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 list of acceptable English Language tests below is correct as of January 2023 and apply for entry in the 2022/23 academic year for the King’s programmes specified below.

Please note that these may be subject to change each admissions cycle and some tests listed below may not be accepted for 2024/25 entry.

If a test you have completed is not listed below, unfortunately we are unable to accept it as meeting our English language requirements.

The level of English language you are required to demonstrate is dependent on the programme you have applied for. The bands below show the level of English language competence required for undergraduate programmes, and the English language tests accepted.

If you have taken an IELTS Academic test, you can use our Pre-sessional English calculator to check if your scores meet the requirements of your programme, or to calculate which Pre-sessional English course you may need to consider.  

If you currently hold an offer from King's that is conditional on taking 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.  

All English Language test results must be sent via King’s Apply before the deadline in your offer. Please send a message with a scanned copy of your test report or certificate attached. We cannot accept results submitted via post.

Nationals of the following countries, who have successfully completed a high school level 3 qualification (A-level equivalent) from a majority English speaking country are not required to complete an additional English language test.* The qualification studied must follow the education system of a majority English speaking country.

• Antigua & Barbuda
• Australia
• Barbados
• Belize
• British Overseas Territories
• Canada
• Dominica
• Grenada
• Guyana
• Ireland
• Jamaica
• Malta
• New Zealand
• St Kitts & Nevis
• St Lucia
• St Vincent & the Grenadines
• The Bahamas
• Trinidad & Tobago
• U.K.
• U.S.A.

* This is with the exception of King's Foundations. Please see King's Foundations section for full details on acceptable qualifications.

Which programmes?

• Dentistry Entry Programme for Medical Graduates BDS

Please read all of the below information carefully as there are a wide range 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.

If you require a Student visa to study in the UK, we are able to accept any of the tests/qualifications from sections 1 to 4.

If you do not require a Student visa to study in the UK, we are able to accept any of the tests/qualifications from sections 1 to 5.

Section 1 - English language proficiency tests

The tests listed below are valid if they have been taken within two years of the start date of your chosen programme. The start date for the purposes of English language requirements is the 1st day of the month in which your programme commences, i.e. if your programme starts in September 2023, the test must be dated within two years of 1st September 2023. All elements of the test results must be demonstrated in one test. We cannot take a combination of your scores across two tests. We cannot take TOEFL MyBest scores.

Section 2 - King's Foundations

King's Foundations offers programmes to help students reach the language and skills level required for entry onto our undergraduate programmes.

Section 3 - A-level, AS-level, International Baccalaureate and GCSE/IGCSE

Note: The tests listed below are valid if they have been taken within five years before the start date of your chosen programme of study. The start date for the purposes of English language requirements is the 1st day of the month in which your programme commences i.e. if your programme starts in September, the qualification must be within five years of 1st September.

Please note: all IGCSE English qualifications requiring Speaking and/or Listening must have this separately endorsed on their Candidate Statement of Results and/or certificate. Evidence must be provided with your application - please send a scan of your IGCSE certificate and Statement of Results via King’s Apply after you have submitted an application.

We accept all GCSE English Language specifications that are currently available in the UK.

Section 4 - International school level English language qualifications

Note: The tests listed below are valid if they have been taken within five years before the start date of your chosen programme of study. The start date for the purposes of English language requirements is the 1st day of the month in which your programme commences i.e. if your programme starts in September, the qualification must be within five years of 1st September.

If you have already completed the qualification, please send a scan of your certificate via King’s Apply after you have submitted an application.

If you do not require a Student visa to study in the UK, we are additionally able to accept any of the qualifications from section 5.

Section 5 - European English language qualifications

Note: The tests listed below are valid if they have been taken within five years before the start date of your chosen programme of study for applicants who do not require a Student visa. The start date for the purposes of English language requirements is the 1st day of the month in which your programme commences i.e. if your programme starts in September, the qualification must be within five years of 1st September.

