Undergraduate English language requirements (Higher)

The standard University IELTS English language requirement is 6.5 overall with 6.0 in each individual element (reading, writing, listening and speaking) or equivalent qualification. However, for some undergraduate courses, a higher level of English language is required as detailed below.

List of undergraduate courses which require a higher level of English language

Business courses

  • BSc Accounting and Finance
  • BSc Finance
  • BSc Business Analytics
  • BSc International Business
  • BSc Management 
  • BSc Marketing

Economics courses

  • BSc Economics
  • BSc Economics and Finance
  • BSc Economics and Management
  • BA Politics, Philosophy and Economics
  • LLB Law
  • BSc Sport and Exercise Science
  • BSc Sport Science, Coaching and Physical Education
  • BSc Sport Management
  • BSc Psychology
  • BSc Psychology with Criminology
  • BSc Psychology of Sport and Exercise

List of approved qualifications

Below you will find a list of the English language qualifications which are acceptable to the University for courses which require a higher level of English language.

Qualification Minimum grade required
Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE) C/200
Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) C/180
Cambridge English: First (CFE) A
IELTS Academic Test and IELTS One Skill Retake Overall score of 6.5 with not less than 6.0 in each test
LanguageCert ESOL SELT (centre-based test)

SELT C1:Pass overall (listening, reading, writing, speaking combined) with no sub-test lower than 33 out of 50

Tests taken from 2025 onwards:
Overall score of 70 with not less than 65 in each test.
LanguageCert Academic SELT (centre-based test) Overall score of 70 with not less than 65 in each test
ONCAMPUS Test of English (OCTOE) 65% overall with 60% in each sub-test (taken in the UK)
Pearson Test of Academic English (PTE) Overall score of 65, with not less than 61 in each sub-test
TOEFL iBT (DI Code = 0815)

Tests taken prior to 21 January 2026:

Overall score of 88, with not less than 21 in each test

Tests taken from 21 January 2026:

Overall score of 4.5 with not less than 4.5 in Writing and Listening and not less than 4.0 in Speaking and Reading
Trinity Integrated Skills in English (ISE) III Pass overall, with passes in each component

University of Warwick International Foundation Programme

English for Academic Purposes

(Undergraduate applicants only)

 High Credit (60%) overall including minimum Credit (50%) in each component 

 

Qualification Minimum grade requirement

TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition             
(DI Code – 0815) 

Tests taken prior to 21 January 2026:

Overall score of 88, with not less than 21 in each test

Tests taken from 21 January 2026:

Overall score of 4.5 with not less than 4.5 in Writing and Listening and not less than 4.0 in Speaking and Reading
LanguageCert: Online test

SELT C1:Pass overall (listening, reading, writing, speaking combined) with no sub-test lower than 33 out of 50

Tests taken from 2025 onwards:
Overall score of 70 with not less than 65 in each test.
Duolingo English Test 

Overall score of 120 with not less than the following in each integrated and individual sub-test:

Speaking 110
Writing 115
Reading 110
Listening 105

 

Qualification Minimum Grade Required
CSE English Language 1
European Baccalaureate - Language 1 6.5
European Baccalaureate - Language 2 7.5
European Baccalaureate - Language 3 or 4 8.5
GCSE or O Level English Language B / 6
IGCSE - Cambridge English First Language (syllabuses 0500/0522/0627/0990) B / 6
IGCSE - Pearson Edexcel English Language A (syllabuses 4EA0/4EA1) B / 6
IGCSE - Pearson Edexcel English Language B (syllabuses 4EB0/4EB1) B / 6
IGCSE - Cambridge English as a Second Language (syllabus 0510) A with grade 2 in Speaking Component
IGCSE - Cambridge English as a Second Language (syllabus 0993) 7 with Distinction in Speaking Component
IGCSE - Cambridge English as a Second Language (syllabuses 0511/0991) A / 7
IGCSE - Oxford AQA English Language (9270) B / 6
IGCSE - Pearson Edexcel English as a Second Language (syllabuses 4ES0/4ES1) A / 7 with grade 7 in Speaking Component
International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB) – English A (Standard/Higher Level) 4
International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB) – English B Higher Level 5
International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB) – English B Standard level 6
Scottish Standard Grade English/Scottish National 5 English B
Scottish Intermediate Grade English B
Scottish Higher Grade English C

