English Language Requirements For International Students

MDX in-house English test

Section B5 of the University Regulations outlines the requirements for English language that all applicants whose first language is not English are required to meet. Many English language qualifications have an expiry date. These tests will only be considered if they are valid at the point of entry.

Applicants are expected to demonstrate to the required level their English language capability. There are a number of ways this can be achieved. Applicants can:

Reach a satisfactory standard in an approved test in English as outlined in the ‘Middlesex University Approved English Language Tests’ List, or
Offering the successful completion of a full Bachelors or Master’s degree from an approved University that has been taught and assessed in English and a NARIC certificate is provided, or
Being a national of a majority English speaking country if during the application process it has been demonstrated that they are able to understand all facets of English competencies to the required level, or
Successfully Completing a suitable Pre‐Sessional Academic English language course validated or approved by Middlesex University

Majority English‐speaking countries are defined as follows: Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Malta, New Zealand, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom and USA.

Applicants who are hoping to meet the English Language requirement as described in point 2 above will be required to submit a NARIC certificate confirming the equivalent level of the degree alongside an official letter from the university confirming that the degree was taught in English or an original and official certificate from the university where the degree was awarded confirming that the degree was taught or researched in a majority English‐speaking country.

Approved Universities are:

Any University accredited by a government of a majority English speaking country
Universities and Community Colleges based in Hong Kong and Singapore
University of Malta

Some programmes with professional registration requirements may exceed the University’s requirements and must also be met.

Exemptions granted by test providers for applicants with disabilities, who cannot demonstrate all four competencies of English language, will normally be taken into consideration and accepted at the point of admission.

Middlesex University approved English Language tests for international applicants

Accepted validity – 2 years from exam date. View exceptional courses.

