University of Leeds Admissions Policy 2027-28  Entry requirements

The University is committed to developing a diverse student and postgraduate researcher community – facilitated in part through separate number plans for UK and international cohorts – and our admissions processes are implemented in line with University policy and strategy. Academic and non-academic entrance requirements are reviewed annually in line with the University’s aim to provide fair and equitable access to all prospective students and postgraduate researchers who have the potential to benefit from, and contribute to, a quality education on a course, regardless of background.

All applicants are required to meet certain minimum academic and non-academic standards for entry; however, the University recognises that individual applicants may meet these requirements in different ways. Academic schools may use flexibility in response to contextual factors and when assessing the overall profile of an applicant. Applicants who do not meet the published application criteria but who may meet the requirements via other qualifications and/or experience are encouraged to contact the relevant school’s admissions team. This allows the applicant’s individual set of qualifications, and the context in which these were attained, to be considered.

The University also offers a range of full-time and part-time extended degrees for those who do not have the formal qualifications for immediate entry on to an undergraduate degree course, but who have the potential to succeed. Additional entry criteria apply to these courses and more detail can be found in the Extended degrees with integrated foundation year (undergraduate only) section of this policy.

Applicants for research degrees are not permitted to register concurrently at the University of Leeds and another higher education institution. Successful applicants who are currently studying at another institution will be required to provide evidence that they have completed or withdrawn from that programme before they will be permitted to register on their research degree at the University of Leeds. This includes where an applicant is wishing to transfer to Leeds with a supervisor.

Applicants for taught programmes are strongly discouraged from registering concurrently at the University of Leeds and another higher education institution; applications will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. For further information, contact the relevant admissions team.

The University considers a wide range of qualifications for entry; new and amended qualifications from across the world are assessed for acceptability by the University’s qualifications groups with final agreement by the University’s Student Recruitment Steering Group and PGR Recruitment Group, as relevant.

We reserve the right to stop accepting a qualification or amend the entry requirements during the admissions cycle. Where an offer has already been made on the basis of such a qualification, this may need to be amended or withdrawn.

Typical requirements can be found on the relevant Course Search, course information or admissions guidance page, or for research degrees on the programme of study pages. 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 with the necessary grades and requirements from 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 or component score of 6.5 taken in 2025 would be overridden by an IELTS test with an overall or component score of 5.0 taken in 2026, 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 2023 would be overridden by an IELTS test with an overall or component score of 5.0 taken in 2026.
• 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.

In addition to meeting the academic requirements, applicants may also need to meet non-academic conditions and/or may be subject to further checks or processes in order to be admitted to the University. Such checks may be required to comply with applicable UK legislation, relevant government requirements and/or the requirements of professional, statutory and regulatory bodies (PSRBs).

Details of any specific requirements will normally be set out on the relevant Course Search or admissions guidance page, or communicated to applicants at the point an offer is made - for example, through an offer letter. The University reserves the right to request further information or documentation, where reasonably required, to ensure compliance with applicable legal, regulatory, government or other additional requirements. Failure to satisfy such requirements may result in the withdrawal of an offer or place from the University.

Some of the most common non-academic requirements and 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, professional or clinical courses and foundation routes may be required to obtain an appropriate level of clearance from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), and/or undertake occupational health checks.

Applicants will be informed where such requirements apply, either as a condition of an offer or following registration. Failure to meet required DBS or occupational health conditions may result in an offer being withdrawn.

Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS)

Applicants who are subject to UK immigration controls may be required to obtain an ATAS certificate in order to undertake postgraduate study in specified subject areas, including integrated Masters programmes, 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 ensure that sufficient time is allowed for ATAS and visa applications to be processed.

Applicants who require ATAS clearance will not be permitted to register on a course until the University has received confirmation of their ATAS clearance from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Further information about ATAS is available on the University website.

Trusted Research and national security considerations (postgraduate research only)

For certain postgraduate research programmes, the University may be required to consider factors relating to national security, research integrity and international collaboration, in line with UK government guidance on Trusted Research and Innovation.

Such considerations may include, where relevant:

• the subject area or potential applications of the research;
• the involvement of international collaborators, partners or sponsors; and
• applicable legal or regulatory obligations arising from the nature of the research.

Where necessary to comply with legal or regulatory requirements, the University may apply conditions to an offer or registration, require modifications to the proposed research, or, in exceptional circumstances, withdraw an offer or discontinue enrolment.

Export controls (postgraduate research only)

As part of its obligations under UK export control legislation, the University may be required to assess whether an export licence is needed in relation to a proposed postgraduate research project.

Export control requirements are determined by the nature of the research topic, methods, materials, software, data, or technical know-how involved and may apply irrespective of nationality or immigration status.

There may be circumstances where failure to obtain a required export licence would affect an applicant’s ability to begin or continue a research project. This could result in the withdrawal of an offer, the suspension or revocation of enrolment, or a requirement to revise the research topic or methodology.

Additional requirements (postgraduate research only)

For some research degree programmes, applicants may be required to meet additional conditions stipulated by relevant PSRBs, UK Research and Innovation, Research Councils, or other statutory or regulatory bodies.

Where such requirements apply, they will be set out in the programme of study specifications (see the section on ‘Ordinances and regulations and programmes of study for research degrees’) or communicated directly to applicants.

Applicants must submit electronic copies of the supporting documents outlined in the relevant application guidance:

• Undergraduate applying
• Masters applying
• Research degrees applying
• Incoming Study Abroad supporting documents
• International Foundation Year applying
• Language Centre applying
• Leeds International Summer School applying

Each guidance page also provides information about references, where applicable.

Documents that are not in English 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.

The name on an applicant’s qualification certificates must match their identity documents.

Any information or documents that are not included in the application or that are additionally needed will be requested when the application is considered or as part of an offer condition, as appropriate.

If an international applicant who requires a Student visa does not provide all their previous UK immigration documents, we may need to ask their permission to check their UK immigration history directly with UKVI in order to check compliance with UKVI’s immigration rules for students.

Original or certified copies of the documents submitted with an application may be requested at any point by the University or, if applicable, by UKVI for international applicants at the point of entry to the UK.

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.

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.

RPL is the process by which learning previously achieved by an applicant is identified, assessed and formally recognised for academic purposes. Recognition can enable an applicant to be admitted to a programme at entry level or with ‘advanced standing’ (i.e. where the credit may be counted towards the requirements for a University programme). Recognition is applied to a specific qualification and may be certificated or experiential. 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 RPL, is the process by which the University accepts credit arising from previously assessed and 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 RPL 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, RPL requests are considered by the relevant faculty/school in accordance with the procedure set out in the programme of study specification (see the section on ‘Ordinances and regulations and programmes of study for research degrees’). Graduate Board will be advised of any decisions taken in respect of RPL.

RPL will be considered in respect of the taught components only. It is not normally permitted against the research thesis or thesis preparation components. In exceptional circumstances, individual cases will be considered where a candidate is requesting RPL 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.