English Language Requirements


Acceptable English Language Tests – Undergraduate and Postgraduate

These tests must have been taken within 2 years of the start of the course.

Test Entry requirements
IELTS Academic (taken within 2 years) Undergraduate programmes 6.0 with no band below 5.5
Postgraduate programmes as per entry requirements
IELTS Indicator Undergraduate programmes 6.0 with no band below 5.5
Postgraduate programmes as per entry requirements
PTE Undergraduate and Postgraduate requiring IELTS6.0
Overall score of 50 with no less than 42 in each component

Postgraduate requiring IELTS 6.5
Overall score of 58 with no less than 50 in each component

Postgraduate requiring IELTS 7.0
Overall score of 65 with no less than 58 in each component
TOEFL iBT Including Special Home Edition Undergraduate and Postgraduate requiring IELTS6.0
Overall score of 80 with the following component scores:
Reading – 18
Writing – 17
Listening – 17
Speaking - 20

Postgraduate requiring IELTS 6.5
Overall Score of 88 with the following component scores:
Reading – 20
Writing – 19
Listening – 19
Speaking 21

Postgraduate requiring IELTS 7.0
Overall Score of 100 with the following component scores:
Reading – 23
Writing – 24
Listening – 22
Speaking 22
Pearson Versant Undergraduate and Postgraduate requiring IELTS6.0
Overall score of 55

Postgraduate requiring IELTS 6.5
Overall score of 60

Postgraduate requiring IELTS 7.0
Overall score of 65
Trinity College (Integrated Skills) Undergraduate and Postgraduate requiring IELTS6.0
ISE II –Distinction in each component

Postgraduate requiring IELTS 6.5
ISE III – Pass in each component

Postgraduate requiring IELTS 7.0
ISE III – Merit in each component
Other qualifications we currently accept (which do not require an additional SELT)
GCSE in English Language (from a UK awarding body) Undergraduate and Postgraduate requiring IELTS6.0
Grade C

Postgraduate requiring IELTS 6.5
Grade B
Irish Leaving Certificate Ordinary Level English Undergraduate and Postgraduate requiring IELTS6.0
Grade C/C3 (20 points)

Postgraduate requiring IELTS 6.5
Grade B/B3 (37 points)
Irish Leaving Certificate Higher Level English Undergraduate and Postgraduate requiring IELTS6.0
Grade D/D2 (46 points)

Postgraduate requiring IELTS 6.5
Grade C/C2 (66 points)
IGCSE English as a First language
(for syllabus 0500 Listening and Speaking must be separately endorsed on the certificate)
Undergraduate and Postgraduate requiring IELTS6.0
Grade C

Postgraduate requiring IELTS 6.5
Grade B
IGCSE English as a Second language
(for syllabus 0510 Speaking must be separately endorsed on the certificate)
Undergraduate and Postgraduate requiring IELTS6.0
Grade C

Postgraduate requiring IELTS 6.5
Grade B
Cambridge Advanced English Undergraduate and Postgraduate requiring IELTS6.0
170 points with no component below 160

Postgraduate requiring IELTS 6.5
180 points with no component below 170

Postgraduate requiring IELTS 7.0
185 points with no component below 180
International Baccalaureate (IB)
Standard or Higher Level English Language (Syllabus A)
Undergraduate and Postgraduate requiring IELTS6.0
Grade 4

Postgraduate requiring IELTS 6.5
Grade 5
International Baccalaureate (IB)
Standard or Higher Level English Language (Syllabus B)
Undergraduate and Postgraduate requiring IELTS6.0
Grade 5

Postgraduate requiring IELTS 6.5
Grade 6
European Baccalaureate English Language Undergraduate and Postgraduate requiring IELTS6.0
Grade 70%

Postgraduate requiring IELTS 6.5
Grade 80%

European qualifications (English component - obtained within the last 4 years)

