Qualifications required to meet the minimum standards of English
Requirements
To be accepted onto a course at Health Sciences University, you will need to meet minimum standards in English.
If English is not your first language, you will have to provide evidence that you have been assessed in all four components of English (reading, writing, speaking and listening) to the required standard for your degree course. Accepted qualifications for the majority of our courses are listed below.
Please note that English Language Requirements for international students applying for the MSc in Global Healthcare Management course differ from those published below. You can find details of English Language requirements and accepted qualifications for the MSc in Global Healthcare Management programme on the course page.
Important information for applicants requiring a Student visa
The English Language requirements published on this page are set by the University and are used to assess your academic eligibility for the course.
Applicants intending to apply for a student visa must also ensure they meet English Language Requirements set by UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI). These may differ from the University requirements published below.
You are advised to check UKVI English Language Requirements on the GOV.UK website and to complete an accepted secure English Language Test (SELT) at a UKVI approved centre if you haven’t already done so. The University will require evidence of this prior to issuing a Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies (CAS) to support your visa application.
Please note to be accepted onto our undergraduate and postgraduate courses; you will also need to demonstrate that you meet the minimum standards of English. Qualifications are listed below.
For all of our postgraduate courses, along with meeting the minimum standards of English (detailed below), if English isn’t your first language along with demonstrating the minimum standards of English, we require:
An undergraduate or postgraduate degree from a UK university or a completed undergraduate or postgraduate degree which has been taught in a ‘majority English-speaking’ country.
These are: 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, United States of America and British Overseas Territories
Accepted English Language Tests: Qualifications
Acceptable scores from these tests are valid for 2 years and will need to be taken within 2 years prior to the start of the course. Any other English Language test not listed below will not be accepted. If applicants have any questions about these qualifications, please complete the form below.
IELTS (Academic) 
- Undergraduate courses require a 6.0 overall (with no less than 5.5 in each component)
- Postgraduate course requirements differ between courses, requiring either 6.0 overall (with no less than 5.5 in each component) or 7.0 (with no less than 6.0 in each component)
Please refer to the individual course page to check requirements.
Important information for applicants requiring a student visa
Not all IELTS tests will be accepted by by UKVI for Student visa applications. Applicants requiring a student visa must ensure they complete an accepted version of the test at a UKVI-approved test centre. Information about accepted tests and approved test centres can be found on the GOV.UK website.
Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) and Proficiency (CPE)
- 169 overall with a minimum score of 162 in each component
- 185 overall with a minimum score of 169 in each component.
Important information for applicants requiring a student visa
Cambridge tests are accepted for HSU admission purposes but are not accepted by UKVI for Student visa applications. Applicants requiring a student visa must ensure they complete an accepted secure English Language Test (SELT) at a UKVI-approved test centre. Information about accepted tests and approved test centres can be found on the GOV.UK website.
Pearson PTE (Academic)
- 54 overall with a minimum score of 51 in each component
- 68 overall with a minimum score of 54 in each component.
Important information for applicants requiring a student visa
Not all Pearson tests will be accepted by by UKVI for Student visa applications. Applicants requiring a student visa must ensure they complete an accepted version of the test at a UKVI-approved test centre. Information about accepted tests and approved test centres can be found on the GOV.UK website.
TOEFL (IBT)
- 79 overall with a minimum score of 11 in listening, 12 in reading, 17 in speaking and 20 in writing.
- 100 overall with a minimum score of 19 in reading, 20 in listening and speaking and minimum score of 23 in writing.
Important information for applicants requiring a student visa
TOEFL iBT is accepted for HSU admission purposes but is not accepted by UKVI for Student visa applications. Applicants requiring a student visa must ensure they complete an accepted secure English Language Test (SELT) at a UKVI-approved test centre. Information about accepted tests and approved test centres can be found on the GOV.UK website.
UK Qualifications
English language grades required are listed below. If applicants have any questions about these qualifications, please complete the form below.
GCSE English or English Language
- Grade C/4 or above
O-level English Language
- Grade C or above
International Baccalaureate
- Higher Level English – 4
- Standard Level English – 5
SQA Intermediate 2 English or National 5 English
- Grade B or above
Non-UK qualifications and English language grade required
All of the below country specific qualifications are accepted for entry to courses where an overall IELTS score of 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in each component is required. Applicants who present the following qualifications must have achieved the requisite scores within 2 years prior to the start of the course. If applicants have any questions about these qualifications, please complete the form below.
International students who are new to the institution onto the majority MSc courses require IELTS (academic) score of 7.0 or above with no less than 6.0 in each section.
Please refer to the individual course page to check requirements.
Austria
- Matura: Grade 2 or above (both written and spoken parts must be completed).
Belgium
- Certificat d’Enseignement Secondaire Supérieur: 7.5
or 75% - Diploma Van Hoger Secundair Onderwijs: 15/20
Canada
- High School Diploma: 60% or above
Cyprus
- Apolytirion of Lykeio: 19/20 or above
Czech Republic
- Maturitni Zkouska: 1 výborný (excellent)
or - Maturita: 1 výborný (excellent)
Denmark
- Studentereksamen: Grade 7 or above
Finland
- Studentexamen: 5 (Magna Cum Laude) or above.
France
- French Baccalaureat: Grade 10 or above
Germany
- Abitur: Grade 10 or above
Greece
- Apolytirion of Lykeio: 19/20 or above
Hong Kong
- Hong Kong Diploma: Grade 4 or above in English as 1st Language
Ireland
- Irish Leaving Certificate (ILC): H4/O4 or above (2017 onwards)
- Grade D at Higher Level/C at Ordinary level (pre
2017)
India
- Standard XII (CBSE and ISC boards) 70% or above
Netherlands
- Diploma Voorbereidend Wetenschappelijk Onderwijs (VWO): Grade 8 or above
Norway
- Vitnemal: Grade 4 or above
Portugal
- Certificado de fim de Estudos Secundários: Grade 14 or above.
South Africa
- National Senior Certificate: Grade 3 or above.
Spain
- Titulo de Bachiller: Grade 8 or above.
Sweden
- Slutbetyg från Gymnasieskola: Grade VG or C or above
Switzerland
- Maturité Cantonale: Grade 5 or above
- Kantonale Maturität: Grade 5 or above
USA
- High School Graduation Diploma: Grade C or above
- SAT: Score of 600 or above in English Subjects / ACT composite score of 23+
- Advanced Placements (AP): Grade 3 or above in AP
European Baccalaureate
- English as 1st Language: 6 or above
- English as 2nd Language: 7 or above
Cambridge IGCSE English – First Language
- Must have done syllabus 0500 or 0522. Grades A-C accepted. Certificate must show all four components of test (reading, writing, listening, speaking)
CIE O-level
- Grade C or above required. Only following syllabuses accepted:Singapore – 1127
Malaysia – 1119
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