English language requirements

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To study at Goldsmiths, you will need to demonstrate that you have a good level of written and spoken English. IELTS requirements for each programme can be found on the relevant programme page.

In addition to IELTS, (including IELTS One Skill Retake), we also accept the following qualifications as proof of English language capability for study at degree level or above. All Secure English Language Tests (SELTs) as defined by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) are valid for two years.

Student Visa requirements

For students who require a Student Visa to study in the UK, all requirements are subject to visa rules as well as academic requirements. Please ensure you check the English language section of the UK government website to make sure your chosen English language test will meet visa requirements.

English language requirements for 2024 entry

Students who hold the following qualifications at the right level will not need to submit an IELTS test score.

Valid for: Unlimited

Programmes requiring IELTS 7.5/7.0/6.5/6.0/5.5: Successful completion will meet English language requirements.

Valid for: Unlimited

Programmes requiring IELTS 7.5/7.0/6.5/6.0/5.5: Passed with letter from the institution confirming that the degree was taught fully in English and the student was assessed in a way requiring them to write, speak, read and listen in English will meet English language requirements.

Valid for: 5 Years

Programmes requiring IELTS 7.5/7.0/6.5/6.0/5.5: Grade C will meet English language requirements.

Valid for: 5 years

Where English is taken as a final year subject

Programmes requiring IELTS 7.5/7.0: Grade of 10 in oral and written examinations will meet English language requirements

Programmes requiring IELTS 6.5/6.0: Grade of 7 in oral and written examinations will meet English language requirements

This applies to the following countries:

  • Botswana
  • Canada
  • Ghana
  • South Africa
  • Singapore
  • Sierra Leone

Valid for: Unlimited

Programmes requiring IELTS 7.5/7.0/6.5/6.0/5.5: Letter from the institution using Goldsmiths template, confirming all 4 components (reading, writing, listening and speaking) have been assessed and taught throughout the degree will meet English language requirements.

For example, final year undergraduate top-up in the UK.

Valid for: 2 years

Programmes requiring IELTS 7.5/7.0/6.5/6.0/5.5: Transcripts showing that they have successfully completed at least one year of study in the relevant majority English speaking country will meet English language requirements.

Valid for: 2 years

Programmes requiring IELTS 5.5: 162 overall with 162 in each subtest

Programmes requiring IELTS 7.5: 191 overall with no lower than 176 in all subtests

Programmes requiring IELTS 7.0: 185 overall with 176 in Writing and no subtest lower than 169

Programmes requiring IELTS 6.5: 176 overall with 169 in Writing and no subtest lower than 160

Programmes requiring IELTS 6.0: 169 overall with 160 in Writing and no subtest lower than 154

Valid for: 2 years

Programmes requiring IELTS 5.5: 162 overall with 162 in each subtest

Programmes requiring IELTS 7.5: 191 overall with no lower than 176 in all subtests

Programmes requiring IELTS 7.0: 185 overall with 176 in Writing and no subtest lower than 169

Programmes requiring IELTS 6.5: 176 overall with 169 in Writing and no subtest lower than 160

Programmes requiring IELTS 6.0: 169 overall with 160 in Writing and no subtest lower than 154

Valid for: 5 years

Programmes requiring IELTS 7.0/7.5: English L1 at 6.5 or English L2 at 85% will meet English language requirements

Programmes requiring IELTS 6.5: English L1 at 6.0 or English L2 at 80% will meet English language requirements

Programmes requiring IELTS 6.0: English L1 at 5.5 or English L2 at 75% will meet English language requirements

Valid for: 2 years

We may be able to accept a Foundation programme completed at another UK university with ‘good’ grades. Contact us at admissions@gold.ac.uk with details of your qualification for more information.

Valid for: 5 years

Where English is taken as a final year subject

Programmes requiring IELTS 7.5/7.0: Grade of 14 will meet English language requirements

Programmes requiring IELTS 6.5/6.0: Grade of 13 will meet English language requirements

Valid for: 5 years

Where English is taken as a final year subject or within the British stream

Programmes requiring IELTS 7.5/7.0: Grade of 12 will meet English language requirements

Programmes requiring IELTS 6.5/6.0: Grade of 11 will meet English language requirements

Valid for: 5 years

Programmes requiring IELTS 7.5: Grade B/5 will meet English language requirements

Programmes requiring IELTS 7.0: Grade B/5 will meet English language requirements

Programmes requiring IELTS 6.5: Grade C/4 will meet English language requirements

Programmes requiring IELTS 6.0: Grade C/4 will meet English language requirements

Programmes requiring IELTS 5.5: Grade C/4 will meet English language requirements

Valid for: 5 years

Where English is taken as a final year subject

Programmes requiring IELTS 7.5/7.0: Grade of 13 will meet English language requirements

Programmes requiring IELTS 6.5/6.0: Grade of 12 will meet English language requirements

Valid for: 5 years

Where English is taken as a final year subject

Programmes requiring IELTS 7.5/7.0: Grade of 19 will meet English language requirements

Programmes requiring IELTS 6.5/6.0: Grade of 18 will meet English language requirements

Valid for: 5 years

Programmes requiring IELTS 7.5/7.0: Level 5 will meet English language requirements.