Qualification	Undergraduate programmes (apart from exceptional programmes)	Business and Law postgraduate programmes	Postgraduate courses (apart from exceptional programmes)/ Veterinary Nursing BSc	Exceptions
GCSE/IGCSE/O‐Level/International Cambridge O Level English (as a first or second language)	Grade C or 4 if taken in England since September 2016	Grade C or 4 if taken in England since September 2016	Grade C or 4 if taken in England since September 2016; *Scriptwriting MA overall grade B/3	Grade C or 4 if taken in England since September 2016
MDX Internal English Test	3.0 (min 2.5)	3.0 (min 3.0 Reading & Writing, min 2.5 Listening & Speaking)	3.5 (min 3.0)
AP English Language & Composition; Applicant will still be required to take a separate speaking & listening test - for more information, contact your regional office	Grade 3 ('qualified') or above	Grade 3 ('qualified') or above	Grade 3 ('qualified') or above	Grade 3 ('qualified') or above
IELTS both online and paper-based exams accepted. Candidates can also re-sit a single component within 60 days of taking their test through IELTS OneSkill. MDX will accept certificates with a OneSKill retake component	6.0 (with 5.5 in each component)	6.0 (with 6 in Reading & Writing, min 5.5 in other components)	6.5 (with 6.0 in each component); MA Scriptwriting and MA Novel Writing (DE)– must have minimum 6.5 overall with 6.5 in Reading, Listening and Speaking and a minimum 7.0 in Written component; * Sport Rehabilitation and Soft Tissue Therapy MSc and Sport Rehabilitation and Return to Play MSc – must have a minimum of 6.5 overall with 6.5 in each component	7.0 * All Nursing/Midwifery BSc courses must have 7.0 overall with 7.0 in written component; ** All BSc Healthcare Science BSc courses must have 7.0 overall with 6.5 in written component
Pearson Test of English	59 (with 59 in all components)	59 (with 59 in all components)	59 (with 59 in all components); * Scriptwriting MA and Novel Writing (DE) MA written component must be minimum 66	59 (with 59 in all components)
Pearson Versant (proctored version) Not accepted for Student Visa applicants	Overall 51 (no score below 46)	Overall 51 (Reading & Writing Min 51, Listening & Speaking min 46)	Overall 56 (no score below 51)	Not accepted
TOEFL (IBT) – both online and paper-based exams accepted. Applicants may combine best scores from different tests taken within the last two years IBT ONLY – through ‘My Best Score’	72 (with at least 17 in listening & writing, 20 in speaking and 18 in reading).	72 (Reading min 18, Writing min 21, Listening min 17, Speaking min 20)	79 (Reading min 18, Writing min 21, Listening min 17, Speaking min 20)	87 (Reading min 23, Writing min 21, Listening min 21, Speaking min 22)
Scottish National Grade 5 or Intermediate Grade 2	C	C	C	C
Cambridge Exams main suite	168 overall, no component to score below 160	168 overall (reading/writing not below 168, no component to score below 160)	175 overall, no component to score below 168	185 overall, no component to score below 175
Cambridge Business Higher (BEC)	Overall grade C or above, with no less than 180 in any skill	Overall grade C or above, with no less than 180 in any skill	Overall grade C or above, with no less than 180 in any skill	Overall grade C or above, with no less than 180 in any skill
Language Cert International ESOL B2 SELT version ONLY	B2 High Pass overall and min 33/50 in each skill	B2 High Pass overall and min 33/50 in each skill	B2 High Pass overall and min 33/50 in each skill	Not accepted
Language Cert Academic (SELT)	Overall 65, no component to score below 60	Overall 65 (reading/ writing not below 65, no component to score below 60)	Overall 70, no component to score below 65	Overall 75, no component to score below 70
International Baccalaureate English A1 (Standard or Higher)	Grade 5	Grade 5	Grade 5	Grade 5
International Baccalaureate English B (Higher Level)	Grade 5	Grade 5	Grade 5	Grade 6
Trinity College (ISE only)	ISE II as evidence of all skills in English (B2)	Not accepted	Not accepted	Not accepted
TEEP Uni of Reading	6.0 (with 5.5 in each component)	6.0 (6 for Reading & Writing, min 5.5 other components)	6.5 (with 6.0 in each component); * Scriptwriting MA and Novel Writing (DE) MA 6.5 (with 6.5 in each component and 7.0 in writing)	7.0
MET - Michigan English Test (formerly MELAB)	MET: overall 57, min 53 (MELAB 83, min 79)	MET overall: 57, reading/writing min 57, listening/ speaking min 53 (MELAB 83, reading/ writing min 83, listening speaking min 79)	MET overall 60, min 57 (MELAB 86, min 83)	MET: 64 overall, min 57 writing only (MELAB 91, min 86 writing only)
European Baccalaureate Language 1	Grade 6.0	Grade 6.0	Grade 7.0	Grade 7.0
European Baccalaureate Language 2	Grade 6.0	Grade 6.0	Grade 7.0	Grade 7.0
European Baccalaureate Language 3	Grade 7.5	Grade 7.5	Not accepted	Not accepted
ESB ESOL International	Level 2	Level 2	Level 2	Level 2
Ascentis/Aim Level 2 Certificate in ESOL International	Pass	Pass	Pass	Pass
PSI Skills for English (Secure English Language Test (SELT)	Pass at B2 (Upper-Intermediate), C1 or C2	Pass at B2 (Upper-Intermediate), C1 or C2	Pass with Merit at B2 (Upper-Intermediate), C1 or C2	Pass with Merit at B2 (Upper-Intermediate), C1 or C2
Pre‐Sessional English programmes that are BALEAP accredited and studied in the UK	Pass	Pass	Pass	Not accepted
Year 1 of university study taught in English (only for applicants not requiring a Student Visa)	55% overall and no less than 50% in each module. GPA of 2.6 out of 4 and no less than 2.2 in each module. GPA of 3.2 out of 5 and no less than 2.8 in each module. Or C in each module.	Not accepted	Not accepted	Not accepted
Oxford ELLT (accept online & centre based)	6 overall, no component to score below 5	6 overall (Reading/ writing min 6, listening/ speaking min 5)	7 overall, no component to score below 6	8 overall, no component to score below 7
OET (paper or computer, centre-based test only)	N/A	N/A	N/A	Nursing programmes: 350/B overall, no component below 350, Writing not below 300/ C+
Study Group Academic English Skills Module	50% overall, no component below 40%	50% overall, R/W min 50%, L/S not below 40%	60% overall, no component below 50%

Territory specific approved English Language tests

View exceptional courses.

