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.
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.
In addition to IELTS, we also accept a wide range of equivalent English language qualifications and tests. Those listed below are accepted in lieu of IELTS 6.0.
Please see the table below to see which English language proficiency tests we accept for the January/February 2021 intake, and their equivalent IELTS Academic score which is listed on individual course pages.
IELTS Academic * | Duolingo | TOEFL IBT/
TOEFL IBT at Home
* | PTE Academic* | IELTS Indicator | LanguageCert online | Password Test | Lincoln PEASS course |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IELTS 6.0 overall |
100 overall. No subscore below 90 |
79 overall Reading: 18 Listening: 17 Speaking: 20 Writing: 20 |
58 overall Reading: 51 Listening: 51 Speaking: 51 Writing: 51 |
6.0 overall |
B2 (Pass or High Pass in each component) |
6.0 overall |
Pass at 40% or above |
IELTS 6.0 overall |
100 overall. No subscore below 100 |
79 overall Reading: 19 Listening: 18 Speaking: 21 Writing: 22 |
58 overall Reading: 58 Listening: 58 Speaking: 58 Writing: 58 |
IELTS 6.0 overall Reading: minimum 6.0 Listening: minimum 6.0 Speaking: minimum 6.0 Writing: minimum 6.0 |
B2 (High Pass in each component) | IELTS 6.0 overall Reading: minimum 6.0 Listening: minimum 6.0 Speaking: minimum 6.0 Writing: minimum 6.0 |
|
IELTS 6.5 overall |
110 overall. No subscore below 100 |
90 overall Reading: 21 Listening: 20 Speaking: 22 Writing: 24 |
61 overall Reading: 58 Listening: 58 Speaking: 58 Writing: 58 |
IELTS 6.5 overall Reading: minimum 6.0 Listening: minimum 6.0 Speaking: minimum 6.0 Writing: minimum 6.0 |
B2 (High Pass in each component) | IELTS 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 |
120 overall. No subscore below 110 |
100 overall Reading: 24 Listening: 24 Speaking: 23 Writing: 27 |
76 overall Reading: 61 Listening: 61 Speaking: 61 Writing: 61 |
IELTS 7.0 overall Reading: minimum 6.5 Listening: minimum 6.5 Speaking: minimum 6.5 Writing: minimum 6.5 |
C1 | IELTS 7.0 overall Reading: minimum 6.5 Listening: minimum 6.5 Speaking: minimum 6.5 Writing: minimum 6.5 |
Pass at 60% or above |
* Valid for two years from date of the test
Should I take the IELTS Academic or IELTS for UKVI (Academic) test?
Please see the table below to see which English language proficiency tests we accept for the October 2021 intake, and their equivalent IELTS Academic score which is listed on individual course pages.
IELTS Academic * | Duolingo | TOEFL IBT * | PTE Academic* | Password Test | Lincoln PEASS course |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
IELTS 6.0 overall |
100 overall. |
79 overall Reading: 18 Listening: 17 Speaking: 20 Writing: 20 |
58 overall Reading: 51 Listening: 51 Speaking: 51 Writing: 51 |
6.0 overall |
Pass at 40% or above |
IELTS 6.0 overall |
100 overall. |
79 overall Reading: 19 Listening: 18 Speaking: 21 Writing: 22 |
58 overall Reading: 58 Listening: 58 Speaking: 58 Writing: 58 |
IELTS 6.0 overall Reading: minimum 6.0 Listening: minimum 6.0 Speaking: minimum 6.0 Writing: minimum 6.0 |
|
IELTS 6.5 overall |
110 overall. |
90 overall Reading: 21 Listening: 20 Speaking: 22 Writing: 24 |
61 overall Reading: 58 Listening: 58 Speaking: 58 Writing: 58 |
IELTS 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 |
120 overall. |
100 overall Reading: 24 Listening: 24 Speaking: 23 Writing: 27 |
76 overall Reading: 61 Listening: 61 Speaking: 61 Writing: 61 |
IELTS 7.0 overall Reading: minimum 6.5 Listening: minimum 6.5 Speaking: minimum 6.5 Writing: minimum 6.5 |
Pass at 60% or above |
* Valid for two years from date of the test
Should I take the IELTS Academic or IELTS for UKVI (Academic) test?
Cambridge English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)
University of Cambridge International Examinations (CIE)
Evidence of the syllabus you have studied will be required in order for the International Admissions Team to consider your CIE qualification.
Edexcel
Please note that English Language (Specification B) does not test speaking or listening and is therefore not accepted).
Oxford AQA IGCSE
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.
Syllabus | Level | Grade |
---|---|---|
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, may be required.
Country | Qualification | Minimum 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 |
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%+ |
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 |
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 |
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 |
Please note that requirements for some programmes may be higher than those listed in the table above.
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:
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.
Further information regarding the Statement of Comparability, including how to apply, can be found on the UK NARIC website.
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.
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.