Programmes requiring IELTS 6.5/6.0: Level 4 will meet English language requirements.

Valid for: 5 years

CIE/Spec 0500 English Language: First Language including speaking and listening

CIE/Spec 0522 English Language: First Language

CIE/Spec 0990 English Language: First Language including speaking and listening

CIE/Spec 0627 English Language: First Language

CIE/Spec 0524 English Language: First Language (USA)

Pearson/4EA1 English Language A

Pearson English Language B including speaking and listening

Oxford AQA IGCSE English Language including speaking and listening

 

Programmes requiring IELTS 7.5/7.0: Grade B/5 will meet English language requirements

Programmes requiring IELTS 6.5/6.0/5.5: Grade C/4 will meet English language requirements

 

CIE/Spec 0510 English as a Second Language

CIE/Spec 0511 English as a Second Language

CIE/Spec 0991 English as a Second Language

CIE/Spec 0993 English as a Second Language

Pearson/4ES1 English as a Second Language

AQA/9280 English as a Second Language

 

Programmes requiring IELTS 7.5/7.0: Grade A/7 will meet English language requirements

Programmes requiring IELTS 6.5/6.0/5.5: Grade B/6 will meet English language requirements

Valid for: 5 years

Programmes requiring IELTS 7.5/7.0: 80% in English at Standard 12th grade from select India Boards will meet English language requirements

Programmes requiring IELTS 6.5/6.0/5.5: 75% in English at Standard 12th grade from select India Boards will meet English language requirements

We can only accept the Standard XII for English language from the following Boards. We will need to be able to verify the certificate using Digi Locker or directly with the Board.

· Andhra Pradesh Board of Secondary Education 

· Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) 

· Council for the Indian School Certificate Examination (CISCE / ICSE / ISC) 

· Goa Board of Secondary & Higher Secondary Education 

· Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board 

· Kerala Higher Secondary Examination Board 

· Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education

· Tamil Nādu State Board

· Telangana State Board

· West Bengal State Board

Valid for: 5 years

 

IB Diploma Taught in English

Programmes requiring IELTS 7.5/7.0/6.5/6.0/5.5: Completion with 28+ points will meet English language requirements

 

IB English Language A: Literature/International Baccalaureate English Language A: Language & Literature

Programmes requiring IELTS 7.5/7.0/6.5/6.0/5.5: Completion with grade H4 or S5 will meet English language requirements

 

International Baccalaureate English Language B

Programmes requiring IELTS 7.5/7.0: Completion with grade H5 or S6 will meet English language requirements

Programmes requiring IELTS 6.5/6.0/5.5: Completion with grade H4 or S6 will meet English language requirements

Valid for: 5 years

Where English is taken as a final year subject

Programmes requiring IELTS 7.5/7.0: Grade of 85% will meet English language requirements

Programmes requiring IELTS 6.5/6.0 Grade of 80% will meet English language requirements

Valid for: 2 years

Programmes requiring IELTS 7.5: C1 Expert 80, with a minimum of 80 in all skills including speaking will meet English language requirements

Programmes requiring IELTS 7.0: C1 Expert 75, with a minimum of 75 in all skills including speaking will meet English language requirements

Programmes requiring IELTS 6.5: B2 Communicator 70, with a minimum of 70 in all skills including speaking will meet English language requirements

Programmes requiring IELTS 6.0: B2 Communicator 65, with a minimum of 65 in all skills including speaking will meet English language requirements

Programmes requiring IELTS 5.5: B2 Communicator 60, with a minimum of 60 in all skills including speaking will meet English language requirements

Valid for: 5 years

Where English is taken as a final year subject plus successful completion of state examinations

Programmes requiring IELTS 7.5/7.0: Achievement of B2 with a grade of 9 will meet English language requirements

Programmes requiring IELTS 6.5/6.0: Achievement of B2 with a grade of 8.5 will meet English language requirements

Valid for: 5 years

 

Programmes requiring IELTS 7.5/7.0: Grade A will meet English language requirements

