Entry requirements

To study at Leeds, you’ll need to meet the academic entry requirements for your course and have a recognised English language qualification. 

Course requirements 

Use our Course Search to find the entry requirements for your course. Check the accepted qualifications for your country or region.

If you have any questions about your qualifications, email the International Office at internationaloffice@leeds.ac.uk.

English language requirements

The following are the minimum requirements for each level of study. Some of our courses have higher English language requirements. Check your course page via Course Search for more information. 

If you don't meet these requirements, you could study a undergraduate pre-sessional English or postgraduate pre-sessional English course with our Language Centre to improve your English to the level required. 

Undergraduate degrees

Minimum qualifications include:

  • IELTS (International English Language Testing System) Academic or IELTS for UKVI (United Kingdom Visas and Immigration) (Academic) taken at a test centre with 6.0 overall and no less than 5.5 in each component skill. Please note that we cannot accept results from these tests that are over two years old at the start date of the course you intend to study. You must meet the requirements through a single IELTS test, or via a single test and One Skill Retake. We do not accept IELTS Indicator.
  • TOEFL iBT (Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-Based Test) taken at a test centre with 80 overall and no less than 17 in listening, 18 in reading, 20 in speaking and 19 in writing. Please note that we do not accept TOEFL MyBest scores and we expect candidates to have met the relevant requirements from a single TOEFL test. We cannot accept results from these tests that are over two years old at the start date of the course you intend to study. We do not accept the TOEFL Paper-delivered Test.
  • PTE (Pearson Test of English) Academic or PTE Academic UKVI taken at a test centre with 60 overall and no less than 59 in any component. Please note that we cannot accept results from these tests that are over two years old at the start date of the course you intend to study. We do not accept PTE Academic Online.
  • LanguageCert Academic taken at a test centre with 65 overall and no less than 60 in each component skill. Please note that we cannot accept results from these tests that are over two years old at the start date of the course you intend to study.
  • A suitable Cambridge English qualification with at least 169 overall and no less than 162 in any component. B2 First is the most relevant to these scores but we also accept C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency.
  • Trinity College London ISE (Integrated Skills in English) at a Pass in ISE II or above (if taken in the UK). Please note that we cannot accept results from this test that are over two years old at the start date of the course you intend to study.
  • NCUK English Language Test at 6.0 overall with no less than 5.5 in any component. Please note that this qualification is no longer offered but we can accept existing results as long as they will be no more than two years old at the start date of the course you intend to study.
  • NCUK English for Academic Purposes (EAP) at C overall with no component less than D. Please note that we cannot usually accept results from this test that are over two years old at the start date of the course you intend to study.
  • NCUK English for Academic Purposes for Proficient Users (EAPPU) at C overall with no component less than D. Please note that we cannot usually accept results from this test that are over two years old at the start date of the course you intend to study.
  • Study Group Academic English Skills (AES) at 60% overall with no component score less than 50%.
  • GCSE English Language or IGCSE English as a First or Second Language at C/4. GCSE English Literature may be considered in certain circumstances for some courses.
  • A Level or AS Level English Language or English Literature at C.
  • National 5 English at C.
  • Scottish Higher or Advanced Higher English Language or English Literature at C.
  • AP (Advanced Placement) English Language and Composition or English Literature and Composition at 3.
  • IB (International Baccalaureate) English (standard or higher level) at 4.
  • A minimum of two years of study in the UK to complete an undergraduate degree.
  • Overseas doctors who are registered with the NHS (please note that this may not apply for courses with higher requirements).
  • We might also accept an English language qualification from your country, which you can find among our admissions qualifications

Some of our courses have higher English language requirements. Check your course page via Course Search for more information. Please contact the school admissions team for further advice if you do not meet the requirements via an English language qualification.

