To study for a postgraduate degree at the University of Aberdeen it is essential that you can speak, understand, read, and write academic English fluently. These skills will allow you to understand lectures, produce high standards of written work, and perform well in examinations. UK degree holders are not required to provide proof of English proficiency.
We can assess your English language proficiency through a variety of means: through your nationality, through the qualifications you gained in high school, through the degree you undertook or are undertaking at university, or through a recognised English language test. Please use the checklist below to determine how you can meet our English language requirements:
1. Are you a national of Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Malta, New Zealand, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, or The United States of America?
If YES then no further evidence will be required of your English language proficiency.
2. Have you undertaken or are you undertaking a qualification equivalent to a Honours degree in Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Ireland, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Malta, New Zealand, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, The United Kingdom, or The United States of America?
If YES then all we require is a copy of your transcript or certificate.
3. Have you undertaken one of the high/senior school qualifications on our approved list and achieved the minimum grade? If yes your certificate must be no older than 10 years at the start of your programme of study.
If YES then all we require is a copy of your high school transcript and certificate.
4. Have you achieved the required grades in a recognised English language test as shown in the table below?
If YES then all we require is a copy of your certificate, which we will verify with the awarding organisation. Please note certification must be within the two years prior to commencement of your course, unless otherwise stated.
If NO you will need to register for one of the tests listed below and achieve the required grade prior to commencement of your studies with us, we will make this a condition of your offer.
5. Have you undertaken or are you undertaking a degree that is taught and assessed fully in English from a university on our approved list ?
If YES then all we require is an official medium of instruction (MOI) letter from your university confirming that your degree was/is taught, assessed, and examined fully in English.
For postgraduate study, there are two main distinct English language criteria, referred to as Postgraduate Standard and Postgraduate Higher as outlined in the table below.
Postgraduate Standard requirements are used by the Schools of Biological Sciences; Engineering; Geosciences; Natural and Computing Sciences; and Psychology.
Postgraduate Higher requirements are used by the Schools of Business; Divinity, History and Philosophy; Education; Language, Literature; Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition; Music and Visual Culture; Law; and Social Sciences. The MSc in Oil and Gas Enterprise Management and MSc in Integrated Petroleum Geoscience also make use of the Postgraduate Higher requirements.
Postgraduate Standard | Postgraduate Higher | |
University of Aberdeen English Pre-Sessional Programme (PSE) Valid for one year, refresher can be offered if out of date. |
Pass | Pass |
Pre-sessional Academic English Preparation Programmes undertaken at other UK universities Certification must be within one year prior to commencement of your course. |
Pass at an equivalent of 6.5 (C1) with B2 in all four skills | Pass at an equivalent of 6.5 (C1) with B2 in all four skills |
IELTS Academic or IELTS UKVI Academic (not IELTS Indicator or IELTS General Training) or IELTS Online The University accepts valid IELTS One Skill Retake test scores |
Listening - 5.5 or above Reading - 5.5 or above Speaking - 5.5 or above Writing - 6.0 or above Overall - 6.5 |
Listening - 5.5 or above Reading - 6.0 or above Speaking - 5.5 or above Writing - 6.0 or above Overall - 6.5 |
TOEFL iBT and TOEFL iBT Home Edition The University accepts MyBest scores for the TOEFL iBT test in addition to TOEFL iBT scores from a single test date TOEFL DI code is 0818 |
Listening - 17 or above Reading - 18 or above Speaking - 20 or above Writing - 21 or above Overall - 90 |
Listening - 17 or above Reading - 21 or above Speaking - 20 or above Writing - 21 or above Overall - 90 |
LanguageCert Academic/LanguageCert Academic SELT |
Listening - 60 Reading - 60 Speaking - 60 Writing - 65 Overall - 70 |
Listening - 60 Reading - 65 Speaking - 60 Writing - 65 Overall - 70 |
Cambridge B2 First or C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency |
Listening - 162 or above Reading - 162 or above Speaking - 162 or above Writing - 169 or above Overall - 176 |
Listening - 162 or above Reading - 169 or above Speaking - 162 or above Writing - 169 or above Overall - 176 |
Oxford ELLT Digital - English Level Test Online Must have a minimum of 5.0 in all elements |
Listening - 5.0 or above Reading - 5.0 or above Speaking - 5.0 or above Writing - 6.0 or above Overall - 7.0 |
Listening - 5.0 or above Reading - 6.0 or above Speaking - 5.0 or above Writing - 6.0 or above Overall - 7.0 |
LanguageCert International ESOL B2 Communicator Online / In-centre This test is not accepted for entry from September 2025 onwards |
Overall High Pass Listening, Reading and Speaking 33 or above Writing - 38 or above |
Overall High Pass Listening, Reading and Speaking 33 or above Writing - 38 or above |
PTE Academic Online test not accepted |
Listening - 59 or above Reading - 59 or above Speaking - 59 or above Writing - 59 or above Overall - 62 |
Listening - 59 or above Reading - 59 or above Speaking - 59 or above Writing - 59 or above Overall - 62 |
Duolingo* *Tests taken from 1st July 2024 onward |
Listening - 95 Reading - 95 Speaking - 95 Writing - 105 Overall - 120 |
Listening - 95 Reading - 105 Speaking - 95 Writing - 105 Overall - 120 |