English language requirement

Imperial Electrical Engineering students in lab

Find our English language requirements and see how to meet them.

Our English language requirements

To study with us, you will need to meet the required English language competency level for your course.

We have two English language attainment levels:

  • Standard
  • Higher

You can see which your chosen course requires by checking the course page for your year of entry:

How to meet our English language requirement

You can do this in one of the following ways:

  • Achieve the minimum score in one of the tests or qualifications we accept
  • Show that you are exempt from our English language requirements
  • Pass the Imperial College London Pre-Sessional English Programme

The Business School no longer offers its own pre-sessional courses, or recognises other pre-sessional courses, as a means of meeting the English language requirement. If you have any questions about this, please contact the Business School directly.

Student visa – proving your English language proficiency

If you need a student visa to study with us, you will need to prove your English language proficiency.

You can prove this to us with evidence that you have:

  • sat one of our accepted English language tests; and
  • met the relevant standard for your course.

We will confirm this in your Confirmation for Acceptance of Studies (CAS) which you can use in your visa application.

Accepted English language tests and qualifications

You can find all of the English language tests and qualifications we accept here.

You only need to meet the relevant standard in one of the following.

Tests we accept

Duolingo English Test

This test is accepted for 2022 entry.

Standard LevelHigher Level
 115 Overall with no less than 105 in any band score  125 Overall with no less than 115 in any band score

*Test scores are only considered valid if taken within 2 years of the intended course start date

Find out more on the Duolingo website

IELTS (Academic)

StandardHigher
6.5 overall (minimum 6.0 in all elements)  7.0 overall (minimum 6.5 in all elements)
Summary of the table's contents

*IELTS indicator accepted for admissions in the 2022/23 academic year.

Imperial College London considers IELTS scores to be valid for 2 years. Scores must be valid at the beginning of your studies at Imperial if your application is successful.

Find out more information on the IELTS website

LanguageCert International ESOL

Standard LevelHigher Level
 ESOL B2 Test (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking) with grade High Pass  ESOL B2 Test (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking) with grade High Pass

Find out more on the LanguageCert website

Occupational English Test

Standard LevelHigher Level
 Grade C+/300 in all elements  Grade B/350 in all elements

*Test results must be within 12 months of programme start date in order to be treated as valid and subject to online verification

*OET Paper/Computer at test centre and OET@Home accepted

Find out more on the Cambridge website

PTE Academic

StandardHigher
62 overall (minimum 56 in all elements)  69 overall (minimum 62 in all elements)
Summary of the table's contents


Imperial College London considers Pearson (PTE) scores to be valid for 2 years. Scores must be valid at the beginning of your studies at Imperial if your application is successful. For more information regarding Pearson, please visit the Pearson website. 

TOEFL (iBT) and (iBT Paper)

StandardHigher
92 overall (minimum 20 in all elements) 100 overall (minimum 22 in all elements)
Summary of the table's contents

*ETS at Home accepted for admission in the 2022/23 year

Imperial College London considers TOEFL scores to be valid for 2 years. Scores must be valid at the beginning of your studies at Imperial if your application is successful. You must meet the entry requirement in one test from your scaled scores ('My Best Scores' reported by TOEFL will not be considered). For more information relating regarding TOEFL please visit the ETS website. Your TOEFL scores must be emailed to the relevant admissions teams. Score reports sent via post will not be processed.

Qualifications we accept

AS Level/A-level

StandardHigher
Grade C in English Language* Grade C in English Language*
Summary of the table's contents

*For this qualification our standard and higher English requirements are set at the same level. 

Australia Territory High School Certificate (HSC)

 
Territory High School Certificate (HSC)
TerritoryStandard Grade*Higher Grade*
 Australian Capital Territory  C  C
 New South Wales  4  4
 Northern Territory  C  C
 Queensland  SA / C  SA / C
 South Australia  C  C
 Tasmania  CA  CA
 Victoria  C in all units  C in all units
 Western Australia  C  C
 

*For this qualification our standard and higher English requirements are set at the same level. 

Cambridge Advanced English (CAE)

 StandardHigher
Tests taken before January 2015

Grade C

Grade B
Tests taken from January 2015

176 overall (minimum 169 in all elements)

185 overall (minimum 176 in all elements)

Canadian High School Diploma

StandardHigher
Grade 12 English at 65%* Grade 12 English at 65%*
Summary of the table's contents

*For this qualification our standard and higher English requirements are set at the same level. Must be studied in Canada and excludes Quebec High School Diploma

Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE)

 StandardHigher
Tests taken before January 2015

Any pass grade with a pass in each element OR Level C1 certificate*

Any pass grade with a pass in each element OR Level C1 certificate*
Tests taken from January 2015

Any pass grade with a pass in each element

185 overall (minimum 176 in all elements)

*For this qualification our standard and higher English requirements are set at the same level. 

European Baccalaureate

 StandardHigher
English as a First Language Grade 6  Grade 7 
English as a Second Language Grade 7* Grade 7*
Summary of the table's contents

*For this qualification our standard and higher English requirements are set at the same level. 

GCSE or GCE 'O' Level

 StandardHigher
GCSE Post 2017: Grade 6 in English Language* Grade 6 in English Language*
GCSE Pre 2017: Grade B in English Language* Grade B in English Language*
GCE O Level: Grade B in English Language* Grade B in English Language*
Summary of the table's contents

*For this qualification our standard and higher English requirements are set at the same level. 