Country

Qualification

Minimum Grade Required

Australia

ACT Year 12 / WACE

C

NTCE / SACE / VCE / 

C+

HSC

3

TCE / QCE

 SA

Austria

Reifeprüfung/Matura

2

Belgium

Certificat d'Enseignement Secondaire Supérieur (CESS) / Diploma van secundair onderwijs (DSO)

85%

Botswana

Botswana General Certificate of Secondary Education (BGCSE)

B

Brunei

Brunei-Cambridge General Certificate of Education Ordinary Level (B-C GCE O Level)

B

Cameroon

GCE O Level

B

Canada

(must have studied for at least 4 years at a High School in Canada)

High School Graduation Diploma (or equivalent) – Grade 10 English

70%

Denmark

Bevis for Studentereksamen

10

France

Baccalauréat Général; Baccalauréat Technologique

15

Option Internationale (Anglais/Americain) du Baccalauréat

 13

Germany

Zeugnis der Allgemeinen Hochschulreife / Abitur

13

Hong Kong

Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination Use of English

C

Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education, Core English

 4

Iceland

Stúdentspróf (from Gymnasium)

9

India

CBSE – All India Senior School Certificate Examination

80%

ISCE – Indian School Certificate Examination (Class – XII)

 80%

Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal State Boards– Standard XII

 85%

The Senior School Certificate or Standard XII is not accepted from the following State Boards, in these cases students will be asked to provide an alternative English language qualification.

  • Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board
  • Haryana Board of School Education
  • Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education
  • Punjab School Education Board
  • Telangana State Board
  

Ireland (Eire)

Leaving Certificate – Ordinary Level

O3

Kenya

Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE)

B

Malawi

Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE)

B

Malaysia

Cambridge English Language syllabus 1119

B

Malta

Secondary Education Certificate Examinations (SEC)

3

Mauritius

Cambridge GCE O Level English Language

B

Netherlands

Voorbereidend Wetenschappelijk Onderwijs (VWO)

7

New Zealand

National Certificate in Educational – Level 2 English

Merit

Nigeria

Senior School Certificate (NECO)

B3

Norway

Vitnemål for Videregående Opplæring (ENG1002)

4

Singapore

Singapore O Level English

B

Singapore A Level H2 English Literature/English Language & Linguistics

 C

Singapore A Level H1 English Literature/English Language & Linguistics

 C

Integrated Programme – General Paper* (*only acceptable for applicants following Integrated Programme who have not previously taken O Level English, and are not studying an A Level H1/H2 English paper)

 B

South Africa

National Senior Certificate

5

Sweden

Avgångsbetyg / Slutbetyg från Gymnasieskola

B / VG

Switzerland

Certificat de Maturité / Maturitätsausweis / Attestato di Maturità

4.5

Tanzania

Certificate of Secondary Education (CSE)

B

Uganda

Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE)

3

USA

(must have studied for at least 4 years at a USA High School)

SAT (2016 onwards): Evidence-Based Reading/Writing

  650

ACT

 27 Composite Score with minimum 26 in English and Reading

West Africa

West African Examination Council Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE)

B3

Senior School Certificate (NECO)

B3

West Indies/Caribbean

Caribbean Examinations Council Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC)

II

Bahamas General Certificate of Secondary Education (BGCSE)

 B

Bermuda Secondary School Certificate (BSSC)

 B

Zambia

Zambia School Certificate

3

Zimbabwe

Cambridge School Certificate / Certificate of Secondary Education (CSE) / O Level

B