If you have already completed the qualification, please send a scan of your certificate via King’s Apply after you have submitted an application.

If you require a Student visa to study in the UK and are completing one of the following qualifications, you will have to obtain an additional English language test/qualification from those listed in sections 1 to 4.

Which programmes?

This band applies to the following faculties:

• Faculty of Arts & Humanities
• Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy
• Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery & Palliative Care (excluding Nursing Studies for qualified healthcare professionals BSc)
• Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience
• King's Business School
• Medicine/Dentistry (excluding Dental Therapy & Hygiene BSc and Dentistry Entry Programme for Medical Graduates BDS)
• Study Abroad (Incoming)
• The Dickson Poon School of Law

The following programmes:

• Nutritional Sciences BSc
• Physiotherapy BSc
• Pharmacy MPharm

Please read all of the below information carefully as there are a wide range 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.

If you require a Student visa to study in the UK, we are able to accept any of the tests/qualifications from sections 1 to 4.

If you do not require a Student visa to study in the UK, we are able to accept any of the tests/qualifications from sections 1 to 5.

Section 1 - English language proficiency tests

The tests listed below are valid if they have been taken within two years of the start date of your chosen programme. The start date for the purposes of English language requirements is the 1st day of the month in which your programme commences, i.e. if your programme starts in September 2023, the test must be dated within two years of 1st September 2023. All elements of the test results must be demonstrated in one test. We cannot take a combination of your scores across two tests. We cannot take TOEFL MyBest scores.

Section 2 - King's Foundations

King's Foundations offers programmes to help students reach the language and skills level required for entry onto our undergraduate programmes.

Section 3 - A-level, AS-level, International Baccalaureate and GCSE/IGCSE

Note: The tests listed below are valid if they have been taken within five years before the start date of your chosen programme of study. The start date for the purposes of English language requirements is the 1st day of the month in which your programme commences i.e. if your programme starts in September, the qualification must be within five years of 1st September.

Please note: all IGCSE English qualifications requiring Speaking and/or Listening must have this separately endorsed on their Candidate Statement of Results and/or certificate. Evidence must be provided with your application - please send a scan of your IGCSE certificate and Statement of Results via King’s Apply after you have submitted an application.

We accept all GCSE English Language specifications that are currently available in the UK.

Section 4 - International school level English language qualifications

Note: The tests listed below are valid if they have been taken within five years before the start date of your chosen programme of study. The start date for the purposes of English language requirements is the 1st day of the month in which your programme commences i.e. if your programme starts in September, the qualification must be within five years of 1st September.

If you have already completed the qualification, please send a scan of your certificate via King’s Apply after you have submitted an application.

If you do not require a Student visa to study in the UK, we are additionally able to accept any of the qualifications from section 5.

Section 5 - European English language qualifications

Note: The tests listed below are valid if they have been taken within five years before the start date of your chosen programme of study for applicants who do not require a Student visa. The start date for the purposes of English language requirements is the 1st day of the month in which your programme commences i.e. if your programme starts in September, the qualification must be within five years of 1st September.

If you have already completed the qualification, please send a scan of your certificate via King’s Apply after you have submitted an application.

If you require a Student visa to study in the UK and are completing one of the following qualifications, you will have to obtain an additional English language test/qualification from those listed in sections 1 to 4.

This band is applicable only to postgraduate programmes.

Which programmes?

This band applies to the following faculty:

• Faculty of Natural, Mathematical & Engineering Sciences

The following programmes:

• Anatomy Developmental and Human Biology BSc
• Biochemistry BSc
• Biomedical Engineering BEng/MEng
• Biomedical Science BSc
• Dental Therapy & Hygiene BSc
• Medical Physiology BSc
• Molecular Genetics BSc
• Neuroscience BSc
• Nursing Studies for qualified healthcare professionals BSc
• Pharmacology BSc

If you require a Student visa to study in the UK, we are able to accept any of the tests/qualifications from sections 1 to 4.

If you do not require a Student visa to study in the UK, we are able to accept any of the tests/qualifications from sections 1 to 5.