Programmes requiring IELTS 6.5/6.0/5.5: Grade B will meet English language requirements

Valid for: 5 years

Where English is taken as a final year subject

Programmes requiring IELTS 7.5/7.0: Grade of 8 will meet English language requirements

Programmes requiring IELTS 6.5/6.0: Grade of 8 will meet English language requirements

Valid for: 5 years (unless you have been studying a degree in Norway directly after completing your Vitnemaal in which case we can extend the 5 year limit)

Programmes requiring IELTS 7.5/7.0/6.5/6.0/5.5: Grade 4 will meet English language requirements

Valid for: 2 years 

Programmes requiring IELTS 7.5/7.0: 69 overall with min 62 in writing and no element lower than 59 will meet English language requirements

Programmes requiring IELTS 6.5: 62 overall with min 59 in writing and no element lower than 51  will meet English language requirements

Programmes requiring IELTS 6.0: 54 overall with min 51 writing and no element lower than 47 will meet English language requirements

Programmes requiring IELTS 5.5: 50 overall with no element lower than 47 will meet English language requirements

If you are coming to study on a programme offered by the Centre for Academic Language and Literacies please check directly with them if Pearson Test of English will be accepted for 2023 entry.

Please note we no longer accept the online version of the PTE test. If you require a SELT, you will need higher scores than listed above so please check the UKVI or PTE website.

Valid for: 2 years

Programmes requiring IELTS 7.5/7.0: C1 successful completion with pass in all four components will meet English language requirements

Programmes requiring IELTS 6.5: B2 successful completion with pass with merit in all four components will meet English language requirements

Programmes requiring IELTS 6.0: B2 successful completion with pass in all four components will meet English language requirements

Programmes requiring IELTS 5.5: B2 successful completion with pass in all four components will meet English language requirements

Valid for: 2 years

 

Programmes requiring IELTS 7.5/7.0: 100 overall with 25 in Writing and no lower than 21 in each other skill will meet English language requirements

Programmes requiring IELTS 6.5: 92 overall with 23 in Writing and no lower than 20 in each other skill will meet English language requirements

Programmes requiring IELTS 6.0: 80 overall with 21 in Writing and no lower than 20 in each other skill will meet English language requirements

Programmes requiring IELTS 5.5: 70 overall with 19 in Writing and no lower than 18 in each other skill will meet English language requirements

Valid for: 2 years

Programmes requiring IELTS 6.0: successful completion with merit in all components will meet English language requirements

Programmes requiring IELTS 5.5/5.0: successful completion with pass in all components will meet English language requirements

Valid for: 2 years

 

Programmes requiring IELTS 7.5/7.0/6.5/6.0/5.5/5.0: Successful completion with a merit in all components will meet English language requirements

Valid for: 5 years

Where English is taken as a final year subject

Programmes requiring IELTS 7.5/7.0/6.5/6.0: Achievement of B2 in CEFR level will meet English language requirements

Valid for: 5 years

 

Programmes requiring IELTS 7.5/7.0: Grade B will meet English language requirements

Programmes requiring IELTS 6.5/6.0/5.5: Grade C will meet English language requirements

Valid for: 5 years

 

Programmes requiring IELTS 7.5/7.0: Grade B will meet English language requirements

Programmes requiring IELTS 6.5/6.0/5.5: Grade C will meet English language requirements

Valid for: 5 years

 

Programmes requiring IELTS 7.5/7.0/6.5/6.0/5.5: A letter from the institution using Goldsmiths template, confirming all 4 components (reading, writing, listening and speaking) have been assessed and taught throughout the degree will meet English language requirement

Valid for: 5 years

Where English is taken over two final years of High School

Programmes requiring IELTS 7.5/7.0: Grade of 9 will meet English language requirements

Programmes requiring IELTS 6.5/6.0: Grade of 8 will meet English language requirements

Valid for: 5 years

Where English is taken as a final year subject

Programmes requiring IELTS 7.5/7.0: Grade of B (with 300 credits) will meet English language requirements

Programmes requiring IELTS 6.5/6.0: Grade of C (with 300 credits) will meet English language requirements

Valid for: 2 years

 

Programmes requiring IELTS 6.5/6.0/5.5: Successful pass will meet English language requirements

Valid for: Unlimited

Programmes requiring IELTS 7.5/7.0/6.5/6.0/5.5: A pass of two AP subjects with grades 3 and 3 will meet English language requirements.

In order to accept one of the above qualifications/tests Goldsmiths must be able to satisfactorily verify the authenticity of the results.

All qualifications above are annually reviewed to ensure they meet academic and legislative obligations.