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.
Applicants must demonstrate that they meet the minimum standards of English language required for their course.
Accepted qualifications are listed below.
For postgraduate courses, applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate their English language ability by one of the following:
- A degree from a UK university; or
- A degree taught in English from a country recognised by UK Visas and Immigration as a majority English-speaking country; or
- A Secure English Language Test (SELT) approved by UKVI; or
- Another qualification accepted by the University as meeting UKVI English language requirements.
Majority English-speaking countries recognised by UKVI include:
Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, The British Overseas Territories, Canada, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Malta, New Zealand, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United States of America.
Where a qualification has been awarded outside the UK, the University may require confirmation from ECCTIS (formerly UK NARIC) that the qualification is comparable to a UK degree and was taught and assessed in English.
The University will assess all qualifications in line with UKVI Student Sponsor guidance.
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) 
| Level | Requirement |
| Undergraduate | 6.0 overall with no less than 5.5 in each component |
| Postgraduate | 6.0 overall (5.5 each component) or 7.0 overall (minimum 6.0 each component), depending on the course |
Please refer to the individual course page to check requirements.
Important information for applicants requiring a Student visa applicants
If you require a UK Student visa, you must demonstrate English language proficiency equivalent to CEFR Level B2 or above.
IELTS Academic is accepted. Applicants should ensure they take the test at an approved test centre and that their results are valid at the time of enrolment.
Information on approved tests and test centres can be found on the GOV.UK website.
Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) and Proficiency (CPE)
| Qualification | Requirement |
| CAE | 169 overall with a minimum score of 162 in each component |
| CPE | 185 overall with minimum 169 in each component |
Important information for Student Visa Applications
Cambridge English qualifications are accepted for admission purposes only.
They cannot be used to meet UKVI English language requirements for applicants who require a Student visa.
Applicants who require a Student visa must provide results from an approved Secure English Language Test (SELT) or another qualification accepted by UKVI. Further guidance on UKVI-approved tests and test centres is provided on the GOV.UK website.
Pearson PTE (Academic)
| Level | Requirement |
| Undergraduate | 59 overall with at least 59 in each component |
| Postgraduate (higher requirement courses) | 68 overall with minimum 59 in each component |
Important information for Student visa applicants
Applicants requiring a Student visa must ensure they take PTE Academic at a UKVI-approved test centre where required. Further guidance on UKVI-approved tests and test centres is provided on the GOV.UK website.
Tests must demonstrate CEFR B2 or above.
TOEFL (IBT)
| Requirement |
| 79 overall with minimum scores of: Listening 11, Reading 12, Speaking 17, Writing 20 |
| 100 overall with minimum scores of: Reading 19, Listening 20, Speaking 20, Writing 23 |
Important information for Student Visa Applicants
TOEFL iBT cannot be used to meet UKVI English language requirements for applicants who require a Student visa.
Applicants who require a Student visa must provide results from a UKVI-approved English language test. Further guidance on UKVI-approved tests is provided on the GOV.UK website.
English Language Requirements for Student Visa Applicants
Applicants who require a UK Student visa must demonstrate English language ability equivalent to CEFR Level B2 or higher.
HSU accepts the following tests where they meet this requirement:
- IELTS Academic
- Pearson PTE Academic
- Other qualifications that demonstrably meet CEFR B2
All English language test results must:
- Be valid at the time of CAS issuance
- Normally be no more than 2 years old
Where required by UKVI, applicants must take a Secure English Language Test (SELT) at an approved test centre.
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.
English Language Assessment
HSU assesses all English language qualifications to ensure they meet the required level of English proficiency for the course and comply with UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) requirements.
Approved Secure English Language Test (SELT) Providers
Where required for visa purposes, applicants must provide evidence from a UK Home Office approved Secure English Language Test (SELT). The UK Home Office currently recognises the following SELT providers for visa purposes.
Further guidance on UKVI-approved tests and test centres is provided on the GOV.UK website.
| If the test is taken in the UK | If the test is taken outside of the UK |
| Pearson | Pearson |
| Trinity College London | PSI Services (UK) Ltd |
| IELTS SELT Consortium | IELTS SELT Consortium |
| LANGUAGECERT | LANGUAGECERT |
| Test Provider | Test Name | CEFR Level Equivalent |
| Trinity College London | Integrated Skills in English (ISE) | B1 / B2 |
| IELTS | IELTS for UKVI | B1 / B2 |
| Pearson | Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic UKVI | B1 / B2 |
| LanguageCert | LanguageCert Academic SELT | B1 / B2 |
| PSI Services | Skills for English UKVI | B1 / B2 |
Test results must meet the minimum CEFR level required for the course. Applicants must ensure that the test taken is specifically approved for UKVI immigration purposes, where required.
The following table provides commonly recognised equivalences.
| CEFR Level | IELTS for UKVI (Minimum in Each Component) | Course Level |
| B1 | 4.0 | Below degree level (RQF 3–5) |
| B2 | 5.5 | Degree level and above (RQF 6+) |
HSU reserves the right to set higher internal entry requirements for academic purposes.
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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