Section 1 - English language proficiency tests

The tests listed below are valid if they have been taken within two years of the start date of your chosen programme. The start date for the purposes of English language requirements is the 1st day of the month in which your programme commences, i.e. if your programme starts in September 2023, the test must be dated within two years of 1st September 2023. All elements of the test results must be demonstrated in one test. We cannot take a combination of your scores across two tests. We cannot take TOEFL MyBest scores.

Section 2 - King's Foundations

King's Foundations offer a number of programmes to help students reach the language and skills level required for entry onto our undergraduate programmes.

Section 3 - A-level, AS-level, International Baccalaureate and GCSE/IGCSE

Note: The tests listed below are valid if they have been taken within five years before the start date of your chosen programme of study. The start date for the purposes of English language requirements is the 1st day of the month in which your programme commences i.e. if your programme starts in September, the qualification must be within five years of 1st September.

Please note: all IGCSE English qualifications requiring Speaking and/or Listening must have this separately endorsed on their Candidate Statement of Results and/or certificate. Evidence must be provided with your application - please send a scan of your IGCSE certificate and Statement of Results via King’s Apply after you have submitted an application.

We accept all GCSE English Language specifications that are currently available in the UK.

Section 4 - International school level English language qualifications

Note: The tests listed below are valid if they have been taken within five years before the start date of your chosen programme of study. The start date for the purposes of English language requirements is the 1st day of the month in which your programme commences i.e. if your programme starts in September, the qualification must be within five years of 1st September.

If you have already completed the qualification, please send a scan of your certificate via King’s Apply after you have submitted an application.

If you do not require a Student visa to study in the UK, we are additionally able to accept any of the qualifications from section 5.

Section 5 - European English language qualifications

Note: The tests listed below are valid if they have been taken within five years before the start date of your chosen programme of study for applicants who do not require a Student visa. The start date for the purposes of English language requirements is the 1st day of the month in which your programme commences i.e. if your programme starts in September, the qualification must be within five years of 1st September.

If you have already completed the qualification, please send a scan of your certificate via King’s Apply after you have submitted an application.

If you require a Student visa to study in the UK and are completing one of the following qualifications, you will have to obtain an additional English language test/qualification from those listed in sections 1 to 4.

Which programmes?

• Currently no programmes require Band E English.

Which programmes?

This Band applies to all programmes within:

• King's International Foundation
• Extended King's International Foundation

Please read all of the below information carefully as there are a wide range 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.

For applicants requiring a Student visa

If you need to apply for a Student visa to study in the UK, we can only accept IELTS and Pearson results that have been provided by test centres approved by UK Visas and Immigration: IELTS for UKVI (Academic) and PTE (Academic) UKVI are only valid if taken within two years before the start date of your chosen programme of study. You can find a list of approved test centres on the UKVI website.

*Students who exceed this requirement should apply for the King's International Foundation. Students who exceed this requirement and still want to be considered for the Extended King's International Foundation will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the Admissions Tutor.

For applicants not requiring a Student visa

We accept a number of other English language tests if you do not require a Student visa to study in the UK:

*Students who exceed this requirement should apply for the King's International Foundation. Students who exceed this requirement and still want to be considered for the Extended King's International Foundation will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the Admissions Tutor.

Which programmes?

All incoming study abroad applicants are required to meet the English language requirements set out in Band B.

Applicants who require a Student visa to study in the UK will need to complete one of the acceptable English Language tests listed in sections 1-4 of Band B.

Applicants who do not require a Student visa to study in the UK or applicants who are applying for semester only programmes can complete one of the acceptable English Language tests listed in sections 1-5 of Band B. Alternatively, we may be able to accept a letter of English language proficiency from your home institution. For further information about this please contact the Admissions team via King’s Apply.

Exemptions

If you are a national of a UKVI defined majority English speaking country, you will not be required to take an English language test, please see the list of countries in the ‘Nationality’ section at the top of this page.