English Language Requirements

To be accepted onto our programmes, you must be able to satisfy the University's English language requirements. The level required will depend on the programme you are applying for. We strive to make your application process as easy as possible, however in all cases we reserve the right to request an English language qualification and / or conduct an interview.

We accept a wide range of English language qualifications including:

IELTS Academic and IELTS Academic Online
IELTS One Skill Retake
TOEFL and TOEFL iBT
Pearson Academic (PTE)
Password Test (taken at NCUK centres only)
Language Cert International ESOL SELT
Kaplan International Tools for English (KITE)
Cambridge Advanced Test (CAE)
Cambridge Proficiency Test (CPE)

Please note - we do not accept any online versions of the qualifications listed above unless specified, and for tests which include multiple components (e.g. speaking, writing, reading, listening), these need to be taken within the same test; we are unable to accept if individual components have been taken separately.

Tests must be taken within the last 2 years from the start date of the course you are applying to study at Aston University.

Check the tables below on this page to find out our required scores for a range of English language tests.

Main Entry IELTS Minimum Band Scores

Undergraduate (Bachelor Degrees)

School/Programme	Reading	Writing	Listening	Speaking	Overall
Aston Medical School	7.0	7.0	7.0	7.0	7.0
Aston Business School	Two bands at 5.5 and other bands at 6.0 and above	Two bands at 5.5 and other bands at 6.0 and above	-	-	6.5
Engineering and Physical Sciences	5.5	5.5	5.5	5.5	6.0
Health and Life Sciences (except Aston Medical School)	6.0	6.0	6.0	6.0	6.5
Health and Life Sciences (Optometry)	6.5	6.5	6.5	6.5	7.0
School of Social Sciences and Humanities	5.5	5.5	5.5	5.5	6.0

* The above is applicable to students entering Years 1 and 2 of undergraduate programmes. Articulation into the Final year will vary depending on the degree programme and subject to the agreement with the partner.

** BSc Biochemistry, BSc Neuroscience, BSc Biology, and BSc Psychology programmes (all) will accept applications from candidates where one band is at 5.5 and the others at 6.0 and above.

Postgraduate Taught (Masters Programmes)

School / Programme	Reading	Writing	Listening	Speaking	Overall
Aston Business School	1 band at 5.5 as a minimum. Other bands at 6.0 and above				6.5
Aston Business School - MBA	1 band at 5.5 as a minimum. Other bands at 6.0 and above				6.5
Engineering and Physical Sciences	5.5	5.5	5.5	5.5	6.0
Engineering and Physical Sciences - Engineering Systems and Management Programmes	6.0	6.0	6.0	6.0	6.5
Health and Life Sciences	6.0	6.0	6.0	6.0	6.5
Health and Life Sciences - OSPAP	7.0	7.0	7.0	7.0	7.0
School of Social Sciences and Humanities	1 band at 5.5 as a minimum. Other bands at 6.0 and above				6.5

Postgraduate Research Programmes

School / Programme	Reading	Writing	Listening	Speaking	Overall
Aston Business School	6.5	6.5	6.0	6.0	6.5
Engineering and Physical Sciences	6.0	6.0	6.0	6.0	6.5
Health and Life Sciences	6.0	6.0	6.0	6.0	6.5
School of Social Sciences and Humanities	6.5	6.5	6.0	6.0	6.5

Main Entry TOEFL Minimum Band Scores

Undergraduate (Bachelor Degrees)

School / Programme	Reading	Writing	Listening	Speaking	Overall
Aston Medical School	26	28	26	23	101

Aston Business School

Reading	Writing	Listening	Speaking	Overall
12	20	11	17	93	No more than 2 bands in red
18	23	19	19

Engineering and Physical Sciences	12	20	11	17	78
Health and Life Sciences (except Aston Medical School)	18	23	19	19	93
Health and Life Sciences – OSPAP	26	28	26	23	101
School of Social Sciences and Humanities	12	20	11	17	78

** BSc Biochemistry, BSc Neuroscience, BSc Biology, and BSc Psychology programmes (all) will accept applications from candidates where one band is at 5.5 and the others at 6.0 and above.

