We use cookies on this site. By browsing our site you agree to our use of cookies. Close this message Find out more

Home > International home > Applying > English language requirements
More in this section Applying

English language requirements

If you are applying to study at Royal Holloway and your first language is not English, you are required to provide evidence of your English language proficiency. We accept the internationally recognised English language qualifications IELTS, Pearson Test of English and Cambridge ESOL. From a number of countries we are also able to accept local English language qualifications, details of which are provided on our country-specific information pages.

The IELTS and Pearson Test of English scores required by our departments are provided in the table below. If you have completed a different English language qualification, please provide details of this in your application for study.  If you are unsure whether your existing English language qualification meets our requirements, please contact us at study@royalholloway.ac.uk and we would be happy to advise you further.

If you do not meet the English language entry requirements for the course are are applying for, you may be able to take one of our pre-sessional English language programmes before you start your degree; please click here for the entry requirements for our 4, 8 and 12-week intensive programmes.

Please note that the acceptable test centres where you take your English language test depends on which programme you are applying for and the conditions of your offer. Please check our 'Where can I take my English language test?' tab for more details.

Where can I take my English language test?

For applicants to undergraduate or postgraduate degrees starting in 2015 we will be accepting:

  • IELTS 
  • Pearson Test of English
  • Trinity Integrated Skills in English

The acceptable tests for pre-sessional English language programmes depend on which programme you are applying for and the conditions of your offer

From 6 April 2015, UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) have reduced the number of Secure English Language Tests (SELTs) that will be acceptable for UK immigration purposes and also the number of approved centres where these tests can be taken.

For applicants applying for our 4, 8 week or 12 Pre-sessional English Language Programme (PELP) with IELTS, and who are eligible* for a linked CAS (which includes both the PELP and their degree programme), your IELTS must be a SELT if one of your IELTS subscores is below 5.5. Royal Holloway also can issue a linked CAS with non SELT IELTS to you if all of your IELTS subscores are at 5.5 or above.

*You will be eligible for a linked CAS if you have provided evidence that you have met the academic requirements for your degree programme.

  • If you have not yet provided evidence that you have met the academic requirements for your degree programme, you will only be eligible for a CAS for the 8 or 12 week PELP.  This means that you will be required to take an IELTS Academic For UK Visa or Immigration or Trinity ISE from an approved test centre unless you took a previously approved test on or before 5 April 2015. (Tests taken prior to 6 April 2015 will be valid up until 5 November 2015.) Your CAS for your degree programme can only be issued on successful completion of your pre-sessional English Language Programme.

Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

Classics 

Undergraduate and Postgraduate Degrees

IELTS 6.5 overall, with writing 7.0 and no other subscore lower than 5.5

or

Pearson Test of English 61 overall, with writing 69 and no other subscore lower than 51

or

Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE) with ISE III

or

Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) grade C

Drama and Theatre 

Undergraduate and Postgraduate Degrees

IELTS 6.5 overall, with writing 7.0 and no other subscore lower than 5.5

or

Pearson Test of English 61 overall, with writing 69 and no other subscore lower than 51

or

Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE) with ISE III

or

Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) grade C

English 

Undergraduate and Postgraduate Degrees

IELTS 7.0 overall, with writing 7.0 and no other subscore lower than 5.5

or

Pearson Test of English 69 overall, with writing 69 and no other subscore lower than 51

or

Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE) with ISE IV

or

Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) grade C

European Studies

Undergraduate Degrees

IELTS 6.5 overall, with writing 6.5 and no other subscore lower than 5.5

or

Pearson Test of English 61 overall, with writing 61 and no other subscore lower than 51.

History 

Undergraduate Degrees

IELTS 6.5 overall, with no subscore lower than 5.5

or

Pearson Test of English 61 overall, with no subscore lower than 51

or

Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE) with ISE III

or

Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) grade C

Postgraduate Degrees

IELTS 6.5 overall, with writing 7.0 and no other subscore lower than 5.5

or

Pearson Test of English 61 overall, with writing 69 and no other subscore lower than 51

or

Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE) with ISE III

or

Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) grade C

Media Arts

Undergraduate

IELTS 6.5 overall, with writing 7.0 and no other subscore lower than 5.5

or

Pearson Test of English 61 overall, with writing 69 and no other subscore lower than 51

or

Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE) with ISE III

or

Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) grade C

 

Postgraduate Degrees

IELTS 6.5 overall, with writing 6.5 and no other subscore lower than 5.5

or

Pearson Test of English 61 overall, with writing 61 and no other subscore lower than 51

or

Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE) with ISE III

or

Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) grade C

Modern Languages, Literatures & Cultures

Undergraduate Degrees

IELTS 6.5 overall, with writing 7.0 and no other subscore lower than 5.5 

or

Pearson Test of English 61 overall, with writing 69 and no other subscore lower than 51.

or

Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE) with ISE III

or

Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) grade C

Postgraduate Degrees

IELTS 6.5 overall, with writing 7.0 and no other subscore lower than 5.5

or

Pearson Test of English 61 overall, with writing 69 and no other subscore lower than 51

or

Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE) with ISE III

or

Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) grade C

Music

Undergraduate and Postgraduate Degrees

IELTS 6.5 overall, with writing 7.0 and no other subscore lower than 5.5

or

Pearson Test of English 61 overall, with writing 69 and no other subscore lower than 51

Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE) with ISE III

Politics, International Relations & Philosophy 

Undergraduate and Postgraduate Degrees

IELTS 6.5 overall, with writing 7.0 and no other subscore lower than 5.5

or

Pearson Test of English 61 overall, with writing 69 and no other subscore lower than 51

or

Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE) with ISE III

or

Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) grade C

Social Work

Postgraduate Degrees

IELTS 7.0 overall, with no subscore lower than 5.5

or

Pearson Test of English 69 overall, with no subscore lower than 51

or

Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE) with ISE IV

or

Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) grade C

Faculty of Management, Economics and Law

Law 

Undergraduate Degrees

IELTS 6.5 overall, with no subscore lower than 5.5

or

Pearson Test of English 61 overall, with no subscore lower than 51

or

Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE) with ISE III

or

Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) grade C

Postgraduate Degrees - MSc Forensic Psychology

IELTS 6.5 overall, with writing 7.0 and no other subscore lower than 5.5

or

Pearson Test of English 61 overall, with writing 69 and no other subscore lower than 51

or

Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE) with ISE III

or

Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) grade C

Economics

Undergraduate Degrees

IELTS 6.5 overall with reading and writing 6.0 and no other subscore lower than 5.5

or

Pearson Test of English 61 overall, with reading and writing 54 no subscore lower than 51

or

Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE) with ISE III

or

Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) grade C
 

Postgraduate Degrees

IELTS 6.5 overall, with no other subscore lower than 6.0

or

Pearson Test of English 61 overall, with writing 61 and no other subscore lower than 54

or

Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE) with ISE III

or

Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) grade C

Management

Undergraduate Degrees

IELTS 6.5 overall, with reading and writing 6.0 and no other subscore lower than 5.5

or

Pearson Test of English 61 overall, with reading and writing 54 and no other subscore lower than 51

or

Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE) with ISE III

or

Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) grade C

Postgraduate Degrees (except MBA - see below)

IELTS 6.5 overall, with no subscore lower than 6.0

or

Pearson Test of English 61 overall, with writing 61 and no other subscore lower than 54

or

Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE) with ISE III

or

Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) grade C

MBA

IELTS 7.0 overall, with writing 6.0 and no other subscore lower than 5.5

or

Pearson Test of English 69 overall, with writing 54 and no other subscore lower than 51

or

Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE) with ISE IV

or

Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) grade C

Faculty of Science

Biological Sciences

Undergraduate Degrees

IELTS 6.5 overall, with no subscore lower than 5.5

or

Pearson Test of English 61 overall, with no subscore lower than 51

or

Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE) with ISE III

or

Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) grade C

Postgraduate Degrees

IELTS 6.5 overall, with writing 7.0 and no other subscore lower than 5.5

or

Pearson Test of English 61 overall, with writing 69 and no other subscore lower than 51

or

Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE) with ISE III

or

Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) grade C

Computer Science

Undergraduate and Postgraduate Degrees

IELTS 6.5 overall, with no subscore lower than 5.5

or

Pearson Test of English 61 overall, with no subscore lower than 51

or

Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE) with ISE III

or

Earth Sciences

Undergraduate and Postgraduate Degrees

IELTS 6.5 overall, with no subscore lower than 5.5

or

Pearson Test of English 61 overall, with no subscore lower than 51

or

Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE) with ISE III

or

Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) grade C

Electronic Engineering

Undergraduate and Postgraduate Degrees

IELTS 6.5 overall, with no subscore lower than 5.5

or

Pearson Test of English 61 overall, with no subscore lower than 51

or

Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE) with ISE III

or

Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) grade C

Geography

Undergraduate Degrees

IELTS 6.5 overall, with writing 7.0 and no other subscore lower than 5.5

or

Pearson Test of English 61 overall, with writing 69 and no other subscore lower than 51

or

Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE) with ISE III

or

Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) grade C

Postgraduate Degrees

IELTS 6.5 overall, with writing 6.5 and no other subscore lower than 5.5

or

Pearson Test of English 61 overall, with writing 61 and no other subscore lower than 51

or

Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE) with ISE III

or

Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) grade C

Information Security Group

Postgraduate Degrees

IELTS 6.5 overall, with no subscore lower than 5.5

or

Pearson Test of English 61 overall, with no subscore lower than 51

or

Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE) with ISE III

or

Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) grade C

Mathematics

Undergraduate Degrees

IELTS 6.0 overall, with no subscore lower than 5.5

or

Pearson Test of English 54 overall, with no subscore lower than 51

or

Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE) with ISE III

or

Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) grade C

Postgraduate Degrees

IELTS 6.5 overall, with no subscore lower than 5.5

or

Pearson Test of English 61 overall, with no subscore lower than 51

or

Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE) with ISE III

or

Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) grade C

Physics

Undergraduate and Postgraduate Degrees

IELTS 6.5 overall, with no subscore lower than 5.5

or

Pearson Test of English 61 overall, with no subscore lower than 51

or

Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE) with ISE III

or

Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) grade C

Professional Studies

Postgraduate Degrees

IELTS 6.5 overall, with no subscore lower than 5.5

or

Pearson Test of English 61 overall, with no subscore lower than 51

or

Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE) with ISE III

or

Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) grade C

 

Psychology

Undergraduate Degrees

IELTS 6.5 overall, with no subscore lower than 5.5

or

Pearson Test of English 61 overall, with no other subscore lower than 51

or

Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE) with ISE III

or

Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) grade C


Postgraduate Degrees

IELTS 6.5 overall, with writing 7.0 and no other subscore lower than 5.5

or

Pearson Test of English 61 overall, with writing 69 and no other subscore lower than 51

or

Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE) with ISE III

or

Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) grade C

 
 
 

Comment on this page

Did you find the information you were looking for? Is there a broken link or content that needs updating? Let us know so we can improve the page.

Note: If you need further information or have a question that cannot be satisfied by this page, please call our switchboard on +44 (0)1784 434455.

This window will close when you submit your comment.

Add Your Feedback
Close