If you are a non-native English speaker you will need to submit an English test result equivalent to IELTS 6.5 with broadly consistent scores in the elements of the test. For MSc (not pre-sessional) entry we accept IELTS (Academic), TOEFL iBT, Pearson Test in English (Academic), Cambridge Advanced (CAE), and Cambridge Proficiency (CPE).

For entry onto the pre-sessional English course, we usually require the new IELTS for UKVI test so advise you to take the UKVI IELTS wherever possible.

If your MSc offer is otherwise unconditional, the above test results may also be accepted for a combined pre-sessional plus MSc offer.

We do not recognise any other English testing system and we do not carry out English proficiency interviews as a substitute for English test results.

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Exemption

You do not need to submit an English test result if you are a national of a country which the University deems to be English-speaking. The Admissions Team will advise you of this when your application is considered.

We may also exempt the requirement for an English test result if you have recently studied successfully at degree level or higher in an English-speaking country for at least three years. You would need to have completed this study contiguously over the three year period and completed it within two years of the start of our MSc course. However this exemption is not guaranteed and we reserve the right to require any student of any nationality to submit an English test result.

Note that English language study in a country that is not English-speaking does not qualify for exemption; this includes British University campuses based overseas and distance learning programmes.

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Requirement for MSc entry (no pre-sessional English required)

Scores required

For unconditional entry onto the MSc, you must achieve at least the following overall and component scores:

Test	Overall	Listening	Reading	Writing	Speaking
IELTS	6.5	6.0+	6.0+	6.0+	6.0+
IELTS for UKVI	6.5	6.0+	6.0+	6.0+	6.0+
Pearson Test in English (Academic)	62	51+	51+	51+	51+
TOEFL iBT	92	21+	22+	21+	23+
CAE	60 (or C) / 180	3 x borderline, 1 x weak No component below 170
CPE	Pass / 180	4 x pass grades (at any level) No component below 170

Your scores must have been achieved in a single test and that test must have been taken less than two years before the start date of the course you have applied for.

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Requirement for MSc entry with pre-sessional English

Scores Required

If you do not quite meet our MSc entry standard and you have not previously studied in the UK, you may still be accepted onto our MSc courses if you also attend the six-week Phase 5 Pre-Sessional English Programme prior to starting the MSc. In order to be offered a place on the pre-sessional course, you must achieve a score of at least 6.0 overall. No more than two component scores (Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking) can be 5.5, the rest must be 6.0 or better. No component can be below 5.5.

We would normally expect students who are intending to take the pre-sessional English class to submit IELTS for UKVI scores.

Note that if you have studied in the UK (or other English speaking country) at Bachelor level or above for one or more academic years, then you are not eligible for a place on the pre-sessional English course. This includes students who have undertaken 2+1, 2+2 or 3+1 programmes.

If you are unsure if you are eligible to study the pre-sessional English course then please contact us before you submit your application.

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Acceptable Test Results

The acceptable tests are more restricted for the pre-sessional course due to recent changes in the UK immigration rules. We prefer IELTS for UKVI results for students who are planning to attend pre-sessional, however it is possible to be admitted with IELTS Academic results, instead of the UKVI version, provided you are able to clear all other conditions of your MSc offer at least 4 weeks before the start of the pre-sessional course.

The pre-sessional English course is run by the Centre for Applied Linguistics (CAL). CAL will not accept you onto the pre-sessional course until you have a conditional MSc offer from WMG, so please apply to us for a place on the MSc first. Once you have an MSc offer from WMG, you can apply for a place on pre-sessional using this form.

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Combined MSc and Pre-Sessional CAS for Tier 4 visa applicants.

If you require a visa to study in the UK and English is the only condition on your MSc offer, we may be able to issue you with a "combined" pre-sessional + MSc offer, so you can apply for a visa that covers both components. However, if there are other conditions on your MSc offer, then the pre-sessional and MSc visas will have to be dealt with separately. You can clear conditions on your MSc offer whilst you are attending the pre-sessional course.

Your English language competence will be tested at the end of the pre-sessional course. If your standard of English has not improved sufficiently, or you have not fully engaged with studies, we may require you to attend further in-sessional English classes for which an additional charge will be made. Continued evidence of lack of engagement or poor English competence could lead to you being removed from the MSc course.

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Pre-sessional English Full Year Programme (Phases 1, 2 or 3)

If your English scores are are not sufficient for the pre-sessional course, you may wish to consider applying for CAL's one-year pre-sessional English course. This course is taught over one, two or three terms and is suitable for students with English scores down to IELTS 4.5. See here for more information.