Hong Kong AS Level

StandardHigher
Grade C in English* Grade C in English*
Summary of the table's contents

*For this qualification our standard and higher English requirements are set at the same level. 

Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examinations Syllabus B

StandardHigher
Level 4 in English in Syllabus B* Grade 4 in English in Syllabus B*
Summary of the table's contents

*For this qualification our standard and higher English requirements are set at the same level. 

Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education

StandardHigher
Level 3 in English* Level 3 in English*
Summary of the table's contents

*For this qualification our standard and higher English requirements are set at the same level. 

IGCSE

StandardHigher
Grade B or 6 in English as a First Language*  Grade B or 6 in English as a First Language*
Summary of the table's contents

*For this qualification our standard and higher English requirements are set at the same level. 

International Baccalaureate

For qualifications taken after 2013

 StandardHigher
English A: Language & Literature Grade 4 (if taken at either Standard or Higher Level)* Grade 4 (if taken at either Standard or Higher Level)*
English A: Literature Grade 4 (if taken at either Standard or Higher Level)* Grade 4 (if taken at either Standard or Higher Level)*
English B  Grade 6 (if taken at Standard Level) or Grade 5 (if taken at Higher Level)* Grade 6 (if taken at Standard Level) or Grade 5 (if taken at Higher Level)*

For qualifications taken before 2013

 StandardHigher
English A1 Syllabus                        Grade 4 (if taken at either Standard or Higher Level)* Grade 4 (if taken at either Standard or Higher Level)*
English A2 Syllabus Grade 5 (if taken at Standard Level) or Grade 4 (if taken at Higher Level)* Grade 5 (if taken at Standard Level) or Grade 4 (if taken at Higher Level)*
English B Syllabus Grade 6 (if taken at Standard Level) or Grade 5 (if taken at Higher Level)* Grade 6 (if taken at Standard Level) or Grade 5 (if taken at Higher Level)*
Summary of the table's contents

*For this qualification our standard and higher English requirements are set at the same level. 

International Option of the French Baccalaureat (OIB)

StandardHigher
Grade 12 in English in the final examinations* Grade 12 in English in the final examinations*
Summary of the table's contents

*For this qualification our standard and higher English requirements are set at the same level. 

Irish Leaving Certificate

StandardHigher

Post 2017: Grade H5 in English*

Pre 2017: Grade B2 in English at Standard/Ordinary Level*

Post 2017: Grade H5 in English*

Pre 2017: Grade B2 in English at Standard/Ordinary Level*
Summary of the table's contents

*For this qualification our standard and higher English requirements are set at the same level. 

Malaysian Certificate of Education (Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia)

StandardHigher
Grade A in English Language (1119)* Grade A in English Language (1119)*
Summary of the table's contents

*For this qualification our standard and higher English requirements are set at the same level. 

Malta Matriculation Certificate

 
StandardHiger
 Grade C at Higher or Intermediate Level*   Grade C at Higher or Intermediate Level*
*For this qualification our standard and higher English requirements are set at the same level. 

Malta Secondary Education Certificate

 
 
StandardHiger
 Grade 2  Grade 2
*For this qualification our standard and higher English requirements are set at the same level. 

National Certificate in Educational Achievement Level 2 or Level 3

StandardHigher

NCEA Level 2 English Grade: Merit*

NCEA Level 3 English Grade: Achieved*

NCEA Level 2 English Grade: Merit*

NCEA Level 3 English Grade: Achieved*
Summary of the table's contents

*For this qualification our standard and higher English requirements are set at the same level. 

Scottish Standard (SS) & National 5 (N5)

StandardHigher

Standard Grade 2 in English

National 5 Grade B

Standard Grade 2 in English

National 5 Grade B
Summary of the table's contents

Singapore Cambridge A-Levels

StandardHigher
Grade C in English* Grade C in English*
Summary of the table's contents

*For this qualification our standard and higher English requirements are set at the same level. 

Singapore Cambridge O-Levels

StandardHigher
Grade B in English* Grade B in English*
Summary of the table's contents

*For this qualification our standard and higher English requirements are set at the same level. 

Singapore Integrated Programme - NUS High School Diploma

StandardHigher
CAP 4.5 out of 5 in English Language* CAP 4.5 out of 5 in English Language*
Summary of the table's contents

*For this qualification our standard and higher English requirements are set at the same level. 

Singapore Integrated Programme Cambridge A Levels (SIPCAL)

StandardHigher
Grade C in the General Paper* Grade C in the General Paper*
Summary of the table's contents

*For this qualification our standard and higher English requirements are set at the same level. 

USA Advanced Placement Examination

StandardHigher
Grade 4 in English* Grade 4 in English*
Summary of the table's contents

*For this qualification our standard and higher English requirements are set at the same level. 

USA High School Diploma

StandardHigher
Year 12 English at Grade B* Year 12 English at Grade B*
Summary of the table's contents

*For this qualification our standard and higher English requirements are set at the same level. Must be studied in a majority English speaking country.

West African Examinations Council (WAEC)

StandardHigher
Level 4 in English* Level 4 in English*
Summary of the table's contents

*For this qualification our standard and higher English requirements are set at the same level.