English language requirements for undergraduate students

Do I need to provide an English language test score?

Whether you will need to provide an English language test score to evidence your English language ability depends on your educational background. Decisions are normally taken based on the criteria below, but the University of St Andrews reserves the right to ask for additional evidence of English language ability.

Faculties of Science, Arts and Divinity

You should not need to provide an English language test score to evidence your English language ability if one of the following applies (click on headings below for details):

Students who cannot provide any of the evidence above will need to submit a valid English language test score as indicated below.

Faculty of Medicine

If you have completed you final four years of secondary or high school education in an English-medium school, this may in some cases be considered as evidence of English language ability. This will be considered on a case by case basis at the point of application. Please contact medical.admissions@st-andrews.ac.uk for more information.

Which English language test score should I provide?

The table below indicates a language profile for each Faculty. Clicking on a profile link will take you to the list of acceptable tests and scores that you may submit to meet English language requirements for your intended degree.

Test scores are only normally accepted if obtained within two years of the programme start date.

Typically, profiles listed here will include a score on the University’s own 4-week Pre-sessional Course, which can be taken to meet English language requirements. See more details on the University of St Andrews Academic English Pre-sessional courses.

Faculty English language requirements profile
Arts and Divinity (all Schools except the School of English) Profile 3-D 
Arts and Divinity (School of English) Profile 1-D 
Medicine Profile 2-M 
Science Profile 7-D 

 

 

Minimum English language requirements by Faculty

The sections below show the English language tests accepted by the University, and the minimum scores required by each Faculty. If your scores for writing or speaking are below IELTS 6.5 or equivalents listed for other tests, it is likely that you will be asked to attend the University's Academic English & Study Skills Pre-Sessional Programme (AESSP).

  • Qualification Level
    IELTS (Academic) 6.5 overall with at least 6.0 in each component (must be Academic version of test)
    CAE 176 overall with at least 176 in each component
    CAE tests taken before 2015 Pass
    CPE 176 overall with at least 176 in each component
    CPE tests taken before 2015 Pass
    PTE (Academic) 62 overall with at least 59 in each component (must be Academic version of test)
    TOEFL (IBT) 92 overall with at least 20 in all components
    TRINITY ISE III Pass in all components with Merit/Distinction
    University of St Andrews AESSP Pass

  • Qualifications Level
    IELTS (Academic) 7.0 overall with at least 6.5 in each component (must be Academic version of test) 
    CAE 185 overall with at least 176 in each component 
    CAE tests taken before 2015 Pass 
    CPE 185 overall with at least 176 in each component 
    CPE tests taken before 2015 Pass 
    PTE (Academic) 69 overall with at least 62 in each component (must be Academic version of test) 
    TOEFL (IBT) 100 overall with at least 22 in all components 
    TRINITY ISE III Pass in all components with Distinction 
    University of St Andrews AESSP Pass 

    Exception: School of English requires an IELTS (Academic) score of 8.0 overall for admission.

  • The Faculty of Medicine require an IELTS Academic of 7.0 overall with 7.0 in each component. Your IELTS must be the Academic version of the test.

     

Providing your English language evidence

If you have already achieved the required English language level before you apply, please include the evidence with your application form.

Evidence of your English language ability can also be submitted after you have applied, so please do not wait for your results before you apply to the University.

If you do not have evidence that you have met the English language requirement before you apply, this will form part of any conditional offer the University makes you.  We may recommend or require you to attend a pre-sessional courses, which provide English language and academic orientation, designed to prepare you for study.

If you are taking a pre-sessional course before you start your undergraduate degree: