English Language Requirements

All teaching at the University is in English and to help you get the most out of your time with us, you will be required to demonstrate your level of English during the application process.

The level we normally require is as follows:

For undergraduate study (including courses with an integrated foundation year)

• Standard IELTS with a score of 5.5 overall including at least 5.5 in the writing element.
• Non-standard (for example; Physiotherapy, Social Work, Journalism, Nursing) IELTS 7.0 or equivalent
• You can find the English Language Requirements on each course page. 

Pre-sessional English

The Winchester Pre-sessional programme runs for 10 weeks or 6 weeks. To enter the Pre-sessional Programme, an international student will have to have achieved an appropriate IELTS level (or equivalent), as shown below:

• Students aiming to progress to courses that require an overall IELTS score of 5.5 with 5.5 in writing can join the 10-week course with an overall IELTS score of minimum 5.0 and a minimum of 5.0 in writing, with no components below 5.0.
• Students aiming to progress to courses that require an overall IELTS score of 5.5 with 5.5 in writing can join the 6-week course with an overall IELTS score of minimum 5.0 and a minimum of 5.0 in writing, with no components below 5.0.

For postgraduate taught study

• Minimum IELTS with a score of 6.0 overall including at least 5.5 in the writing element.
• Minimum TOEFL iBT with a score of 60 overall including at least 18 in the writing element.
• You can find the English Language Requirements on each course page. 
• Minimum Oxford ELLT with a score of 6 overall, with no components below 5.

Pre-sessional English

The Winchester Pre-sessional programme runs for 10 weeks or 6 weeks. To enter the Pre-sessional Programme, an international student will have achieved an appropriate IELTS level (or equivalent), as shown below:

• Students aiming to progress to courses that require an overall IELTS score of 6.0 with 5.5 in writing can join the 10-week course with an overall IELTS score of minimum 5.0 and a minimum of 4.5 in writing, with no components below 4.5. 
• Students aiming to progress to courses that require an overall IELTS score of 6.0 with 5.5 in writing can join the 6-week course with an overall IELTS score of minimum 5.5 and a minimum of 5.0 in writing, with no components below 5.0. 

For postgraduate research study

• IELTS with a score of 6.5 overall including at least 7.0 in the writing element.
• TOEFL iBT with a score of 79 overall including at least 27 in the writing element

There are some exceptions to the above and where this applies, the level required is listed under the entry requirements section on the relevant course page.

Courses with professional accreditation (e.g. Journalism, Nursing, Physiotherapy, Social Work and Teacher Training) or that involve studying the English language (e.g. MA Creative Writing and MA English Literature), have higher requirements and these are listed on the individual course pages.

If you do not meet the required level, we offer pre-sessional English language courses during the summer each year. Further information is available from English Language and Teaching Support Unit.

English language and Student Visa

If you require a student visa to study in the UK, you will need to be able to demonstrate that the qualification you hold is equivalent to CEFR B2 in all 4 components (speaking, listening, reading and writing).

Other acceptable English language qualifications

In addition to IELTS and TOEFL English language qualifications, we accept the following for most courses:

• Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English (grade C or above)
• Cambridge First Certificate in English with 169 points overall and 162 in the writing element
• IELTS indicator
• International Baccalaureate with grade 5 at standard or higher level: 
  • English B
  • English A: Language and Literature
  • English A: Literature
  • English Literature and Performance
• IGCSE First Language English syllabus 0500 (speaking & listening separately endorsed) - Grade C overall and either grade C1 or B2 in speaking and listening components
• IGCSE First Language English syllabus 0522 (speaking & listening compulsory) – Grade C overall
• IGCSE English as a Second Language syllabus 0510 - Grade C overall and either grade 1 (C1) or 2 (B2) in oral/aural (speaking endorsement)
• IGCSE English as a Second Language syllabus 0511 - Grade C overall and either C1 or B2 (count-in speaking)
• Michigan Examination for the Certificate of Proficiency in English (ECPE)
• Pearson Test of English (PTE)
• Functional Skills level 2
• Romanian Baccalaureate – if CEFR B2 level in all components
• Estonian Secondary School Leaving Certificate with the State Examination Certificate (Gümnaasiumi lõputunnistus with the Riigieksamitunnistus) with foreign language English with a minimum of 75% (CEFR B2) in all components.
• Latvian Atestats par visparejo videjo izglitibu - if CEFR B2 level in all components
• Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education – Grade 4 or above in English language
• Malaysian SPM1119 Cambridge O-level – Grade C or above
• Norwegian Vitnemål score of 4 in English
• Singapore O-level in English language – Grades A1-C6
• Skills for English: SELT
• South African National Senior Certificate – Grade 3 (40%) in First Language English
• A degree, equivalent to a UK degree, from a majority English speaking country

Please note, if you require a student visa to study in the UK, we do not accept the following qualifications:

• Duolingo test of English
• West African Examinations Council (WAEC) / Nigeria Examinations Council (NECO) Senior School Certificate (Grade 12)

Other English language tests may be acceptable. Please contact the International team at International@winchester.ac.uk for further information.