Territory	Qualification	Undergraduate courses	Postgraduate courses/ Veterinary Nursing BSc	Postgraduate Business School	Exceptions
Austria	Matura / Reifeprufung	2 (gut) in English when both written and oral exams have been taken	2 (gut) in English when both written and oral exams have been taken	N/A	2 (gut) in English when both written and oral exams have been taken
Belgium	Diploma van Secundair Onderwijs or Certificat d'Enseignement Secondaire Superieur	Distinction in English	Distinction in English	N/A	Distinction in English
Bulgaria	Secondary School Diploma	Not accepted	Not accepted	N/A	Not accepted
Croatia	Maturi Extended English	Grade 4 or 5	Grade 4 or 5	N/A	Not accepted please take another qualification
Cyprus	Apolyterion	Apolyterion final average of 18/20	Not accepted please take another qualification	N/A	Not accepted please take another qualification
Czech Republic	Vysvedceni o Maturitni Zkousce/Maturita	Grade 2 in English	Grade 1 in English	N/A	Not accepted please take another qualification
Denmark	Stundentereksamen	Grade 7 in English	Grade 10 in English	N/A	Grade 10 in English
Estonia	Gumnaasumi Loputunnistus	Pass in the English State Exam at level B2	Pass in the English State Exam at level B2 or overall grade 5 in English	N/A	Pass in the English State Exam at level C1
Finland	Ylioppilastutkintotodistus	5 (magna cum laude approbatur) in English	5 (magna cum laude approbatur) in English	N/A	5 (magna cum laude approbatur) in English
France	French Baccalaureate (General)	14 (bien) in English	Not accepted	N/A	Not accepted
France	French Bacclaureate (OIB)	14/20 in English	Not accepted	Not accepted	N/A
Germany	Abitur/Zeugnis der Allgemeinen Hochschulreife	11 (gut) in English when taken as an achievement/ main/intensive course	13 (sehr gut) in English when taken as an achievement/ main/intensive course	N/A	13 (sehr gut) in English when taken as an achievement/ main/intensive course
	Fachhochschulreife	2 (Gut) in English	Not accepted	N/A	Not accepted
	DAAD	B2	Not accepted	N/A	Not accepted
Greece	Apolyterion	Apolyterion final average of 18/20	Not accepted	N/A	Not accepted
Hong Kong	HKALE Use of English	Grade E or better	Grade D	N/A	Grade B
	HKCEE English Language	Level 3 or better	Level 4	N/A	Level 5
	HKDSE English Language	Level 3 or better	Level 4	N/A	Level 5
	Associate Degree, Higher Degree or degree taught in English – evidence from the institution confirming the medium of instruction as English must be supplied	Pass	Pass	N/A	Pass
Hungary	Advanced Level Matura (Erettsegi)	English advanced level grade 4	Not accepted	N/A	Not accepted
Iceland	Studentsprof	8 in English when taken as a compulsory language	8 in English when taken as a compulsory language	N/A	8 in English when taken as a compulsory language
India	Standard XII	65% Not accepted from the Punjab or Haryana boards	70% 65% Business & Law taught PG Not accepted from the Punjab or Haryana boards	65%	70% Not accepted from the Punjab or Haryana boards
Kenya	KCSE	C	C+	N/A	B
Latvia	Atestatas par visparejo videjo izglitibu	Grade 8 at Level A in English	Not accepted	N/A	Not accepted
Lithuania	Brandos Atestatas	Grade 8 in English B2 Level	Not accepted	N/A	Not accepted
Luxembourg	Diplome de Fin d'Etudes Secondaires	45 (bien) in English	45 (bien) in English	N/A	45 (bien) in English
Malaysia	UCLES 1119 Syllabus	Grade C	Grade C	N/A	Grade C
	SPM	C6 or better	B4 or better		A1
Malta	MATSEC	Grade 5 or above	Grade 5 or above	N/A	Not accepted
Netherlands	VWO	7 in English	8 (goed) in English	N/A	8 (goed) in English
Norway	Vitnemal	Grade 4 in English	Grade 5 in English	N/A	Grade 5 in English
Poland	Matura (new)	Oral: 65% Written: Basic 75%, Extended 60%	Oral Basic: 90% Written Basic 80%	N/A	Oral Basic: 95% Written Basic 85%
