English language requirements (PG)
To study at King’s, it is essential that you can communicate effectively in English and are able to do so in an academic environment. You are usually required to provide certification of your competence in English before starting your studies. The exception is if the university is satisfied that your previous academic record shows that you can study and be examined in the English language.
Please note that these may be subject to change in line with developments to UK Visas and Immigration policy.
If your first language is not English you must be able to provide recent evidence that your spoken and written command of the English language is adequate for the programmes for which you have applied.
The level of English language you are required to demonstrate is dependent upon the programme for which you have applied. Please select from one of the five bands below for more information about the level of English language competence required for your programme of study, and the English language tests accepted.
You can also use our Pre-sessional English calculator to check if your current English (IELTS) scores meet the requirements of your programme, or to calculate which Pre-sessional English course you may
need to consider.
Unless specified, requirements are the same for postgraduate taught (PGT) programmes and postgraduate research programmes (PGR).
If you currently hold an offer from King's to take an English language test and you have questions, or need to submit your test results, please contact your Admissions team through your King's Apply account.
Band A
Please read all of the below information carefully as there are a number of English language tests we can accept to meet our English language requirements.
If a test you have completed is not listed below, unfortunately we are unable to accept it as meeting our English language requirements.
English Language Proficiency Tests
The tests listed below are valid if they have been taken within the past two years, for example, if your course begins in September 2020 you must have completed your English Language test between 1 September 2018 to 31 August 2020.
All elements of the test results must be demonstrated in one test (for example, we cannot take a combination of your scores across two tests).
Band A PG English Language
| King's International Pre-Master's programme |
Pass with B+ minimum
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|---|
| King's Pre-Sessional English Language courses |
Pass with Band 7
Apply to King's Pre-sessional English Language courses
|
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| Cambridge Advanced Certificate (CAE) / Cambridge C1 Advanced |
191 overall; minimum 185 in all skills
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| Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) / Cambridge C2 Proficiency |
191 overall; minimum 185 in all skills
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|---|
| IELTS (Academic) |
7.5 overall with a minimum of 7.0 in each skill
|
|---|
| Pearson Test of English (Academic) |
75 overall with a minimum of 69 in each communicative skill
|
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| TOEFL iBT Institution code: 0394 OR TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition |
109 overall with 27 in writing and a minimum of 25 in each of the other skills
|
|---|
| Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE) |
Level III (ISEIII) with distinction in each skill
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| Duolingo English Test, with an additional English competency test administered by King’s |
We are only accepting the Duolingo English test in specific circumstances:
Minimum score to achieve: 115
Applicants meeting the minimum score above will then need to complete the additional King’s-administered English competency test. Details of this will be provided via King’s Apply when scores have been verified.
*We will stop considering Duolingo in these countries in the event that English language testing centres reopen or a recognised test becomes available.
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|---|
Band B
Which programmes?
This band applies to all programmes within:
-
Department of Culture, Media & Creative Industries (PGT)
-
Department of Physiotherapy
-
Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy
-
King's Business School
-
Study Abroad (Incoming)
-
The Dickson Poon School of Law
-
Doctorate in Clinical Psychology DClinPsy
-
MSc Nutrition and MSc/PGDip Dietetics
Please read all of the below information carefully as there are a number of English language tests we can accept to meet our English language requirements.
If a test you have completed is not listed below, unfortunately we are unable to accept it as meeting our English language requirements.
English Language Proficiency Tests
The tests listed below are valid if they have been taken within the past two years, for example, if your course begins in September 2020 you must have completed your English Language test between 1 September 2018 to 31 August 2020.
All elements of the test results must be demonstrated in one test (for example, we cannot take a combination of your scores across two tests).
Band B PG English Language
| King's International Pre-Master's programme |
Pass with B+ minimum
|
|---|
| King's Pre-Sessional English Language courses |
Pass with Band 7
Apply to King's Pre-sessional English Language courses
|
|---|
| Cambridge Advanced Certificate (CAE) / Cambridge C1 Advanced |
185 overall; minimum 176 in all skills
|
|---|
| Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) / Cambridge C2 Proficiency |
185 overall; minimum 176 in all skills
|
|---|
| IELTS (Academic) |
7.0 overall with a minimum of 6.5 in each skill
|
|---|
| Pearson Test of English (Academic) |
69 overall with a minimum of 62 in each communicative skill
|
|---|
| TOEFL iBT Institution code: 0394 OR TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition |
100 overall with a minimum of 25 in writing and 23 in each of the other skills
|
|---|
| Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE) |
Level III (ISEIII) with merit in each skill
|
|---|
| Duolingo English Test, with an additional English competency test administered by King’s |
We are only accepting the Duolingo English test in specific circumstances:
Minimum score to achieve: 115
Applicants meeting the minimum score above will then need to complete the additional King’s-administered English competency test. Details of this will be provided via King’s Apply when scores have been verified.
