International students need to demonstrate that they have sufficient knowledge of English language in order to be able to benefit from and participate in all academic activities at the University of Southampton.
International students whose first language is not English are required either:
- to reach a satisfactory standard in an approved test in English or
- to have obtained a first degree from a UK university that has been taught and assessed in English, or
- to have been instructed and assessed in English and come from a country which appears on the list of those exempt from testing.
Some students may also be advised to complete a pre-sessional English language programme or to attend support English language lessons during term time, provided by the University's Centre for Language Study.
Please note that some courses may have higher English language entry requirements. If you are unsure about the requirements for your course, contact the International Office or the relevant Faculty for guidance. We will need to see your original certificate unless when it is possible to verify your results online, for example in the case of IELTS and TOEFL.
1) Accepted Tests and Test Scores for English Language Certification
The required certification in English Language should normally have been obtained within the last two years.
IELTS* 6.5
TOEFL paper-based test 580
TOEFL internet-based test 92
* IELTS qualification must include the Academic Reading and Writing modules. Though overall grade is stated, the minimum grade required in each component is 5.5. Some programmes may require higher grades for specific listening, reading, writing and speaking components. The official IELTS website offers students useful information needed in preparing, taking and understanding results for an IELTS test.
Programmes accepting different IELTS, TOEFL and internet-based TOEFL equivalent scores/grades:
- For all Foundation programmes:
IELTS 5.5
TOEFL paper-based test 527
TOEFL internet-based test 71 - For admission to some research degrees in Science and Engineering (check the relevant Faculty for guidance):
IELTS 6.0
TOEFL paper-based test 553
TOEFL internet-based test 81 - Some programmes require higher scores. A number of programmes specifically require the following grade/score levels:
IELTS 7.0
TOEFL paper-based test 617
TOEFL internet-based test 105
Specific examples include the International Part-Time PhD Pathway – Distance Learning Mode in the Faculty of Humanities, PhDs at Winchester School of Art, School of Law: LLM programme, MSc Audiology, Faculty of Medicine: Bachelor of Medicine, MSc and postgraduate research programmes and a number of BSc programmes in the Faculty of Health Sciences. Applicants are advised to contact individual School/Faculty admissions tutors for definitive programme requirements.
Other English language qualifications accepted by the University of Southampton
- AEB test in English for Educational Purposes (TEEP) (Grade 4 throughout).
- Brunei/Cambridge GCE O level English (grade C or above); Brunei/Cambridge GCE A level English (grade C or above).
- Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (Grade C or above).
- Cambridge International Examinations English O-level (used in Malaysia) (Grade C or above).
- Certificate in Advanced English (Cambridge) (Grades A - B).
- Certificate of Attainment in English (London) (Levels 5 - 6).
- GCE O-level or GCSE in English (Grade C or above).
- IGCSE English as a Second Language (used in Cyprus, the Middle East and Argentina) (Grade C or above).
- International Schools: Undergraduate applications where the medium of instruction and assessment is English in an international School.
- International Universities where the language of instruction is in English.
- JMB University Entrance Test in English for Speakers of Other Languages (Pass).
- Malaysian English SPM 119 (Grade C or above).
- Nigeria: West African Examinations Council Year 12 Certificate in English (WASSCE) (grade C6 and above).
- Northern Consortium of British Universities (NCUK): EAP module - B for all courses at the University.
- Pre-sessional English Language Courses delivered by Language Specialists International (LSI).
- Successful completion of a pre-sessional course offered by the University's Centre for Language Study.
- University of Reading: Test in English for Education Purposes (TEEP).
- Warwick Higher Education Foundation Programme: 55% for all courses at the University.
- Abitur with a minimum score of 11 out of 15 or 2 out of 6 in English Language as a Leistungskurs.
- European Baccalaureate with a minimum 7.5 in English as the First Foreign Language L2 or First Foreign Language - Advanced L2A.
- International Baccalaureate (Syllabus A1: Grade 4 at either Higher or Standard level; syllabus A2: Grade 5 at Higher level or Grade 5 at Standard level where the IB subjects have been studied through the medium of English; Syllabus B: Grade 5 at Higher level).
- India English Exam for CBSE and ISC exam boards with a minimum score of 70%.
-
Norwegian Vitnemål with minimum score of 4 in English.
-
UPDATE: The University is also now recognising the Pearsons PTE Academic Qualification (minimum score for entry on to undergraduate programmes: 51 in each band with a minimum of 62 overall. Please check with your Faculty to confirm specific entry requirements)
2) Countries where no Separate Test of English Language Proficiency is required as long as education has been through the medium of English
Students whose first language is not English meet the University’s requirement by virtue of having been taught and assessed in English and who come from countries which appear on this list:
Anguilla, Antigua, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Botswana, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Cayman Islands, Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, Cook Islands, Dominica, Falkland Islands, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, Heard Island, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Malta, Mauritius, McDonald Island, New Zealand, Niue, Norfolk Islands, Papua New Guinea, Saint Kitts, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, Swaziland, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, Uganda, United States of America, Western Samoa, Zambia, Zimbabwe
3) Equivalent scores between IELTS and TOEFL accepted by the University of Southampton
| IELTS | TOEFL paper-based test | TOEFL internet-based test |
| 4.5 | 477 | 53 |
| 5.0 | 500 | 61 |
| 5.5 | 527 | 71 |
| 6.0 | 553 | 81 |
| 6.5 | 580 | 92 |
| 7.0 | 617 | 105 |