Postgraduate Taught (Masters Programmes)

Aston Business School

Reading	Writing	Listening	Speaking	Overall
12	20	11	17	93	Only 1 band in red
18	23	19	19

	Reading	Writing	Listening	Speaking	Overall
Engineering and Physical Sciences	12	20	11	17	78
Engineering and Physical Sciences - Engineering Systems and Management Programmes	18	23	19	19	93
Health and Life Sciences (except Aston Medical School)	18	23	19	19	93
Health and Life Sciences – OSPAP	26	28	26	23	101

School of Social Sciences and Humanities

Reading	Writing	Listening	Speaking	Overall
12	20	11	17	93	Only 1 band in red
18	23	19	19

Postgraduate Research Programmes

School / Programme	Reading	Writing	Listening	Speaking	Overall
Aston Business School	22	26	19	19	93
Engineering and Physical Sciences	18	23	19	19	93
Health and Life Sciences	18	23	19	19	93
School of Social Sciences and Humanities	22	26	19	19	93

Main Entry Pearson Minimum Band Scores

School / Programme	Reading	Writing	Listening	Speaking	Overall
Undergraduate (Bachelor Degrees)
Aston Medical School	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Aston Business School	Two bands at 59 and other bands at 64 and above				67
Engineering and Physical Sciences	59	59	59	59	64
Health and Life Sciences (except Aston Medical School)	64	64	64	64	67
School of Social Sciences and Humanities	59	59	59	59	64
* The above is applicable to students entering Years 1 and 2 of undergraduate programmes. Articulation into the Final year will vary depending on the degree programme and subject to the agreement with the partner. ** BSc Biochemistry, BSc Neuroscience, BSc Biology, and BSc Psychology programmes (all) will accept applications from candidates where one band is at 42 and the others at 50 and above.
Postgraduate Taught (Masters Programmes)
School / Programme	Reading	Writing	Listening	Speaking	Overall
Aston Business School	1 band at 59 as a minimum. Other bands at 64 and above				67
Aston Business School – MBA	1 band at 59 as a minimum. Other bands at 64 and above				67
Engineering and Physical Sciences	59	59	59	59	64
Engineering and Physical Sciences - Engineering Systems and Management Programmes	64	64	64	64	67
Health and Life Sciences	64	64	64	64	67
Health and Life Sciences – OSPAP	76	76	76	76	76
School of Social Sciences and Humanities	1 band at 59 as a minimum. Other bands at 64 and above				67

Postgraduate Research Programmes
School / Programme	Reading	Writing	Listening	Speaking	Overall
Aston Business School	67	67	64	64	67
Engineering and Physical Sciences	64	64	64	64	67
Health and Life Sciences	64	64	64	64	67
School of Social Sciences and Humanities	67	67	64	64	67

Language Cert International ESOL SELT

Undergraduate

School/Programme	Reading	Writing	Listening	Speaking	Overall
Aston Medical School	C1 33/50	C1 33/50	C1 33/50	C1 33/50	N/A
Aston Business School	B2 39/50	B2 39/50	B2 39/50	B2 39/50	N/A
College of Engineering and Physical Sciences	B2 33/50	B2 33/50	B2 33/50	B2 33/50	N/A
College of Health and Life Sciences (excl. Aston Medical School)	B2 39/50	B2 39/50	B2 39/50	B2 39/50	N/A
School of Social Sciences and Humanities	B2 33/50	B2 33/50	B2 33/50	B2 33/50	N/A

School/Programme	Reading	Writing	Listening	Speaking	Overall
Aston Business School (incl. MBA)	B2 39/50	B2 39/50	B2 39/50	B2 39/50	N/A
College of Engineering and Physical Sciences	B2 33/50	B2 33/50	B2 33/50	B2 33/50	N/A
College of Engineering and Physical Sciences (Engineering Systems and Management programmes)	B2 39/50	B2 39/50	B2 39/50	B2 39/50	N/A
College of Health and Life Sciences	B2 39/50	B2 39/50	B2 39/50	B2 39/50	N/A
College of Health and Life Sciences (OSPAP only)	C1 33/50	C1 33/50	C1 33/50	C1 33/50	N/A
School of Social Sciences and Humanities	B2 39/50	B2 39/50	B2 39/50	B2 39/50	N/A

Postgraduate research

School/Programme	Reading	Writing	Listening	Speaking	Overall
Aston Business School	B2 39/50	B2 39/50	B2 33/50	B2 33/50	N/A
College of Engineering and Physical Sciences	B2 39/50	B2 39/50	B2 39/50	B2 39/50	N/A
College of Health and Life Sciences	B2 39/50	B2 39/50	B2 39/50	B2 39/50	N/A
School of Social Sciences and Humanities	B2 39/50	B2 39/50	B2 39/50	B2 39/50	N/A

KITE - Kaplan International Tools for English

Register for the KITE test

Please register here to take the test

Undergraduate (Bachelor degrees)

