Entry requirements for international students

Standard English requirements

The minimum requirements for most of our degrees are provided in the table below. Some of our courses have higher requirements, so please visit the course page you are interested in to check the specific English requirement.

Undergraduate courses

• IELTS (Academic)
  • Overall 6.0 with 5.5 in each of the four language skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing) 
• TOEFL iBT
  • 80 overall with 17 in Writing and Listening, 18 in Reading and 20 in Speaking
• Pearson PTE Academic
  • 60 overall with 59 in each of the four language skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing)

Postgraduate courses

• IELTS (Academic)
  • Overall 6.5 with 5.5 in each of the four language skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing)
• TOEFL iBT
  • 88 overall with 17 in Writing and Listening, 18 in Reading and 20 in Speaking 
• Pearson PTE Academic
  • 61 overall with 59 in each of the four language skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing)

For undergraduate degrees with a foundation year, we accept IELTS 5.5 overall, TOEFL iBT 72 overall, or Pearson PTE Academic 59 overall, with the same sub-scores as above.  

If you require a Student visa, you must achieve a minimum level of CEFR B2 in each of the four language skills. 

Most English tests are valid for two years. If you are a student visa applicant, the test must be valid up to the date you submit your visa application. 

We accept IELTS One Skill re-take and assess TOEFL iBT MyBest scores on an individual basis. 

Accepted qualifications and tests

If you require a Student visa and wish to study a Pre-Sessional English course, or a course below degree level, you must take a Secure English Language Test (SELT), as defined by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). You must achieve a minimum level of CEFR B1 in each of the four language skills to study a pre-sessional English course. 

SELT Test providers in the UK: Pearson, Trinity College London, IELTS SELT Consortium, LanguageCert. 

SELT Test providers outside of the UK: Pearson, PSI Services (UK) Ltd – Skills for English (UKVI), IELTS SELT Consortium, LanguageCert. 

For undergraduate and postgraduate courses, our preferred tests are IELTS (Academic), TOEFL iBT and Pearson PTE (Academic) taken at a test centre, so we recommend you take one of these wherever possible.  

Alternatively, if you are in the UK, you can take our own English Language Proficiency Test (ELPT).  

• Standard undergraduate requirement: 60% overall with 55% in each of the four skills. 
• Standard postgraduate requirement: 65% overall with 55% in each of the four skills. 

We also accept the following in-person tests:

• LanguageCert Academic
  • Standard undergraduate requirement: 65 overall with 60 in each of the four skills
  • Standard postgraduate requirement: 70 overall with 60 in each of the four skills
• LanguageCert International ESOL (B2 communicator for degree entry)
  • Standard undergraduate requirement: High pass overall with 33 in each of the four skills
  • Standard postgraduate requirement: High pass overall with 38 in each of the four skills
• Trinity College: Integrated Skills in English (ISE) (ISEII for degree entry)
• Oxford ELLT Global - Register for a test
  • Standard undergraduate requirement: 6 overall with 5 in each of the four skills
  • Standard postgraduate requirement: 7 overall with 5 in each of the four skills

We are aware that from time to time there may be difficulties in undertaking in-person tests, due to, for example, centre closures, location, or reduced testing availability. Where this is the case, we will consider the following alternative tests:

• TOEFL iBT Home Edition (same score requirements as in-person test)
• IELTS Online (same score requirements as in-person test)
• Oxford ELLT Digital (same score requirements as in-person test) - Register for a test.
• Duolingo English Test
  • Standard undergraduate requirement: 110 overall with 100 in each of the four skills
  • Standard postgraduate requirement: 120 overall with 100 in each of the four skills

With all of the above tests, we reserve the right to undertake additional English language verification checks at the CAS issuance stage (for student visa applicants).

We accept the following English qualifications to meet our standard English requirements:

• GCSE English language grade C
• IGCSE English Language/English – First Language grade C
• IGCSE English as a Second Language – grade C for undergraduate entry, grade B for postgraduate entry
• Cambridge O Level English Language grade C
• Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE - Certificate of Proficiency in English)
• Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE - Certificate in Advanced English) – 170 for undergraduate entry, 176 for postgraduate entry.
• Cambridge B2 First (FCE - First Certificate in English) – grade C for undergraduate entry, grade B for postgraduate entry
• International Baccalaureate English exam grade 5
• Successful completion of a UK degree when studied at a UK university, or a qualification equivalent to a UK degree studied in another majority-English speaking country, as defined by UKVI.

See our country-specific pages for qualifications and how to meet our standard English requirements.

To join the first year of our undergraduate course you’ll need one of the following.

• GCE A levels from a recognised UK examination board.
• An International Baccalaureate with a minimum of 24 points.
• A university foundation course recognised by Anglia Ruskin University.
• Relevant qualifications obtained in your home country: see our country-specific entry requirements.
• For some courses there may be additional requirements, such as portfolios for art and design courses. These are outlined in our undergraduate course pages.

If you've completed study at university level in the UK or your home country you may be eligible to enter directly into Year 2 or 3 of a related degree course at ARU. Find out more about transferring to ARU.

For entry into a postgraduate taught course you'll need one of the following:

• typically a UK honours degree with lower second class honours (2:2). Some courses may have different requirements: these will be stated on individual course pages
• relevant qualifications obtained in your home country, as per Anglia Ruskin's country-specific entry requirements
• some courses may have extra requirements, such as portfolios for art and design courses. These are outlined in our postgraduate course pages.

For entry into a postgraduate research course you'll need one of the following:

• the usual entry requirement for an MPhil is a UK honours degree in a related subject, with Upper Second Class (2:1) or First Class honours or the equivalent from another country
• for direct registration for a PhD you will usually require an appropriate Masters degree from a UK university or the equivalent from another country.

For more information about entry requirements, please visit our postgraduate research page.

If you don't yet meet the standard academic requirements to study at Anglia Ruskin University, you can prepare with our partner, ARU College.

ARU College offers a number of foundation, year 1 and pre-Masters pathways onto more than 100 Anglia Ruskin University bachelors and Masters degrees. This option may be suitable for you if you don't quite meet the ARU entry requirements, are looking for more flexible start times or enhanced support at the start of your university career.

Why study with ARU College

• Start your university journey in a with small class sizes, meaning more individual support from tutors.
• Following successful completion of the ARU College pathway you will gain entry to Anglia Ruskin University, and graduate with an internationally recognised degree.
• ARU College students benefit from access to all Anglia Ruskin University facilities and activities, and hold an Anglia Ruskin University ID card from day one.