English language requirements

You must meet our minimum English language entry requirements to prove your written and spoken English is at the required level for postgraduate study.

To study at Kent, you must be able to demonstrate proficiency in the English language. This page gives guidance on the qualifications and minimum levels we accept as an entry requirement onto our postgraduate courses.

International students

If you are not a national of one of the UKVI list of majority English-speaking countries, you must show evidence of a minimum level of English language proficiency. You may be able to prove this in the following ways:

Approved English language qualifications For students with one of our approved English language proficiency qualifications.

Students with other qualifications For students with at least a Bachelor's degree level qualification from a UKVI majority English-speaking country.

Approved English language qualifications

The qualifications and grades we accept are listed below. 

We accept some online tests as well as those sat in official test centres. If you require further advice on what online tests are accepted, get in touch and we would be happy to advise you.

Please note, your test results must be dated within two years immediately preceding the start date of your course.

  IELTS Academic  PTE Academic
(Online
version not accepted)
CAE/CPE TOEFL iBT
General postgraduate programmes 6.0 overall (with a minimum of 5.5 in each component) 63 overall with a minimum of 59 in each subtest 169 overall (with a minimum of 162 in each component) 85 overall (with a minimum of 18 in R; 17 in W&L; 20 in S)
Computer Science (research programmes) 6.5 overall (with a minimum of 6.0 in each component) 67 overall with a minimum of 59 in each subtest 176 overall (with a minimum of 169 in each component) 90 overall (with a minimum of 22 in R&S; 21 in W; 20 in L)
IT Consultancy - MSc 7.0 overall (with a minimum of 6.0 in R, W&L; 7.0 in S) 76 overall with a minimum of 76 in each subtest 185 overall (with a minimum of 169 in R, W&L; 185 in S) 95 Overall (with a minimum of 22 in R; 21 in W; 20 in L; 26 in S)
Language and Literature - MA 7.0 overall (with a minimum of 6.0 in each component) 76 overall with a minimum of 76 in each subtest 185 overall (with a minimum of 176 in each component) 95 overall (with a minimum of 22 in R&S; 21 in W; 20 in L)
Linguistics - MA-R / PhD 7.0 overall (with a minimum of 6.0 in each component) 76 overall with a minimum of 76 in each subtest 185 overall (with a minimum of 176 in each component) 95 overall (with a minimum of 22 in R&S; 21 in W; 20 in L)
Medieval and Early Modern Studies - MA 7.0 overall (with a minimum of 6.0 in each component) 76 overall with a minimum of 76 in each subtest 185 overall (with a minimum of 176 in each component) 95 overall (with a minimum of 22 in R&S; 21 in W; 20 in L)
Medieval and Early Modern Studies - MA-R / PhD 7.0 overall (with a minimum of 6.0 in each component) 76 overall with a minimum of 76 in each subtest 185 overall (with a minimum of 176 in each component) 95 overall (with a minimum of 22 in R&S; 21 in W; 20 in L)
Multimedia Journalism - MA 7.0 overall (with a minimum of 6.0 in each component) 76 overall with a minimum of 76 in each subtest 185 overall (with a minimum of 176 in each component) 95 overall (with a minimum of 22 in R&S; 21 in W; 20 in L)
International Multimedia Journalism - MA 7.0 overall (with a minimum of 6.5 in R, L&S; 7.0 in W) 76 overall with a minimum of 76 in each subtest 185 overall (with a minimum of 176 in each component) 95 overall (with a minimum of 25 in R; 27 in W; 22 in L; 24 in S)
Philosophy - PhD 7.0 overall (with a minimum of 6.5 in each component) 76 overall with a minimum of 76 in each subtest 185 overall (with a minimum of 176 in each component) 95 overall (with a minimum of 25 in R; 27 in W; 22 in L; 24 in S)
Social Work - MA, Social Work (Step Up to Social Work) - PDip 7.0 overall (with a minimum of 6.5 in each component) 76 overall with a minimum of 76 in each subtest 185 overall (with a minimum of 176 in each component) 95 overall (with a minimum of 25 in R; 24 in W&S; 22 in L)
Kent School of Architecture and Planning 6.5 overall (with a minimum of 6.0 in each component) 67 overall with a minimum of 59 in each subtest 176 overall (with a minimum of 169 in each component) 90 overall (with a minimum of 22 in R&S; 21 in W; 20 in L)
MBA 6.5 overall (with a minimum of 6.0 in each component) 67 overall with a minimum of 59 in each subtest 176 overall (with a minimum of 169 in R&W; 162 in S&L) 90 overall (with a minimum of 22 in R&S; 21 in W; 20 in L)
School of English 7.0 overall (with a minimum of 6.0 in each component) 76 overall with a minimum of 76 in each subtest 185 overall (with a minimum of 169 in each component) 95 overall (with a minimum of 22 in R&S; 21 in W; 20 in L)
Centre for the Study of Higher Education (all programmes) 7.0 overall (with a minimum of 6.5 in each component) 76 overall with a minimum of 76 in each subtest 185 overall (with a minimum of 176 in each component) 95 overall (with a minimum of 25 in R; 24 in W&S; 22 in L)
Kent Law School 6.5 overall (with a minimum of 6.0 in each component) 67 overall with a minimum of 59 in each subtest 176 overall (with a minimum of 169 in R&W; 162 in S&L) 90 overall (with a minimum of 22 in R&S; 21 in W; 20 in L)
School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research (excluding the international two-year MA programme pathways) 7.0 overall (with a minimum of 6.5 in each component) 76 overall with a minimum of 76 in each subtest 185 overall (with a minimum of 176 in each component) 95 overall (with a minimum of 25 in R; 24 in W&S; 22 in L)

