Important Notice for Applicants
Updated November 2024

International students wishing to apply to Queen’s University Belfast (and for whom English is not their first language), must be able to demonstrate their competence in written and spoken English in order to benefit fully from their course of study or research.   Non-UK and non-Irish nationals will require a Student visa to study in the UK for periods of 6 months or more. If your proposed course is below degree-level you will be required to hold a secure English language test (SELT).  You can find more information on the UK Visas and Immigration webpages: Applying for a UK visa: approved English language tests

Universities have discretion to choose the methods by which they assess the English language competence of students for admission to degree programmes.   Queen's University will accept the IELTS Academic (both SELT and non-SELT), including One Skill Retake, and TOEFL internet-based tests for direct admission to undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes. 

Details of the tests which may be accepted by the University for direct admission to degree programmes are listed in the tables below. 

Students applying for English Language preparation courses or pathway programmes offered by INTO Queen's are advised to contact INTO Queen's directly for information about English language requirements at into@qub.ac.uk. Further information from UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) regarding acceptable English language tests for visa purposes (for admission to programmes below degree level) and a list of test centres can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-applying-for-uk-visa-approved-english-language-tests

If you have any queries regarding your admission, please contact the International Admissions team at intl.admissions@qub.ac.uk 

Please note that for undergraduate admission, all applicants (home or international) must satisfy the General Entrance Requirement, including GCSE English Language with a minimum grade of C/4, or alternative qualification acceptable to the University.

Applicants who are either nationals of a country which is deemed by the UKVI to be majority-English-speaking*, or who hold a degree or an equivalent qualification which was taught in a country deemed to be majority-English-speaking** will normally be assumed to have met the UKVI requirements.  However, in some circumstances, applicants may be required to submit evidence of an English Language qualification to satisfy University course entry/general entrance requirements.  

The tables below list the English Language qualifications and minimum grades which are accepted by the University for entry to degree level study, and which are also considered to satisfy a minimum standard of CEFR Level B2 in each component of language learning (Listening, Reading, Speaking and Writing). 

Please consult the University Coursefinder for details of the English Language requirements for entry to individual undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes (both taught and research).

* You are from a majority English-speaking country if you are a national of:

Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, the British Overseas Territories, Canada, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Malta, New Zealand, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, United States of America.

** If you have completed an academic qualification equivalent to a UK Bachelor's degree which was taught in one of the majority English-speaking countries listed below, you are normally exempt from additional English language requirements:

Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, the British Overseas Territories, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Malta, New Zealand, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, The United Kingdom, United States of America.

Degrees must have been completed no more than five years prior to the expected date of admission.

Canada is considered a majority English-speaking country for Canadian nationals only. If you are not Canadian, and you hold a degree from Canada which you are using as evidence to meet the English language entry requirement for your course, then you will need to provide official confirmation from the institution that your degree from Canada was fully taught and assessed in English.

Degrees awarded by recognised institutions in Ghana will be accepted as meeting the University's English language requirements.

UK ECCTIS English Language Proficiency Statement

If your degree is from a non-majority English speaking country, UKVI guidance indicates that you can submit a document from UK ECCTIS (formerly UK NARIC) confirming that you hold a degree or degree level qualification which meets, or exceeds, the recognised standard of a UK bachelor’s degree; master’s degree or doctorate and was taught or researched in English.  This document, together with a Medium of Instruction letter from your University confirming you were taught and assessed entirely in English, will meet the English language requirements for both entry to your degree at Queen's and the UKVI Student Route visa.  Please see the UK ECCTIS website for more information on how to apply. 

You can use your degree to meet the English language requirement if:

1. It was taught and assessed through the medium of English; and
2. It is recognised as being the same level as a UK Bachelor’s degree or above, by UK ECCTIS
3. The level of English for the degree course is recognised by ECCTIS to meet the requirements of CEFR Level B2 or higher
4. The degree must have been completed no more than five years prior to the expected date of admission

Deferred Offers - English Language Requirement

Applicants holding deferred offers must ensure that they have an English Language qualification acceptable to the University which is still valid for CAS/visa purposes for the new date of admission, and meets the course requirements for the new year of entry.  It is the responsibility of the applicant to check that their English language qualification is acceptable for the new date of admission.  IELTS Academic, TOEFL ibt and several other English tests must have been taken no more than two years prior to the expected start date of the course.  

If your IELTS/TOEFL test will be more than two years old by the new course start date, you should make arrangements to complete a new English Language test as soon as possible, to avoid delays in CAS issue.  The new test must satisfy the course entry requirements. You should forward the result of your new test as soon as possible to Admissions at intl.admissions@qub.ac.uk 

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* A combination of IELTS/TOEFL tests is not accepted, with the exception of the IELTS One Skill Retake. The one skill retake must be taken within 60 days of the original test. Only one retake is acceptable. The two-year validity period starts on the date that the original test was taken.

Please note that some degree programmes may require higher scores in the individual sub-skill components of IELTS and TOEFL tests.  Please check the Coursefinder for specific programme requirements.  The following table may be used as a guide.

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Notes: 

1. These are the minimum standards acceptable and demand for places may mean that applicants will require higher grades in order to be competitive.

2. The University will accept IELTS and TOEFL tests which have been taken up to two years prior to the start of the course.  IELTS General Training tests are not acceptable.

3. Test results should be achieved in one sitting. A combination of tests is not accepted for entry, with the exception of the IELTS One Skill Retake.

4. The University reserves the right to amend the specific scores required overall in a test (or in test components), if comparability guidance from the test provider changes.

5. For admission to undergraduate Medicine and Dentistry, a higher standard is normally required ie. IELTS 7.5 overall with 7.0 in Speaking and Listening, and minimum scores of either 6.5 (for Medicine) or 6.0 (for Dentistry) in both Reading and Writing; or TOEFL Internet-Based Test of 105 overall with minimum scores of Listening - 24, Reading - 21, Speaking - 23, Writing - 23; or GCE O Level Syllabus 1119 Grade A2.

6. The TOEFL Paper Based Test (PBT) is not accepted.