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) or IELTS Online at 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. We do not accept IELTS Indicator.
  • TOEFL iBT (Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-Based Test) or TOEFL iBT Home Edition at 80 overall with 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 or PTE Academic Online at 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.
  • Password Skills or Password Skills Plus at 6.0 overall with no less than 5.5 in any component. Please note that Password Skills tests must be arranged by an institution, so you cannot book a test as an individual. The University does not currently administer Password Skills tests, but if you have taken this qualification through a different institution then we will consider your results.
  • LanguageCert International ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) B2 Communicator (either the online or test centre test) or LanguageCert International ESOL SELT (Secure English Language Test) B2 with a minimum of 36 in each of speaking, listening, reading and writing. 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%. As standard, we accept this qualification when taken at Leeds International Study Centre. For 2023 entry, we will also accept this qualification when taken at all other Study Group centres.
  • 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.
  • National 5 English at C.
  • 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. Although applicants are ordinarily expected to have undertaken their studies in the UK in order to meet the language requirement, if the qualification was studied remotely from outside the UK then it may be considered as English language evidence on a case-by-case basis.
  • 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) or IELTS Online at 6.5 overall with 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. We do not accept IELTS Indicator.
  • TOEFL iBT (Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-Based Test) or TOEFL iBT Home Edition at 88 overall with 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 or PTE Academic Online at 64 overall with 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.
  • Password Skills or Password Skills Plus at 6.5 overall with no less than 6.0 in any component. Please note that Password Skills tests must be arranged by an institution, so you cannot book a test as an individual. The University does not currently administer Password Skills tests, but if you have taken this qualification through a different institution then we will consider your results.
  • LanguageCert International ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) B2 Communicator (either the online or test centre test) or LanguageCert International ESOL SELT (Secure English Language Test) B2 with a minimum of 39 in each of speaking, listening, reading and writing. If the course asks for an equivalent of IELTS 7.0, the C1 Expert is required, with a minimum of 33 in each of speaking, listening, reading and writing. 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.
  • National 5 English at C.
  • 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. Although applicants are ordinarily expected to have undertaken their studies in the UK in order to meet the language requirement, if the qualification was studied remotely from outside the UK then it may be considered as English language evidence on a case-by-case basis.
  • A minimum of one year of study in the UK to complete a Masters degree. Although applicants are ordinarily expected to have undertaken their studies in the UK in order to meet the language requirement, if the qualification was studied remotely from outside the UK then it may be considered as English language evidence on a case-by-case basis.
  • 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 at 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) at 87 overall with no less than 20 in listening, 20 in reading, 22 in speaking and 21 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 at 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.

If you are applying to study with us in the 2022/23 academic year with TOEFL iBT, please note that the entry requirements for this qualification are different to those listed for undergraduate degrees. Please refer to the Study Abroad language requirements page for the TOEFL iBT requirements for 2022/23 entry.