University of Leeds Admissions Policy 2026-27  Entry requirements

Typical requirements can be found on the relevant Course Search, course information or admissions guidance page. Flexibility on the typical requirements may be applied at the discretion of the school when it is felt that an applicant demonstrates their potential for benefitting from the course. This may be demonstrated in a number of ways through different qualifications and combinations; however, applicants are expected to have demonstrated the ability to study at a progressive and concentrated level. Applicants who would like to discuss their profile in relation to the entry requirements are encouraged to contact the relevant admissions team.

Where academic requirements have not been met for entry to an undergraduate course, the admissions team may pass application information on to the Lifelong Learning Centre or International Pathways Centre for consideration for a foundation year offer, which would allow the student to progress to an undergraduate course if they passed the foundation year.

Read more about the University’s approach to accepted UK qualifications for undergraduate study and accepted international qualifications.

Teaching, assessment, supervision and support will take place in English, unless otherwise stated. Schools must be confident that applicants have the proficiency in English language necessary to succeed on their chosen course and that, where relevant, they meet the UKVI (UK Visas and Immigration) minimum requirements to obtain a Student visa.

The University requires that all applicants meet our minimum requirements for English; however, many courses will have higher requirements to ensure applicants are prepared for their chosen course. Acceptable English qualifications and the University’s minimum requirements (including validity periods) for these can be found on our entry requirements page. Applicants can view course-specific English requirements on the relevant Course Search, course information or admissions guidance page.

When considering whether the English language requirement has been met, admissions teams base the decision on the most recent qualification obtained. 

Applicants who do not meet the relevant English language requirements at the point of application may be made a conditional offer that requires them to pass an approved test. Alternatively, applicants may be eligible to meet the English language requirements by successfully completing an appropriate pre-sessional English language course at the University of Leeds Language Centre. Applicants must have a suitable English language qualification in order to be eligible for a pre-sessional. For more details, please see the Language Centre website.

Where an applicant has already met the English language requirements but later provides more recent evidence that falls below the University’s or the UKVI’s requirements (if applicable), any offer must be revised.

• An unconditional offer, made on the understanding that English language proficiency was met, will be changed to conditional if evidence shows the currently achieved level is lower than the UKVI minimum of CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) Level B2. For example, an IELTS (International English Language Testing System) test with an overall score of 6.5 taken in 2024 would be overridden by an IELTS test with an overall score of 5.0 taken in 2025, making the offer conditional on English.
• Where an applicant would be exempt from providing additional English language evidence from an older qualification but provides a more recent qualification that shows a level below CEFR B2, any offer made will be conditional on meeting the English language requirements for the course. For example, an Indian Standard XII or a bachelor’s degree from Nigeria taken in 2022 would be overridden by an IELTS test with an overall score of 5.0 taken in 2025.
• Where more recent evidence is provided that does not meet the English entry requirements for the course but exceeds the UKVI minimum of CEFR Level B2, it is at the discretion of the academic school whether an English condition should be added.

Some courses will require additional checks to be undertaken in order for an applicant to gain admittance. These will be detailed on the relevant Course Search or admissions guidance page. However, some of the most common checks are as follows:

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and occupational health checks

To comply with the requirements of relevant professional, statutory and regulatory bodies (PSRBs), applicants to certain vocational or professional courses and foundation routes may be required to pass checks by the DBS and/or to pass occupational health checks before being admitted, or whilst a student or postgraduate researcher. Applicants will be advised if these or other conditions apply when they are made an offer of a place or, if applicable, after they have subsequently registered on their programme.

Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS)

Applicants who are subject to immigration controls to be in the UK may require an ATAS certificate to undertake postgraduate study in certain subject areas. This includes integrated Masters courses, which incorporate undergraduate and postgraduate study. Applicants who require ATAS clearance must obtain an ATAS certificate before applying for a Student visa. It is the applicant's responsibility to apply for an ATAS certificate with enough time for their ATAS and Student visa applications to be processed and to arrive in time for the start of the course. Applicants who require ATAS clearance will not be permitted to register for a course until the University has received confirmation of their ATAS clearance from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. Read more about ATAS on the University website.