School/programme	Reading	Writing	Listening	Speaking	Overall
Aston Medical School	495-526	495-526	495-526	495-526	495-526
*Aston Business School	Two bands at 396-425	Two bands at minimum 426-458	-	-	459-494
Engineering and Physical Sciences	396-425	396-425	396-425	396-425	426-458
Health and Life Sciences (except Aston Medical School)	426-458	426-458	426-458	426-458	459-494
Health and Life Sciences (Optometry)	459-494	459-494	459-494	459-494	495-526
School of Social Sciences and Humanities	396-425	396-425	396-425	396-425	426-458

Postgraduate Taught (Masters programmes)

Please note: KITE test is not accepted for postgraduate research

School/Programme	Reading	Writing	Listening	Speaking	Overall
*Aston Business School	One band at 396-425 and other bands at minimum 426-458	-	-	-	459-494
*Aston Business School MBA	One band at 396-425 and other bands at minimum 426-458	-	-	-	459-494
Engineering and Physical Sciences	396-425	396-425	396-425	396-425	426-458
Engineering and Physical Sciences - Engineering Systems and Management Programmes	426-458	426-458	426-458	426-458	459-494
Health and Life Sciences	426-458	426-458	426-458	426-458	459-494
Health and Life Sciences - OSPAP	495-526	495-526	495-526	495-526	495-526
*School of Social Sciences and Humanities	One band at 396-425 and other bands at	-	-	-	459-594

If you meet any of the criteria below, then you may not need to provide an English language qualification:

Graduated from a UK university?

If you studied for a minimum period of one year in the UK and achieved at least a 2:2 within the last two years then we will consider you to have met Aston’s English language requirements for Postgraduate study.

National of a majority English Speaking Country

If you have one of the following nationalities and you hold a degree level qualification or a University approved A level equivalent qualification from one of these countries then you will be exempt from the English Language requirements:

Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, New Zealand, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago United States of America.

Academic qualification equivalent to a UK Degree - Taught in majority English Speaking Country

If you have a qualification from overseas and it is deemed to be equivalent to a UK degree. The degree must have been taught in one of the following majority English speaking countries:

Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, New Zealand, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, United States of America.

You must have graduated within the last two years.

Students will also have to provide provide official documentation produced by UK NARIC which confirms the evaluation that the overseas academic qualification is equivalent to a UK degree (does not include professional or vocational qualifications).

Exemptions for undergraduate applicants

If you have studied or are studying recognised qualifications in English, such as GCSE English or IB, an IELTS qualification is not required provided you meet our minimum requirements.

Unfortunately, this does not apply to any courses below degree level.

We accept GCSE grades - the requirements vary per course and they are listed on each course webpage.

If you have studied the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme, we accept either a Standard or a Higher Level English Language or Literature. For courses which typically require 6 or 6.5 in IELTS, we will ask for 4. For courses which require 7 in IELTS, we will ask for 5. You can check our IELTS requirements table above to check your course/college IELTS requirement which will inform the IB score that we require. IB entry requirements are also specified on each course webpage.

These don't apply to me

If you don't meet the above criteria you will need to meet our English language requirements as listed below.

For applicants whose English falls short of our minimum entry requirements we provide a range of Pre-sessional English Language programmes which aim to enable our applicants to reach our requisite levels of English and help them to become more confident about studying in English in the UK.

See pre-sessional dates and costs.

Which English Language test should I take?

IELTS

If you have been asked to provide evidence of an IELTS Academic test (not the IELTS General test) at a certain level, there are now two to choose from.

A standard IELTS Academic test. IELTS Academic test from a UKVI approved test centre.

The following applies to those who need a Student visa and have been made an offer based on an IELTS score:

If you have a direct entry unconditional offer for an undergraduate or postgraduate programme, you can take any IELTS Academic test, whether from a UKVI approved centre or not. If you require a CAS for a single Pre-sessional course or have been made an unconditional offer for a Foundation year you must take your IELTS Academic test from a UKVI approved test centre. If you are not sure which to choose, we strongly recommend that you take the UKVI approved test. If you have any further questions, please contact the Visa Compliance Team or alternatively please contact the International Office.

TOEFL

We will only accept TOEFL for Undergraduate and Postgraduate programmes, and will be able to issue your CAS to support your overseas Student Visa application (if you hold a suitable level). However, we will not be able to accept TOEFL for programmes below degree level, including Foundation and pre-sessional programmes.

If you have been made an offer for direct entry on to an undergraduate or postgraduate programme, then we will still accept a range of qualifications as evidence of your English Language ability, and you are NOT required to provide evidence of these for a Tier 4 visa application.