Undergraduate Medical School

MBChB English language proficiency requirements

For applicants from non-English speaking countries, as defined by the UK Government, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level.

I'm from a majority English speaking country. Am I exempt from the English language proficiency requirement?

You do not need to prove your knowledge of English if you’re from one of the following countries or territories:

  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Australia
  • the Bahamas
  • Barbados
  • Belize
  • the British overseas territories
  • Dominica
  • Grenada
  • Guyana
  • Ireland
  • Jamaica
  • Malta
  • New Zealand
  • St Kitts and Nevis
  • St Lucia
  • St Vincent and the Grenadines
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • UK
  • USA

More information can be found on the UKVI website.

I'm an international graduate applicant. Do I need proof of English language proficiency?

You do not require proof of English language proficiency if you are a graduate with one of the following:

  • Undergraduate honours degree from English speaking country (including Canada if taught in English)
  • Masters degree from English speaking country (including Canada if taught in English)
  • Masters degree (equivalent on ENIC to UK Masters degree) taught in English in a non-English speaking country

If you do not meet any of the above, you must provide proof of English language proficiency.

I’m an international school student. Can I use my school qualifications to meet the English language proficiency requirements?

We can accept the following school qualifications as meeting the English language proficiency requirements. 

School Qualification Grade Requirement
International Baccalaureate (IB) HL English 5 OR SL English 6
SQA Higher ESOL A in all components 
SQA Higher English B or above
IGCSE English First Language (0522)                                                     Overall grade B, with B or above in all components 
IGCSE English First Language (0500) Overall grade B, with B or above in Reading and Writing AND Grade 1 in Listening and Speaking
WAEC English Grade B or above
HKDSE English Language (Hong Kong) Grade 5 or above
CBSE and ISC English (India) 85% or above
KCSE English (Kenya) Grade A or above
VWO (Netherlands) Grade 9 or above
Vitnemal (Norway) Grade 5 or above
English (Sweden) Grade B or 17.5 or above
Cambridge International O Level English Language (1128) (Singapore) Grade B or above
Integrated Programme English Language Qualification (Singapore) Grade A or above
NSC / IEB English as Home Language (South Africa) Grade 6 or above
NSC / IEB English as First Additional Language (South Africa) Grade 6 or above
General Certificate of Education O Level (Zimbabwe) Grade A or above
O-Level English Language (1120) (Brunei) Grade A or above

Applicants who have taken none of the above, are required to take one of our recognised English language proficiency tests and achieve the required grades.

We will not accept the following as proof of English language proficiency:

  • Yearly school reports
  • English as a Second Language in any variation unless specified above
  • English as an Additional Language in any variation unless specified above

Which English tests can I take and what scores do I need?

Pleae note, all tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of programme start date

Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test

International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

  • Overall score 7.0 with no subtest less than 7.0
  • We will only consider the academic IELTS

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

  • Overall score 104 with no subtest lower than Reading 26, Listening 23, Speaking 24 and Writing 24
  • We will consider either TOEFL ibt or athome. TOEFL MyBest Score will not be accepted

Pearson Test of English (PTE Academic)

  • Overall score 70 with no subtest lower than Reading 65, Listening 64, Speaking 78 and Writing 72

Oxford English Language Level Test (ELLT)

  • Overall score 8 with no subtest lower than 8

Cambridge Proficiency in English (CPE) and Cambridge Advanced English (CAE)

  • Overall score 185 with no subtest lower than 185