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English language entry requirements

When you apply to study with us, you will need to be sure that you have the English language skills to be able to study.

You can demonstrate your English language ability by studying with us on our online Pre-sessional English and Academic Skills courses which will allow you to gain entry to most undergraduate or postgraduate degree courses. You can do our online Pre-sessional course from your own home - you do not need to be on our campus in order to study but you will need access to a PC or laptop and a good quality internet connection in order to fully participate.  Our new online Pre-sessional courses will help you to improve and develop your English language and academic skills and will prepare you for your degree programme at the University of Wolverhampton. 

Find out more about our online Pre-sessional English and Academic Skills courses, visit www.wlv.ac.uk/englishlanguagepresessional 

Other ways of demonstrating your English language abilities are:

  • With a qualification (eg a high school certificate) from your country that has been approved by the University of Wolverhampton as meeting the minimum English language entry competency. See your country for details.
  • By demonstrating that you completed your secondary or university education at a secondary (high) school or university in a country approved by the University as teaching in the medium of English.
  • If you are a national of one of the following countries you do not have to prove your level of English; Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas, Barbados Belize, Canada, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, New Zealand, St Kitts and Nevis St Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, United States of America
  • By presenting one of the international qualifications listed below.  It should have been completed no more than two years before of the start date of your degree course.
  • For each qualification, there may be further requirements regarding individual language components; please contact admissions, admissions@wlv.ac.uk  for advice.

NOTE: Some courses have higher English language requirements so please check on application.

Your Qualification

Entry to Standard Undergraduate Degree Programmes 

Entry to Post Graduate Degree Programmes *


Entry to Post Doctoral Programmes*

Wolverhampton English Proficiency Exam (WEPE)

6.0 with no less than 5.5 in any  component

6.5 with no less than 6 in any  component

7.0 with no less than 6.0 in any  component

International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

6.0 with no less than 5.5 in any  component

6.5 with no less than 6 in any  component

7.0 with no less than 6.0 in any component

 

Trinity College London - ISE 11

B2 Pass

 

 

  

Cambridge English:

Advanced (CAE)

Level B2 and 165 overall with no less than 162 in any subskill

    

Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE)

Pass

    

Cambridge

ESOL Skills for Life Level 2

Pass in all three modes

    

City & Guilds International ESOL (IESOL) Diploma (9992)

Level 1 (B2)

    

Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic)

54 with no less than 51 in all skills (reading, writing, listening and speaking)

    

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

79 overall with no less than 19 in all four skills (reading, writing, listening and speaking)

    

European Baccalaureate

with Language 1

or Language 2

L60% overall

60% in English (Language 1)

70% in English (Language 2)

    

Anglia Certificate of English as a Foreign Language

(Proficiency Level)

Pass

Speaking must be included

W1A Academic writing (Writing Section A pre-April 2015) must be included

Please contact us for advice if speaking is not included

    

Anglia Certificate of English  as a Foreign Language

(Advanced Level)

Pass (12.5) in all skills

Speaking must be included.

Please contact us for advice if speaking is not included

 		    

IGCSE English as a First Language (Cambridge)

Grade C with minimum B2 in all components     

Supplementary Certifying  Statement showing CEFR  breakdown must be provided by candidates

    

Edexcel IGCSE

Grade B with spoken English B

    

IGCSE English as a Second Language  (Cambridge)

Grade C

    

International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma

(post 2011) (Standard level)

 Pass, grade 5 for English at Standard Level in Language B (English) and Language A (Literature)     

International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma (post 2011) (Higher Level)

 Pass, grade 4 for English at Higher Level In Language B (English)    

*  If you require a 6.5. or 7.0 please contact admissions@wlv.ac.uk 

All applicants must possess a minimum level of competence in English Language; for applicants whose first language is not English and who do not hold a GCSE English Language or equivalent, we accept a range of academic qualifications internationally recognised as being at/equivalent to UK Level 3 or above which have been delivered and assessed in English.

Examples of key level 3 qualifications we accept: 

  • A-levels
  • Access to HE Diploma
  • BTEC National Extended Diploma / Diploma / Foundation Diploma
  • CACHE Level 3 qualifications in Health & Social Care
  • Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma / Diploma / Foundation Diploma
  • International Baccalaureate Diploma
  • AQA Baccalaureate
  • Scottish Highers and Advanced Highers
  • Welsh Baccalaureate

We will generally consider all UCAS Tariff bearing qualifications – you can check on the UCAS website whether your UK Level 3 qualification attracts points: https://www.ucas.com/ucas/tariff-calculator some courses will have specific GCSE / English Language requirements, please check full entry qualifications on our course finder.

Students requiring a Student Route Visa

If you require a Student Route Visa, you must demonstrate that you have the correct English language requirements to study in the UK. The requirements will differ depending on whether you are applying to study a Foundation or a Pre-sessional English programme or whether you are applying to study at degree level.

Studying below degree level

If you want to study a course below degree level such as the International Foundation Year courses or our Pre-sessional English language courses you must have an English language test result which is recognised by United Kingdom Visas and Immigration (UKVI). The two accepted tests are IELTS and Trinity College London ISE. These are known as SELTS (Secure English Language Tests). For further student visa guidance, please see Government Guidance for Student Visa.

Please note that for the online Master's courses, different entry requirements apply, please check individual courses https://online.wlv.ac.uk/online-courses/ 

Other international qualifications are accepted.  Please contact admissions@wlv.ac.uk for further details. 

For home applicants who do not currently hold GCSE English and Maths and who are looking to enrol on a course and study at the University of Wolverhampton have the option to complete the online English and Maths equivalency courses. You should check your course entry requirements on the Our Courses page to ensure that these equivalency courses are sufficient for your chosen course. To find out more please visit, https://www.wlv.ac.uk/apply/equivalency/gcse-equivalence-courses/