*We will stop considering Duolingo in these countries in the event that English language testing centres reopen or a recognised test becomes available.
|
|---|
Band C
Which programmes?
This band applies to all programmes within:
Please read all of the below information carefully as there are a number of English language tests we can accept to meet our English language requirements.
If a test you have completed is not listed below, unfortunately we are unable to accept it as meeting our English language requirements.
English Language Requirements
The tests listed below are valid if they have been taken within the past two years, for example, if your course begins in September 2020 you must have completed your English Language test between 1 September 2018 to 31 August 2020.
All elements of the test results must be demonstrated in one test (for example, we cannot take a combination of your scores across two tests).
Band C PG English language
| King's International Pre-Master's programme |
Pass with B+ minimum
|
|---|
| King's Pre-Sessional English Language courses |
Pass with Band 7
Apply to King's Pre-sessional English Language courses
|
|---|
| Cambridge Advanced Certificate (CAE) / Cambridge C1 Advanced |
185 overall; minimum 176 in reading & writing and 169 in listening & speaking
|
|---|
| Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) / Cambridge C2 Proficiency |
185 overall; minimum 176 in reading & writing and 169 in listening & speaking
|
|---|
| IELTS (Academic) |
7.0 overall with a minimum of 6.5 in reading & writing and 6.0 in listening & speaking
|
|---|
| Pearson Test of English (Academic) |
69 overall, with a minimum of 62 in reading & writing and 59 in listening & speaking
|
|---|
| TOEFL iBT Institution code: 0394 OR TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition |
100 overall with a minimum of 25 in writing, 23 in reading and 20 in each of the other skills
|
|---|
| Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE) |
Level III (ISEIII) with merit in reading & writing and pass in listening & speaking
|
|---|
| Duolingo English Test, with an additional English competency test administered by King’s |
We are only accepting the Duolingo English test in specific circumstances:
Minimum score to achieve: 115
Applicants meeting the minimum score above will then need to complete the additional King’s-administered English competency test. Details of this will be provided via King’s Apply when scores have been verified.
*We will stop considering Duolingo in these countries in the event that English language testing centres reopen or a recognised test becomes available.
|
|---|
Band D
Which programmes?
This band applies to all programmes within:
-
The Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences
-
Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine (excluding Department of Physiotherapy, MSc Nutrition and MSc/PGDip Dietetics, MA Clinical Education & MSc/PGDip/PGCert Ultrasound (all courses and pathways) - see Band B)
-
Faculty of Natural & Mathematical Sciences (Taught Masters programmes)
-
Faculty of Natural & Mathematical Sciences (Research programmes) - for 2020/21 academic year entry onwards.
-
Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery & Palliative Care
-
MSc Computing, IT Law and Management
-
Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (excluding Doctorate in Clinical Psychology DClinPsy - see Band B)
Please read all of the below information carefully as there are a number of English language tests we can accept to meet our English language requirements.
If a test you have completed is not listed below, unfortunately we are unable to accept it as meeting our English language requirements.
English Language Proficiency Tests
The tests listed below are valid if they have been taken within the past two years, for example, if your course begins in September 2020 you must have completed your English Language test between 1 September 2018 to 31 August 2020.
All elements of the test results must be demonstrated in one test (for example, we cannot take a combination of your scores across two tests).