Country Qualification
Austria Reifeprufungszeugnis/Maturazeugnis at 2.0
Belgium Diplome d'acces a l'enseignment superieur/Diplome van Hoger Secundair Onderwijs at 75%
Bulgaria Diploma Za Sredno Obrazovanie at Grade 3
Croatia Svjedodzba o Maturi at grade 4.0
Cyprus Apolyterion at 15
Czech Republic Maturitni Zkou'ce/Maturita at grade 2.0
Denmark Studentereksamen/HF/HHX/HTX/IBB /Diplomingenior at grade 9
Estonia Riigieksamitunnistus or Gümnaasiumilõputunnistus at 70%
Finland Ylioppilastutkintotodistus or Studentexamensbetyg at grade 5
France Baccalauréat (le bac) or the Option Internationale du Baccalauréat at grade 12.5
Germany Zeugnis der Allgemeinen Hochschulreife or Abitur or a Fachgebundene Hochschulreife at grade 2 / gut
Greece Apolyterion at grade 15
Hungary Erettsegi at grade 4
Italy Diploma di Esame di Stato at grade 8/80%
Latvia Atestats Par Visparejo Videjo Izglitib at grade 8
Lithuania Brandos Atestatas at grade 8
Malta Matriculation Certificate at grade C
Moldova Diploma de Bacalaureat or Atestat de Studii Medii de Cultură Generală at grade 9
Netherlands Diploma Middelbaar Beroepsonderwijs (MBO) or Diploma Voorbereidend Wetenschappelijk Onderwijs (VWO) at grade 8
Norway Vitnemal-Videregaende Opplaering at grade 4
Poland Swiadectwo Dojrzałości / Matura at grade 70%
Portugal Diploma de Ensino Secundario at grade 14
Romania Diploma de Bacalaureat (English with all components at B2)
Slovakia Vysvedcenie O Maturitnej at grade 2
Slovenia Maturitetno Spricevalo at grade 4
Spain Titulo de Bachillerato at grade 8
Sweden Fullstandigt Slutbetyg Fran Gymnasiesk at grade C
Switzerland Maturitatszeugnis or Maturite Federal at grade 5
Ukraine Aтестат про повну загальну середню освіту at grade 10

International Regional qualifications obtained no more than 4 years before the proposed start date of the course

Country Qualification Grade
Bahamas General Certificate of Secondary Education Grade C in English
Botswana General Certificate of Education Ordinary Level Grade C/4 in English
Brunei Cambridge O Level Grade C6 in English
Cameroon GCE O level Grade C in English
Hong Kong HKCEE Grade C in English (Syllabus B)
Hong Kong HKDSE Grade 4 in English
Kenya Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education Grade C in English
Malaysia Malaysian 1119 Grade 6C in English - IELTS 6.0
Singapore Singapore Cambridge O Level Grade C6 in English
South Africa South Africa National Senior Certificate Grade 5 in English
Tanzania Certificate of Secondary Education Grade C in English
Uganda Certificate of Education Grade 6
Zambia Zambia School Certificate Grade 6 in English
Zimbabwe General Certificate of Education Ordinary Level Grade C in English
Caribbean Examination Council General proficiency Grade III in English
Nigeria/Ghana WAEC/NECO Grade C6 in English

For applicants in China, the Chinese College English Test (CET-6) will be considered to join the 1 stage Pre-Sessional English course

Applicants applying for International Foundation Programme who require Tier 4 sponsorship will need a Secure English Language Test (SELT) this must be UKVI IELTS with at least 5.0 in each component.

Acceptable English Language Tests – Online English Pre-Sessional at the University of Bolton (currently not running)

Applicants will need to have taken an English Language Test as detailed below:

Number of stages and end IELTS score IELTS academic or IELTS Indicator PTE TOEFL iBT including special Home edition Pearson Versant Duolingo LanguagCert International ESOL B2 Communicator
3 Stage Programme (UG or PG IELTS 6.0) 4.5 with at least 4 in each component Overall score of 30 Overall score of 56 Overall score of 37-40 Overall score of 70
3 Stage Programme (PG IELTS 6.5) 5.0 with at least 4.5 in each component Overall score of 36 with at least 30 in each component Overall score of 64 Overall score of 41-45 Overall score of 80
2 Stage Programme (UG or PG IELTS 6.0) 5.0 with at least 4.5 in each component Overall score of 36 with at least 30 in each component Overall score of 64 Overall score of 41-45 Overall score of 80 50% pass
2 Stage Programme (PG IELTS 6.5) 5.5 with at least 5.0 in each component Overall score of 42 with at least 36 in each component Overall score of 72 Overall score of 46-50 Overall score of 90 50% pass
1 Stage Programme (UG or PG IELTS 6.0) 5.5 with at least 5.0 in each component Overall score of 42 with at least 36 in each component Overall score of 72 Overall score of 46-50 Overall score of 90 50% pass
1 Stage Programme PG IELTS 6.5) 6.0 with at least 5.5 in each component Overall score of 50 with at least 42 in each component Overall score of 80 Overall score of 51-55 Overall score of 100 50% pass

myBolton

Download the app for your smartphone from:

Help Centre

We have the answers to your questions, find all the advice and support in one place.

Part of the University of Bolton Group

Bolton college
Alliance learning
Anderton centre2
QQA Scheme Participant

Help Centre

We have the answers to your questions, find all the advice and support in one place.

Part of the University of Bolton Group

Bolton college
Alliance learning
Anderton centre2
QQA Scheme Participant