English Language Requirements

English Language Requirements

As part of the application process to the University of Lincoln, you will be required to show proof of English language proficiency, even if English is your first language. This page contains information regarding our English language requirements and the wide range of tests and qualifications we accept. Please note that policy updates made by UK Visas and Immigration may result in changes to the English language requirements detailed on this page.

Accepted Qualifications

In the entry requirements section of our programme pages, you can find detailed information regarding the University’s academic and English language requirements. The English language requirements listed on the programme pages refer to the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), and typically range from a score of 6.0 to 7.0.

As an alternative to IELTS, we also accept a wide range of English language qualifications and proficiency tests. Further information regarding the types of qualifications and tests we accept, and the scores/grades you will need, can be found below. Please note that the scores quoted are the minimum scores required and some courses may have a higher requirement.

Please note that verification of your English language qualification will be completed prior to CAS issuance. Acceptance of English proficiency tests may be subject to change in line with Home Office policy.

IELTS Academic/Online * TOEFL IBT/
TOEFL IBT at Home
*
PTE Academic – for students enrolling after September 2023* LanguageCert/Online LanguageCert – for students enrolling after September 2023* Password/Password Skills Plus Lincoln PEASS course

IELTS 6.0 overall
Reading: minimum 5.5
Listening: minimum 5.5
Speaking: minimum 5.5
Writing: minimum 5.5

79 overall
Reading: 18
Listening: 17
Speaking: 20
Writing: 20
65 with no score below 59 B2 with a minimum of 33 in all components

6.0 overall
Reading: minimum 5.5
Listening: minimum 5.5 Speaking: minimum 5.5
Writing: minimum 5.5

Pass at 40% or above

IELTS 6.0 overall
Reading: minimum 6.0
Listening: minimum 6.0
Speaking: minimum 6.0
Writing: minimum 6.0

79 overall
Reading: 19
Listening: 18
Speaking: 21
Writing: 22
65 with no score below 65 B2 with a minimum of 35 in all components 6.0 overall 
Reading: minimum 6.0 
Listening: minimum 6.0
Speaking: minimum 6.0 
Writing: minimum 6.0
 

IELTS 6.5 overall
Reading: minimum 6.0
Listening: minimum 6.0
Speaking: minimum 6.0
Writing: minimum 6.0

90 overall
Reading: 21
Listening: 20
Speaking: 22
Writing: 24
70 with no score below 65 C1 with a minimum of 33 in all components 6.5 overall 
Reading: minimum 6.0 
Listening: minimum 6.0 Speaking: minimum 6.0 
Writing: minimum 6.0
Pass at 50% or above

IELTS 7.0 overall
Reading: minimum 6.5
Listening: minimum 6.5
Speaking: minimum 6.5
Writing: minimum 6.5

100 overall
Reading: 24
Listening: 24
Speaking: 23
Writing: 27
76 with no score below 70 C1 with a minimum of 38 in all components 7.0 overall 
Reading: minimum 6.5 
Listening: minimum 6.5
Speaking: minimum 6.5 
Writing: minimum 6.5
Not applicable

* Valid for two years from date of the test

Please note that the PTE Academic Online test is no longer accepted.

Should I take the IELTS Academic or IELTS for UKVI (Academic) test?

  • IELTS Academic is for students who wish to study at undergraduate or postgraduate level.
  • IELTS for UKVI (Academic) is a Secure English Language Test (SELT) for students who need to take a Pre-sessional English and Academic Study Skills (PEASS) course in order to meet the English language condition of their main course offer.
  • DuoLingo English Test is not accepted from applicants who require a Student visa to study in the UK

Cambridge English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)

  • Cambridge English: Advanced, commonly known as the Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) - overall score of 169, with no less than 162 in each element
  • Cambridge English: Proficiency, commonly known as the Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) - overall score of 169, with no less than 162 in each element
  • Cambridge B2 First - overall B grade, with no less than 170 in any individual element. 

