Undergraduate Degrees - English Requirements

Undergraduate Degrees - English Requirements

To study for an undergraduate 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.

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 and passed three A Levels or achieved the IB Qualification (studied in English) within the last 10 years?

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 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, or The United States of America?

If YES then all we require is a copy of your transcript or certificate.

5. 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.

Please note certification of your English Language test must be within the two years prior to commencement of your course, unless otherwise stated.

The standard English Language criteria for undergraduate study at the University of Aberdeen are listed below (referred to as Undergraduate Standard). Please note that this standard does not apply to Medicine (MBChB) where a higher level of English is required. Alternative English Language qualifications are NOT accepted for Medicine (MBChB) applicants.

 

 Undergraduate Standard

 Medicine (MBChB)

University of Aberdeen Academic English Pre sessional programmes

 

Valid for one year, refresher can be offered if out of date.

 

Pass

 

Pass

Pre-sessional Academic English Preparation Programmes undertaken at other UK HEI’s, accredited by BALEAP www.baleap.org/about-baleap/accredited-institutions

 

Certification must be within the one year prior to commencement of your course.

 

 

Pass

 

Pass

IELTS Academic or IELTS UKVI Academic (not IELTS Indicator or IELTS General Training

Must have minimum 5.5 in all elements

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 - 6.0

 Listening - 5.5 or above
 Reading - 5.5 or above
 Speaking - 7.0 or above
 Writing - 6.0 or above
 Overall - 7.0

TOEFL iBT and TOEFL Home Edition (online)

 

The University accepts MyBest scores for the TOEFL iBT test in addition to TOEFDL 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 - 78

 Listening - 21 or above
 Reading - 22 or above
 Speaking - 28 or above
 Writing - 21 or above
 Overall - 100

LanguageCert Academic/LanguageCert Academic SELT

Listening – 60
Reading – 60
Speaking – 60
Writing – 65
Overall - 65

Listening – 60
Reading – 60
Speaking – 75
Writing – 65
Overall - 75

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 - 169

 Listening - 162 or above
 Reading - 162 or above
 Speaking - 185 or above
 Writing - 169 or above
 Overall - 185

LanguageCert International ESOL B2 Communicator
 
Online/In Centre

This test is not accepted for entry from September 2025 onwards

Overall 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 - 59 or above

 Listening - 59 or above
 Reading - 59 or above
 Speaking - 70 or above
 Writing  - 59 or above
 Overall - 70 or above

Trinity ISE – Trinity Integrated Skills in English

Pass overall at ISE II with a distinction in writing and merit in the other three skills

Pass overall at ISE III with a distinction in writing and merit in the other three skills

 

.