Portugal	Certificado de fim de Estudos Secundários (previously Certidão do Décimo Segundo Ano) or Diploma Nível Secundário de Educação / Certificado Nível Secundário de Educação	16	16	N/A	18
Romania	Baccalaureat	Minimum of B2 in the 5 English components from the Baccalaureat	Not accepted	N/A	Not accepted
Romania	in house English test by SAAC agent TESA (only to be used for SAAC applicants).	TESA‐ Overall grade of 6 with minimum 5.5 in each component	Not accepted	N/A	Not accepted
Singapore	Polytechnics in Singapore	A copy of successfully completed qualification from Polytechnics in Singapore. AND A copy of the IELTS certificate they used to gain admission to the Polytechnics in Singapore programme ** (note 1)		N/A
Singapore	GCSE O level English Language	Pass (A1 – C6)	Pass (A1 – C6)	N/A	n/a
Slovakia	Maturita	English Grade 2	Grade 1	N/A	Not accepted please take another qualification
South Africa	National Senior Certificate	3	3	N/A	n/a
	Senior Certificate	C	C		n/a
Spain	Curso de Orientacion Universitaria (COU)	Not accepted please take another qualification	Not accepted please take another qualification	N/A	Not accepted please take another qualification
Sri Lanka	Sri Lankan A Level English	Grade A	Grade A	N/A	Grade A
Sweden	Slutbetyg fran Komvux/Avgangsbetyg	VG (val godkant) in English or Grade C in English (after 2014)	VG (val godkant) in English or Grade C in English (after 2014)	N/A	VG (val godkant) in English or Grade B in English (after 2014)
Switzerland	Maturita	5 (gut/bien/bene) in English	5 (gut/bien/bene) in English	N/A	5 (gut/bien/bene) in English
Tanzania	Certificate of Secondary Education (CSE)	C	C	N/A	n/a
Thailand	Thai universities international programmes that is taught entirely in English	A copy of successfully completed qualification from the Thai University International programme that is taught entirely in English. AND A copy of the IELTS certificate they used to gain admission to the Thai University International programme *** (note 2)		N/A
Uganda	Ugandan Certificate of Education (UCE)	6	6	N/A	N/A
US	US High School Diploma (for applicants that have studied in the US, not accepted for International schools)	C or GPA of 2 on English Language component from Grade 12 level		N/A
West Africa (Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and The Gambia)	WAEC/WASSCE/SSSCE/ NECO	C6 (or grade C or above)	C6	N/A	B3
Zimbabwe	Zimbabwe General Certificate of Education at Ordinary Level (ZIMSEC)	C	C	N/A	C

Notes

You will need to go through additional MDX internal English language test in writing to meet IELTS 7.0 equivalency required for MA Scriptwriting MA programme and MA Novel Writing (DE) MA programme.

*A copy of successfully completed qualification from Polytechnics in Singapore. A copy of the IELTS certificate they used to gain admission to the Polytechnics in Singapore programme. This may now have expired, however as long it was valid at the time of start of the Polytechnics in Singapore programme it can be accepted. The IELTS certificate must meet the Middlesex University English language requirements for undergraduate programmes, ie a score of 6 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each component.

**A copy of the IELTS certificate they used to gain admission to the Thai University International programme that is taught entirely in English programme. This may now have expired, however as long it was valid at the time of start of the Thai University International programme that is taught entirely in English programme it can be accepted. The IELTS certificate must meet the Middlesex University English language requirements for undergraduate programmes, ie a score of 6 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each component.