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Pre-sessional Language entry requirements

Last updated:
20 February 2025

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To apply for Pre-sessional, you will need to show your current English level. To do this, you must submit a single, valid, accepted test result.

  • You can't combine scores from different tests.
  • Your result must be less than 2 years old at the start of the Pre-sessional course.*

* If you have already studied in the UK or on Pre-sessional, you might need a test result issued after the start of your previous or current course. See our Pre-sessional visa and immigration guidance.

  • IELTS Academic / IELTS Academic Online / IELTS Academic for UKVI
  • PTE Academic / PTE Academic for UKVI
  • TOEFL iBT / TOEFL iBT Home Edition
  • Trinity ISE
  • LanguageCert Academic SELT.

A (SELT) is needed for study on a Student visa. Accepted SELTS: IELTS Academic for UKVI, PTE Academic for UKVI, Trinity ISE (SELT when taken in UK), and LanguageCert Academic SELT.

Non-SELT tests can be used to study on a Standard Visitor visa or online. Accepted non-SELTS: IELTS Academic, IELTS Academic Online, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT. and TOEFL iBT Home Edition.

See our Pre-sessional Visa and Immigration Guidance.

7 Week Pre-sessional English entry requirements

IELTS 5.5 (minimum 4.5 in each skill)*

IELTS Academic, IELTS Academic Online or IELTS Academic for UKVI

  • Overall score: 5.0
  • Minimum score for each skill: 5.0

PTE Academic or PTE Academic for UKVI

  • Overall score: 43
  • Minimum score for each skill: 43

TOEFL IBT or TOEFL IBT Home Edition

  • Overall score: 60
  • Minimum score for Listening, Reading, and Writing: 15
  • Minimum score for Speaking: 16

Trinity ISE

  • Overall score: ISE I Distinction
  • Minimum score for each skill: ISE I Distinction

LanguageCert Academic SELT

  • Overall score: 54
  • Minimum score for each skill: 54

IELTS 6.0 (minimum 5.5 in each skill)

IELTS Academic, IELTS Academic Online or IELTS Academic for UKVI

  • Overall score: 5.5
  • Minimum score for each skill: 5.0

PTE Academic or PTE Academic for UKVI

  • Overall score: 46
  • Minimum score for each skill: 43

TOEFL IBT or TOEFL IBT Home Edition

  • Overall score: 70
  • Minimum score for Listening, Reading, and Writing: 15
  • Minimum score for Speaking: 16

Trinity ISE

  • Overall score: ISE II Pass
  • Minimum score for each skill: ISE II Pass

LanguageCert Academic SELT

  • Overall score: 60
  • Minimum score for each skill: 54

IELTS 6.5 (minimum 5.5 in each skill)

IELTS Academic, IELTS Academic Online or IELTS Academic for UKVI

  • Overall score: 6.0
  • Minimum score for each skill: 5.0

PTE Academic or PTE Academic for UKVI

  • Overall score: 54
  • Minimum score for each skill: 43

TOEFL IBT or TOEFL IBT Home Edition

  • Overall score: 80
  • Minimum score for Listening, Reading, and Writing: 15
  • Minimum score for Speaking: 16

Trinity ISE

  • Overall score: ISE II Merit
  • Minimum score for each skill: ISE II Pass

LanguageCert Academic SELT

  • Overall score: 65
  • Minimum score for each skill: 54

IELTS 7.0 (minimum 6.0 in each skill)*

IELTS Academic, IELTS Academic Online or IELTS Academic for UKVI

  • Overall score: 6.5
  • Minimum score for one skill: 5.5
  • Minimum score for other skills: 6.5

PTE Academic  or PTE Academic for UKVI

  • Overall score: 59
  • Minimum score for each skill: 59

TOEFL IBT or TOEFL IBT Home Edition

  • Overall score: 90
  • Minimum score for one skill: 17
  • Minimum score for other skills: 22

Trinity ISE

  • Overall score: ISE III Pass
  • Minimum score for each skill: ISE III Pass or Merit

LanguageCert Academic SELT

  • Overall score: 70
  • Minimum score for one skill: 60
  • Minimum score for other skills: 70

IELTS 7.0 (minimum 7.0 in one skill, 6.0 in other skills)*

IELTS Academic, IELTS Academic Online or IELTS Academic for UKVI

  • Overall score: 6.5
  • Minimum score for one skill: 5.5
  • Minimum score for other skills: 6.5

PTE Academic or PTE Academic for UKVI

  • Overall score: 59
  • Minimum score for each skill: 59

TOEFL IBT or TOEFL IBT Home Edition

  • Overall score: 90
  • Minimum score for Writing: 22
  • For Listening, Reading, Speaking, minimum score for two skills: 22
  • For Listening, Reading, Speaking, minimum score for one skill: 17

Trinity ISE

  • Overall score: ISE III Merit
  • Minimum score for each skill: ISE III Pass or Merit

LanguageCert Academic SELT

  • Overall score: 70
  • Minimum score for one skill: 60
  • Minimum score for other skills: 70

IELTS 7.5 (minimum 6.5 in each skill)*

IELTS Academic, IELTS Academic Online or IELTS Academic for UKVI

  • Overall score: 7.0
  • Minimum score for one skill: 6.0
  • Minimum score for other skills: 7.0