Oxford English Language Level Test (ELLT) discount for Kent applicants

Oxford ELLT is a fully online English Language Level Test, approved by the University of Kent that can be used as evidence of a candidate’s English language proficiency for international admissions.  

Register to take the Oxford ELLT through this link.

You can also benefit from using our discount code at check out to purchase the test for only £90.00 : KEN25

For the grades we accept, please refer to the below table. For more information about the Oxford ELLT and to access sample tests, visit the website.

Online tests

  TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition NCUK English Language Test LanguageCert Academic (Online or Test Centre) Oxford English Language Level Test  
General postgraduate programmes 80 overall (with a minimum of 18 in R; 17 in W; 17 in L; 20 in S) 6.0 overall (with a minimum of 5.5 in each component) B2 overall (with a minimum 60 in each component) 6 overall (with a minimum of 6 in R&W; 5 in S&L)  
Computer Science (research programmes) 88 overall (with a minimum of 19 in R; 21 in S; 23 in W; 20 in L) 6.5 overall (with a minimum of 6.0 in each component) B2 overall (with a minimum of 67 in 2 of 4 components) 7 overall (with a minimum of 6 in each component)  
IT Consultancy - MSc 95 overall (with a minimum of 22 in R; 21 in W; 20 in L; 26 in S) 7.0 overall (with a minimum of 6.5 in R, W&L; 7.0 in S) C1 overall (with a minimum of 75 in 2 of 4 components) 8 overall (with a minimum of 7 in each component)  
Language and Literature - MA 95 overall (with a minimum of 22 in R&S; 21 in W; 20 in L) 7.0 overall (with a minimum of 6.5 in each component) C1 overall (with a minimum of 75 in 2 of 4 components) 8 overall (with a minimum of 7 in each component)  
Linguistics - MA 95 overall (with a minimum of 22 in R&S; 21 in W; 20 in L) 7.0 overall (with a minimum of 6.5 in each component) C1 overall (with a minimum of 75 in 2 of 4 components) 8 overall (with a minimum of 7 in each component)  
Linguistics - MA-R / PhD 95 overall (with a minimum of 22 in R&S; 21 in W; 20 in L) 7.0 overall (with a minimum of 6.5 in each component) C1 overall (with a minimum of 75 in 2 of 4 components) 8 overall (with a minimum of 7 in each component)  
Medieval and Early Modern Studies - MA 95 overall (with a minimum of 22 in R&W; 21 in L&S) 7.0 overall (with a minimum of 6.5 in each component) C1 overall (with a minimum of 75 in 2 of 4 components) 8 overall (with a minimum of 6 in each component)  
Medieval and Early Modern Studies - MA-R / PhD 95 overall (with a minimum of 22 in R&W; 21 in L&S) 7.0 overall (with a minimum of 6.5 in each component) C1 overall (with a minimum of 75 in 2 of 4 components) 8 overall (with a minimum of 6 in each component)  
Multimedia Journalism - MA 95 overall (with a minimum of 22 in R&W; 21 in L&S) 7.0 overall (with a minimum of 6.5 in each component) C1 overall (with a minimum of 75 in 2 of 4 components) 8 overall (with a minimum of 6 in each component)  
International Multimedia Journalism - MA 95 overall (with a minimum of 22 in R&W; 21 in L&S) 7.0 overall (with a minimum of 6.5 in each component) C1 overall (with a minimum of 75 in 2 of 4 components) 8 overall (with a minimum of 6 in each component)  
Philosophy - PhD 95 overall (with a minimum of 22 in R&W; 21 in L&S) 7.0 overall (with a minimum of 6.5 in each component) C1 overall (with a minimum of 75 in 2 of 4 components) 8 overall (with a minimum of 7 in each component)  
Social Work - MA, Social Work (Step Up to Social Work) - PDip 95 overall (with a minimum of 25 in R; 24 in W&S; 22 in L) 7.0 overall (with a minimum of 6.5 in each component) C1 overall (with a minimum of 75 in 2 of 4 components) 8 overall (with a minimum of 7 in each component)  
Kent School of Architecture and Planning 88 overall (with a minimum of 19 in R; 21 in S; 23 in W; 20 in L) 6.5 overall (with a minimum of 6.0 in each component) B2 overall (with a minimum of 67 in 2 of 4 components) 7 overall (with a minimum of 6 in each component)  
MBA 88 overall (with a minimum of 22 in R&S; 21 in W; 20 in L) 6.5 overall (with a minimum of 6.0 in each component) B2 overall (with a minimum 67 in 2 of 4 components) 7 overall (with a minimum of 6 in each component)  
School of English 95 overall (with a minimum of 22 in R&S; 21 in W; 20 in L) 7.0 overall (with a minimum of 6.0 in each component) C1 overall (with a minimum of 75 in 2 of 4 components) 8 overall (with a minimum of 6 in each component)  
Centre for the Study of Higher Education (all programmes) 95 overall (with a minimum of 25 in R; 24 in W&S; 22 in L) 7.0 overall (with a minimum of 6.5 in each component) C1 overall (with a minimum of 75 in 2 of 4 components) 8 overall (with a minimum of 7 in each component)  
Kent Law School 95 overall (with a minimum of 25 in R; 24 in W&S; 22 in L) 7.0 overall (with a minimum of 6.5 in each component) C1 overall (with a minimum of 75 in 2 of 4 components) 8 overall (with a minimum of 7 in each component)  
School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research (excluding the international two-year MA programme pathways) 95 overall (with a minimum of 25 in R; 24 in W&S; 22 in L) 7.0 overall (with a minimum of 6.5 in each component) C1 overall (with a minimum of 75 in 2 of 4 components) 8 overall (with a minimum of 7 in each component)  

