English language requirements

English language entry requirements 2025/26

All students applying to Keele must show they can meet our minimum English language requirements, in line with the English Language Group listed on the relevant course page.

Please note: the English Language test group bands listed on this page relate to Undergraduate and Postgraduate courses.

Information on this page relates to the 2025/26 academic year.

For the 2024/25 academic year, please see the 2024 English Language web pages.

For most UK students, English language requirements will be met with a 4 or C in GCSE English. Meeting our minimum English requirements will also typically meet the English requirements for students who require a visa to study in the UK.

All postgraduate students will also need to meet our minimum English language requirements if they require a visa. Please see the relevant course page.

Our requirements can be met in any of the following ways:

An English language qualification;
An English language test;
A specific exemption.

2025/26 Entry

The information below is for 2025/26 entry (September 2025 or January 2026) and is updated on an annual basis. It does not apply for A100 Medicine or D100 Veterinary Science and their associated foundation year courses, or for MSc Physician Associate Studies. For these, the relevant course pages outline how these entry requirements can be met. It also does not apply to our International Foundation Year, Year One, or Pre-Master’s courses delivered through our International College, our online-only Master’s courses, study abroad programmes, or any apprenticeships, short courses, or CPD.

For all students requiring a visa, we will consider your most recent English language qualification as the current indication of your level of English. If you believe you do not meet the entry requirements stated and hold international fee status or require a visa, please read the information below on pre-sessional courses.

English Language Qualifications English Language Tests (Groups) Exemptions

English Language Qualifications

Keele accepts the following qualifications for all Groups which may have been studied at any time:

GCSE or IGCSE English	C or 4
A level English Language or Literature	D
AS level English Language or Literature	C
IB Diploma English (any except ab initio)	SL 4 or HL 4
Functional Skills Level 2 English (only for students who do not require a visa)	Pass
IB Middle Years English Language and Literature	4
Scottish National 5 English	C
Scottish Higher or Advanced Higher English	C
European Baccalaureate English L1	6
European Baccalaureate English L2	6
European Baccalaureate English L3	7
Canadian Grade 11/12 English	70%
USA Grade 12 High School Diploma English	C / 2.0
USA AP English Language and Composition	Grade 3
Irish Leaving Certificate English	O4

Keele also accepts the following qualifications if they are your most recent study of the English language. These need to be dated within a set period of time immediately preceding the course start date as set out in your offer letter, as outlined below:

Qualification	Minimum Grade / Level	Validity period
CSEC (Caribbean Secondary Exams Council) English	Grade 3	Unlimited
French Baccalaureate English	12	Unlimited
French International Option Baccalaureate English	10	Unlimited
German Abitur English	10 (13 for Medicine)	Unlimited
Hong Kong DSE or DCE English	4	Unlimited
Indian Standard XII (ICSE, CBSE) English	70%	5 years
Indian Standard XII (Western Bengal and other state boards, not including Punjab Board) English	75%	5 years
Kenya KCSE English	C	Unlimited
Malaysia SPM Advanced English	C	Unlimited
Singapore O Level English	C	Unlimited
Sri Lankan A Level English	B	10 years
Uganda Certificate of Education English	6	Unlimited
West African Senior School Certificate English or English Language	C6	Unlimited

If you have a qualification in English which you believe may meet these requirements, but is not listed above, please contact admissions@keele.ac.uk for advice.

English Language Tests (Groups)

Keele accepts the following tests. For students who need a Visa to study in the UK, these must be dated within the two years immediately preceding the course start date as set out in your offer letter. Different tests cannot be combined.

Group	IELTS Academic and IELTS Indicator	TOEFL IBT (including Home)	Pearson Academic (including online)	Cambridge English	Trinity ISE	NCUK English Test	Language Cert ESOL (SELT only)	Language Gallery UPP
Group A	6.0 with 5.5 in all components	79 with 17 (writing), 17 (listening), 18 (reading) and 20 (speaking)	59 with 54 in each component	169 with 162 in all components	ISE II with Merit all components OR ISE III with Pass in all components	C (with D in all components	B2 Pass (30 in all components) OR C1 Pass (with 25 in all components)	70
Group B	6.5 with 5.5 in all components	87 with 17 (writing), 17 (listening), 18 (reading) and 20 (speaking)	62 with 54 in each component	176 with 162 in all components	ISE II with Distinction in all components OR ISE III with Pass in all components	B (with D in all components	B2 Pass (33 in all components) OR C1 Pass (with 25 in all components)	80
Group C	6.5 with 6.0 in all components	87 with 19 (writing), 19 (listening), 19 (reading) and 20 (speaking	62 with 59 in each component	176 with 169 in all components	SE II with Distinction in all components OR ISE III with Pass in all component	B (with C in all components	B2 Pass (35 in all components) OR C1 Pass (with 25 in all components)	80
Group D	7 with 6.5 in all components	95 with 22 in all components	69 with 62 in each componen	185 with 176 in all components	ISE III with Merit in all components	A (with B in all components	C1 Pass (with 25 in all components)	90
Group E	7.0 with 7.0 in reading, listening and speaking and 6.5 in writing	95 with 22 (writing) and 25 (listening, reading and speaking)	69 with 69 in each component	185 with 185 in reading, speaking and listening and 176 in writing	ISE III with Distinction in two components and merit in two components	A (with A in reading, speaking and listening and B in writing)	C1 Pass (with 30 in all components)	90
Group F	8.0 with 7.5 in all components	110 with 26 in all components	82 with 75 in each component	200 with 190 in all components	ISE IV with ISE III Distinction in all components	A* (with A in all components)	C1 Pass (with 33 in all components)	95

For entry to the final year of an undergraduate course, the requirement for courses in Groups B, C, D and E will be the same as listed for entry. However, for Group A courses, the following will apply:

Group	IELTS Academic and IELTS Indicator	TOEFL IBT (including Home)	Pearson Academic (including online)	Cambridge English	Trinity ISE	NCUK English Test	Language Cert ESOL (SELT only)	Language Gallery UPP
Group G (MBA and Group A Final Year Entry)	6.0 with 6.0 in reading and writing and 5.5 in speaking and listening	79 with 19 (writing), 17 (listening), 19 (reading) and 20 (speaking)	59 with 59 in reading and writing, and 54 in speaking and listening	169 with 169 in reading and writing and 162 in speaking and listening	ISE II with Distinction in reading and writing and merit in speaking and listening OR ISE III with Pass in all components	B with C in reading and writing and D in speaking and listening	B2 Pass (33 in written and 30 in spoken) OR C1 Pass (with 25 in all components)	73

What if you don’t have the required level of English?

Pre-Sessional English

If you would like to study at Keele University and need help achieving our English language requirements, our online pre-sessional course may help you meet the language conditions of your offer. Find out more about our pre-sessional English courses of 5 weeks or 10 weeks.

Keele University International Foundation Year

Our International Foundation Year is delivered on campus through our Keele University International College (KUIC).

Find out more about the International Foundation Year options on the KUIC website.