PTE Academic or PTE Academic for UKVI

  • Overall score: 66
  • Minimum score for each skill: 59

TOEFL IBT or TOEFL IBT Home Edition

  • Overall score: 100
  • Minimum score for one skill: 20
  • Minimum score for other skills: 24

Trinity ISE

  • Overall score: ISE III Merit
  • Minimum score for each skill: ISE III Merit

LanguageCert Academic SELT

  • Overall score: 75
  • Minimum score for one skill: 65
  • Minimum score for other skills: 75

12 Week Pre-sessional English entry requirements

IELTS 5.5 (minimum 4.5 in each skill)*

IELTS Academic, IELTS Academic Online or IELTS Academic for UKVI

  • Overall score: 5.0
  • Minimum score for each skill: 4.5

PTE Academic or PTE Academic for UKVI

  • Overall score: 36
  • Minimum score for each skill: 34

TOEFL IBT or TOEFL iBT Home Edition

  • Overall score: 60
  • Minimum score for Listening and Reading: 10
  • Minimum score for Speaking: 16
  • Minimum score for Writing: 13

Trinity ISE

  • Overall score: ISE I Merit
  • Minimum score for each skill: ISE I Merit

LanguageCert Academic SELT

  • Overall score: 54
  • Minimum score for each skill: 47

IELTS 6.0 (minimum 5.5 in each skill)

IELTS Academic, IELTS Academic Online or IELTS Academic for UKVI

  • Overall score: 5.0
  • Minimum score for each skill: 4.5

PTE Academic or PTE Academic for UKVI

  • Overall score: 36
  • Minimum score for each skill: 34

TOEFL IBT or TOEFL iBT Home Edition

  • Overall score: 60
  • Minimum score for Listening and Reading: 10
  • Minimum score for Speaking: 16
  • Minimum score for Writing: 13

Trinity ISE

  • Overall score: ISE I Merit
  • Minimum score for each skill: ISE I Merit

LanguageCert Academic SELT

  • Overall score: 54
  • Minimum score for each skill: 47

IELTS 6.5 (minimum 5.5 in each skill)

IELTS Academic, IELTS Academic Online or IELTS Academic for UKVI

  • Overall score: 5.5
  • Minimum score for each skill: 5.0

PTE Academic or PTE Academic for UKVI

  • Overall score: 46
  • Minimum score for each skill: 43

TOEFL IBT or TOEFL iBT Home Edition

  • Overall score: 70
  • Minimum score for Listening, Reading, and Writing: 15
  • Minimum score for Speaking: 16

Trinity ISE

  • Overall score: ISE II Pass
  • Minimum score for each skill: ISE II Pass

LanguageCert Academic SELT

  • Overall score: 60
  • Minimum score for each skill: 54

IELTS 7.0 (minimum 6.0 in each skill)*

IELTS Academic, IELTS Academic Online or IELTS Academic for UKVI

  • Overall score: 6.5
  • Minimum score for each skill: 5.5

PTE Academic or PTE Academic for UKVI

  • Overall score: 59
  • Minimum score for each skill: 43

TOEFL IBT or TOEFL iBT Home Edition

  • Overall score: 90
  • Minimum score for each skill: 17

Trinity ISE

  • Overall score: ISE II Merit
  • Minimum score for each skill: ISE II Pass

LanguageCert Academic SELT

  • Overall score: 70
  • Minimum score for each skill: 60

IELTS 7.0 (minimum 7.0 in one skill, 6.0 in other skills)*

IELTS Academic, IELTS Academic Online or IELTS Academic for UKVI

  • Overall score: 6.5
  • Minimum score for one skill: 6.5
  • Minimum score for other skills: 5.5

PTE Academic or PTE Academic for UKVI

  • Overall score: 59
  • Minimum score for one skill: 59
  • Minimum score for other skills: 43

TOEFL IBT or TOEFL iBT Home Edition

  • Overall score: 90
  • Minimum score for one skill: 22
  • Minimum score for other skills: 17

Trinity ISE

  • Overall score: ISE III Pass
  • Minimum score for each skill: ISE III Pass

LanguageCert Academic SELT

  • Overall score: 70
  • Minimum score for one skill: 70
  • Minimum score for other skills: 60

IELTS 7.5 (minimum 6.5 in each skill)*

IELTS Academic, IELTS Academic Online or IELTS Academic for UKVI

  • Overall score: 7.0
  • Minimum score for each skill: 6.0

PTE Academic or PTE Academic for UKVI

  • Overall score: 66
  • Minimum score for each skill: 49

TOEFL IBT or TOEFL iBT Home Edition

  • Overall score: 100
  • Minimum score for each skill: 20

Trinity ISE

  • Overall score: ISE III Merit
  • Minimum score for each skill: ISE III Merit

LanguageCert Academic SELT

  • Overall score: 75
  • Minimum score for each skill: 65

Non-standard entry requirements

These entry requirements are a guide only. We assess your application based on the specific entry requirements of your main course. Your main course might have non-standard language requirements. Examples include Certificate of Higher Education courses, courses requiring 7.0, and courses requiring higher skill scores. For these courses, there may be unique entry requirements for Pre-sessional. Please email presessional-admissions@arts.ac.uk for more information.

Unsure which Pre-sessional course is right for you? Read our course eligibility information.

Questions? Email us