English language requirements
All applicants to GCU must have their level of English Language proficiency verified as part of their application to study with us.
Nationals of a majority-speaking English country (as defined by UKVI) do not generally need to provide any further evidence of their English Language proficiency, providing they undertook education in such a country.
Applicants can meet the English Language entry requirement for their programme with a Secure English Language Test (SELT) such as IELTS, or with another acceptable qualification which is recognised as equivalent.
In many cases, English Language tests must have been taken within the past two years to be considered valid. Some of the below tests are accepted from academic year 24/25 entry only.
Each GCU programme has an English Language entry requirement which is mapped to an IELTS score, and this is outlined on each specific programme webpage.
The details below outline the minimum entry requirements considered equivalent to IELTS 6.0 with no single element below 5.5, however, some programmes will require higher scores.
IELTS
Academic IELTS/IELTS for UKVI: Overall score of 6.0, with no single element below 5.5
A Level/AS Level
A Level English Language/English Language and Literature/English Literature at Grade D or above
AS Level English Language/English Literature at Grade C or above
Cambridge
Cambridge English: Overall score of 169 with no element below 162
GCE O Level: English Language at Grade C or above
Cambridge International GCE O Level: English (subject 1123) at Grade B or above
Cambridge IGCSE: English as a Second Language: Grade B or above
Cambridge IGCSE: English as a First Language: Syllabus 0500: Grade C with a minimum of grade 2 in Listening and Speaking / Syllabus 0522: Grade C
Indian XII
Indian XII standard: English at 70% or higher
Kenyan Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE)
Kenyan Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE): English at Grade C or above
LanguageCert
LanguageCert Academic: Overall 65 with no element below 60 (24/25 entry onwards)
International ESOL: B2 Communicator, Pass in all four elements with a score of at least 33 in each.
Malaysian SPM 1119
SPM 1119 English Language at Grade C/Grade 6
NECO
National Examinations Council (NECO): English Language at score C/6 or higher
Occupational English Test (OET)
Occupational English Test (OET): two elements at a minimum of 200 points and two elements at minimum of 250 points.
Oxford ELLT
Oxford English Language Level Test: Overall B2 with every element at B2 or above. (24/25 entry onwards)
Oxford Test of English
Oxford Test of English (OTE): B2 Test, 121 overall score with a minimum of 111 in each component.
Password
Password Skills Plus Language Test: 6.0 with no single element below 5.5 or equivalent (24/25 entry onwards)
Pearson Test of English (PTE)
Pearson (PTE) Academic/Academic UKVI/Online: Overall score of 59, with each sub-score to be at least 59 (24/25 entry onwards)
PSI
PSI Skills for English (SELT): Pass with Merit (B2)
SQA Higher
SQA Higher English/ESOL/History at Grade C or above
Thailand Brit Language Centre
Brit Language Centre (BLC) Pre Sessional English: IELTS 6.0 with no single element below 5.5 or equivalent/Grade C or above
TOEFL
TOEFL iBT/Home Edition: Overall score of 78 with the following minimum element scores; Listening 17, Reading 18, Speaking 20, Writing 17. (24/25 entry onwards)
WAEC
West African Examinations Council (WAEC): English Language at score C/6 or higher
TOEFL IBT
For programmes requiring an IELTS score of 6.0 with no element below 5.5 we accept:
Overall: 78 with the following minimum element scores:
| Listening | 17 |
| Reading | 18 |
| Speaking | 20 |
| Writing | 17 |
For programme requiring an IELTS score of 6.5 with no element below 6.0 we accept:
Overall: 90 with the following minimum element scores:
| Listening | 19 |
| Reading | 20 |
| Speaking | 21 |
| Writing | 20 |
Cambridge
| IELTS requirements | Minimum Cambridge English Grades |
|---|---|
| Academic IELTS 6.0 with no element below 5.5 | CAE Grade C CPE Grade C |
Academic IELTS 6.5 with no element below 6.0 and Academic IELTS 6.5 with no element below 6.5 | CAE Grade B CPE Grade C |
| Academic IELTS 7.0 | CAE Grade A CPE Grade B |
Please note that we accept Cambridge tests which are less than two years old. If the test is more than two years old, you need to have taken a bachelor's degree taught in English. We would require evidence confirming that the degree was taught in English, preferably a letter from the institution.
International qualifications
Please check the entry requirements for your chosen course against the qualifications achieved in your country in the below table.
| Country | Qualifications |
|---|---|
| West Africa (Nigeria, Ghana, The Gambia and Liberia) |
- West African Education Certificate (WAEC) at C/6 [2]
- National Examinations Council (NECO) with a pass mark of 4[3] (similar to WAEC but only offered in Nigeria) |
Kenya | - Kenyan KCSE at Grade C |
Botswana | - Batswana [4] GCSE/O Level in English at Grade C or above |
| India | - XII standard at 70% or higher |
Malaysia | - SPM 1119 at Grade C (grade 6) or higher |
Hong Kong HKDSE | - Level 4 English Language as equivalent to IELTS 6 and Level 5 for IELTS 6.5 programmes |
Malta | - Maltese Intermediate or Advanced Matriculation exams |
Other secondary school level qualifications
For courses requiring an IELTS 6 with no element below 5.5, accept grade C in the following examinations:
- AS Level English language/Literature
- Singapore GCSE English
- Cambridge O level English
- Edexcel O level English
- Irish Higher English
We accept grade 4 in the International Baccalaureate.
We accept Cambridge or Edexcel IGCSE English as a First Language, overall Grade C with no individual score below D.
We accept grade D in the following examinations:
- A Level English language/Literature
- Singapore A Level English
Please note that the MSc Public Health course requires an IELTS 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each component.