Export controls (postgraduate research only) 

As part of the requirements for the University to comply with the UK government’s export controls legislation, an export licence may be required for the proposed research project.

There may be occasions where failure to obtain an export licence would impact the ability to start or continue a research project. This could result in the withdrawal of an offer to study at the University or the revocation of enrolment whilst on a programme. Alternatively, a reassessment of the research topic may need to be considered.  

Additional requirements (postgraduate research only)

For some research degree programmes, applicants may need to meet additional requirements stipulated by any relevant PSRBs or UK Research and Innovation Research Councils. When such criteria have to be met, the requirements will be set down in the programme of study specifications (see the section called Programmes of study for research degree awards within Ordinances and regulations), or will be communicated.

Documentation

The following documents must be submitted with a postgraduate application to the University, and may be requested in support of an undergraduate application. 

• Academic qualifications. Applicants must provide evidence of any previous or current qualifications. If an applicant has already completed a previous degree, they should submit a copy of the degree certificate showing the degree class and transcripts showing the grades obtained in each unit/module. Where applicants are yet to complete their qualification, they should submit transcripts of each completed academic year, including information on the modules being undertaken. If these documents are not in English, they should be accompanied by a formal certified translation into English, provided by the awarding institution, a University of Leeds accredited agent or office, or an official translator. This should be signed and dated and include the translator’s credentials and company details and confirmation that the translation is accurate. 
• Professional qualifications (postgraduate applications only). If required for the course, evidence of any professional qualifications should also be submitted with the application. 
• Previous UK immigration evidence. Applicants who require a Student visa and who have previously studied in the UK will need to provide evidence detailing any previous periods of study on a Student visa or Tier 4 (General) student visa. This is to allow the University to check compliance with the UKVI’s immigration rules for students. This evidence includes, but is not limited to, previous CAS, passport pages containing visas, Biometric Residence Permits and/or share codes for any e-Visas. Any information that is not included in the application will be requested when the application is considered or, if the applicant does not provide this information, we may need to ask their permission to check their UK immigration history directly with the UKVI.  
• English qualifications. Proof of English language proficiency is required as part of the admissions process for all applicants. Please see the English language requirements section of this policy for details of acceptable English language qualifications. Copies of the results of any acceptable, formal English tests should be submitted if already obtained. Without this evidence, any offer made will be conditional on providing evidence that the minimum English requirements for the course have been met. 
• Research proposal (postgraduate research applications only). Most research areas require applicants to submit a research proposal as part of the application process. Applicants should check with the relevant admissions team before making an application. Information on writing a research proposal is available on the University website. For Masters by Research programmes, a research proposal should be submitted and agreed as part of the application process to ensure that the programme can be completed within the period of study (12 months full time and 24 months part time).

For the list of documents required for other cohorts, see the relevant webpage:

• Incoming Study Abroad supporting documents
• International Foundation Year applying
• Language Centre applying
• Leeds International Summer School applying

The University may ask the applicant to provide original or certified copies of the documents submitted with their application at the point of registration. International applicants who require a Student visa to study in the UK should be aware that the Home Office may request to see original copies of academic documents at the point of entry to the UK. 

References

The acceptance of references is at the discretion of the relevant academic school and any questions relating to the format of references or nominating of appropriate referees should be directed to the admissions team for the specific course of interest. Contact details can be found on Course Search and the postgraduate research admissions contacts page.

• References for undergraduate applicants. Applications should include a reference from the applicant’s current (or most recent) educational provider unless otherwise agreed by the relevant academic school before the application is submitted. The reference section of the application is carefully considered by the University.
• References for taught postgraduate applicants. Academic schools may require references from academic or professional referees. Where requested, applicants must provide full, clear and accurate contact details of two referees at the point of application. If the academic school requires a reference in order to make a decision, they will contact the referee directly when assessing the application. For some courses, applicants may be required to provide reference letters at the point of application in addition to the details of their referees. This will be stated on the relevant Course Search page. For some courses, references are not part of the decision-making process, in which case applicants will not be asked to provide referee details when applying. Referees should typically be academic; it is only appropriate to provide professional referees if the applicant has been out of education for more than five years or is applying with evidence of work experience.
• References for postgraduate research applicants. Contact details of two referees should be provided as part of the application. Some schools may require references from academic or professional referees as a crucial element of the selection process. View guidance on reference requirements on the relevant school webpages. 

