English language requirements

Most international applicants  must demonstrate English language skills as part of their application.

Glasgow Caledonian University has a minimum requirement of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) 6.0 with no element below 5.5, however some courses may require higher scores. The score required for each course is listed on the individual course page.

If you’re a national of a majority English-speaking country as defined by UKVI (UK Visa Information) and had education in that country in English, you may not need to provide evidence of your English language level.

Visit gov.uk for a list of UKVI Majority English Speaking Countries.

Accepted English Language qualifications

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

British Council and University of Strathclyde UK Pre-sessional course

Delivered in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam

University of Strathclyde ELT score of 6.0 with no element below 5.5

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. We are only able to accept CBSE and CISCE XIIs as acceptable English Language evidence, not those issued by a State Board or NIOS.

Kenyan Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE)

Kenyan Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE): English at Grade C or above

LanguageCert

LanguageCert Academic (in-person and online): 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 Level Test:  Overall 6 with no element below 5, or higher

Taking the test

Applicants wishing to undertake the Oxford ELLT to study at GCU can register to book.

Use the code GCU10 for a 10% discount.

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)

Qualifications Scotland Higher

Qualifications Scotland 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)

For tests taken from 21 January 2026: Overall score of 4 with no single element below 4.

Trinity College London: Integrated Skills in English (ISE)

ISE IV overall score of 130 with no single element below 130

WAEC

West African Examinations Council (WAEC): English Language at score C/6 or higher

Please note that Medium of Instruction Letters outlining that your previous studies were conducted in English are not accepted as suitable evidence of your English language proficiency. These were previously accepted from certain countries, but this is no longer the case.