Band D PG English Language
| King's International Pre-Master's programme |
Pass with B+ minimum
|
|---|
| King's Pre-Sessional English Language courses |
Pass with Band 6.5
Apply to King's Pre-sessional English Language courses
|
|---|
| Cambridge Advanced Certificate (CAE) / Cambridge C1 Advanced |
176 overall; minimum 169 in all skills
|
|---|
| Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) / Cambridge C2 Proficiency |
176 overall; minimum 169 in each skill
|
|---|
| IELTS (Academic) |
6.5 overall with a minimum of 6.0 in each skill
|
|---|
| Pearson Test of English (Academic) |
62 overall with a minimum of 59 in each communicative skill
|
|---|
| TOEFL iBT Institution code: 0394 OR TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition |
92 overall with a minimum of 23 in writing and 20 in each of the other skills
|
|---|
| Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE) |
Level III (ISEIII) with pass in each skill
|
|---|
| Duolingo English Test, with an additional English competency test administered by King’s |
We are only accepting the Duolingo English test in specific circumstances:
Minimum score to achieve: 115
Applicants meeting the minimum score above will then need to complete the additional King’s-administered English competency test. Details of this will be provided via King’s Apply when scores have been verified.
*We will stop considering Duolingo in these countries in the event that English language testing centres reopen or a recognised test becomes available.
|
|---|
Band E
Which programmes?
This band applies to all programmes within:
Please read all of the below information carefully as there are a number of English language tests we can accept to meet our English language requirements.
If a test you have completed is not listed below, unfortunately we are unable to accept it as meeting our English language requirements.
English Language Proficiency Tests
The tests listed below are valid if they have been taken within the past two years, for example, if your course begins in September 2020 you must have completed your English Language test between 1 September 2018 to 31 August 2020.
All elements of the test results must be demonstrated in one test (for example, we cannot take a combination of your scores across two tests).
Band E PG English Language
| King's International Pre-Master's programme |
Pass with B minimum
|
|---|
| King's Pre-Sessional English Language courses |
Pass with Band 6
Apply to King's Pre-sessional English Language courses
|
|---|
| Cambridge Advanced Certificate (CAE) / Cambridge C1 Advanced |
169 overall with a minimum of 160 in each skill
|
|---|
| Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) / Cambridge C2 Proficiency |
169 overall with a minimum of 160 in each skill
|
|---|
| IELTS (Academic) |
6.0 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each skill
|
|---|
| Pearson Test of English (Academic) |
59 overall, with a minimum of 54 in each communicative skill
|
|---|
TOEFL iBT Institution code: 0394 OR
TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition |
80 overall, with a minimum 20 in each skill
|
|---|
| Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE) |
Level III (ISEIII) with pass in each skill
|
|---|
| Duolingo English Test, with an additional English competency test administered by King’s |
We are only accepting the Duolingo English test in specific circumstances:
Minimum score to achieve: 115
Applicants meeting the minimum score above will then need to complete the additional King’s-administered English competency test. Details of this will be provided via King’s Apply when scores have been verified.
*We will stop considering Duolingo in these countries in the event that English language testing centres reopen or a recognised test becomes available.
|
|---|
English requirements for Study Abroad
Which programmes?
All study abroad applicants are required to meet the English Language requirements set out in Band B.
Exemptions
Study Abroad applicants in the following situation will to not be required to sit an English Language test:
Competency for nationals of a UKVI defined majority English speaking countries
If you are a national of a majority English speaking country (please see table below)
Competency through Higher education in a UKVI defined majority English speaking country
If you are currently enrolled at a university in a UKVI defined majority English speaking country. You must have successfully completed 1 year of study and a University recognised on NARIC at the required academic standard for entry.
Competency through previous education in a UKVI defined majority English speaking country
You must have obtained a University level qualification from a UKVI defined majority English speaking country, no more than 5 years prior to the course start date.
Nationality
Nationals of the following countries who have successfully completed an undergraduate degree (of at least three years duration), a postgraduate taught degree (of at least one year) or a PhD in one of the following countries are not required to complete an additional English language test:
| Antigua & Barbuda |
Jamaica |
| Australia |
Ireland |
| The Bahamas |
New Zealand |
| Barbados |
St Kitts & Nevis |
| Belize |
St Lucia |
| Canada * |
St Vincent & the Grenadines |
| Dominica |
Trinidad & Tobago |
| Grenada |
UK |
| Guyana |
USA |
* Canadian qualifications must be obtained from an English-speaking institution in order to meet our English language requirements.
Please note, degrees must have been completed within five years of the proposed entry date, and English language competency is assessed on a case-by-case basis. In certain circumstances you may be asked to demonstrate your English proficiency by taking a recognised test.
King's Foundations
King's Foundations offers programmes to help students reach their required language and skills level for entry onto our graduate programmes:
For more information on any of these programmes, please visit the King's Foundations website or email Kings-foundations@kcl.ac.uk for further details.