Standard level 5 |
Standard level 5 |
| HKCEE Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination in English Language | A minimum of Grade 3 in all test elements | A minimum of Grade 3 in all test elements | A minimum of Grade 4 overall with not less than 3 in any test element |
| HKCEE (syllabus B, prior to 2007) Hong Kong Certificate of Education in English Language | Grade C | Grade C | Grade B |
| Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (Core Subject English Language) | Grade 4 overall with not less than 3 in any component | Grade 4 overall with not less than 3 in any component | Grade 5 overall with not less than 3 in any component |
| Hong Kong Use of English Exam | Grade B | Grade B | Grade B |
| India Standard XII (CBSE/CICSE/Gujarat/Karnataka/Maharashtra/ Tamil Nadu/West Bengal boards) |
70% | 70% | 75% + |
| INTO English for University Studies Test | 60% with minimum of 55 % in each test component | 65% with a minimum of 55% in each test component | 70% with a minimum of 55% in each test component |
| INTO English Language Assessment (IELA) | Writing: B2 Speaking: B2 Listening: 65-69 Reading: 65-69 |
Writing: B2+ Speaking: B2+ Listening: 70-74 Reading: 70-74 |
Writing: C1 Speaking: C1 Listening: 75-82 Reading: 75-82 |
|
University of Cambridge International Examinations GCE O Level English Language |
Grade C | Grade C | Grade C |
| MELAB Michigan Test of English Language Proficiency (acceptable only if Speaking test is included with result of at least 3) | 80 | 85 | 90 |
| NCUK International Foundation Year: English Academic Purposes Module | Grade C (with minimum Grade D in each component) | Grade B (with minimum Grade D in each component) | Grade A (with minimum Grade D in each component) |
| WAEC West African Examinations Council Senior School Certificate (English Language) | C6 | C6 | C6 |
Notes:
1. These are the minimum standards acceptable and demand for places may mean that applicants will require higher grades in order to be competitive.
2. For admission in the academic year 2020-21, the University will accept IELTS and TOEFL tests which have been taken up to three years prior to the start of the course.
3. For admission in the academic year 2020-21, if an applicant has taken two IELTS or TOEFL tests within a two-year period, and through a combination of these tests has met the English language requirements, the University will accept the combined scores.
4. For admission to undergraduate Medicine and Dentistry, a higher standard is normally required ie. IELTS 7.5 overall with 7.0 in Speaking and Listening, and minimum scores of either 6.5 (for Medicine) or 6.0 (for Dentistry) in both Reading and Writing; or TOEFL Internet-Based Test of 105 overall with minimum scores of Listening - 24, Reading - 21, Speaking - 23, Writing - 23; or GCE O Level Syllabus 1119 Grade A2.
5. The TOEFL Paper Based Test (PBT) is no longer accepted.
INTO Queen's University Belfast offers a range of English Language courses, which may assist students to meet the required standard of English language to be eligible for entry to degree programmes at the University. These include:
Other tests/qualifications may be accepted as equivalent to the qualifications listed above. If you have a query about the acceptability of an English Language qualification, please contact the Admissions and Access Service at intl.student@qub.ac.uk
Queen's University Belfast is committed to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.
For more information please read our Equality and Diversity Policy.
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