In support of the University’s commitment to widening access and identifying all applicants who have the potential to succeed, the University provides contextual admissions routes through the Access to Leeds and Realising Opportunities schemes. Eligible applicants on either scheme who receive an offer may also receive an alternative offer, typically reduced by two A-level grades or equivalent, alongside their standard offer, and will be required to complete pre-entry programme activity. Applicants are encouraged to check whether they meet the A2L criteria and, if so, to follow the instructions on the A2L webpage to apply. RO is only available to those currently studying at one of our partner schools.  

The A2L and RO schemes are not open to those applying to foundation route programmes. 

A2L and RO applicants are still required to meet the minimum literacy and subject requirements as laid out on Course Search. Flexibility may be offered if the applicant’s GCSEs (or acceptable equivalent) fall below the standard requirements for the course.   

Applicants who live in a neighbourhood where there is low participation in higher education, known as Low Participation Neighbourhoods (LPNs), are automatically eligible for an offer one A-level grade below their standard offer or equivalent, where possible. Applicants can find more information on our contextual admissions page.

Applicants from LPNs are strongly encouraged to check their eligibility to apply to the Access to Leeds scheme.  

These courses enable UK students to prepare for degree study and gain the necessary academic background in a supportive environment. Students who successfully complete the foundation stage progress to year one of an appropriate degree course, except for BSc Business Studies with Foundation Year, which progresses on to year two. 

With the exception of BSc Studies in Science with Foundation Year, which is a science conversion course for high achieving students, the University’s extended degrees aim to widen participation in higher education. Applicants must live permanently in the UK and meet our eligibility criteria, which can be found on Course Search. For more information, email the Lifelong Learning Centre via the email address provided on the relevant Course Search page.

Applicants for extended degrees who have left compulsory education within the last three years, or taken three Level 3 qualifications in the last three years, must, at entry, meet the course’s minimum requirements at both Level 2 (for example, GCSE) and Level 3 (for example, A-levels).

Applicants who have not taken three A-levels (or equivalent) within the last three years and/or who do not meet the minimum GCSE requirements may be asked to demonstrate evidence of their capabilities through the University’s own entry processes. These may include a combination of interviews, group work, presentations, portfolios or other written work as relevant for the course to which they are applying. They may also include tests in English and/or mathematics/numeracy set by the Lifelong Learning Centre, which are designed to indicate whether an applicant has the capacity to achieve the entry requirements in these subjects for their chosen course by the time they progress to level one of the degree.

APL is a process undertaken by the University to assess and, as appropriate, recognise prior experiential or certificated learning for academic purposes. This recognition may give the learning a credit value and allow it to be counted towards the completion of a course of study. In some cases, for undergraduate courses, this may lead to advanced entry. Applicants are advised to check the relevant school or faculty admissions policy or admissions guidance via Course Search for further information about advanced entry. 

Credit transfer, which is a form of APL, is the process by which the University accepts credit arising from prior certificated learning, awarded either by itself or by another institution, as contributing to an award of the University. The relevant school will normally only make the academic decision about whether to grant APL during the admissions process, not at a later date, such as part-way through the course. Applicants are advised to contact the relevant admissions team for further information about credit transfers. 

Where an articulation agreement is in place between an external educational provider and the University of Leeds, the agreement will clarify the credit transfer possible, and this credit will be attached to the relevant applicants’ student records if they are admitted to the University.

For research programmes, APL will be considered in respect of the taught components only. It is not normally permitted against the research thesis or thesis preparation components. APL requests are considered by the relevant faculty/school in accordance with the procedure set out in the programme of study specification (see the the section called Programmes of study for research degree awards within Ordinances and regulations). Graduate Board will be advised of any decisions taken in respect of APL.

In exceptional circumstances, individual cases will be considered where a candidate is requesting APL in relation to the research thesis or thesis preparation components. This case must be made at the admissions stage, be supported by the school and be considered by the relevant committee. Exceptional cases would include, but not be limited to, where a postgraduate researcher has had to leave a PhD at another higher education institution due to circumstances outside their control. ​​​​