 

University of Cambridge International Examinations (CIE)

  • GCE O Level English Language (Syllabus 1119/1120/1125/1126/1127) - grade C or better (must include reading, writing, listening and speaking and grades achieved in each element must be equivalent to at least CEFR B2)
  • IGCSE First Language English (Syllabus 0500) - grade C or better (must achieve at least CEFR B2 in reading and writing and Grade 2 in Listening and Speaking components)
  • IGCSE First Language English (Syllabus 0522) - grade C or better (must achieve at least CEFR B2 in reading, writing, listening and speaking)
  • IGCSE English as a Second Language (Syllabus 0510) - grade C with grade 2 in Speaking Endorsement
  • IGCSE English as a Second Language (Syllabus 0511) - grade C (to include count-in Speaking)
  • Singapore-Cambridge English General Certificate of Education Ordinary Level (Syllabus 1128) - grade C or better

Evidence of the syllabus you have studied will be required in order for the International Admissions Team to consider your CIE qualification.

Edexcel

  • IGCSE English as a Second Language - grade C or better (must include reading, writing, listening and speaking)
  • IGCSE English Language (Specification A) &- grade C or better

Please note that English Language (Specification B) does not test speaking or listening and is therefore not accepted).

 

 

Oxford AQA IGCSE

  • GCSE English as a Second Language (9280) grade 5

The following may be accepted in place of IELTS 6.0. The qualification should usually have been completed no more than 5 years before enrolling at the University of Lincoln.

SyllabusLevelGrade
English A: Language and Literature /
English A: Literature
HL 5
SL 5
English B

HL 5
SL 6

 

The following qualifications may be accepted in place of IELTS 6.0. The qualification should usually have been completed no more than 5 years before enrolling at the University of Lincoln. However, this 5-year requirement will usually be waived for applicants who achieved the required High School English grade and subsequently completed a degree in their home country that was taught fully in English. An official letter from the previous institution, confirming that the degree was taught in English, should be submitted with the application. You should also include with your application any evidence you have of ongoing use of English.

CountryQualificationMinimum grades required

Antigua & Barbuda

Caribbean Examinations Council Secondary Education Certificate (General Proficiency)

1-3

Australia

English language within Provincial Secondary/Senior School Certificate or Diploma

50%

Austria

Reifeprüfung / Matura

2 ('Gut')

Bahamas

GCSE / GCE O Level

A-C

Barbados

Caribbean Examinations Council Secondary Education Certificate (General Proficiency)

1-3

Barbados

GCE Ordinary Level

A-C/1-6

Belgium

Certificat d'Enseignement Secondaire Supérieur

8/10 (80%)

Belgium

Diploma van Secundair Onderwijs

8/10 (80%)

Belize

Caribbean Examinations Council Secondary Education Certificate (General Proficiency)

1-3

Belize

GCE Ordinary Level

A-C/1-6

Botswana

Botswana General Certificate of Secondary Education Examination (BGCSE)

A-C

Cameroon

GCE Ordinary Level

A-C

Canada

High School Diploma (or regional equivalent)

A-C

Cyprus

Apolytirion of Lykeion

15

Denmark

Bevis for Højere Forberedelseseksamen (HF)

7

Dominica

Caribbean Examinations Council Secondary Education Certificate (General Proficiency)

1-3

Dominica

GCE Ordinary Level

A-C/1-6

Europe

European Baccalaureate Diploma

7

Germany

Abitur / Zeugnis der Allgemeinen Hochschulreife - English as a 'Leistungskurse'

10 ('Gut')

Ghana

WASSCE

A1-C6. Scratch card PIN required.