Key: R = reading; W = writing; S = speaking; L = listening

You must give the University permission to view your Pearson test results.
You cannot combine scores from more than one TOEFL test and you must arrange for TOEFL to forward a copy of your results direct to the University. The TOEFL Institution Code for the University of Kent is 0826.

Pre-sessional courses

If you do not yet meet the English language requirements, pre-sessional courses are available to prepare international students for study at Kent. These develop your skills in academic reading, writing and critical thinking, listening to lectures, speaking in seminars and delivering presentations.

At the end of the course, you take the Kent International Test of English. You must meet the required exit level to progress directly onto your main programme.

Students with other qualifications

UKVI list of majority English-speaking countries

If you are a national of a country on the UKVI list of majority English-speaking countries, you will not be required to evidence your English language ability for student visa purposes.

If you are not a national of one of these countries but have an academic qualification equivalent to a UK Bachelor's degree from one, which was completed within the last two years, we may be able to use this to evidence your English language ability.

Please note that where exemptions apply, you may still be required to meet additional English language requirements for academic purposes. 

UKVI English-speaking countries  
Antigua and Barbuda Ireland
Australia Jamaica
The Bahamas Malta
Barbados New Zealand
Belize St Kitts and Nevis

British Overseas Territories*

St Lucia
Canada (nationals only) St Vincent and the Grenadines
Dominica Trinidad and Tobago
Grenada UK
Guyana USA

*The following territories are currently identified as British Overseas Territories:

Anguilla, Bermuda, British Antarctic Territory, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, Pitcairn Islands, Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands.

In-country qualifications

You may use one of the following English language qualifications in your visa application as proof of meeting the Level B2 requirement. This does not guarantee you will be exempt from taking a SELT. The University will conduct an assessment of your application and determine if an offer can be made.