Masters degrees

Minimum qualifications include:

  • IELTS (International English Language Testing System) Academic or IELTS for UKVI (United Kingdom Visas and Immigration) (Academic) taken at a test centre with 6.5 overall and no less than 6.0 in each component skill. Please note that we cannot accept results from these tests that are over two years old at the start date of the course you intend to study. You must meet the requirements through a single IELTS test, or via a single test and One Skill Retake. We do not accept IELTS Indicator.
  • TOEFL iBT (Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-Based Test) taken at a test centre with 88 overall and no less than 19 in listening, 20 in reading, 22 in speaking and 21 in writing. Please note that we do not accept TOEFL MyBest scores and we expect candidates to have met the relevant requirements from a single TOEFL test. We cannot accept results from these tests that are over two years old at the start date of the course you intend to study. We do not accept the TOEFL Paper-delivered test. 
  • PTE (Pearson Test of English) Academic or PTE Academic UKVI taken at a test centre with 64 overall and no less than 60 in any component. Please note that we cannot accept results from these tests that are over two years old at the start date of the course you intend to study.
  • LanguageCert Academic taken at a test centre with 70 overall and no less than 65 in each component skill. Please note that we cannot accept results from these tests that are over two years old at the start date of the course you intend to study.
  • A suitable Cambridge English qualification with at least 176 overall and no less than 169 in any component. B2 First and C1 Advanced are most relevant to these scores but we also accept C2 Proficiency.
  • Trinity College London ISE (Integrated Skills in English) at a Pass in ISE II or above (if taken in the UK). Please note that we cannot accept results from these tests that are over two years old at the start date of the course you intend to study.
  • NCUK English Language Test at 6.5 overall with no less than 6.0 in any component. Please note that this qualification is no longer offered but we can accept existing results as long as they will be no more than two years old at the start date of the course you intend to study.
  • NCUK English for Academic Purposes (EAP) at B overall with no component less than C. Please note that we cannot usually accept results from this test that are over two years old at the start date of the course you intend to study.
  • NCUK English for Academic Purposes for Proficient Users (EAPPU) at B overall with no component less than C. Please note that we cannot usually accept results from this test that are over two years old at the start date of the course you intend to study.
  • GCSE English Language or IGCSE English as a First or Second Language at C/4. GCSE English Literature may be considered in certain circumstances for some courses.
  • A Level or AS Level English Language or English Literature at C.
  • National 5 English at C.
  • Scottish Higher or Advanced Higher English Language or English Literature at C.
  • AP (Advanced Placement) English Language and Composition or English Literature and Composition at 3.
  • IB (International Baccalaureate) English (standard or higher level) at 4.
  • A minimum of two years of study in the UK to complete an undergraduate degree.
  • A minimum of one year of study in the UK to complete a Masters degree.
  • Overseas doctors who are registered with the NHS (please note that this may not apply for courses with higher requirements).
  • We might also accept an English language qualification from your country, which you can find among our admissions qualifications

Some of our courses have higher requirements. Check your course page via Course Search for more information. Please contact the school admissions team for further advice if you do not meet the requirements via an English language qualification.

Research degrees

Minimum qualifications include:

  • IELTS (International English Language Testing System) Academic taken at a test centre with 6.0 overall with no less than 5.5 in each component skill. Please note that we cannot accept results from these tests that are over two years old at the start date of the course you intend to study.
  • TOEFL iBT (Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-Based Test) taken at a test centre with 80 overall with no less than 17 in listening, 18 in reading, 20 in speaking and 19 in writing. Please note that the University of Leeds does not accept TOEFL MyBest scores and expects candidates to have met the relevant requirements from a single TOEFL test. We cannot accept results from these tests that are over two years old at the start date of the course you intend to study.
  • PTE (Pearson Test of English) Academic or PTE Academic UKVI taken at a test centre with 60 overall with no less than 59 in any component. Please note that we cannot accept results from these tests that are over two years old at the start date of the course you intend to study.
  • CAE (Cambridge English: Advanced), or C1 Advanced, at C/169 overall with no less than 162 in any component.
  • Cambridge CPE (Certificate of Proficiency in English), or C2 Proficiency, at C/169 overall with no less than 162 in any component.
  • Trinity College London ISE (Integrated Skills in English) at a Pass in ISE II or above (if taken in the UK). Please note that we cannot accept results from these tests that are over two years old at the start date of the course you intend to study.
  • GCSE English Language or IGCSE English as a First or Second Language at C/4. GCSE English Literature may be considered in certain circumstances for some courses.
  • We might also accept an English language qualification from your country, which you can find among our admissions qualifications

Some of our courses have higher requirements, check your course page via Course Search for more information.

Please see our summary of additional qualifications that are also accepted for research study. Please contact the school admissions team for further advice if you do not meet the requirements via an English language qualification.

Study Abroad and exchange programmes

For Study Abroad and exchange programmes, you are expected to meet the same minimum language requirements as for an undergraduate degree.

Visit our Study Abroad language requirements page to check if you will need to meet a higher requirement.