Grenada

Caribbean Examinations Council Secondary Education Certificate (General Proficiency)

1-3

Guyana

Caribbean Examinations Council Secondary Education Certificate (General Proficiency)

1-3

Hong Kong

HKDSE

4/5

Iceland

Studentsprof (from Gymnasium)

9

India

Standard XII (awarded by CISCE or CBSE)

70%+. Verification of qualification required

Jamaica

Caribbean Examinations Council Secondary Education Certificate (General Proficiency)

1-3

Jamaica

GCE Ordinary Level

A-C/1-6

Kenya

Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE)

A-C

Malawi

Malawi School Certificate of Education

1-6

Malaysia

Cambridge GCE O'level Syllabus 1119

A-C/CEFR B2

Malta

Advanced Matriculation / Matriculation Certificate

E

Netherlands

VWO

8

New Zealand

National Certificate in Educational Achievement at level 2/3

Achieved

Nigeria

NECO Senior School Certificate

A1-C6. Scratch card PIN required.

Nigeria

WAEC WASSC

A1-C6*

Norway

VVO

4/5

South Africa

National Senior Certificate

5

St Kitts & Nevis

Caribbean Examinations Council Secondary Education Certificate (General Proficiency)

1-3

St Kitts & Nevis

GCE Ordinary Level

A-C/1-6

St Lucia

Caribbean Examinations Council Secondary Education Certificate (General Proficiency)

1-3

St Vincent & The Grenadines

Caribbean Examinations Council Secondary Education Certificate (General Proficiency)

1-3

Sweden

Slutbetyg / Avgångsbetyg från Gymnasieskolan

VG (15+)

Tanzania

Secondary School Leaving Certificate

A-C

Tanzania

Certificate of Secondary Education

A-C

Trinidad & Tobago

GCE Ordinary Level

A-C/1-6

Trinidad & Tobago

Caribbean Examinations Council Secondary Education Certificate

1-3

Uganda

Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE)

1-6

Uganda

East African Certificate of Education (EACE)

1-6

USA

High School Graduation Diploma

C

Zambia

Zambia School Certificate / General Certificate of Education

1-6

Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe General Certificate of Education O Level

A-C

* Verification of certificate to be shared through WAEC digital certificate platform. Email address to provide use when sharing your certificate via the system is intapps@lincoln.ac.uk.

Please note that requirements for some programmes may be higher than those listed in the table above.

Where possible, we will also require verification of your exam result.

UK Visa and Immigration (UKV&I) requirements regarding English language proficiency - UK NARIC Statement of Comparability 

Some students who are relying on a Bachelors, Masters or PhD award from a ‘majority English-speaking country’ (excluding the UK) as evidence of their English language ability for their Student Route visa application are now required to include an original ‘Statement of Comparability’ from UK NARIC. 

Students who are nationals of the ‘majority English-speaking countries’ listed below are NOT required to apply for a UK NARIC Statement of Comparability: 

  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Australia
  • the Bahamas
  • Barbados
  • Belize
  • Canada
  • Dominica
  • Grenada
  • Guyana
  • Jamaica
  • New Zealand
  • St Kitts and Nevis
  • St Lucia
  • St Vincent and the Grenadines
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • USA 

Students who are not nationals of a ‘majority English-speaking country’ but will be relying  on a Bachelors, Masters or PhD award completed in one of the countries listed below as proof of their English language ability WILL be required to obtain a UK NARIC Statement of Comparability. 

  • 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
  • USA 

Further information regarding the Statement of Comparability, including how to apply, can be found on the UK NARIC website.

 

What if I haven’t met the English Language Requirements?

If you have not met our English language requirements, you may be able to enrol onto a Pre-sessional English and Academic Study Skills (PEASS) course at the University of Lincoln, prior to starting your undergraduate or postgraduate degree.

Contact

The University of Lincoln’s International Admissions team are available to help answer any questions you may have regarding English Language requirements.

Tel: +44 (0)1522 88 6677

Our telephone lines are open from 9am to 5pm Monday to Thursday and 9am to 4.30pm Friday, excluding public holidays.

Email: intadmissions@lincoln.ac.uk  or use our online enquiry form.