Country Qualification Minimum grade requirements Time limit
Botswana Botswana General Certificate of Secondary Education (BGCSE) C Achieved no more than 5 years prior to the start of the course
Brunei Brunei-Cambridge General Certificate of Education Ordinary Level (B-C GCE O Level) C Achieved no more than 8 years prior to the start of the course
Cameroon GCE O Level C Achieved no more than 5 years prior to the start of the course
Ghana WAEC or WASSCE C6 Achieved no more than 5 years prior to the start of the course
Hong Kong Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education, Core English 4 (with 3 in each component) Achieved no more than 5 years prior to the start of the course
India Standard XII – if English medium school 70% Achieved no more than 5 years prior to the start of the course
  Standard XII – if non English medium school 75% Achieved no more than 5 years prior to the start of the course
Kenya Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) C Achieved no more than 8 years prior to the start of the course
Malawi Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE) Grade 5 (Credit) Achieved no more than 5 years prior to the start of the course
Malaysia Cambridge English Language syllabus 1119 (SPM) 5C Achieved no more than 5 years prior to the start of the course
Mauritius SC (Cambridge Overseas Secondary Certificate) C No time limit
Nigeria Senior School Certificate (NECO) or WAEC/WASSCE C6 Achieved no more than 5 years prior to the start of the course
Norway Norwegian Leaving Certificate from Upper Secondary School (Vitnemal fra den Videregaende Skole/Vitnemal for videregaende opplaering) 4 (5 for those requiring IELTS 7.0) Achieved no more than 5 years prior to the start of the course
Singapore Singapore O Level English C Achieved no more than 8 years prior to the start of the course
South Africa National Senior Certificate 5 Achieved no more than 5 years prior to the start of the course
Tanzania Certificate of Secondary Education (CSE) C Achieved no more than 5 years prior to the start of the course
Uganda Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) 6 Achieved no more than 5 years prior to the start of the course
  Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) 6 Achieved no more than 5 years prior to the start of the course
West Indies / Caribbean Caribbean Examinations Council Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) Grade 3 No time limit
  Bahamas General Certificate of Secondary Education (BGCSE) C No time limit
  Bermuda Secondary School Certificate (BSSC) C No time limit
Zambia Zambia School Certificate 6 Achieved no more than 5 years prior to the start of the course
Zimbabwe Cambridge School Certificate / Certificate of Secondary Education (CSE) / O Level / ZGCE C Achieved no more than 5 years prior to the start of the course
Worldwide University of Cambridge IGCSE First Language English C Achieved no more than 5 years prior to the start of the course
  University of Cambridge IGCSE English as a Second Language B Achieved no more than 5 years prior to the start of the course
  LRN IGCSE English Language 4 Achieved no more than 5 years prior to the start of the course
  GCSE/O Level English language C Achieved no more than 5 years prior to the start of the course
  AP (in American High School Diploma system) – English 3 No time limit
  IB - English A: Language and Literature Higher Level 4 Achieved no more than 5 years prior to the start of the course
  IB - English A: Literature Higher Level 4 Achieved no more than 5 years prior to the start of the course
  IB - English Language B Higher Level 4 Achieved no more than 5 years prior to the start of the course
  IB - English A: Language and Literature Standard Level  5 Achieved no more than 5 years prior to the start of the course
  IB - English A: Literature Standard Level 5 Achieved no more than 5 years prior to the start of the course
  IB - English Language B Standard Level 5 Achieved no more than 5 years prior to the start of the course
  IB - English Literature and Performance Standard Level 5 Achieved no more than 5 years prior to the start of the course

Applicants who require a Student visa

If you require a Student visa to study in the UK, you must also meet the English language requirements set by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). For degree-level entry, you must achieve at least Level B2 of CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) in all four language components. Full details are available on the UKVI website.

If you do not hold one of our listed English language qualifications, then a secure English language test (SELT) may be required. A SELT is a language qualification approved by UKVI for visa purposes.

For pre-sessional programmes (below National Qualification Framework Level 6), Level B1 (CEFR) is acceptable. Full details are available on the UKVI website. However, please note that our own entry requirements for our pre-sessional courses depend on which course you have applied for, so please refer to the International Pathways website for details. A UKVI-approved SELT is mandatory for programmes at this level. Alternative qualifications will not be accepted.

Do I need a UK visa?

Find a UKVI-approved test and test centre

UK and non-visa students

All students need an appropriate score in an approved English language examination. For UK students, this usually means a grade C/4 or above in GCSE English language or equivalent, or the completion of degree study in the UK.

For students who do not require a visa, we may accept the following English language qualifications:

Qualification Level required
European Baccalaureate (EB) 7.0 in written English (first language); 7.5 (if second language); 8.0 (if third language)
International Baccalaureate (IB) English A or B standard level 5; English A or B higher level 4; English ab initio standard level 6
International English Language Testing System (IELTS) 6.5 overall (with a minimum of 6 in R&W; 5.5 in S&L)
Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) 62 overall with 60 in each subtest (online version not accepted)
Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) 176 overall (with a minimum 169 in R&W; 162 in S&L)
Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE) 176 overall (with a minimum 169 in R&W; 162 in S&L)
Internet-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iBT) 90 overall (with a minimum of 22 in R; 21 in W; 20 in S; 17 in L)
IGCSE First Language English Grade C or above
IGCSE English as a Second Language Grade B or above

Key: R = reading; W = writing; S = speaking; L = listening

These requirements are for guidance only. All applications are assessed individually and entry requirements can vary.

Further information

If you have a query about our English language entry requirements, please make an enquiry here.

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