English Language Requirements: Postgraduate Research Applicants

All applicants for admission to postgraduate research programmes whose first language is not English must have a qualification in the English Language before they can be admitted to any course or programme.

The following list contains the main English language qualifications which are acceptable to the University for this purpose.

• O-level English Language or GCSE English Language - Grade C or above
• Undergraduate degree from a University in the UK with a minimum of a Second Class Honours (2:2)
• IELTS (Academic Test) band 6.5 or above with not less than 6.0 in the individual Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking tests
• TOEFL (paper based test) 600 with not less than 58 in each element of the test, and a TWE score of 4
• TOEFL (internet based test) 100 with not less than 20 in each element of the test
• West African Examination Council Senior School Certificate Exam (WAEC SSCE)  - Grade C6 or above
• Caribbean Examinations Council Secondary Education Certificate – Grade 3
• College Entrance Examination Board (Scholastic Aptitude Test) (SAT I and SAT II) – Score of 550 or above in the verbal test
• Pass English language within State Senior Secondary Certificate of Education (Canada) with at least 50%
• Pass English language within Provincial Secondary/Senior School Certificate or Diploma (Australia) with at least 50%
• Oxford Certificate of English as a Foreign Language at Higher Level
• UCLES Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE), C minimum
• UCLES Certificate in Advanced English (CAE), B minimum
• UCLES Certificate in Communication Skills
• University of London – School Examinations Board Certificate of Attainment in English, grade 5
• Passes in the Cambridge Higher School Certificate at Subsidiary level or in the Cambridge Overseas School Certificate count as O levels.
• International Baccalaureate (IB): Grade 4 minimum in English Language
• Merit pass in BTEC Communication Skills Unit (level N)
• Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination Use of English: Grade E or better
• International GCSE English as a Second Language: Grade C or better on extended curriculum
• Cambridge English Language syllabus 1119 grade C6 or above
• London Chamber of Commerce English for Business Examination: pass at Third Level
• London Chamber of Commerce English for Commerce Examination: pass at Third Level
• London Test of English: pass at level 5
• NEAB University Entrance Test in English for Speakers of Other Languages (UETESOL): Pass
• Oxford – ARELS Examination (Higher Level): Credit or Distinction
• Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Singapore Computerised English Language Proficiency Test (CELPT): 7.0
• University of Bristol Pathway Certificate, a minimum score of 65% or above
• University of Reading, TEEP, minimum score of 6.5
• University of Warwick English Language Test, a minimum score of B B C

For further details or advice and information on the English Language Requirements, please contact:

Research Students Office

Loughborough University Loughborough, LE11 3TU, UK
Tel: +44 (0)1509 222473 
Fax: +44 (0)1509 223938 
Email: pgresearch@lboro.ac.uk

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Intensive Pre-sessional English Language Tuition

Students who fall short of the above English language requirements may, at the discretion of departments, be admitted onto a pre-sessional English language programme as an alternative way to satisfy the requirements.

The following combinations of IELTS/TOEFL scores and additional pre-sessional English language tuition at Loughborough University are accepted for entry to most research programmes.

IELTS Test Scores

Overall Average	Minimum Score in All Elements	Standard Programmes	Programmes with Higher Pre-Sessional Requirements**
6.5 or above	6.0	Direct Entry	Direct Entry
	5.5	5 weeks	5 weeks
	5.0	5 weeks	10 weeks
	4.5	10 weeks	19 weeks*
	4.0	19 weeks *	28 weeks*
6.0	6.0	5 weeks	10 weeks
	5.5	5 weeks	10 weeks
	5.0	10 weeks	19 weeks*
	4.5	10 weeks	19 weeks*
	4.0	19 weeks*	28 weeks*
5.5	5.5	10 weeks	19 weeks*
	5.0	10 weeks	19 weeks*
	4.5	19 weeks*	28 weeks*
	4.0	19 weeks*	28 weeks*
5.0	5.0	19 weeks*	28 weeks*
	4.5	19 weeks*	28 weeks*
	4.0	28 weeks*	X
4.5	4.5	28 weeks*	28 weeks*
	4.0	28 weeks*	X
4.0	4.0	X	X

* Includes an IELTS test to allow progression to the 10 week programme.

Students attending the pre-sessional courses will be given an English test at the end of their course. Students who have not met the acceptable standard may be required to take extra English language classes during the rest of the academic year. There will be no charge for such in-sessional classes.

For further details or advice and information on the Loughborough University Pre-Sessional Courses:

English Language Support Service

Loughborough University Loughborough, LE11 3TU, UK
Tel: +44 1509 222058
Fax: +44 1509 223919
Email: elsu@lboro.ac.uk.

Last updated December 2009